[Hallicrafters]V18#22; Electrolytic Fireworks

[Mike Lopez]

I worked in the service dept. at a small electronics company in the early
'80s that had been recently bought out by a new owner. On this particular
day , everyone was busy diligently working away as the new boss was walking
through the shop. The benches were arranged in an island fashion with four
techs, two on each side. The guy across from me must have done the reverse
polarity installation of a not too large ( perhaps a couple thousand mics @
50V ) electrolitic. Fired it up as the boss was passing and of course,
KABOOM ! After the blast, it kept burning off the electrolyte, creating the
most beautiful mushroom cloud I've ever seen . It was an absolutely perfect
mushroom, rising up with a six inch diameter stem and a two foot cap. The
top had blown off the capacitor, making a chimney, pouring out that smoke in
a perfect column. It hung there for a minute , after which everyone in the
room said "wowww" in unison. Impressed the boss. I'll never forget it !
Mike N8AZC