[Boatanchors] AM rig

[Bob W5UQ]

That is a good one Bob.  Tantalum caps sure can cause a lot of noise AND 
throw a lot of crap into the air to boot.
I know there are many other hams out there who have had something 
similar happen to them.  Capacitors exploding sure can give us a good 
scare. 
Also, RF burns.  I've heard that they really NEVER really heal... 
probably just an old wives tale...  

Bob

Bob Groh WA2CKY wrote:
> OK, Bob, you started this and I can't stop from throwing in some of my recollections about youth, capacitors and smoke and destruction.
>
> R#1: high school buddy of mine connected a electrolytic across the ac plug in his bedroom. Which, of course, proceeded to blow up. Smoke, fire, blew out the house circuit fuse and got my buddy in deep doodoo with his father.
>
> R#2: As a young engineer at RF Communications Company (now part of Harris Corp), I was trouble shooting some obnoxious problems on a dc-dc converter. I was running temperature tests and had the converter inside the temperature chamber (a small metal box about 20" by 14" by 14" (a Tenny Jr in case you wanted to know)). Had made a modification and the darn converter wasn't working. So, with the power on, I had the door open on the chamber and had wedged my head in there and was poking around with an oscilloscope probe to find out what the problem. Well, talk about self-revealing problems!  I've got my face about 6" from the circuit and inside the chamber when, BAMM!, a reverse connected tantalum capacitor blew up about 6" from my nose!  Little white tendrils of of dead capacitor drifting around and one shocked engineer!  Egads!
>
> So it doesn't take tube radios to have fun!
>
> 73
> Bob, WA2CKY
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Bob W5UQ <w5UQ at VERIZON.NET>
> To: HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 7:48:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [HEATH-TEMPE] [Boatanchors] AM rig
>
> This is long so if you don't like long emails, don't read it... but if 
> you like stories about "the old days" 1950's and 60's, (& early 
> 70's)then read on:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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