Any more stunts like that Vic and they will be mailing your ashes to Israel!
Carl
KM1H
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vic Rosenthal K2VCO" <k2vco.vic@gmail.com>
To: "Amps reflector" <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2014 8:41 PM
Subject: [Amps] Working on my Darwin award
Speaking of dangerous stupidity, here's what I did today. I was testing my
amplifier with different plate voltages, so I was changing taps on the
primary and secondary of the plate transformer. At one point I manged to
connect the 240v line between the 220 and 240 volt terminals instead of 0
and one of the others!
When the time delay expired there was a loud CLUNK as the 20A breaker on
the power supply, the 25A one on the wall of my shack, and the 30A one in
the service entrance all popped. I unplugged the PS and went around
resetting the breakers. Then I corrected the wiring and plugged it in
again.
Some of you may know what's coming. I think I heard a faint hum (it's a
quiet Dahl transformer) but the meaning didn't register -- until I saw the
HV meter on the amp indicating 3.4 kV, with the power supply supposedly
off!
The surge had welded the contacts of the HV relay (rated 30A). Not
surprising, considering the amount of current that probably flowed through
the #10 wires connecting my shack to the service entrance.
Although I spotted the problem before it killed me, this wasn't cool. It
also proves that I need a more serious contactor for a HV relay!
--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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