electing a pope

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Electing a Pope

   <electronics, humour> (From the smoke signals given out when
   the guys in funny hats choose a new Pope) Causing an
   {integrated circuit} or other electronic component to emit
   smoke by passing too much current through it.

   See {magic smoke}.

   (1995-08-18)