Editing 2848: Breaker Box
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | A {{w|distribution board}}, referred to as a "breaker box" here and also commonly referred to as a "fuse box", "breaker panel", "DB box", and many other names, is a metal box attached to a wall, usually in some maintenance area, containing | + | {{incomplete|Created by a HIGH-PITCHED HUM GENERATOR THAT WAS LAST MENTIONED EXACTLY 1258 COMICS AGO - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
+ | A {{w|distribution board}}, referred to as a "breaker box" here and also commonly referred to as a "fuse box", "breaker panel", "DB box", and many other names, is a metal box attached to a wall inside a building, usually in some maintenance area, containing several {{w|circuit breakers}} that let power through to various parts of the building. A circuit breaker is an electrical switch, usually in the form of a small lever, that will physically open if too much power is flowing through, as might be the case if a fault occurs, in order to prevent fires and protect appliances. | ||
− | In breaker boxes, each individual breaker is | + | In most breaker boxes, each individual breaker is labeled to let the operator know what that specific breaker controls. A breaker will usually control something like the outlets or lights in a certain room, or some large appliance. |
− | However, in houses that have been rewired multiple times (or | + | However, in houses that have been rewired multiple times (or are poorly wired), this can quickly become overcomplicated with seemingly random connections. Randall lives in Boston where much of the housing stock is from the late 1800s or early 1900s, and he is likely to live in a house with non-ideal wiring, which may have inspired this comic. |
− | The comic satirizes these complex wiring setups, with multiple breakers "controlling" arbitrary things, including some that | + | The comic satirizes these complex wiring setups, with multiple breakers "controlling" arbitrary things, including some that -- in the classic style of XKCD -- may be impossible to hook a breaker up to, getting progressively more absurd to the point of disabling certain laws of physics. |
− | + | ===Table of the breakers labels=== | |
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− | ===Table of the | ||
{|class = "wikitable" | {|class = "wikitable" | ||
! Label next to breaker !! Explanation !! Note | ! Label next to breaker !! Explanation !! Note | ||
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! colspan="3"|Left column of switches | ! colspan="3"|Left column of switches | ||
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− | | Kitchen | + | | Kitchen Lights || The lights in the kitchen. || rowspan="3"| Standard items |
|- | |- | ||
| Living room lights || The lights in the living room. | | Living room lights || The lights in the living room. | ||
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| Bathroom lights and one surprise mystery outlet somewhere || The lights in the bathroom, but also a random outlet. | | Bathroom lights and one surprise mystery outlet somewhere || The lights in the bathroom, but also a random outlet. | ||
− | + | This kind of situation can occur if an electrician – while adding wiring – chooses to wire seemingly logically unrelated things to the same circuit because it's convient/sensible for her to do so. This can mystify future homeowners who don't know the wiring history. | |
− | + | | Standard, but 'kludged' | |
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− | | Standard | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | North-facing appliances || colspan="2"| | + | | North-facing appliances || colspan="2"|Difficult, but not theoretically impossible. Presumably this house has: |
− | # | + | #a smart wiring system that knows which outlets control which appliances, |
− | # | + | #all appliances with magnetic compasses that report their orientation to the smart home controler, and |
− | # | + | #this breaker is not a simple power on/off but can selectively disable only north-facing appliances. |
− | + | Alternatively, it is physically wired only to outlets installed on a southern wall in the property (or ''all'' southern walls, for each room that requires them), with the presumption that everything connected to these exclusively north-facing outlets also faces directly away from the wall(s). | |
− | + | <br />It is unclear how strict this is as well - it could be as lax as northeast to northwest, or even as strict as {{w|Points of the compass#32-wind compass rose|north by east to north by west}}. | |
− | + | Or, of course, it could mean the appliances on the north-facing walls of the house. | |
