Archived Forum

Hi.

I might misunderstand your proposal. On the TX, I refer to the GND labels both on the board and the programmer. Once, I plugged it the wrong accidentally. Fortunately, nothing bad happened. I guess if it was harmful there would be a poka-yoke*.

* I just discovered this word. Is this the word English speakers actually use to describe a socket that is shaped so as not to be plugged the wrong way ?

"poka-yoke"  That's a new one to me! The normal word is "polarised".

Hint: I've put a blob of white paint on one end of the header - and on the programmer.  (Actually I use an extension lead  about 200 mm long on the programmer - much less risk of damage to either programmer or board with that.)

Thanks Robert. I had the feeling this word was not as common as the Wikipedia page suggested it.

When I need an english word I know the french equivalent for, I often search the french word on Wikipedia, then click the link to the english page. This can be more helpful in technical contexts. The french word is "détrompeur" and it links to poka-yoke, for which the definition fits closely to what we're talking about.

What about a device that would be polarised (that is, it works only one way) but would not have any "poka-yoke" ? I thought polarised only meant it needed (electrically) to be plugged one way, not that it could (mechanically) not be plugged another way.

"I thought polarised only meant it needed (electrically) to be plugged one way, not that it could (mechanically) not be plugged another way."

It can be both. In fact, 'polarised' can also apply to intangible things like a person's opinion. Here's what my (English) dictionary says: "polarize [ verb]. (also -ise) (-zing or -sing) 1 restrict the vibrations of (light-waves etc.) to one direction. 2 give magnetic or electric polarity to. 3 divide into two opposing groups.  polarization [noun]."

"Keyed" is also often used for mechanical things. Originally, a key is a rectangular piece of metal that prevents (say) a gear rotating on a shaft (it would fit 1/2 in a groove in the shaft and 1/2 in a groove in the wheel, locking the two together).

On the TX, I refer to the GND labels both on the board and the programmer. Once, I plugged it the wrong accidentally. Fortunately, nothing bad happened. I guess if it was harmful there would be a poka-yoke*.

Yep, I've done this too.  In my case, I just heaved a sigh of relief that no damage had been caused, and pressed on ...

Thanks for the new word!

Hint: I've put a blob of white paint on one end of the header - and on the programmer.  (Actually I use an extension lead  about 200 mm long on the programmer - much less risk of damage to either programmer or board with that.)

Me too (snopake, wonderful stuff) thought it was just ne that was always in danger of plugging it in the wrong way round :)

I find snopake makes an awful mess of the monitor screen.