-----Original Message-----
From: David Humbertson <daveh@hereintown.net>
To: baswaplist@foothill.net <baswaplist@foothill.net>; Drake@qth.net
<drake@qth.net>; Drakelist@baltimoremd.com <drakelist@baltimoremd.com>;
Heath@listserve.tempe.gov <heath@listserve.tempe.gov>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Date: Friday, November 27, 1998 2:54 AM
Subject: [Drake] A not so gentle reminder - HV is unforgiving
>Hi All,
>I usually don't post to multiple lists but thought my recent
>reminder of the dangers of getting to comfortable around
>HV should be shared in the hopes it will prevent someone
>else from going through what I just did this eve - OR WORSE.
>...Spent most of the day putting the finishing touches on a very
>nice SB-200 I just picked up - had put the top shield on and
>just had it on the bench "burning in" this evening as my family
>and I had our Thanksgiving dinner etc. I went downstairs to my
>BA bench to give it a look and for some reason I put my right hand
>on the right side, feeling for heat from the bleeder resistors safely
>inside. My little finger must have curled under a bit and what
>happened next is just a blur as it came in contact with the 2400
>volt runner on the outside edge of the PS board - felt like I had
>been hit with a sledgehammer. My right little finger split open like
>an overcooked hotdog. The amp sounded liked firecrackers
>going off and fire came from under the board - I was in too much
>of a daze to even turn it off - finally tripped the breakers. After
>returning from the emergency room about an hour ago, where I
>had a painful session of having skin cut away,etc., I checked the
>amp out (yes, my wife could not believe that either), runners burnt
>open, most of the bleeders open, meter pointer bent -- all of this
>damage caused by my skin sticking to the board.
>.. I have been working with this stuff for 39 years and I know better,
>been inside the Collins KW-1, the Johnson KW, T368, and
>numerous linears. I am a radio tech by trade - guess all of this
>low voltage stuff can make us forget what is just an inch away.
>I certainly am thankful to God for sparing me this time, and I just
>wanted to remind all of you how easily and quickly this can
>happen - yes I know all about it too, but as I look at my bandaged
>hand, I realize we all need a reminder from time to time.
> I realize this may be a bit off topic, so thanks for your time.
>...BTW - It sure is hard to type now.
>--
>73, Dave - W3NP
>Ft. Ashby, WV
>
>
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