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− | | Bathtub drain light || colspan="2"|Bathtub drains typically do not have lights, but this breaker provides power to that and only that | + | | Bathtub drain light || colspan="2"|Bathtub drains typically do not have lights, but this breaker provides power to that and only that. |
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− | | Appliances whose names contain the letter "F" || colspan="2"| | + | | Appliances whose names contain the letter "F" || colspan="2"|Also difficult but not theoretically impossible. Similar to "North-facing appliances," this would require a smart wiring system that can detect the official names of appliances plugged into each outlet, and the ability of this breaker switch to selectively disable certain outlets. (Typical electrical systems do not carry data about names, for starters.) |
− | + | Some common household appliances that this switch might control: Coffee maker, refrigerator, freezer, fan, air fryer, food processor, waffle iron, fabric steamer, fireplace (electric) | |
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− | Some common household appliances | ||
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− | + | | Hot water heater || Usually just a heater that creates (and typically stores) hot water. But given the next label "regular water heater", this label might actually refer to a water heater that pointlessly heats water that is ''already'' hot. This is a joke about the fact that the common phrase "hot water heater" is technically redundant (a water heater might be assumed to produce ''only'' hot water) or inaccurate (residential water heaters do not heat only water that is ''already'' hot). || rowspan="2"|Two "heaters" | |
− | This is | ||
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− | |rowspan="2"|Two "heaters" | ||
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− | | Regular water heater || The heater for regular water. | + | | Regular water heater || The heater for regular water. Together with the switch above, this presumes it's for a heater for heating water that is not yet hot (usually called a "hot water heater", hence the joke). |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Outlets in rooms that it's normal to eat pizza in || colspan="2"|This controls every outlet in rooms that it's normal to eat pizza in, such as the dining room and kitchen and | + | | Outlets in rooms that it's normal to eat pizza in || colspan="2"|This controls every outlet in rooms that it's normal to eat pizza in, such as the dining room and kitchen and -- depending on the "normal" habits of the inhabitants -- other rooms such as the bedroom, bathroom, or living room (if not already covered by the "living room lights" switch above). |
|- | |- | ||
− | | High-pitched hum generator || colspan="2"|Controls a high-pitched hum generator. This is a call-back to [[1590: The Source]] | + | | High-pitched hum generator || colspan="2"|Controls a high-pitched hum generator. This is a call-back to [[1590: The Source]]. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | The solution to the cryptogram below: || colspan="2"|Likely a pun on | + | | The solution to the cryptogram below: || colspan="2"|Likely a pun on "breaking" or solving a cryptogram, which is a puzzle where a sentence has been encoded using a cipher, usually simple, and the goal is to determine the cipher and recover the original sentence from the encoded one. |
− | + | Another explanation is that this switch enables or disables the solution somehow, perhaps controlling its knowability. | |
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− | | Bugs || colspan="2"| | + | | Bugs || colspan="2"|This could either refer to software bugs or actual bugs, both of which do not make much sense to be able to turn off, or to covert listening devices, which would be able to be switched off if wired into the house's electrical grid, but are not a common feature in most houses. If this does refer to actual bugs, it may be a reference to [[2753: Air Handler]]. |
− | + | Though it's unlikely that it's what Randall is referring to, computer bugs switches actually exist. It's a feature in some video game emulators to either run an unofficial patched version or to stay true to the original system, for example to allow bug-exploit speedruns of a video game. | |
− | + | <br />If this switch disables the whole category of bugs (insects, arachnids, and other small arthropods), we'd have no more pests and we'd reduce disease likes malaria and {{w|Lyme disease}}. Food webs would also collapse, and our world would be overrun with waste. | |
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! colspan="3"|Right column of switches | ! colspan="3"|Right column of switches | ||
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− | | A whirring fan you didn't realize was on until now || colspan="2"| | + | | A whirring fan you didn't realize was on until now || colspan="2"|The AC in a building usually creates quiet white noise from fans, which people usually do not hear until they become aware that there is a sound. Other appliances, such as refrigerators or home servers can have similar effects. |
