I started a new job back in February. It had been 18 years since I started a new job and I've spent much of the last 2 months being the FNG and just trying to figure out where they hide the coffee and which website to go to for which web-based meeting, training, reporting, bidding, or to request that someone re-fill the toilet paper in the men's room.
By the pictures on my wall, some of the guys developed an interst in seeing Big Betty, so I drove her in to work today. Needless to say, she's creating quite a distraction around here.
I did have one problem though:
As I made a left hand turn on to the freeway ramp this morning (in the dark), I heard a sizzle noise, saw a puff of smoke from the 3-way switch area, and I lost my instrument lights. I was in traffic and rolling onto the ramp, so I did a quick rolling assessment that I still had all external lights (headlights, tail lights, turn signals), scanned the instruments and cab with my pocket flashlight, and kept on going.
After I arrived and parked at work, I inspected the switch and wiring and found no visible sign of a problem. I tried the switch again and the instrument lights were working again! The 3-way switch is a new one that I bought from Erik's about a year ago and it has been working flawlessly until this little event. I'm worried about it now as that switch has power to it at all times. I don't want a fire for sure. I plan to take the 3-way out tonight and take a closer look at everything, but I think I'm going to need a new switch.