Several times over the past 30 years Hams have been hurt, or killed, poking
around inside tube-type amps with power on. QST, with total disregard for
common sense, even published an article suggesting people defeat interlocks
to make a measurement with a hand-held meter.
Last week I mentioned something about a certain V31, who killed himself
poking around inside an amplifier with power on. I gave the V31 a similar
warning to this weeks or months before he killed himself.
A story surfaced today about an AL1200 amplifier, which has about 3600 volts
inside. Apparently someone instructed someone else to measure HV with a
small handheld meter. As the story goes, the handheld meter blew up.
I'd like to remind everyone to remind others, when they see or hear
something like this going on, to say something before it happens, if
possible.
It is NEVER necessary to run an amplifier with the cover off, and especially
HV on, to check things. Anyone advising defeating an interlock, or powering
up a tube-type amplifier with the cover off and HV exposed, it is a fool.
If we don't know anything about electronics or how things work, at least we
should know what we should never do. We should never remove a cover and
power up a tube-type amplifier with HV exposed, and it is especially foolish
to go poking around inside with a meter, no matter how careful you think you
are.
73 Tom
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