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The Therac-25 Incident (2021)

(thedailywtf.com)
449 points lemper | 3 comments | 27 Aug 25 06:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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zackmorris ◴[27 Aug 25 16:59 UTC] No.45042158[source]▶
Our power went off a couple off weeks ago due to wind probably knocking a branch into a power line. Now our Frigidaire microwave runs with the door open.

Supposedly there are mechanical switches that prevent that, but evidently "modern" microwaves can control the gun through the logic board.

The engineering failures that led to this, from conceptual to design to internal control, boggle my mind. I'm not even sure where to send a complaint or if it would result in any kind of compensation. Because billion dollar corporations know that they'll never have to face any kind of corporate death penalty because they're protected by limited liability. So we'll just buy another $150 microwave instead.

Are smaller companies better at engineering safety? Evidently not.

replies(2): >>45042535 #>>45044489 #
1. dezgeg ◴[27 Aug 25 20:06 UTC] No.45044489[source]▶
It's possible that it's just operating the lights and turntable without actually cooking - if you search HN you find that failure mode.
replies(2): >>45047826 #>>45053346 #
2. _kb ◴[28 Aug 25 02:53 UTC] No.45047826[source]▶
Stand next to it with a chocolate bar in your pocket. I believe that’s the canonical way to check if it’s active.
3. zackmorris ◴[28 Aug 25 15:22 UTC] No.45053346[source]▶
Ya that's what I'm hoping, because I've been blasted for a second or two here and there. I guess I could put a CD next to it and see if it crackles haha. But I'll probably just recycle it and move on.