My one regret at work: years ago, there was some issue, noise in a system, from a piece of magnetizing equipment that ran pulsed power through a small coil to do its thing. Some issue I've long forgotten about. Anyhow, someone got the bright idea that an MOV might fix the noise that might be on the transformer, so they obtained one and put it on. I got invited to watch, but thought, no, I'd just be a fifth wheel. Didn't want to be in the way.
I'm told the blue flame could be measured in feet... no one thought about the fact that MOV's come in different voltage ratings.
Now when anyone asks if I want to watch some experiment, I'm never sure if I want to stand too close--or have my camera ready.