I thought electric shock was a right a passage. I tried to build a Jacobs
ladder as a kid of about 10, using brazing rods, a Ford ignition coil, and a
Lionel train transformer. Yes, I knocked the stuffing out of myself, but I
learned something in the process. I had a real Gilbert Erector set too, with
all kinds of sharp metal items, a real 110VAC electric motor, and an
imagination to build twirling things of great danger. My first electronic
project was right out of Boys Life Magazine as a Cub Scout, a 2 tube audio amp,
transformerless I might add. Worked like a champ, and not a word of warning in
the directions about how this could be dangerous, just if it hummed turn the
AC plug around. The only 'real' shock I have endured was from my GE Prog Line,
I had mounted to a 19 inch rack panel with speaker, discriminator meter,
volume, squelch, and a pot to adjust the screen voltage of the final to change
power out. It was on, and I needed to turn it
over, and when I reached around both sides of the radio chassis, I grabbed
hold of the 110 in. The weight of the radio is what broke the connection when
it shook loose from my hands.
Everything in this hobby can be dangerous, just like everything in life is
dangerous. If you take care in what your doing, you can avoid the stupid
mistakes, but failures of interlocks, insulation, or tower sections will claim
even the most careful. To leave the 'dangerous stuff' to a real technician is
fine if you bought a Volvo just because it's a safe car. But, to be afraid to
open up a piece of equipment after following the safety rules because it says
'Danger HV', makes as much sense as buying a rifle and never firing it because
it has the words, "may cause injury or death" engraved on top of the barrel.
Charlie W4MEC in NC
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