On Sat, 16 Jul 2005 02:31:49 -0500, "Ed" none@this-time wrote:

Thanks all. Tom, I've been in electronics thirty years or so, but always
solid state.Now I'm going backwards to boatanchors. I know most of the old
sayings such as "keep one hand in your pocket" etc., but I'm more interested
in practical considerations of draining capacitors, proper wiring
techniques, and so forth. I know that even unplugged tube devices can jump
out and get you, and I'd like to avoid this...especially in high power RF
amplifiers. I've got Bill Orr's handbook, years of old magazines from the

One thing to consider is to make and use a "chicken stick". Don't
touch anything electrical until you have touched it with the chicken
stick.

This is essentially a ground wire (to a solid ground) with a well
insulated handle. To avoid component damage, add a low ohmage, high
wattage resistor in series.

A chicken stick is routinely used in commercial HV equipment, and
power company linemen have a portable equivalent.

Better to be a live chicken than flambeed.

Ref:
http://lists.contesting.com/archives/html/Amps/2004-08/msg00245.html
http://www.k0gkd.com/sb220.html

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom