kaberett | adventure in electrickery, from earlier this week

> slice bread
> place bread slices in toaster
> depress toaster mechanism

All the lights go out.

> ...
> flip the main breaker back on
> depress the toaster mechanism again

All the lights go out.

> flip the main breaker
> remove bread from toaster
> depress the toaster mechanism
> ... cancel the toast cycle
> remove the crumb tray
> ... oh.

I can but surmise that the slight smell of burning I've lacked the executive function to do anything about for Several Weeks Now had reached the point that the lump of bread responsible was sufficiently carbonised that, given something to wedge the toaster mechanism partially open, it was conductive enough to short out the device in question and thereby The House.

It is possible and indeed probably that I do not understand the electrical situation At All, but hey, I emptied the crumb tray and the smell of burning desisted and I got (& ate) my toast, and also, possibly, Learned Something.