Last night got a call from a client, his dog had eaten the printer cable. He was not clear which, power or simply the usb from his computer. Not problem will drop one round. 10 min job… But it took an hour as usual.
I always carry spare cables in my backpack to change, unplug replace easy work. But infact the dog in playing with the cable had broken the internal connections to the power entry. It’s going to be strip it down and replace internally. Big dog too much power not enough control … Not really suitable for a small apartment. I love dogs, but always wear long trousers and solid shoes when visiting as don’t trust the dog.
Luckly I had a epson in my stock to swap out his brother.
But of course it had a different power cable, and needed the WiFi password setting as he had changed operator and the new box had new password and no quick connect button, just type the password in.
Ok it works now. On epson replacement not sure if I will try to repair the brother as the box is badly damage. Plus it has to be at least 10 years old.
But then it struck me about the power cable. Don’t know if you have ever thought about why the connections are different. Not the mains plug as that’s country dependant but at the connection to the printer, desktop, monitor, laptop end.
So you have flat sides in the form of a triangle, normally for screens and towers
Rounded triangle usually for laptop power supplies
And flat 2 pin again some laptops, the Epson printer in question. Some radios, cassette players.
I have no idea of the names, if you do please tell me.
Why they use different
Then a general electric question.
When studying electrics and electronics, I was always told to put on off switches on the live feed so you can cut power to a device and make it safe to work on (switch it off) I always totally disconnect, unplug before working on any voltage for safety.
But my workbench light uses 2 wires in the cables with a 2 pin plug and an on off switch on it. With a french 2 pin plug you can use it plugged in either way up there is no defining way unlike a 3 pin. It’s the same on all my similar lights. I always unplug even when changing a bulb not just rely on a switch. Ok its double insulated, it’s plastic body and all parts are plastic.
Just thoughts…