Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

Alicia Tamblyn wrote:
"Fleetie" wrote in message
...

But it wasn't going to get me KILLED!

I know enough to stay clear of mains, keep one hand for myself, etc.
Bloody hell! Exaggerate! Ok, there's a 1e-6 chance that an errant
and angry cap could have gone to the PCB in the sky and core sampled
my skull and its contents on its way there, but if we're playing the
exaggeration game, well, why stop there?

I repeat what I said befo I bet you've *all* done things before,
that with hindsight would have been better not done. Now stop acting
like boring parents - and anyway, what would you care if I had been
killed? You wouldn't, any more than I would if some other stranger
had been similarly erased. So what's-his-face's patronising post
was transparently just that; an example of someone taking the
opportunity to _sound_ superior, with no proof to back up the claim
that they are in fact so.



Martin :-/





I was probing inside an Oscilloscope using a multimeter, touched something
with my hand,
and got a lovely 2kV dc shock which threw me across the room,
a tad bit scary.
but my first electric shock was aged 3 or 4 and sticking my fingers in a
Lamp socket.
regards malcolm



Lots of things are scary, but its only by being scared that we learn
respect. I have worked with 60 year old wiremen that have been around
three phase for 40 years, they know what not to do, and avoid doing it
without having to think, but you can't teach yourself (IMHO) that
without the ocasional reminder. I remember at the age of 9 (or so) being
thrown across the room (in the company of my parents) after delving in
the back of a TV, that day I learnt the capacitors retain charge. Whats
more dangerous, a circular saw or a 1kv power supply ? You can buy one
in B&Q, does that make it less of a danger ?

I was testing a preamp the other day, only 250v and low current, but I
had my phone in my pocket, I jumped like **** when someone called, with
luck, I jumped the right way, so what was the danger there, the amp, or
the fact I had forgot the phone ?

Look on the bright side, at the worse you may get a darwin award.

--
Nick

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Alicia Tamblyn" wrote

snip

I was probing inside an Oscilloscope using a multimeter, touched something
with my hand,
and got a lovely 2kV dc shock which threw me across the room,
a tad bit scary.
but my first electric shock was aged 3 or 4 and sticking my fingers in a
Lamp socket.
regards malcolm


OK, I'll play:

A long time ago (on a building site which had 415V, 3 phase power running
around it) I was checking fuses in a plug with the top off (as you do) with
a screwdriver in my right hand. There was a flash, I got a split-second
massage all the way down my back (lovely), my arms flung out like a
scarecrow and the screwdriver in my right hand ended up about 50 feet off to
my left!

:-)

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Alicia Tamblyn" wrote

snip

I was probing inside an Oscilloscope using a multimeter, touched something
with my hand,
and got a lovely 2kV dc shock which threw me across the room,
a tad bit scary.
but my first electric shock was aged 3 or 4 and sticking my fingers in a
Lamp socket.
regards malcolm


OK, I'll play:

A long time ago (on a building site which had 415V, 3 phase power running
around it) I was checking fuses in a plug with the top off (as you do) with
a screwdriver in my right hand. There was a flash, I got a split-second
massage all the way down my back (lovely), my arms flung out like a
scarecrow and the screwdriver in my right hand ended up about 50 feet off to
my left!

:-)

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 00:07:53 +0000 (GMT)
Dave Plowman wrote:

Some valve gear has a couple of kV running around it. dont just assume...

In a *radio*?

I was making a general coment about valve gear, not specifically the radio, sorry.

mind you, some of the lower voltage lines can pack some current in valve stuff...

--
Spyros lair: http://www.mnementh.co.uk/ |||| Maintainer: arm26 linux

Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are tasty and good with ketchup.

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 00:07:53 +0000 (GMT)
Dave Plowman wrote:

Some valve gear has a couple of kV running around it. dont just assume...

In a *radio*?

I was making a general coment about valve gear, not specifically the radio, sorry.

mind you, some of the lower voltage lines can pack some current in valve stuff...

--
Spyros lair: http://www.mnementh.co.uk/ |||| Maintainer: arm26 linux

Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are tasty and good with ketchup.

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 01:38:03 +0000
G.Snail wrote:

I recall prodding about in a live monitor with a wooden spoon. That
was pretty ****ing stupid. The best one was when I electrocuted myself
by pushing a mains plug into a socket with a finger trapped underneath

that shouldnt be possible with a nice UK plug. perhaps you had one of
those older dodgy ones with no insulation at the base of the pins?

--
Spyros lair: http://www.mnementh.co.uk/ |||| Maintainer: arm26 linux

Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are tasty and good with
ketchup.

