Editing 2848: Breaker Box
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
==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 can be used to manually isolate the electrical connections beyond it from the incoming power supply, but that will also physically trigger open if too much power is flowing through (often due to some grounding fault), to mitigate against dangerous short-circuits that can injure/damage people and appliances, in the most serious cases hopefully preventing fires and even risk of death. | ||
− | 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 (perhaps all those in a certain room), or some large appliance which normally draws a large current all on its own. |
− | 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 – in the classic style of | + | 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=== | |
− | |||
− | ===Table of the | ||
{|class = "wikitable" | {|class = "wikitable" | ||
! Label next to breaker !! Explanation !! Note | ! Label next to breaker !! Explanation !! Note | ||
Line 26: | Line 25: | ||
! colspan="3"|Left column of switches | ! colspan="3"|Left column of switches | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Kitchen | + | | Kitchen Lights || The lights in the kitchen. || rowspan="3"| Standard items that could be separate |
|- | |- | ||
| Living room lights || The lights in the living room. | | Living room lights || The lights in the living room. | ||
Line 33: | Line 32: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 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. | ||
− | It is not uncommon for the power | + | It is not uncommon for the power supply to a 'wet room' (usually just lighting, but perhaps also relevant appliances like a double-fused 'shaver supply' and/or electric shower unit) to be wired up independently to restrict the impact of short-circuits due to unexpected water seepage or allow specific isolation during later maintenance work. |
− | + | Having initially reserved an output from the box for such a limited use, it is possible that another electrician – while adding wiring – chooses to wire seemingly unrelated things into the same circuit because it seems more convenient/sensible to do so than to tap onto any other, or because all other circuits are close to overloading. This can mystify homeowners (and future installers) who aren't fully informed about this aspect of the wiring history. | |
− | | Standard | + | | Standard, but 'kludged' |
|- | |- | ||
| North-facing appliances || colspan="2"|Peculiar and a bit complex to execute. Here's how it might have been set up: | | North-facing appliances || colspan="2"|Peculiar and a bit complex to execute. Here's how it might have been set up: | ||
# Install a breaker switch that is actually a mechanical switch to control a smart home automation instead of its normal function | # Install a breaker switch that is actually a mechanical switch to control a smart home automation instead of its normal function | ||
# Replace relevant normal outlets with Wi-Fi-controlled smart outlets | # Replace relevant normal outlets with Wi-Fi-controlled smart outlets | ||
− | # Use smart home software to create a custom group of all outlets that control all | + | # Use smart home software to create a custom group of all outlets that control all north-facing appliances |
− | # Set up a software automation to selectively toggle this user-defined group of smart outlets when triggered. | + | # Set up a software automation to selectively toggle this user-defined group of Wi-Fi-controlled smart outlets when triggered. |
− | + | # Adding a matching appliance to the house would require editing the automation. | |
Alternative explanations: | Alternative explanations: | ||
* The switch may be physically wired only to outlets installed on a southern wall in the property (or ''all'' southern walls, for each room that requires them), and you'd ensure that everything connected to these exclusively north-facing outlets also faces directly away from the wall(s). | * The switch may be physically wired only to outlets installed on a southern wall in the property (or ''all'' southern walls, for each room that requires them), and you'd ensure that everything connected to these exclusively north-facing outlets also faces directly away from the wall(s). | ||
− | * | + | * It switch could control appliances on the north-facing walls of the house. |
− | Note: "North-facing" has broad interpretation, as lax as northeast to northwest or as strict as {{w|Points of the compass#32-wind compass rose|north by east to north by west}} | + | Note: "North-facing" has broad interpretation, as lax as northeast to northwest or as strict as {{w|Points of the compass#32-wind compass rose|north by east to north by west}}. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Bathtub drain light || colspan="2"|Bathtub drains typically do not have lights, but this breaker provides power to that and only that. Why it isn't already considered a "bathroom light" is unexplained (unless it's for the bit of the pipe that is ''external'' to that room). | + | | Bathtub drain light || colspan="2"|Bathtub drains typically do not have lights, but this breaker provides power to that and only that. Why it isn't already considered a "bathroom light" is unexplained (unless it's for the bit of the pipe that is ''external'' to that room). |
− | + | Indeed, it is possible the reason the "bathroom light" breaker was able to take that additional random outlet connection was because this light had been miswired. | |
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Appliances whose names contain the letter "F" || colspan="2"|Another odd and amusing specification. | | Appliances whose names contain the letter "F" || colspan="2"|Another odd and amusing specification. | ||
