Newbie's got a dead 386

From: Daniel T. Burrows <dburrows_at_netpath.net>
Date: Wed Nov 18 22:02:20 1998

>
>_Every_ shock I've had has been my own fault for being an idiot. And in
>most cases an ELCB wouldn't have helped at all...
>


It sure would not have helped with one of the worst ones I had. 1900Vdc
Electron mult. supply that appeared to have failed (instrument symptoms).
Hooked up meter (rated for 2Kvdc) turned on supply, walked behind instrument
to read meter, it read approx 40V - the way it usually fails. Figured the
supply was dead so why go all the way around the instrument again (40+ foot
obstacle course) to shut off the supply. I went to disconnect probes and
found out the supply was not dead but the meter was dead. Took about 2 days
for the cramps to quit.

Another one - How do you test supplies and various heater controls that have
to float at 8Kv? I.E.: their common point is at 8Kv. Especially when they
are intermittent and you can't tell without the HT on exactly when it is
acting up. VERY carefully float your meter at kV and be very sure you don't
touch the meter and don't do like I did and get to near the leads while
operating the instrument while waiting for the intermittent to act up. An
8Kv _at_ 5ma with 1ppm stability supply burns holes on the way in and out. In
the arm and out the finger.

Dan
Received on Wed Nov 18 1998 - 22:02:20 GMT