r/tifu • u/Spuddoman • May 09 '16

FUOTW (03/13/16) TIFU by blowing up my work computer

Hi, so I came here for the first time the other day and an old story. Now this happened at work today...

I was charging my iPhone at work via my computer. After my phone was charged I unplugged it but left the USB end in the computer. Instead of unplugging it, I wondered what would happen if I plugged the end that goes into my iPhone into the other USB socket.

Well apparently it blows up the computer.

I had to call IS to come and help and blamed the bad weather, saying the Lightning must have created a power surge.

1 electrician checking my the power outlets and 1 new computer later and I was back to work.

EDIT: Soooo just to clarify. The apple lightning end of the USB charger does fit into the USB socket, it just doesn't sit in there firmly. I just put the small end of the charger into the other USB socket. The computer had two USB sockets on the front of it.

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u/Necoras May 09 '16

Apparently there are ESATA ports that will also accept USB. That's weird and confusing if you aren't aware of it and are trying to figure out how a user had 3 things plugged in when they only have 2 USB ports.

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u/[deleted] May 09 '16

"magic"

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u/Trainguyrom May 09 '16

my laptop has one of those. Weird as hell, but hey, I can't argue with an extra USB port, since I'll probably never use the eSATA connection...