On 2011-10-03, Gunner Asch wrote:
On Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:44:48 -0500, Ignoramus19762
wrote:

On 2011-10-03, Gunner Asch wrote:
On Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:41:21 -0500, Ignoramus23561
wrote:

On 2011-10-03, Steve W. wrote:
Ignoramus23561 wrote:
I had a little bit of a new experience today.

My new place has cables dropped from the ceiling, with receptacles
hanging somewhat above my height.

I was moving a crane and bumped into one of them, nothing big, just a
minor bump. Then I saw that the receptacle was on fire (or rather,
flames were coming out from inside), with small explosions inside.

I ran to the electrical control panel and turned off electricity to
the whole building. The fire stopped.

After a short while, I opened up the receptacle. It turned out that it
was full of grinding dust (! -- how did it get inside) -- and,
apparently, the dust shifted and shorted the contacts. It was a short
circuit, but with a lot of resistance from the dust, so it caught
fire, but did not trip a breaker.

I cut it off and taped the individual wires, but I am now thinking
that I need to take all of those things apart and blow them out with
compressed air.

Comments?

i


Well I would probably commit overkill myself and grab a manlift and a
pressure washer and give all the open utilities a good bath. Wash down
the pipes/conduits and let the place dry out. While it's drying I would
check EVERY outlet and switch in the place for wear/damage/proper
installation. Then paint the walls with some good white paint. Dryloc
wouldn't be a bad thing to keep moisture out.

I am afraid that this washing down of dusty electrical outlets may
create more problems.

Then I would probably set up an area where you can inspect/test incoming
gear. Another where you can strip stuff for parts (and dispose of the
common/worthless pieces) Another area for crating/palletizing and shipping.
Barcode software and inventory tracking is not expensive these days.


This is the hope, indeed.

i

Washing them down? Turn off the power, open the covers and simply blow
them out with a good deal of compressed air, then reclose.

Washing them down?? Get grinding dust wet? Oh you are far far braver
than I am. Id never intentionally create concrete in electrical outlets.

Let us know how that works out, will ya?

I will. I was not going to wash them down.

i

But..but you said you were going to wash them down..check up about 20 or
so lines.

VBG

Where exactly did I say that?

i