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Comments on news posted 2006-12-18 17:00:01: Because Comcast technicians and subcontractors apparently haven't received enough bad press of late, a user tells the Consumerist the story of how a Comcast technician accidentally blew up her Powerbook, along with most of the gear on her desk. ..
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  whizkid3Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-21
Queens, NY
kudos:8 | Brilliant! quote:
were unsafely stretched over and near an electrical box and associated cables.
Well, other than roof-top air-conditioners or outdoor lighting, I'm not sure what kind of 'electrical boxes' houses have on their roofs. My answer would be 'none'. And should houses have electrical wiring on the roof, it is two types:
- conduit, for outdoor electrical equipment (such as an air-conditioner), which is not classified as cables.
- cables, which means utility cables.
So if we read between the lines of the 'technician's' statements, where it says 'cables', read utility drop, or even primary wiring. Where it says 'electrical box', read transformer. So, let's revise:
quote:
In any case, both technicians stated that the company-installed "system" of cables on the roof were "a real mess" and were unsafely stretched over and near a utility transformer and utility primary cables."
That would explain the damage. If it were simply 120V, it would be extremely unlikely that it would jump the cable modem, over to the ethernet cabling, into the laptop, and then on to, not one, but three external hard drives; not just damaging them, but completely frying them in the ensuing explosion. In fact, simply impossible. The explosion you heard was likely the result of the coax shield contacting the 4160 V to 13,200 V utility primary. And with all of the wiring on the roof, there was probably no properly installed ground block; otherwise the damage witnessed would probably not have happened, either. (Good thing she didn't ask them to install a ground.)
All I can say is 'BRILLIANT!' | |
|  CurtesyFlushBababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA
kudos:2 | Skeptical as usual That F connector sure looks clean and slightly damaged for being the source of all that overvoltage. The shell is still shiny and bright, and there couldn't have been a bunch of amps involved due to the lack of deformation of the small ga solid center conductor.
Could a jolt coming over a cable plugged into the cable modem somehow induce the battery to explode via the ethernet cabling?
--
Life Member, NRA and CRPA. | |
| | | | Re: Skeptical as usual The F-connector isn't the weakest link; it can actually handle a fair amount of power, being made of solid metal. The dielectric in the cable broke down, which is another reason to believe it's more like 5000V, not 120 or 240. RG-6 dielectric shouldn't break down at 240V. | |
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| whizkid3Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-21
Queens, NY
kudos:8
2 edits | said by CurtesyFlush:That F connector sure looks clean and slightly damaged for being the source of all that overvoltage. The shell is still shiny and bright, and there couldn't have been a bunch of amps involved due to the lack of deformation of the small ga solid center conductor. Both the center conductor and the dielectric insulation are burnt. The dielectric is burnt because of heat from the center conductor. For a fraction of a (60Hz) cycle at least, the center conductor could have easily delivered hundreds or even thousands of amps before the copper heated up enough to actually melt the copper. (Over 2000 degrees.) From the jolt this thing took, whatever minimal isolator that the ethernet circuit had, easily broke down allowing the current surge. Capacitors were probably exploding, not to mention the printed circuit board traces.
And considering that even the technicians partly admitted this is what happened and how; I would say you may be wrong. (Not to mention the side of the laptop where the ethernet cable plugs in, shows evidence of the most damage.) The hard drives were probably hit because their cables were adjacent.
(Russotto - didn't copy you're post - we posted at about the same time. I have to agree with you 100%, especially on the voltage.) | |
| | | | | Re: Skeptical as usual said by whizkid3:Not to mention the side of the laptop where the ethernet cable plugs in, shows evidence of the most damage. Powerbook Ethernet comes in on the other, less damaged, side. The damage is actually centered around the power connector. The RJ connector you might be able to see on the burnt side of the Powerbook is a modem connector (presumably not plugged in, or some phones would have bought it too...). | |
| | | CurtesyFlushBababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA
kudos:2 | said by whizkid3:said by CurtesyFlush:And considering that even the technicians partly admitted to what happened and how; I would say you are wrong. It's more a matter of my being convinced than it is being right or wrong. However, knowing what you do for a living and how long you've done it does carry some weight with me. --
Life Member, NRA and CRPA. | |
| | | | whizkid3Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-21
Queens, NY
kudos:8 | Re: Skeptical as usual Well, err, thanks, Capt.
(Not sure I deserve a compliment, if it was one?) | |
| | | | | CurtesyFlushBababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA
kudos:2 | Re: Skeptical as usual It wasn't a compliment as much as it was an acknowledgement of your sparky career. Over 20 years, correct? Or are you something totally different, like a tool and die man or UPS driver and I've gone and mixed someone up with somebody else, AGAIN?
