Amen to that Dave! In an earlier life, I was a Broadcast Engineer for about 15 years. During that time, I worked on everything from 250 watt AM to 50KW AM and on to 100KW ERP FM transmitters. I've worked with virtually all the known manufacturers gear from Raytheon to RCA and Collins to Continental (one in the same). Not once, not ever, did I see a grounding stick with a built in bleeder resistor in any of those transmitters. And there was a very good reason for that - none of the manufacturers wanted to deal with the lawsuit that would have resulted from an Engineer being killed by such a dangerous idea.
When I worked on a transmitter, I always kept a bunch of new clip leads available at the transmitter site. After touching all the high voltage points in the transmitter with the shorting stick, I would keep the shorting stick on each high voltage point while I used a clip lead to short the point to ground. The transmitter would stay that way until I was ready to return it to service. I would much rather know instantly (from the spark and noise) that I have an open bleeder resistor. I can always go buy another pair of underwear. Bottom line - There is no component, no matter how rare or expensive, that is worth a human life. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of david knepper Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 2:55 PM To: Discussion of AM Radio Subject: Re: [AMRadio] ground sticks again If anything, these discussion only point out that ownership of a broadcast transmitter is one thing; but it is another to modify, restore, and operate one by only those who know what they are doing! Dave, W3ST Publisher of the Collins Journal Secretary to the Collins Radio Association www.collinsra.com - the CRA Website Now with PayPal CRA Nets: 3805 Khz every Monday at 8 PM EST and 14255 every Saturday at 12 Noon EST ______________________________________________________________ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:[email protected] AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
