--- On Tue, 1/20/09, David Knepper <[email protected]> wrote:
Remember the Collins 32V-1. Exposed plate caps on the 807s' and 4D-32; but Art
Collins (his engineers) used an interlocking device when you lifted up the lid.
A relatively simple, inexpensive microswitch killed the high voltage.
At 03:20 PM 1/19/2009, David Knepper wrote:
What I still wonder even today is how WRL/Leo Meyerson could make such death
traps and get away with it.
David,
In some cases it is hard to do measurements for problem diagnostics when the
interlock cuts the power is off. Perhaps the Collins equipment never broke or
the owners who could afford it just sent it back to Collins for repair (sort of
like today's rice boxes).
Other equipment made for the average ham assumed some degree of technical
understanding and competence in the user, particularly if undertaking (like
that play on words for the "death traps"?) a repair. My Globe King 500 manual
has a black box warning: "Use extreme caution when taking voltage readings.
High voltages, dangerous top life, are involved."
A real concern, that I bet even Collins did not warn about, is the weight. I
suspect that more people have gotten back injuries or hernias from moving them
than have ever been killed by the WRL transmitter's high voltage.
I still wonder, even today, how they could make such heavy equipment and not
put an automatic anchor that bolts the rig to the floor so no one can be
injured trying to lift it. (Same principle as an interlock for lids and cabinet
doors.) Or at least put warning signs on the equipment advising people of the
hazard and showing proper posture for lifting.
Happy to be alive after so many years with government safety regulated
automobiles, medicines, food, clothing, buildings, aircraft; and, oh yes, open
box ham radio.
73
Mac
WQ8U
Hillsborough, NC
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