|
General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
22nd Jun 2015, 8:28 pm | #61 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 2,543
|
Re: Death sentence?
Playing with electricity is a dangerous pastime and anybody interested in electronics and electricity will, or should, be aware that electricity can kill.
Trouble is that we are now getting new members joining who only want to get their "fashionable" vintage radio or record player working so they can listen to some music. They have little or no knowledge of the dangers of electricity and in all fairness why should they? David
__________________
http://www.youtube.com/ My Nixie Clocks |
22nd Jun 2015, 8:34 pm | #62 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Resolfen, Wales; and Bristol, England
Posts: 2,588
|
Re: Death sentence?
In the long view, the problem is that if a person is protected from all dangers then that person is no longer "risk aware". We are in a culture that attempts to remove all risk from daily life which means that many don't even know how to wire a 13A plug (or select the correct fuse for it). Those of us that grew up finding out by experiment just what happened if we touched a particular live wire, or a hot element are risk aware because we have the training to be so.
I suggest that training for risk awareness is the crux of the matter. However, I have been running a training course for mature electricians, and the one point I emphasise is that they must cover their backsides in case of litigation. In other words, do the job right, take measurements with certified, calibrated equipment, make sure you have the correct qualifications, and you shouldn't have to look over your shoulder for the bared teeth of the lawyers. A dichotemy, yes.
__________________
Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop |
22nd Jun 2015, 9:57 pm | #63 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Aberdeen, UK.
Posts: 2,838
|
Re: Death sentence?
Re LV DC being a possible source of accident or danger - I once had to replace most of a fishing boat's main engine room 24V equipment distribution loom. A number of conductors had overheated & the insulation completely melted. When discovered, the vessel was only minutes from a serious fire.
Amongst my marine radio collection is a thumping great Sailor 1000 series Tx/Rx. It has a mains to 24V charging unit, capable of 50A. Should something go wrong - we're talking almost welding currents here. But to get back to basic safety principals - 12 & 24V dc supplies in your shack or workshop, need just as much correct switchgear & fusing, and safety awareness as the mains ac does. We're a broad church, this forum. Some of us, and particularly VMARS guys, collect & repair a lot of ex military & marine vintage equipment, where 24V DC is the norm. Regards, David |
22nd Jun 2015, 10:12 pm | #64 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 3,758
|
Re: Death sentence?
Quote:
|
|
22nd Jun 2015, 10:16 pm | #65 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK.
Posts: 685
|
Re: Death sentence?
Mention has been made about reading up on the internet, or on this forum. I notice on some other forums I follow that quite often people are not doing this, they just leap in with questions that have been covered many times in the past. It strikes me they are too lazy to do even some simple "googling". And although kind folk answer their question, they are not gaining from the experience of the forum. I often feel like asking them if they have done any research at all about their query.
A case in point is the PRC320 military radio. This has by most standards unusal power output behaviour and odd settings for the frequency. Both topics covered numerous times on the internet in general but you still see questions being asked. Rant over, sorry folks. Gordon |
22nd Jun 2015, 10:29 pm | #66 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
|
Re: Death sentence?
Re the dangers from LVDC, in the 1970's one of my friends (an electrician!) suffered a severe burn to his wrist from rummaging around under the dash board of his car when his metal wristwatch strap put a dead short across two terminals carrying 12V. I don't remember the car, but certainly my Hillman Imp had no fuses whatsoever.
At about the same time I had bought some ex-equipment tagged industrial NiCads (4 Ah, D cells)of the type where both tabs were at the same end. I had just finished charging them, and when clearing up, a loose staple fell out of some papers I was moving and ended up across the tabs of one of the freshly charged 1.2V cells. It glowed brightly and melted with a flash, and no doubt could have started a fire if it had been fastening sheets of paper together. |
22nd Jun 2015, 11:16 pm | #67 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 1,764
|
Re: Death sentence?
Quote:
As this has now become my main hobby, I'm conscious of not wanting to discourage new enthusiasts, which is key to the ongoing maintenance of this equipment going forwards. I feel this forum handles safety very well, and you have to draw a line somewhere where people are accountable for their own actions. I wonder how many people might delve in with no idea and no advice from a place such as this, which is surely more dangerous |
|
22nd Jun 2015, 11:38 pm | #68 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 42
|
Re: Death sentence?
Some of the above posts have made me feel a bit guilty and stupid for posting on here.
I am a real beginner, but I do have a basic understanding of electrical components and what they do and I have a real passion for vintage audio equipment. I am well aware of the hazards involved with working with high voltages. If I electrocuted myself I would never blame anyone else I value the experience and knowledge that anyone wishes to share and I want to have a go myself because I want to learn and I want the satisfaction of achieving something myself. I thought that was the whole idea of the forum, but it sounds like some may be fed up with people like me 😞 |
23rd Jun 2015, 12:15 am | #69 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,924
|
Re: Death sentence?
Quote:
It has been a "busy" thread and I think we would do well to try and draw a conclusion(s) from it. My perspective is that the Site Warning and Disclaimer notice https://www.vintage-radio.net/#warning which is already in place is sufficient to cover the issues raised here. If not, what else needs to be added? B |
|
23rd Jun 2015, 1:44 am | #70 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
|
Re: Death sentence?
I think Richards original point was a concern that people are posting with no self awareness, understanding or interest in learning for themselves but with an unreasonably high expectation of what can be achieved. This is secondary to any safety issues. Nomad-your post itself demonstrates that this description it doesn't apply to you so don't feel bad. My conclusion is that a little more awareness all round might strike the right balance. Help seems to be nearly always available but applicants need to practise restraint and take the advice that is
proffered. Dave W |
23rd Jun 2015, 6:16 am | #71 | ||
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK
Posts: 2,136
|
Re: Death sentence?
Quote:
The subject has been covered on here several times before - search through some of the closed threads. There are members who are very safety conscious and others, mostly those with decades of experience as Radio and TV service engineers, who adopt a more pragmatic approach. It is probably time to pull the plug on this particular thread now.
__________________
Brian |
||