[TenTec] Amps & Wildlife

[H. M. 'Puck' Motley W4PM]

A couple of years ago, while using my Centurion amp, a great KA-POW 
resounded through the shack and the amp went dead.  I popped the top and 
checked around the high voltage board.  To my great suprise, there etched 
on the corner of the circuit board was the shape of a spider.  Apparently 
he was doing the Tennessee waltz across that board when feet on one side 
hit the ground foil, feet on the other hit the high voltage, and instant 
vaporization occurred.  During his final moment he drew enough current to 
blow the fuses in the power supply!  Repair consisted only of cleaning 
charred remains from the board and replacing fuses and all was well.

As a side note and safety warning - There is enough voltage in amplifiers 
to kill you intantly!  While amps have safety interlocks and shorting 
bars to protect you, your best protection is to use you head and think 
about what you are going to do before you do it.  Assume all safety 
devices have failed and take extreme care.  While that 3 KV in the amp 
may not vaporize you instantly like it did that spider, it is more than 
enough to stop your heart and that really has the same effect, doesn't 
it? 

Evict you resident wildlife from your amp but take care doing it!

73,
Puck, W4PM


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
Submissions:              tentec@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-tentec@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm