Dumb Sign of the Day

[ToyotaNSaturn]

While looking for a new computer case, I ran across this pearl of wisdom. It's the manufacturer's tag slapped on the side of a power supply inside a computer. Towards the bottom-right it says "For Home or Office Use".

Well DUH! What other uses are available for a computer? Perched in a tree the Amazon jungle? In the Rumble seat of a '33 Plymouth? In a rowboat in the middle of Lake Michigan? Call me crazy, but I would wager most computers are used in a home or office environment.

 

[Bret Chase]

That actually has to do with the power supply's (or any other electronic equipment) FCC certification.. which is IIRC either Home & office (class A) or office only (class B).

 

[tom slick]

it's not as dumb as you think. that part is actually "certified" for home or office use, you'll see it on alot of electronics. it's a real certification.

 

[PandaBear]

Well, if you imagine what a PC can do, it is obvious that they want to cover their butt when someone misuse it for mission critical or harsh condition, especially in the US when there are never enough warning label for the lawsuit happy public.

Example: industrial equipment controlled by PC, life support device controlled by PC, manufacturing line controlled by PC, data center that requires fault-tolerant and hot spare, PC set up in the outdoor environment (under rain, construction site, etc), high shock environment (running a PC in the back of a UPS truck), in a space shuttle, in a power plant (yes, some are controlled by PC), in a HumVee in Iraq, etc.

FYI the last job I have build a PS for our industrial robot and its PC controller. The PS is industrial grade from Vicor and it cost $1000, compare to $40 for a home/office grade ones that you can buy from Fry's or Bestbuy.


The PC usage environment is more than just home and office use. (It is a similar concept that the USA is more than just the "left coast" or the suburb between the coasts, and the world is more than just the USA... just kidding)

 

[Pablo]

#3 is not a complete sentence

 

[brianl703]

Office only is class A.

Home and office is class B.

These refer to the limits for the amount of radio-frequency energy that they are allowed to emit.

The limits for class B devices are lower. The reasoning is that interference with radio and television reception is more likely in the residential areas that equipment certified to class B is likely to be operated in.

Most computer equipment that I've seen that meets class "A" are things like:

Cash registers
Sun servers (of the rack-mounted variety)
Medical/Industrial equipment

Basically, things that would not be very likely to be found in operation in a residential area..so they are allowed to emit more radio frequency energy.

EDIT: Years ago I had an outdoor TV antenna instead of cable. My computer really trashed channel 5...it was completely unwatchable with the computer on.

I resolved the problem by getting an Aopen desktop case (which is certified to Class B when used with an Aopen motherboard). I didn't have an Aopen motherboard, but I figured that the Aopen case would be better shielded than the cheap one I had.

Sure enough, the Aopen case cut down on the interference quite a bit. You could still see some lines on channel 5, but they were slight.

For that reason, I generally don't buy cheap computer cases. The TV or radio you might want to watch or listen to but can't might be your own. (You also generally need fewer bandaids when working with them!)

 

[kanling]

As said, has to use that exact and specific wording to meet FCC part 15 rules.

 

[simple_gifts]

I just opened a box with a candle that came with instructions.

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

omg!
never leave the candle unattended
place on a fireproof material
don't let the wick grow too long, trim as needed

 

[Patman]

Here is a funny sign I saw a few months ago. It was on a road side sign, and it said "WE DO IT RIGH"

 

[PandaBear]

quote:

---

Here is a funny sign I saw a few months ago. It was on a road side sign, and it said "WE DO IT RIGH"

---

Obviously not. How about the Chevron gas pump's ad for their mini-mart "Hot coffee cold": then the next line "soda".

 

[moribundman]

I'm currently looking for a new mountain bike. I downloaded the PDF manual of one that I found interesting and in there it said "Do not ride off-road."

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Patman, I almost spit my coffee on my computer screen after reading your post! LOL!!!

 

[ekpolk]

My all-time favorite sign was a small one on Claiborne Ave in New Orleans, advertising for a little butcher shop called "Wagner's Meats". I would often take the slightly longer way to work so I could read it again and chuckle. For real, really!

"Nobody Beats Wagner's Meat!"