>and the effects of putting a paperclip into an AC power socket.
I believe that (in earlier years when electric protections were non existant or just a huge fuse) is one of the origins of survivorship bias ...
I believe that (in earlier years when electric protections were non existant or just a huge fuse) is one of the origins of survivorship bias ...
http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vimar4...
it was two wires (no earth/ground) and was fixed using tiny nails that were driven in the plastic slip between the two wires, the "luxury" version were these (on the right):
http://www.museolaluce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/btic.j...
but the most common ones had not a real insulator, they were simply steel nails dipped in some rubbery paint.
In theory the nail should have never come in contact with any of the two wires, but expecially where there was some corner preventing the nail to be hammered perfectly straight or because of sloppy installation, after a few years (with the rubber/insulation becoming stiff and microcracking) it happened.