[Amps] Decline of homebrewing?

[Paul Christensen]

>"1. Don't let your reach exceed your grasp. This is not a project for 
beginners. You should not attempt to build [a high power amplifier] 
unless you're a seasoned builder who has experience with high voltage 
circuitry."

Great post by W8ZR.  I developed respect for high-voltage almost
simultaneously with two projects: during construction of a 6DQ6A/OD3/5U4
transmitter at age 11 (oversight by my OM, W9EAC); and the repair of a
Hallicrafters SX-100.

In the first instance, the 6DQ6A was mounted atop the chassis, exposing the
flying high-voltage plate lead.  Unknown to me was that the HV lead was
nicked to the conductor at a point just below the plate cap.  With +750V
applied, I grabbed the insulated plate cap to "straighten it out."  But I
also grabbed a portion of the wire that was nicked.  My other hand was
touching the grounded chassis.  That was lesson #1.

During the second instance, I was messing around with the SX-100's S-meter
circuit and didn't realize that roughly +350V was on the meter terminals --
I thought it would low voltage owing to the sensitivity of the moving coil.
I quickly found out why Hallicrafters placed a piece of fish paper across
the terminals.  To this day, I believe that shock was the worst I've felt,
possibly because of sweaty hands.  That one did throw me into a cabinet
across the room.  Never told my OM about either event, figuring he would put
a stop to it all.  

>"3. Never work around high voltage when you are tired, stressed, or in a 
hurry.  4. Never work around high voltage after drinking alcohol. Even one
beer 
or glass of wine can impair your judgment and make you careless."

Out of college, I worked in broadcast engineering and routinely worked with
plate voltages as high as 12KV.   Often, this work occurred after midnight,
when I was very tired and didn't bring a support person as a safety backup.
In later years, I worked for stations in large markets that had funding for
alternate-main transmitters.  Much of the preventive maintenance could then
be performed during the day.  Many times, I would do this work after a
lunchtime beer.  Back in then, lunchtime alcohol consumption at a restaurant
with a group of guys was very common.  Looking back, there were many stupid
safety-related violations that I can only attribute to young age and a sense
of immortality.  Many of us should be grateful we're still here to tell the
tales.

Paul, W9AC