[Amps] Working on my Darwin award

[Don Jones]

Vic, this is the correct action. In my non-ham life I am an EMC engineer and manage a test lab that does DO-160 lightning testing (FAA). Whenever I am training one of my guys to operate the gear, I tell them to treat what they are doing as if it were a loaded gun. I normally conclude my training session(s) with this reminder; "Always remember what you are doing here Viagra won't sure." All of us are very glad you were not hurt and respect you for bringing up this embarrassing moment.
Vy 73, Don KO7i


Message: 3
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 19:58:15 -0800
From: Vic Rosenthal<k2vco.vic at gmail.com>
To: Carl<km1h at jeremy.mv.com>, Amps reflector<amps at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Working on my Darwin award
Message-ID:<530971D7.30207 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

It's interesting how things combine to cause dangerous situations. I
think this happened because I am in the middle of packing some gear that
I sold and doing various other things, so my shack is a horrible mess. I
was working on the power supply in a very inconvenient place, in an
uncomfortable position. It was late in the afternoon, after loading and
unloading a bunch of recycled computers, so I was tired.
So, in addition to following all the rules about unplugging things and
using shorting sticks, etc., I think I will add a new rule about working
on HV equipment:

Clean up, put the tools away, make sure I have plenty of space and time
to work -- first. And do it in the morning!