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− | | Dishwasher || colspan="2"| | + | | Dishwasher || colspan="2"|The dishwasher. |
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− | | Dishes || colspan="2"| | + | | Dishes || colspan="2"|Traditionally, dishes cannot be turned off, as they do not normally require electricity. "Dishes" could be the label for a dishwasher on another house's breaker box, but this one already used that label. Another, unlikely explanation is that this switch controls two or more satellite dishes. |
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| Hallway lights || The lights in the hallway or hallways. || rowspan="3"|"Hallway" regions | | Hallway lights || The lights in the hallway or hallways. || rowspan="3"|"Hallway" regions | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Hallway outlets || The outlets in the hallway or hallways | + | | Hallway outlets || The outlets in the hallway or hallways. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Hallway floors || | + | | Hallway floors || This breaker has several potential interpretations: |
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#Outlets in the floor | #Outlets in the floor | ||
#Electric underfloor heating (heated bathroom floors are a feature in some houses) | #Electric underfloor heating (heated bathroom floors are a feature in some houses) | ||
− | #Electrification of the floors | + | #Electrification of the floors -- not common outside of horror and heist movies. |
− | #Disabling all floors entirely, so everything resting on the floors falls through | + | #Disabling all floors entirely, so everything resting on the floors falls through. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Social media || colspan="2"|This breaker also has several potential interpretations of | + | | Social media || colspan="2"|This breaker also has several potential interpretations of "turning off social media": |
− | #'Digital detoxes', where someone says "I'm going to | + | #'Digital detoxes', where someone says "I'm going to turn off my social media" and intends to deny themselves access to all their social media apps. |
#A switch for a parent to turn off all social media entering the house to protect their kids and themselves, which references a type of specialized content filter available through Wi-Fi router settings, not traditionally a breaker box. | #A switch for a parent to turn off all social media entering the house to protect their kids and themselves, which references a type of specialized content filter available through Wi-Fi router settings, not traditionally a breaker box. | ||
− | #A callback to [[908: The Cloud]]. Since most social media platforms are centralized services, it would be theoretically possible to hook up a switch to the main power supply of every server building at once, given some extremely long wires, a breaker capable of handling the abhorrently massive electric load, and agreement from every social media provider | + | #A callback to [[908: The Cloud]]. Since most social media platforms are centralized services, it would be theoretically possible to hook up a switch to the main power supply of every server building at once, given some extremely long wires, a breaker capable of handling the abhorrently massive electric load, and agreement from every social media provider<sup><i>([[1439|optional]])</i></sup>. |
#The theoretical desire by some to "turn off social media" for the world due to its harmful effects on society. As someone who lived before social media and saw its spread over two decades, Randall may be ruing the impacts of social media on civilization and channeling his desire to put the genie back in the bottle. | #The theoretical desire by some to "turn off social media" for the world due to its harmful effects on society. As someone who lived before social media and saw its spread over two decades, Randall may be ruing the impacts of social media on civilization and channeling his desire to put the genie back in the bottle. | ||
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− | | State law || | + | | State law || Likely a pun on "State Law Breaker." |
− | Taken literally, it would either disable enforcement of State Law or nullify every single one, creating a state of | + | Taken literally, it would either disable enforcement of State Law or nullify every single one, creating a state of martial law similar to the premise of the popular movie, "The Purge". It's unclear if this refers to Randall's state of Massachusetts or State Law as a general concept. |
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| rowspan="2"|"Legal" items | | rowspan="2"|"Legal" items | ||
