Everyone likes NEC

Occasionally, we do get calls from customer telling us that their phones are not working. After filtering for the necessary information, then only do we classify if the call is a normal service call (troubleshooting) or an actual system down.

This morning, my Snr. tech brought in a system which was not working. On closer inspection, we found the reason and not only that, it was confirmed that the mains power at the customer location was having some problems.

In most system down cases, if it was not from Acts of God or plain stupidity, there is in actual fact, a third category: Foreign Invasion. As the power supply gives out heat, cramped enclosure and maybe, because of the frequency in the electronics, we do find a lot of dead insects or geckos in there. If they do not make a nest or urinate, most of them would likely get killed when they touch some of the components thereb creating a short.

Oh-oh, the first thing I saw was this partially chewed
cable. This means the PBX has been housing more
than just cables.

See the culprit there? It was stuck at the metal
panel

And while it was trying to get out, it got the
shock of its life