--
Life Member, NRA and CRPA. | |
| | | | | | whizkid3Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-21
Queens, NY
kudos:8
1 edit | Re: Skeptical as usual Yeah, that's right. I've still got a long way to go before I can be as fortunate as you and retire, though.
(Edit - funny how I got this fortune immediately after my reply.) | |
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| | Sounds like some bullshit! I'll pay her all her damages if she can prove this happen. I have been a tech for years, and I know this is bullshit. Most CATV power supplies are 60V or 90V DC. Most power lines are 240VAC. I have seen a cable tap, that is suppose to pass-thru the 60VDC or 90VDC to the next active go bad, allowing voltage to pass to the customers drop system. The worst that happens is you see lines on the analog picture and a small shock if your sweaty and touch the cable. If he plugged the power strip into a 240V outlet (which should have different holes then a regular outlet has) The breaker would have tripped after the first devices got zapped. The Powerbook which uses a transformer to convert the 120VAC to whatever voltage a powerbook uses, would have fried. Maybe burnout some diodes on the powerbook. The breaker on the power-strip would have blown too. Sounds like BS, and I would pay money to recreate this and prove her wrong. Maybe we can get Mythbusters. | |
| | | | Re: Sounds like some bullshit! said by truedalife:I'll pay her all her damages if she can prove this happen. I have been a tech for years, and I know this is bullshit. Most CATV power supplies are 60V or 90V DC. Most power lines are 240VAC. I have seen a cable tap, that is suppose to pass-thru the 60VDC or 90VDC to the next active go bad, allowing voltage to pass to the customers drop system. The worst that happens is you see lines on the analog picture and a small shock if your sweaty and touch the cable. If he plugged the power strip into a 240V outlet (which should have different holes then a regular outlet has) The breaker would have tripped after the first devices got zapped. The Powerbook which uses a transformer to convert the 120VAC to whatever voltage a powerbook uses, would have fried. Maybe burnout some diodes on the powerbook. The breaker on the power-strip would have blown too. Sounds like BS, and I would pay money to recreate this and prove her wrong. Maybe we can get Mythbusters. Read the article. The tech plugged into something that he should not have plugged into on the coax side.
If you look at the pictures, you will see the coax has been subjected to a high amount of voltage. Now, explain how you get that kind of voltage running from a transformer of a laptop back into the cable line AND cable modem. The surge came in through the coax which has a much higher level of tolerance than the 16-18 gauge cable that goes into a laptop.
However, if it is proven to be Comcast's fault, would you still be writing out that check for her?  | |
| | | | | Re: Sounds like some bullshit! More bullshit! I have never seen anything that looks like a coax plug in, but has high voltage in it. What was this hole, or port, or thing a ma-jig he was plugging into??? Can someone answer that??? Give me the technical name, or scientific name or made up name for this hole and what was it doing exposed?? Can kids get to this hole??? That could be dangerous.
And this guy is truly an idiot if this is true and should be fired and the insurance should and will be eventually pay. Not in another lifetime would I make that mistake as a tech. And fool trained at Comcast U would know better so that's why I say is Bullshit.
In the great words of Penn & Teller "that's bullshit!" The customer has to understand with any insurance claim, and this is an insurance claim, there is a long process. Comcast is not going to pay money out of there pocket to the customer, they pay there insurer. It's bad that her equipment is lost, but that's why it's called an accident. It may not have been on purpose. But everyone wants to blame Comcast, everyone wants to make a seen and make it a PR issue.
You show me a human being who has never made a mistake, had and accident, lost things, dropped and broke something or damaged something inadvertently and I'll show you my money tree that really grows. Stupid monkeys! Get a life! And you know life is too short and under-appreciated! The computers broke, the computers broke! Oh my God! The computers broke. Did they stop making laptops??? Was it the special edition, titanium made, ruby studded, signed by Steve Jobs himself???
This is how it should have been handled.
1) The equipment gets damaged.
2) See if the tech is hurt or if the customer is hurt and rush emergency aid.
3) Get the tech to call his supervisor and explain what happen. Make sure you get a name and possible number of contact
4) Call customer service and document the complaint. Get CAE's contact information.
5) If she can afford it, replace all the damaged equipment, pay for the clean up and electrical damage and keep receipts. Or wait for damage claim to be investigated and processed. Keep calling your contacts and complain by e-mail to the cooperate office if the process hasn't updated any good news.
This customer instead:
1) Gets her equipment damaged.
2) Maybe gets the info she needed for following up.
3) Takes pictures and invites a reporter into her home to tell what happen.
4) Complains to the reporter about a process that any body who has had an accident or damage claim most go through.
