[CQ-Contest] Amplifier repair warning

[Tom W8JI]

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