Most expensive equipment you have destroyed. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PbFoot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 09:30:32 pm
content: Once when working as a Network Tech, I was installing a $30K server. It came with slide out rails for the rack. I had the server pulled out on the rails, and they collapsed, dumping the server on the floor, and twisting its chassis. It was replaced by the manufacturer at no cost.Of course, I have burned out numerous boards and components, probably worth more than $30K in total.- PbFoot

author: Stephen Hill
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2012, 09:57:16 pm
content: Well, I can't beat your 30K+ but I did short a connection on a brand new motherboard which lifted the traces clean off. Another £90 for a replacement.Although I was very supprised that the connector (for a fan) didn't have short circuit protection.

author: Pentium100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2012, 01:56:49 am
content: AFAIR, the most expensive device I destroyed was ATI Readon 9800Pro video card. I flashed the BIOS to "XT" to overclock it and a year later it developed problems (crashes, image artifacts), so I flashed the BIOS back to original and went to the store. As the card was still under warranty, it was replaced with a new one that also had problems even without overclocking, but the third one still works.Though I think I managed to cause more detruction with one action when I simultaneously blew up the input selector chip on my amp and the soundcard in my PC (hint: even though a tube preamp needs 250V, it is advisable to use a transformer). I was not able to find the chip (TC9151P) so I had to make my own version - this was before I knew about edge triggered logic chips, but needed that, so my version of edge detector was kinda weird (see attachment, but it works and is still in use).

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2012, 04:23:03 am
content: Quote from: Stephen Hill on May 25, 2012, 09:57:16 pmYou would be surprisedQuote from: Pentium100 on May 26, 2012, 01:56:49 amI blew a old Nvidia card back when it was new ... that thing cost what equates to 1200$ today

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2012, 06:36:20 am
content: I did order a few power supplies that came in a $100 000 each! They fit in the palm of your hand, and had a common failure mode of burning to a charred mass in operation. Replacements were still cheaper than the parts. I think I was a line item in a budget.................Recently I had a inverter blow on me, all because OHL made a remote front panel, but did not use an islated supply to it, so it sat at -170V WRT the earthed metal surround. It got dusty, and the dust got humid, and bang. New one has a plastic shield under it now, to keep dust off the bare board.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2012, 07:17:05 pm
content: A few weeks ago, my scope at work (high end Agilent) was measuring way off. I ran the calibration and after that, one of the channels flatlined and another became noisy. It didn't take long to get it replaced with a newer one, at which point I learned that 3 other Agilent scopes at that lab have broke down in the last few months. Agilent is just like HP nowadays - Highly Problematic...

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2012, 07:47:45 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on May 26, 2012, 07:17:05 pmI was about to buy a agilent U1251 ... few months later ;P