5) Talks trash to all her friend about an incident that was an accident. Thinks that Comcast caused her damages, not the individual who made a mistake.
6) And Forever stays bitter about Comcast, possibly switching her service the next week.
Shit happens, like Martin Lawrence said, "we get insurance, encase shit happens." People spend to much time and energy on things that can get resolve with a little time & patients.
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"Always in the Need for Speed." | |
| | | | | | Re: Sounds like some bullshit! said by truedalife:More bullshit! I have never seen anything that looks like a coax plug in, but has high voltage in it. What was this hole, or port, or thing a ma-jig he was plugging into??? Can someone answer that??? Give me the technical name, or scientific name or made up name for this hole and what was it doing exposed?? Can kids get to this hole??? That could be dangerous. And this guy is truly an idiot if this is true and should be fired and the insurance should and will be eventually pay. Not in another lifetime would I make that mistake as a tech. And fool trained at Comcast U would know better so that's why I say is Bullshit. So on the one hand you are calling BS yet on the other hand you acknowledge it could happen.  Choose a side and stick to it.
Also, you failed to notice in the article how the rat's nest of wiring, installed by Comcast, could have had frayed wiring and might have had voltage jump into the coax. Then, the fact that the laptop could have been fried by voltage entering the coax line is entirely possible.
Another thing you are failing to realize is that Comcast ALREADY ADMITTED FAULT!!!
From the article:
quote:
A supervisor arrived later that day and after surveying the scene and materials, conceded that their company had caused the accident. He noted, in particular, the internally fried coaxial cable.
said by truedalife:In the great words of Penn & Teller "that's bullshit!" The customer has to understand with any insurance claim, and this is an insurance claim, there is a long process. Comcast is not going to pay money out of there pocket to the customer, they pay there insurer. It's bad that her equipment is lost, but that's why it's called an accident. It may not have been on purpose. But everyone wants to blame Comcast, everyone wants to make a seen and make it a PR issue. I would buy this except that, again, Comcast admitted fault. There is no argument about that. Comcast made a mistake and now needs to pay up quickly. A month is too long especially when responsibility is NOT in question.
said by truedalife:You show me a human being who has never made a mistake, had and accident, lost things, dropped and broke something or damaged something inadvertently and I'll show you my money tree that really grows. Stupid monkeys! Get a life! And you know life is too short and under-appreciated! The computers broke, the computers broke! Oh my God! The computers broke. Did they stop making laptops??? Was it the special edition, titanium made, ruby studded, signed by Steve Jobs himself??? Part of making mistakes is taking responsibility. Comcast has a duty to replace customer equipment, they admitted to destroying, in a timely basis.
said by truedalife:This is how it should have been handled. 1) The equipment gets damaged. 2) See if the tech is hurt or if the customer is hurt and rush emergency aid. 3) Get the tech to call his supervisor and explain what happen. Make sure you get a name and possible number of contact 4) Call customer service and document the complaint. Get CAE's contact information. 5) If she can afford it, replace all the damaged equipment, pay for the clean up and electrical damage and keep receipts. Or wait for damage claim to be investigated and processed. Keep calling your contacts and complain by e-mail to the cooperate office if the process hasn't updated any good news. So if her house burned down, you would expect her to pay for it and wait until Comcast decides it wanted to pay her?
said by truedalife:This customer instead: 1) Gets her equipment damaged. 2) Maybe gets the info she needed for following up. 3) Takes pictures and invites a reporter into her home to tell what happen. 4) Complains to the reporter about a process that any body who has had an accident or damage claim most go through. 5) Talks trash to all her friend about an incident that was an accident. Thinks that Comcast caused her damages, not the individual who made a mistake. 6) And Forever stays bitter about Comcast, possibly switching her service the next week. Uhh, reading comprehension ownes you.
She did make sure the tech was o.k. and the supervisor was called by the tech (who was well enough to make the call.) She made the complaint only when Comcast took their good old time paying the claim. She gave them a month, they still haven't paid. Imagine what would happen if a company destroyed your car (and it was their fault.) You would be the first one ranting that you needed a car to get to and from work. How would you feel if they dragged their feet and made you go out of pocket not only for a rental car but you having to buy another car and pay for 2 of them (if you previous vehicle was still on payment which you are still responsible for.)
said by truedalife:Shit happens, like Martin Lawrence said, "we get insurance, encase (sic) shit happens." People spend to much time and energy on things that can get resolve with a little time & patients. A little time is a week. A month is too much time. Put yourself in the customer's position before you rant about how "unfair" they are. | |
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| | Show me the connection he plugged into. What connector does she have on her roof. Someone show me this connector he plugged into. And if it is a connector for something else, than what was that connector doing or it's purpose for being up there. I smell a skunk here. Our safety department would have been all over this, sending out warning e-mails and scheduling shop training. | |
| | | | Bad Ground That looks like a bad ground. Probably her house has a wiring problem and it wasn't properly grounded. And all the current from the air conditioning and everything from the house went through the laptop's power connector, and that's why it is burned in that area.
