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[John Penkala]

A peer was A1 at a show where someone mistook the transformer in the picture for the trashcan in the foreground. The show crashed after the big boom caused by someone throwing their lunch and drink away in the transformer. No one was hurt. Long extension cords had to be run to get the show up again.

[Andrew Broughton]

What a terrible design! I can't believe that would be up to code to have that sitting out there in the open with no protection.

[Erik Jerde]

What a terrible design! I can't believe that would be up to code to have that sitting out there in the open with no protection.

Probably just fine by code when installed.  The problem came when someone decided that the equipment room had too much wasted space and decided to use it for storage/break room/etc.

[Jeff Bankston]

What a terrible design! I can't believe that would be up to code to have that sitting out there in the open with no protection.

I am a retired commercial electrician. Nothing wrong with that design. I installed many of those transformers. They are in electrical rooms and hung from trusses. This is the first time I ever heard of one being used for a trash can. The person that did it must not have a brain and cant read the warning label. I have seen electrical rooms piled with junk and some had the panel covers and dead fronts off. Electrical rooms are spacious for code requirements. 

[Jonathan Johnson]

I can see the resemblance to a shred bin... people have been known to put all manner of trash in shredding and recycling containers.

[frank kayser]

Code cannot address everything idiotic that can happen in the real world.  Idiots can be quite ingenious, don't 'cha know.


While not an electrician, I have seen quite a few of this general type of transformer - mostly high overhead, but this is a first I've seen one on the floor, "out in the open".   I can see in some circumstances that opening being mistaken for a trash chute. 


I'm glad no one was hurt. Expensive mistake(s).

[Stephen Swaffer]

The other major issue in this picture is the cardboard.  Transformers like this typically have a 150 deg C design temperature rise-so in a 70 deg F room it could be running almost 340 deg F if heavily loaded.  Most people don't realize how hot these things can run.

I agree it meets code-but just because it meets code doesn't mean its a good idea.  I'm not sure the person who designed this application is any brighter than the person that thew the trash in-of course, it might have looked a lot different use wise when the install was done.

[Tim Weaver]

Time for one of these?




In the bad old days we ran community boxer subs. One particular festival we did would see those subs filled to the brim with cans, underwear, and condoms. All pushed up to the edge of the stage like a snowdrift.

We don't do that festival anymore.......

[Jordan Wolf]

Impressive! Haha

[Jean-Pierre Coetzee]

I honestly feel that box can have a bit bigger warning labels. Sure it won't stop idiots but a big red/yellow sign with a picture of a person getting shocked tends to help people steer clear.

[Jonathan Johnson]

I honestly feel that box can have a bit bigger warning labels. Sure it won't stop idiots but a big red/yellow sign with a picture of a person getting shocked tends to help people steer clear.

Any reason transformer manufacturers don't just put hardware cloth (heavy-duty screen with 1/4" squares) over the vent to prevent this very problem?

[Tim McCulloch]

https://www.alfatransformer.com/downloads/reference/nema_enclosures.pdf

[Erik Jerde]

Any reason transformer manufacturers don't just put hardware cloth (heavy-duty screen with 1/4" squares) over the vent to prevent this very problem?

Because it costs more.  Same reason stage pockets (usually) aren’t water tight.  The people mopping the stage (usually) don’t dump a bucket of water in them.  Same principal with indoor transformers.  Most that I’ve seen aren’t publicly accessible. 

[Jeff Bankston]

I honestly feel that box can have a bit bigger warning labels. Sure it won't stop idiots but a big red/yellow sign with a picture of a person getting shocked tends to help people steer clear.

That transformer is suppose to be in a locked electrical room or hung from an upper deck or roof trusses/beams or behind a tall chain link fence/etc. It is not suppose to be where the general public can touch it.

[Jeff Bankston]

Any reason transformer manufacturers don't just put hardware cloth (heavy-duty screen with 1/4" squares) over the vent to prevent this very problem?

That transformer is suppose to be in a locked electrical room or hung from an upper deck or roof trusses/beams or behind a tall chain link fence/etc. It is not suppose to be where the general public can touch it. Putting screen over the openings has nothing to do with cost. It is not suppose to in a situation where people can touch it. I am surprised the local building code safety people havent gotten a complaint. I have seen stuff that was installed without a permit and no after inspection by a city official. Also there is a mandatory 3' front clearance required. Thats 3' in front of the front.   

[Jeff Bankston]

Has anyone seen the XO ?

[Miguel Dahl]

I'd empty my McDonalds tray into that. Sorry for the show-stopper incident, but it's quite funny.

[ProSoundWeb Community]