Idiot user problem

[elizilla]

I just took a support call from someone who decided to cut the power plug off our hardware and wire it directly into the wall without using an outlet. He wanted to know if I could tell him which color wire, in the power cord, should go to positive, negative, ground. I told him we don't support cutting into our power cords, but that if I were trying to do something like that I'd use the connectivity tester in my multimeter to test the plug and see which color wire went to which prong. He said "Plug it into the wall and measure it?"

NOOOOOOOOO! Bad! Stupid! Dangerous!

So then I had to explain what a multimeter was, how a connectivity tester works, etc.

I shoulda just said "Sorry, not supported" hung up and closed his case. If this guy was bright enough to do this, he'd never have had to call. What kind of person decides to do something like this, and doesn't already know how to figure out which wire goes where? I hope he doesn't electrocute himself.

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I hope he doesn't electrocute himself too. You could, if you were as jaded and cnyical as I am, view it as Darwinism in action if he did, though....

(not a lawyer, not legal advice)

I'd worry about exposing my employer to legal liability if this guy hurts himself or someone else trying this stupid project, and then claims later that "$EMPLOYER's tech support people told me how to do this."

[elizilla]

Yeah, that's why I'm thinking I shoulda just said "not supported" and not gotten into it. Unfortunately I always want to solve things; I start trying to work the problem instead of worrying about legal stuff. I'm a better amateur electrician than amateur lawyer.

I did make a point of saying several times, "Never never never plug the plug with the exposed wires into an outlet. Never!"

[kalikanzara.livejournal.com]

Is there a sales rep or account manager who can get involved and clarify your position of "Dude, you're in idiot, we won't support this, and we'll revoke your support contract if we even find out you've bought a wirecutter or a multimeter?"

[fourgotten.livejournal.com]

You hope that he doesn't? *chuckle* I used to pray that some of my customers WOULD electrocute themselves... Hell... I kept wanting to help them do it! *sigh*

Don't worry, though, if he does, you already told him that it wasn't supported.

[jenx.livejournal.com]

Oh, ye gods and monsters! You told him it wasn't supported, that it was A Bad Thing to Do and Very Dangerous Also - these absolve you of responsibility.

That said, if he turns himself into a smoking pile of ash, we can hope he's done it before he breeds.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Duh! Sigh. Idiocy.

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

Is it at all common to wire things directly?

I have never heard of the practice before, except once in college and that was an improvised situation involving the colleg pub in a temporary building.

[elizilla]

These devices tend to get unplugged by vandals, so the customers are always looking for creative ways to prevent this. The one we recommend is to put the electrical outlet in the wall behind the device, which is then bolted to the wall. We provide a short cord for this purpose.