Power interlocks (was Re: [OT] Alphaserver Oops!)

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Wed Nov 11 17:58:42 1998

> > I'd suggest defeating interlocks only if you are *sure* you know what
> > you're doing, not if you *think* you know. In the case of the Alphaserver
>
> Since when has anyone here ever _known_ what they are doing? I ask that
> seriously - we all (I hope) think we're doing the right thing, but I for
> one am never sure I am not making a mistake.

There are some pieces of equipment that I know inside and out, and am fully
competent to repair. That doesn't mean that I'd never make a mistake, just
that it would be much less likely. I know which interlocks on those can
be defeated without harming the equipment, or (more importantly), the
service person.

There are other pieces of equipment that I think I have some clue about,
and could probably repair, but that I'm far from being an expert on. Those
are the ones that I wouldn't go and defeat interlocks without researching them
further.

One of the participants in this disucssion seemed to advocate disabling all
interlocks as standard practice. That's what I was reacting to. I don't
do that even on the equipment on which I am expert.
Received on Wed Nov 11 1998 - 17:58:42 GMT