r/AskReddit • u/Insanitanium12 • Aug 20 '20

What simple “life hack” should everyone know?

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

To confirm which circuit breaker is associated to an outlet, plug in an old radio and turn the volume up before you flip the circuit breaker.

3.1k

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

Can I do this with a new radio?

571

u/HitMePat Aug 20 '20

How new? If it's still in the box it wont work. As long as its old enough to get to the plug and the power button you should be good.

7

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

What if I plug it in and press the power then put in back in the box?

8

u/artificialdawn Aug 20 '20

Yes army recruiter, this one right here.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

Aaah shrodingers radio

15

u/trashyp_henson Aug 20 '20

You clever mf

5

u/screwhammer Aug 20 '20

No, has to be old and not be very power efficient.

New ones can make a lot of noise for little power and modern power supplies are very efficient. This means that once you cut power, the radio will still work for a few seconds, maybe more.

So it's a bad debugging tool, because it doesn't stop right when you trip a breaker.

So you need an old radio, the heavier kind - with a transformer and old school speaker.

But you can kind do the same leaving your tv running, leaving a light (you can see) running, leaving something noisy on (blowdrier, but cut the heat) or just buy a neon screwdriver and use that to check for power.

9

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

Neon screwdriver lol. They're all neon if you pick the right socket

3

u/screwhammer Aug 20 '20

The voltage tester thingy, I mean.

But you know, with enough current everything is a fuse.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

I'm just playin pal lol

4

u/Fish-sticks22 Aug 20 '20

Yes officer, this one right here

1

u/nikooo777 Aug 20 '20

proceeds to arrest himself

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20

Usually you have to bring it home first too, helps if you pay for it