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 01:38:03 +0000
G.Snail wrote:

I recall prodding about in a live monitor with a wooden spoon. That
was pretty ****ing stupid. The best one was when I electrocuted myself
by pushing a mains plug into a socket with a finger trapped underneath

that shouldnt be possible with a nice UK plug. perhaps you had one of
those older dodgy ones with no insulation at the base of the pins?

--
Spyros lair: http://www.mnementh.co.uk/ |||| Maintainer: arm26 linux

Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are tasty and good with
ketchup.

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

In article , Keith G
wrote:

"Alicia Tamblyn" wrote

snip

I was probing inside an Oscilloscope using a multimeter, touched
something with my hand, and got a lovely 2kV dc shock which threw me
across the room, a tad bit scary. but my first electric shock was aged
3 or 4 and sticking my fingers in a Lamp socket. regards malcolm


OK, I'll play:

A long time ago (on a building site which had 415V, 3 phase power
running around it) I was checking fuses in a plug with the top off (as
you do) with a screwdriver in my right hand. There was a flash, I got a
split-second massage all the way down my back (lovely), my arms flung
out like a scarecrow and the screwdriver in my right hand ended up about
50 feet off to my left!


I can add a few:

1) using a scope probe, one of my fingers was touching the earth ring
around the outer part of the probe tip. My other hand touched an exposed
solder tag on the chassis that was carrying 'live'. The current caused me
to grip on, with current across my chest. Fortunately, I stepped back, and
pulled out the power plug! The probe was not inside the set, so I though I
was working 'one handed' as I hadn't noticed my other hand was touching the
earth ring.

2) I took apart a running microwave system. Disconnected some waveguide
flanges and found I have 2kV (d.c.) in one hand, and ground in the other.
Fortunately, this threw me across the room! This one was because, unknown t
me, someone have taken the system apart and put it back together again, but
had forgotten to re-connect the ground tag to the klystron (metal body
anode) and allowed it to be grounded by default via the waveguide - worked
until I undid the flange.

My first shock was when touching a bayonet socket when about 10 years old.
The socket was done up, but a strand of wire was managing to get through
the screw-thread on the back and was outside the body of the socket.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

In article , Keith G
wrote:

"Alicia Tamblyn" wrote

snip

I was probing inside an Oscilloscope using a multimeter, touched
something with my hand, and got a lovely 2kV dc shock which threw me
across the room, a tad bit scary. but my first electric shock was aged
3 or 4 and sticking my fingers in a Lamp socket. regards malcolm


OK, I'll play:

A long time ago (on a building site which had 415V, 3 phase power
running around it) I was checking fuses in a plug with the top off (as
you do) with a screwdriver in my right hand. There was a flash, I got a
split-second massage all the way down my back (lovely), my arms flung
out like a scarecrow and the screwdriver in my right hand ended up about
50 feet off to my left!


I can add a few:

1) using a scope probe, one of my fingers was touching the earth ring
around the outer part of the probe tip. My other hand touched an exposed
solder tag on the chassis that was carrying 'live'. The current caused me
to grip on, with current across my chest. Fortunately, I stepped back, and
pulled out the power plug! The probe was not inside the set, so I though I
was working 'one handed' as I hadn't noticed my other hand was touching the
earth ring.

2) I took apart a running microwave system. Disconnected some waveguide
flanges and found I have 2kV (d.c.) in one hand, and ground in the other.
Fortunately, this threw me across the room! This one was because, unknown t
me, someone have taken the system apart and put it back together again, but
had forgotten to re-connect the ground tag to the klystron (metal body
anode) and allowed it to be grounded by default via the waveguide - worked
until I undid the flange.

My first shock was when touching a bayonet socket when about 10 years old.
The socket was done up, but a strand of wire was managing to get through
the screw-thread on the back and was outside the body of the socket.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

The message
from "Nath" contains these words:

something he'd had lying around for too long.

Anyway, you lot, it's all very well taking the ****, especially as I'm
so sure none of you has ever had anything similar happen to you at any
stage, and made a rash move at a time of excitement and anticipation....


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967
110890
Manchester, U.K.
http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk



Nope. Can't say I have. Don't recall taking a chance of blowing something up
by guessing which way things go. It's risks like that that can get you
killed.

Martin, thanks for the flurry of interesting posts that your original
confession has produced.

I have had a Bush VHF 61 (early VHF plus MW/LW) beside my bed for a year
now. Cost me a tenner and a little very basic fixing, and sounded great
for a year till something died within it. Now the clock radio sits on
top! Yes, hifi it ain't but I was amazed by the mellow beauty of its
tone on FM.

However, your post prods me to do something about getting it working
again. It's all hard-wired within, and I was told that many of the
(working) components should also be replaced. Off to
http://www.bvws.org.uk/ at the weekend.

David