Doug

Sounds like Operating Theatre 3 when I was in training. The surgeon I assisted had to put 3 gloves on his left hand because the diathermy seemed to "short" sometimes and you'd get a mighty spike burning through gloves to your hand. Actually I thought it was a bit of a joke until the first time it happened to me. Being somewhat feisty in those days I contacted management who did the usual... "yes we've checked, can't find anything wrong..." so I made myself "Mr Popular" by contacting Health and Safety and having the theatre closed as a hazard to staff.

Turned out to be an over-long screw in a panel; when tightened the screw nestled gently into the transformer beneath, energising the attached panel. You had to remove the panel to see the transformer at which time the screw was out and there wasn't much to see. The company had actually used a nonstandard threaded hole to prevent this but some genius had forced the screw in with brute force, recutting the thread.

We should all be thankful for integrated circuits. ;-)

Regards

JR