One day I found myself working with an elderly semi retired electrician. He was wiring a series of lights down a hallway. He was taking turns wiring, picking up parts, and eating a sandwich. after the 11th light socket was installed all the bulbs where put in. At that point he told me "sonny so flip that switch and let's see what we got". Never the less, I flipped the switch. That was possibly the brightest flash of light I've seen in some time. Out of the darkness his voice said "I take it that wasn't 120 volts, hmmmmmm I have more lightbulbs". He had somehow wired across 220 volts.

The words of wisdom from my electronics instructor in vo-tech school.

#1 a desoldering iron is not a super duper solder shooter.

#2 if a fuse blows don't use a bigger fuse.

#3 if you smell it and it's working fine, there is probably something wrong.

#4 twice the voltage on a motor doesn't mean it goes twice as fast....