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− | | Federal law || | + | | Federal law || Likely a pun on "Federal Law Breaker," though it could also be taken literally, as above. The ramifications of nullifying every US Federal law are immense. Disabling Federal Law while keeping State Law would theoretically fulfill the goals of the "States Rights" advocates, groups of conservatives across US history aiming to return Federal power to the States. |
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− | The ramifications of nullifying every US Federal law are immense. Disabling Federal Law while keeping State Law would theoretically fulfill the goals of the "States Rights" advocates, groups of conservatives across US history aiming to return Federal power to the States. | ||
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− | | Second law of thermodynamics || The | + | | Second law of thermodynamics || The Second Law of Thermodynamics, in simple terms, states that the total entropy (or disorder) of an isolated system can only increase over time. It's a fundamental principle that dictates the direction of energy flow and the feasibility of many processes, and provides an arrow of time. |
− | + | Turning off the second law of thermodynamics would have some pros and cons. | |
− | This law of physics was also explored in the What If? article [https://what-if.xkcd.com/145/ Fire From Moonlight]. | + | ;GOOD STUFF |
+ | *'''Perpetual Motion Machines''': Machines that can do work indefinitely without an energy source would become possible, defying our current understanding of energy conservation. | ||
+ | *'''Reversibility of Processes''': Many natural processes that are irreversible under current laws could be reversed. For instance, melted ice could spontaneously turn back into a solid without energy removal. | ||
+ | *'''Recycling Energy''': We could theoretically use the same quantum of energy over and over again, leading to ultra-efficient systems and potentially solving many of the world's energy problems. | ||
+ | *'''Reversing Entropy-Driven Processes''': Things like mixing cream and coffee or ink in water could spontaneously unmix. | ||
+ | ;BAD STUFF | ||
+ | *'''End Life as We Know It:''' All living organisms rely on the second law for crucial processes, including metabolism and reproduction. If the second law were negated, life, at least as we understand it, might not be possible. | ||
+ | *'''No Heat Engines:''' Engines rely on the flow of heat from hotter to colder bodies. Without the Second Law, our cars, power plants, refrigerators, and many other devices would not function. | ||
+ | *'''Breakdown of Molecular Processes:''' Molecules spontaneously move from areas of higher to lower concentration due to entropy. Without this, diffusion, osmosis, and many biochemical reactions wouldn't occur as they currently do. | ||
+ | *'''Loss of Directionality:''' One interpretation of the Second Law provides a directionality to time (the so-called "arrow of time"). Without it, causality and our understanding of past, present, and future could be fundamentally altered. | ||
+ | *'''Unpredictable Outcomes:''' Turning off the Second Law could result in a universe where outcomes are not probabilistically predictable. You couldn't rely on anything happening as it "should," leading to chaos in every sense. | ||
+ | <br />This law of physics was also explored in the What If? article [https://what-if.xkcd.com/145/ Fire From Moonlight]. | ||
| rowspan="3"|"Physics" items | | rowspan="3"|"Physics" items | ||
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− | | Friction | | + | | Friction || Friction is the resistive force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion of two surfaces in contact. Turning it off has some upsides and downsides. |
+ | ;UPSIDES | ||
+ | *'''Perpetual Motion Machines:''' Without friction, once an object starts moving, it would continue indefinitely unless acted upon by another force. This could lead to perpetual motion machines that could generate energy. | ||
+ | *'''Super-Efficient Transport:''' Cars, trains, and other vehicles would glide effortlessly once set into motion, leading to immense energy savings. | ||
+ | *'''Unique Sports:''' New sports and activities would emerge, where players glide or slide over surfaces without friction. | ||
+ | ;DOWNSIDES | ||
+ | *'''Walking Would Be Impossible:''' We rely on friction between our feet and the ground to move. Without it, we would be unable to walk, run, or even stand. | ||
+ | *'''No Manual Dexterity:''' Holding, grabbing, or manipulating objects would be impossible. Even simple tasks like holding a glass or writing with a pen would be out of reach. | ||
+ | *'''Catastrophic Mechanical Failures:''' Many machines rely on friction to function. Brakes in cars, for instance, use friction to slow down and stop the vehicle. Without it, uncontrollable accidents would occur. | ||
