A not so gentle reminder - HV is unforgiving

[David Humbertson]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your note, I have received many thanking me
for posting my experience - (I realized that to do that would
be showing my own carelessness).But as many have commented,
there are a lot of fellows working with the older gear now who
have no experience with tube gear and/or HV, and we who do,
have been known to let our guard down.
... I did want to clarify something. As I stated in my post, the
top shield WAS ON, the only place that one could get in contact
with HV was through a narrow 1 inch slit on the right side at the
bottom of the unit where the underside of the PS circuit board is.
It was through this opening that my little finger slipped. For any-
one else -( I have no small children in the house anymore), to do
this, they would have had to work at it.  BTW - I have a master
power switch which kills the entire bench which my wife knows
to throw if for any reason (called to work, etc.) , the stuff needs
to be turned off.
..So what I had on the bench running was a buttoned up SB-200
which just needed to be slid back in its case - the 200 has no
HV interlock, and the only HV present was under the unit and
only accessable through a small opening.
  The mental shock and confusion that followed completely
blocked out any memory of how I even came in contact with
the HV, it was only later that I remembered sliding my hand
on the case and figured out what I had done -- still my fault,
but not as careless a scenario as you pictured Steve.
=== Oh yes, to the Heath people who may be
more concerned about the amp[just kidding],I have
so far found 5 of the 6 bleeder resistors open, the
1 ohm 5 w res open, 2 runners open. The meter
I was able to straighten the pointer and it seems ok
(oh yes - the meter had pegged backwards.)
-at least on rel pwr function.  I have all of the parts
needed, leftover from my SB-220 update with Harback
stuff, so hopefully I may soon have the amp that almost
did me in, up and running.
... Makes me wonder how my finger was conductive
enough to cause this much damage. The currrent flow
was from the tip of my finger to a point near my hand.
Yes, I only had one hand on the unit - or I wouldn't
be relating this.
The next time you 200 owners have your amp out of
its case - check this out.
--
73, Dave - W3NP
Ft. Ashby, WV

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