One of my stupid mistakes

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One of my stupid mistakes

HSHERRIFF
Ok, I had just graduated "electronics" trade school. You know, 20
months of intense training in everything from component identification
to superhet receiver theory, to radar fundamentals. It was in 1970
just before I entered the military.

I was visiting my parents home in Florida on a humid summer day. My
parent's new TV was making some strange "arcing" sounds coming from
around the picture tube high voltage lead. Yep, the humidity was
making it easy for the voltage to "jump" to the chassis. Well, my Dad
was reclining in his favorite recliner, watching me take the back off
the TV. I borrowed a screwdriver (an oil impregnated wooden handled
kind) from him. My technical expertise said, "just move the HV lead
away from the chassis where it is arcing". So, that is what I started
to do, with the set on, so I could monitor my efforts. Naturally, the
screwdriver conducted the 15+ thousand volts to ME. The next thing I
remember was him laughing at me after I picked myself up from the
other side of the room....... saying, "yep, you are going to make one
heck of a technician".

73 Harlan KI4IDA

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Re: One of my stupid mistakes

Nick Waterman
[hidden email] wrote:
> My technical expertise said, "just move the HV lead
> away from the chassis where it is arcing". So, that is what I started
> to do, with the set on, so I could monitor my efforts. Naturally, the
> screwdriver conducted the 15+ thousand volts to ME. The next thing I
> remember...

Yikes! You're one lucky chap. I believe the Electric Chair is "only" 3kV.

--
"Nosey" Nick Waterman, G7RZQ, k2 #5209.
#include <stddisclaimer>    [hidden email]
Others will look to you for stability, so hide when you bite your nails.
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