Reckless electricity generating

[pastedavid]

"Dundee Sheriff Court was told he had created a "dangerous man made transformer assembly"."

It's the 'man made' bit that tickled me.

[Adam Funk]

transformer assembly"."

Using alien technology isn't illegal yet.

[polygonum]

transformer assembly"."

Could have grown on a tree... :-)

[Frank Erskine]

assembly"."

Made by a dangerous man, perhaps?

[Adam Funk]

transformer assembly"."

Apparently so, in this case.

[spuorgelgoog]

Update at

Charles McKenzie, 55, from Dundee, suspended a generator from the ceiling of his bedroom after his electricity supply was cut off in February last year.

Fiscal depute Lynne Mannion said that in the early hours of 28 August 2012 the police and fire service were contacted by a neighbour who had heard drilling and could smell petrol from McKenzie's 14th-floor flat.

"In a bedroom there was a generator suspended by thin ropes. It was connected to a transformer and a car battery with an extension lead running to the living room. There were two cans of petrol beside the generator."

She said the emergency services noted that McKenzie was a smoker which increased the risk of an accident.

Sheriff Elizabeth Munro deferred sentence until October for the case to call alongside another charge that McKenzie earlier admitted.

She said: "Thank goodness the neighbour alerted police - he could have killed himself or the neighbours. Could he not have just paid his electricity bill rather than going to this extent?"

The sheriff added: "You are getting too old to be appearing in the sheriff court on this kind of nonsense."

Owain

[Matty F]

I have more than 90 litres of fuel in a walnut and leather container out in the garage. There's also a quality British (or is it Indian now?) V8 engine and a big battery and an inverter. Very handy when there's a power cut. I don't see the problem.

[Archibald]

I'd be intrigued as to how you propose to suspend the arrangement from youre bedroom ceiling.

I presume you are not married?

AB

[dennis]

Your garage is halfway up a tower block?

[tony sayer]

Its a wonder he didn't accidentally gas himself;!...

[spuorgelgoog]

Update at

Charles McKenzie pled guilty to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct as well as two charges of stealing electricity.

Sheriff George Way issued the community payback order and ordered a review hearing in January.

Owain

[The Other John]

Shirley you mean 'pleaded', pled is American and this is uk.d-i-y! :)

TOJ.

[fred]

Look at the article again, he was clearly wearing a checked shirt in the dock.

[Roger Chapman]

They are funny that way in Scotland as well.

I wonder what the charge (if any) would have been in England.

"He pled guilty to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct as well as two charges of stealing electricity."

No doubt someone will be along in a minute to tell me that 'culpable and reckless conduct' is an offence in England and Wales as well.

[harryagain]

The description of his equipment makes no sense,

[Tim+]

I think for "transformer", read "12V battery charger".

Tim

[Brian Gaff]

Could someone explain what this is actually about then? I'm confused. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

So my 1970 design for a phone line powered nicad charger was illegal I suppose. grin. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

Exactly my point in asking.

brian

[Brian Gaff]

Well, most people who steal electricity simply bypass the meter completely, or nick it froma convenient street light cable. There have been some creative ideas like the farmer who strung a very long wire alongside a power cable to get induced power to power some remote equipment. I also wonder about all those demos of holding up fluorescent tubes undeneath pylons as well.

None of those indirect methods are very efficient. Brian