Personally I would bill the client and under problem discription write 'Pilot Error'.
On 11/30/06, skipp025 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This latest Radio Tale comes from a series of Service Calls > in the last month or two. > > The Saga... > > Two-way Radio Customers often replace their own fuses when something > causes their unplanned departure. Often a dead car battery jump start > can be the source of a radio/equipment fuse vacation. > > We also see a lot of wrong size 20 or 30 amp fuses used "just for a > temp fix"... left in line until something worse happens. And of > course we know "worse does happen"... > > One not so cute problem we've seen in the last month are a number > of "half-blown" slow speed (aka "slow blow") 3AG Auto fuses. > > The customer reports a radio doesn't work right/well. Initial > inspection finds the radio farts out (fails) on tx. The radio > receives 13 volts dc as measured but acts like the vco fails > lock in tx mode. > > Well... after much head scratching one of the techs found an > additional customer installed fuse holder in the wiring harness > (outside the truck) with an inline 3AG slow blow fuse. > > The fuse was half blown.. allowing low current through the internal > resistor (old fuse type 3AG glass slow-blow fuse with the visible > internal resistor) although the main fuse internal current path had > properly opened. Radio TX mode caused the resultant voltage drop > and related tx problems. > > Replaced the whacky fuse and the tech put the event off as earned > experienced. > > **** > > Onward... > > We make and install Kenwood portable vehicle chargers similar to > "converta com' or pocket chargers, which are provided by us with > new Pyramid Vehicle Repeater Systems (we install). > > One customer reported a problematic drop-in portable charger. I > replaced the reported trouble pocket because it was brand new and > shouldn't give us grief. Sometimes it's better to simply replace > a new unit vs an on site repair with a busy customer standing > around possibly getting mad. > > A week later the customer reported the second new charger pocket > had the same non-completing charge problem as the first replaced > charger unit. Go figure... the measured voltage to the charger > pocket voltage "appeared normal" with a multi meter. > > To wrap things up... the charger pocket was problematic because of > the same half-open 3ag fuse trick installed by the customer after > his last truck jump-start. He didn't admit to replacing the fuse > until after the half-blown slow blow fuse was located and replaced. > > Older slow blow fuses are not always 100%. The half blown fuse is > a serious problem/issue in a high voltage power supply circuit. At > low voltage operation they tend to only cost time and money. > > The question is... who's time and money should it be? > > cheers, > skipp > > skipp > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