Maybe Comcast should try to prove that her home was in an unsafe condition and not following the electrical code, which put the Comcast technician at risk. | |
| | | | Re: Bad Ground said by dague12:That looks like a bad ground. Probably her house has a wiring problem and it wasn't properly grounded. And all the current from the air conditioning and everything from the house went through the laptop's power connector, and that's why it is burned in that area. I agree. About 15 years ago my parents had electrical problems in their house. They called an electrician to check it out. The apprentice they sent out open the outside service panel and disconnect a rusty ground wire that caused the 2- 120v lines to send 240v to the house wiring burning up everything that was plugged in and using electricity. The $400 surge protector plugged into the TV blew up and started to burn. The apprentice saw what he did and said he would be right back and they never saw him again... | |
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| |  Ring Voltage?
I know when I had Comcrap everything they had the phone interface on the house and the drop had split-loom tubing covering it with a tag warning of high voltage. I know previously when I was living on my own I had a cheep tuner card connect to the cable. The cable was still live. The day they changed to the new taps for internet and telephone it killed the card. Sense I was not paying for it I had no recourse. I checked with my DVM and had 105V AC on the cable! | |
|  wilbilt Pronto ResurrectedPremium
join:2004-01-11
Oroville, CA | Fusible Link Wow...that PowerBook acted as a very expensive fuse. | |
|  CableToolPoorly Representing MYSELF.Premium
join:2004-11-12 | AND?? Duh.. BLAZING HIGH SPEED? What did you expect to happen?!
Its well documented MACS cant handle Comcasts BLAZING HIGH SPEED CONNECTION.
Now THATS FAST!!!!!
--
CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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| | | | Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the rock! Sounds like the powerbook needs some electrical hardening done.
BAHAHAA! | |
| | | | Re: Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the rock! That is truly one Mac-in-trash! | |
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 cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:5
 ·Frontier FiOS
| Buy a PC So buy a PC, not one of those sissy Macs. I've seen the commercials. Even after PC was all beat up and hobbling along, he was at least functioning. Apparently that little magnetic outlet that just pops off of the powerbook didn't just pop off.
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Quis custodiet custodes ipsos? | |
| |  leXicon5Pelosi, SHUT YOUR Fing Pie HolePremium
join:2000-12-27
Saint Louis, MO | Re: Buy a PC It was a PowerMac....not a MacBook or MacBook Pro.
And as far as the mornic Sissy mac statement goes....there isn't a computer desktop nor laptop that would have survived it.
Do I need to whack your nose with a rolled up newspaper with the video of the PC laptop that spontaneously combusted in site of rolling TV cameras?
Now STFU. This isn't a Mac vs. PC debate. It's about morons at Comcast.
--
When you can admit the reason for the season and CALL it Christmas, I can open my wallet and spend my money in your stores. | |
| | | Reviews:
 ·Bright House
| Re: Buy a PC You know, I work for the giany myself, and if ever there were an "Oops" moment, this would take the cake. One thing to consider though is Comcast is so big, that you're more likely to hear this kind of stuff about them than anyone else. I do agree that there was entirely too much voltage, or amperage (one or the other) involved to be a standard 110V connection. Comcast isn't going to spend the money to investigate the cause of the damage unless someone decides to take it further than a simple replacement and repair of the damaged parts. In this case, all the data was recovered, likely the electrical damage around the incident was repaired, the computer was replaced, and the person probably got some freebie service too. So, if mis-fortune should happen, at least you know the cable company isn't going to just let it slide. I have seen a few damage complaints get addressed, and in each and every case, the repairs are up to everyone's standard, and nobody holds a grudge. You've got to understand, when this kind of thing happens, the higher-up's step in first in almost every case, and resolution is quick. Either way, stuff happens, so sometimes you've just gotta roll with it. I doubt the tech could have fell asleep with all that "exploding circuitry" nearby.
Speaking truthfully, I come to this site because of the news, and because it's only here that I hear so much hate for Comcast. When I am at work, I hardly ever get someone who is seriously upset.
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SIPPhone/Gizmo # 17476200648 / PIMPNET Chatline / Ran by Asterisk & Slackware 10.1. | |
| | | cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Frontier FiOS
| said by leXicon5:Now STFU. This isn't a Mac vs. PC debate. It's about morons at Comcast. It's a joke. Lighten up a little. Shesh.
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Quis custodiet custodes ipsos? | |
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At a loss of words