− | To make it work, one might use the "North-facing appliances" setup | + | To make it work, one might use the "North-facing appliances" setup, but using a different custom group of Wi-Fi-controlled smart outlets chosen to only control appliances with an "F' in their name. |
− | Some common household appliances | + | Some common household appliances that this switch might control: |
* coffee maker | * coffee maker | ||
* refrigerator | * refrigerator | ||
Line 70: | Line 68: | ||
* fabric steamer | * fabric steamer | ||
* fireplace (electric) | * fireplace (electric) | ||
+ | Note that only ''most'' of these are kitchen appliances, following the theme of "bathroom and one mystery outlet somewhere" | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | Hot water heater || Usually just a heater that creates (and typically stores) hot water. But given that the next breaker controls the "Regular water heater", this breaker might actually control a water heater that pointlessly heats water that is ''already'' hot. | |
This is probably a joke about the fact that the common phrase "hot water heater" is [[technically]] redundant or misleading: | This is probably a joke about the fact that the common phrase "hot water heater" is [[technically]] redundant or misleading: | ||
− | * Redundant because the simpler term "water heater" is enough to describe a device that produces hot water | + | * Redundant because the simpler term "water heater" is enough to describe a device that produces hot water |
* Misleading because it's not the purpose of residential water heaters to heat water that is ''already'' hot. | * Misleading because it's not the purpose of residential water heaters to heat water that is ''already'' hot. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
|rowspan="2"|Two "heaters" | |rowspan="2"|Two "heaters" | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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). Alternatively, if we assume that a ''hot water heater'' is for ''making'' hot water, this heater must be making “regular water”, whatever temperature that may mean. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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) | + | | 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) but presumably not closets and single-purpose rooms such as the laundry room. |
|- | |- | ||
| High-pitched hum generator || colspan="2"|Controls a high-pitched hum generator. This is a call-back to [[1590: The Source]], which was released just over 8 years before this comic. | | High-pitched hum generator || colspan="2"|Controls a high-pitched hum generator. This is a call-back to [[1590: The Source]], which was released just over 8 years before this comic. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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 toggling its knowability or solvability. | |
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Bugs || colspan="2"|Several interpretations are possible: | | Bugs || colspan="2"|Several interpretations are possible: | ||
Line 94: | Line 89: | ||
* Disable all insect bugs in the house – as an efficient form of pest control – perhaps using ultrasonic emitters that drive away bugs (may be a reference to [[2753: Air Handler]]) – or perhaps the house contains noise machines that play sounds of insects or other ways of simulating insects. | * Disable all insect bugs in the house – as an efficient form of pest control – perhaps using ultrasonic emitters that drive away bugs (may be a reference to [[2753: Air Handler]]) – or perhaps the house contains noise machines that play sounds of insects or other ways of simulating insects. | ||
* Disable power to all covert listening devices, which would be able to be switched off if wired into the house's electrical grid. | * Disable power to all covert listening devices, which would be able to be switched off if wired into the house's electrical grid. | ||
− | * Disable the whole global category of bugs (insects, arachnids, and other small arthropods), in which case we'd have no more pests and we'd reduce disease | + | * Disable the whole global category of bugs (insects, arachnids, and other small arthropods), in which case 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. |
− | + | <br /><nowiki>*</nowiki>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. | |
− | <nowiki>*</nowiki>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. | ||
|- | |- | ||
! colspan="3"|Right column of switches | ! colspan="3"|Right column of switches | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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. |
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | Dishwasher || colspan="2"| | + | | Dishwasher || colspan="2"|Although dishwashers aren't typically high-load appliances that require a breaker to themselves (unlike, for example, the water heater), if the house wasn't originally built with a dishwasher in mind, it is likely new wiring had to be added during its installation, resulting in a breaker that exclusively controls the dishwasher. |
