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Comment by crmd

> Because the alarm wire carried current only during a fault, an open 25-inch strap produced the same electrical state at the receiving end as a healthy power plant.

I’m a building automation and controls tech in Manhattan, and for this exact reason digital feedback points and alarms are always normally-closed, and analog points are 4-20mA. This allows differentiation between nominal zero values and a fault in the loop.

Disasters like this are what our best practices are borne from.

parent crmd 11 days ago

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