+ | *'''No Sound:''' Friction between air molecules creates sound waves. Without friction, the world would be silent. | ||
+ | *'''Breathing Difficulties:''' Our respiratory system relies on frictional forces when the alveoli in our lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the bloodstream. | ||
+ | *'''No Fire:''' Fire relies on friction for its creation, such as when striking a match. The absence of friction would mean no traditional methods of starting a fire. | ||
+ | *'''Collisions:''' Objects, once set in motion, would continue to move until they hit something, leading to a myriad of unpredictable and uncontrollable collisions. | ||
+ | <br />Being in a frictionless environment (and a vacuum, as physicists love...) was the subject of [[669: Experiment]]. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Gravity | | + | | Gravity || Gravity is a natural force that attracts two bodies toward each other, proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. |
− | + | Turning off gravity would have some advantages and disadvantages. | |
− | + | ;ADVANTAGES | |
+ | * '''Flight''': Without gravity, every leap could turn into a flight. We could push off surfaces and float effortlessly through the air. | ||
+ | * '''No Weight Restrictions''': Large structures could be built without concern for weight-bearing loads. This would drastically change engineering and architectural designs. | ||
+ | * '''New Sports''': Zero-gravity sports and activities could become a reality on Earth. Imagine playing basketball or soccer without gravity! | ||
+ | ;DISADVANTAGES | ||
+ | * '''Loss of Atmosphere and Oceans''': Without gravity, Earth's atmosphere would dissipate into space, and water from oceans, rivers, and lakes would float away, making life as we know it impossible. | ||
+ | * '''Unanchored Chaos''': Everything not fixed to the ground, including people, animals, vehicles, trees, and structures, would become airborne, causing massive destruction and chaos. | ||
+ | * '''Disruption of Celestial Order''': Earth would no longer orbit the Sun, the Moon would drift away rather quickly, and the structural integrity of the universe, including galaxies and solar systems, would be jeopardized. | ||
+ | * '''Everything Exploding''': Most celestial bodies, ranging from the moon to supermassive black holes, would explode from internal pressure and centrifugal forces no longer fighting against gravity throwing everything into space. | ||
+ | * '''Aggregation Absence''': Stars, galaxies, and basically anything in space requires gravity to form. Without gravity, no stars, planets, or meteors would form ever again. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Circuit breakers || colspan="2"| | + | | Circuit breakers || colspan="2"|If this was turned off, it would presumably turn off all power in the house since no breaker is supplied or supplying power any more. (Most houses have a main circuit breaker that provides this functionality.) |
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− | + | However, if this circuit breaker disables all circuit breakers everywhere, it would result in global infrastructure collapse, halting essential services, including transportation, healthcare, and communication, and leading to widespread chaos. | |
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! colspan="3"|Title text | ! colspan="3"|Title text | ||
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− | | colspan=" | + | | colspan="2"|The title text is about causality. Turning off the circuit breaker using the CIRCUIT BREAKER switch may lead to a loop, as the disabled breaker can no longer disable itself, leading to it turning back on, etc. Turning off CAUSALITY first would prevent this loop as causes would no longer have effects. |
− | + | * This might be a one-way street: turning the CAUSALITY switch from OFF back to ON would be unlikely to do anything if the separation of cause and effect takes precedence over the current switch setting. | |
− | + | | A further "Physics" item | |
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− | Turning off the circuit breaker using the CIRCUIT | ||
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|} | |} | ||
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:Outlets in rooms that it's normal to eat pizza in / Second law of thermodynamics | :Outlets in rooms that it's normal to eat pizza in / Second law of thermodynamics | ||
:High-pitched hum generator / Friction | :High-pitched hum generator / Friction | ||
− | + | :[There are words that are too small to read on the left breaker's label.] | |
+ | :The solution to the cryptogram below: / Gravity | ||
:Bugs / Circuit breakers | :Bugs / Circuit breakers | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} |