Though what "dishwasher" actually means may depend on what the "dishes" of the next switch might be, and thus what additional device may be required to ensure they remain clean. Even at the more trivial end of the interpretation (though not then explaining the following "dishes"), a busy restaurant might have an employee section equipped exclusively for the dishwashing role and separately supplied with power in a similar manner to that suggested for the bathroom. | Though what "dishwasher" actually means may depend on what the "dishes" of the next switch might be, and thus what additional device may be required to ensure they remain clean. Even at the more trivial end of the interpretation (though not then explaining the following "dishes"), a busy restaurant might have an employee section equipped exclusively for the dishwashing role and separately supplied with power in a similar manner to that suggested for the bathroom. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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 explanation, perhaps unusual in most contexts, is that this switch powers/controls two or more satellite dishes. Yet another explanation is that, since this is a ''breaker switch,'' tripping it simply breaks all dishes in the house. |
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 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 | + | | Hallway outlets || The outlets in the hallway or hallways. A common confusion when turning off breakers is separate wiring for outlets and lights in the same room. Though having the room go dark is a good mnemonic that it is unpowered, it is not a guarantee, and indeed, wiring them separately allows working on the outlets without having to do it in the dark. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Hallway floors || | + | | Hallway floors || This breaker has several potential interpretations: |
#A master switch for all floors (stories) in the building which include hallways, e.g. the guestroom areas in a hotel, whilst possibly excluding the lobby and service levels | #A master switch for all floors (stories) in the building which include hallways, e.g. the guestroom areas in a hotel, whilst possibly excluding the lobby and service levels | ||
#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. | ||
− | # | + | #A play on the phrase “breaking the internet”, meaning going viral on social media. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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. |
− | |||
− | |||
| rowspan="2"|"Legal" items | | rowspan="2"|"Legal" items | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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. |
− | |||
− | 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. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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 (or breaking) 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 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | 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, *ummm... anchored, surely!*-->and foundationless structures, could 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 centripetal 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. | ||
− | Of course, if this switch is turned off, it may simply mean that objects within the house itself are no longer subject to gravity. This would be '''''far''''' less cataclysmic, and as a bonus, this would make it | + | Of course, if this switch is turned off, it may simply mean that objects within the house itself are no longer subject to gravity. This would be '''''far''''' less cataclysmic, and as a bonus, this would make it much, much easier to move around the house, get to higher areas, and move objects, but could prove to cause some problems once the breaker is turned back on, especially for the floor. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | Circuit breakers || colspan="2"|Possibly the "master" breaker, controlling the main circuit that supplies power to all other circuit breakers. However, given the other surreal things this breaker box controls, turning it off may possibly make it impossible to turn it on ever again as the switch will no longer function once switched off (i.e.: If this was turned off, it would presumably turn off the functionality of the circuit breaker itself, if it was wired to include itself) | + | | Circuit breakers || colspan="2"|Possibly the "master" breaker, controlling the main circuit that supplies power to all other circuit breakers. However, given the other surreal things this breaker box controls, turning it off may possibly make it impossible to turn it on ever again as the switch will no longer function once switched off (i.e.: If this was turned off, it would presumably turn off the functionality of the circuit breaker itself, if it was wired to include itself). |
Moreover, 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. | Moreover, 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. | ||
Line 159: | Line 180: | ||
! colspan="3"|Title text | ! colspan="3"|Title text | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | colspan="3"|The title text is about {{w|causality}} | + | | colspan="3"|The title text is about {{w|causality}}, and how to use this (unseen, located elsewhere) breaker along with the last shown switch that (de)powers the illustrated box. |
Causality, in its simplest form, is the process of cause and effect, meaning that everything that happens only happens because something caused it to happen - in other words, every event is an effect caused by another event. For example, a bag of chips can't just fall onto the floor for ''literally'' no reason - it has to be caused by some other event, such as someone smacking it or a gust of wind blowing it down. | Causality, in its simplest form, is the process of cause and effect, meaning that everything that happens only happens because something caused it to happen - in other words, every event is an effect caused by another event. For example, a bag of chips can't just fall onto the floor for ''literally'' no reason - it has to be caused by some other event, such as someone smacking it or a gust of wind blowing it down. |