2 ms·

>and the effects of putting a paperclip into an AC power socket. I believe that (in earlier years when electric protections were non existant or just a huge fu

by jaclaz 5y ago

>and the effects of putting a paperclip into an AC power socket. I believe that (in earlier years when electric protections were non existant or just a huge fuse) is one of the origins of survivorship bias ...

dylan604 5y ago
I remember the first attic of a house of a certain age to learn that it used to be a thing to not have insulated wiring. Instead, the wiring used a series of insulators as standoffs/guides, but bare exposed copper carrying live current. I was flabbergasted that more homes didn't burn to the ground.
- jaclaz 5y ago
  Yep, and at least here (Italy) up the '60's or maybe even '70's many older houses were "retrofitted" with what was called "piattina", which you can see here attached to a switch and to a socket: http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vimar40-60.jpg http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vimar4... it was two wires (no earth/ground) and was fixed using tiny nails that were driven in the plastic slip between the two wires, the "luxury" version were these (on the right): http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/btic.jpg http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/btic.j... but the most common ones had not a real insulator, they were simply steel nails dipped in some rubbery paint. In theory the nail should have never come in contact with any of the two wires, but expecially where there was some corner preventing the nail to be hammered perfectly straight or because of sloppy installation, after a few years (with the rubber/insulation becoming stiff and microcracking) it happened.
- drfuchs 5y ago
  Look up “Knob And Tube Wiring” on Wikipedia for details (which claim that the wires should have been insulated, but I believe I’ve seen the same as you report, in a California house built in the 1950s).

2 ms·

>and the effects of putting a paperclip into an AC power socket. I believe that (in earlier years when electric protections were non existant or just a huge fu

by jaclaz 5y ago

dylan604 5y ago
I remember the first attic of a house of a certain age to learn that it used to be a thing to not have insulated wiring. Instead, the wiring used a series of insulators as standoffs/guides, but bare exposed copper carrying live current. I was flabbergasted that more homes didn't burn to the ground.
- jaclaz 5y ago
  Yep, and at least here (Italy) up the '60's or maybe even '70's many older houses were "retrofitted" with what was called "piattina", which you can see here attached to a switch and to a socket: http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vimar40-60.jpg http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vimar4... it was two wires (no earth/ground) and was fixed using tiny nails that were driven in the plastic slip between the two wires, the "luxury" version were these (on the right): http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/btic.jpg http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/btic.j... but the most common ones had not a real insulator, they were simply steel nails dipped in some rubbery paint. In theory the nail should have never come in contact with any of the two wires, but expecially where there was some corner preventing the nail to be hammered perfectly straight or because of sloppy installation, after a few years (with the rubber/insulation becoming stiff and microcracking) it happened.
- drfuchs 5y ago
  Look up “Knob And Tube Wiring” on Wikipedia for details (which claim that the wires should have been insulated, but I believe I’ve seen the same as you report, in a California house built in the 1950s).