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"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

Ohhh, that statement is fantastic!
Heard it too many times, with so many "Oh, Sorry To Blame You" results, it would fill this thread with fonts beyond capacity!

However...

Got two good recent "WHAT DID YOU DO?" stories to throw out.

"Whad'ja Do" Story #1:

This one involves a new Teppan Style Restaraunt, attempting to receive a TCO (Temporary Certificate of Occupancy).

Fire Inspector on site goes to test the "Ansul" System (Fire Supression System), to verify interlocks for the hoods + all bells and whistles work as they should.
Owner + Ansul Technician on site for test.

Interlocks and such work properly, however when the Inspector flipped on the Light Switch for one of the Hood's Lights, a relay began to freak out - and quickly caught fire!

Of course, the story we receive is:
"All the Hoods are short circuiting, and _EVERY_ Relay has fried, _ALONG_ with the Make Up Air control not working... GET DOWN HERE IMMEDIATELY!!!"

I get there the following morning, hear several stories prior to actually seeing any equipment.
Ansul guy arrives around 7:30 AM, and he has a different story.

Well, after checking every part of the Lighting Circuitry, it turns out that only one relay actually fried. It's failure was due to an incorrect mounting in the panel (it was mounted over a backed out screw head, which caused the relay to bend out of shape).
This resulted in the relay's contacts not seating completely, and ended up barbequeing the relay, due to red hot contacts!

There was one other problem, the fire supression interlocking switches were either connected in reverse (across the N.O. contacts, when it should have been thru the N.C. contacts), or the Limit Switch was completely broken - none of this was our responsibility (we did not terminate these interlocks or anything at the panels).

Spent a whole day on this one - and actually got some "Thank You's" + "Sorry To Blame You's".
That's a first! [Linked Image]

"Whad'ja Do" Story #2:

Helping a Friend do some HVAC related work (upgrading control systems + equipment for HVAC and dampers + control in large air handlers on Schools).
We are "Knee-Deep" in Air Handler stuff, when his Cell Phone starts ringing, and ringing, and ringing!!!

Turns out to be the Supervisor (read "Stupidvisor") for the GC on some Custom House my Friend was doing.
The House was trimmed out for Power Electrical System items (Fixtures, Switches, Receptacles, Panelboards trimmed out, etc.).
Final Inspection had not been done yet, and the temp. power pole was still in the front yard.

Stupidvisor calls up with a doozy!

Stupidvisor: "The Doorbell Does Not Work"

Friend "OK, That's Probably Because There Is No Power Yet"


Stupidvisor: " But I Hooked It Up Where It Should Be, And It Worked Before"

Friend "It Worked Before???"


Stupidvisor: "Yes, It Worked Before, Then You Came By And Did Something In The "Big Panel" (Main Service), Now It Does Not Work"

Friend "Whaaaaat??? .. Let Me Call You Back"

He hangs up, then starts thinking about the doorbell situation. It is supposed to be part of the Intercom/Whole House Audio system, and therefore there is no location for the door chime, nor is there any doorbell button wiring.

Just then, the phone rings again, and it's our friend, Mr. Stupidvisor.


Stupidvisor: "Well, Are You Coming Down Here To Fix This, Or What?"

Friend "First Off, The House Has No Power, And Unless This Is A Battery Powered Doorbell, It Won't Possibly Work - AND Secondly, The Doorbell Is Part Of The Intercom Stuff, So Just Where Exactly Are You Connecting A Doorbell Anyway???"


Stupidvisor: "It Worked Fine Before You Came Here"

Friend "OK, Wait Until The Power Gets Turned On And It Will Work Again"

Somehow gets off the phone quickly, but the stupidvisor called endlessly that day.

Finally, a call was made to the actuall GC regarding this extremely important issue, and guess what??? that stopped the crazy phone calls!!!

Have no idea what ever happened with that stupidvisor, or the infamous "Self Powered/Wireless Doorbell", but that one had us both going crazy trying to make the joker understand that he really needs to stop smoking crack on the job!
[Linked Image]

So far, these two stories are the best this year!

Stay tuned for further developments [Linked Image]

Scott35

edited for spellin' - hope I caught all the miss steaks ! < D'OHH >

[This message has been edited by Scott35 (edited 04-21-2006).]


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!