[Amps] Working on my Darwin award

[Carl]

Any more stunts like that Vic and they will be mailing your ashes to Israel!

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vic Rosenthal K2VCO" <k2vco.vic at gmail.com>
To: "Amps reflector" <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2014 8:41 PM
Subject: [Amps] Working on my Darwin award


> Speaking of dangerous stupidity, here's what I did today. I was testing my 
> amplifier with different plate voltages, so I was changing taps on the 
> primary and secondary of the plate transformer. At one point I manged to 
> connect the 240v line between the 220 and 240 volt terminals instead of 0 
> and one of the others!
>
> When the time delay expired there was a loud CLUNK as the 20A breaker on 
> the power supply, the 25A one on the wall of my shack, and the 30A one in 
> the service entrance all popped. I unplugged the PS and went around 
> resetting the breakers. Then I corrected the wiring and plugged it in 
> again.
>
> Some of you may know what's coming. I think I heard a faint hum (it's a 
> quiet Dahl transformer) but the meaning didn't register -- until I saw the 
> HV meter on the amp indicating 3.4 kV, with the power supply supposedly 
> off!
>
> The surge had welded the contacts of the HV relay (rated 30A). Not 
> surprising, considering the amount of current that probably flowed through 
> the #10 wires connecting my shack to the service entrance.
>
> Although I spotted the problem before it killed me, this wasn't cool. It 
> also proves that I need a more serious contactor for a HV relay!
> -- 
> 73,
>
> Vic, K2VCO
> Fresno CA
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
>
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