At 01:58 PM 9/3/2010  -0700, neil n wrote:
>Thought since I had plugged in my DC personal fanto the ciggy lighter
>this morning, it might be involved. Unplugged it, problem gone.
>Reason: DC fan cable was picking up RF from the coax cable!

Be grateful.  I've caused the (plugged in) GCFI on the cord of a (not
operating) hair dryer to arc and smoke by keying my 5-watt marine VHF
handheld at a distance of 5-6 feet.

Granted I heard the thing buzzing and left the key down "to see what
would happen"*-- it took possibly ten seconds before I was rewarded
with the flash and smoke which continued for a second until I released the key.

* Are these the most dangerous words in the English language?

Fortunately the thing failed in the conducting position, so the hair
dryer still works.  I never opened up the little cube to see what it
looked like inside, before or after.  Either lazy or difficult
access, I forget which.

Yours,
David