Transcript Foundation Course

Safety
Considerations
High voltage
MAINS VOLTAGE is potentially lethal quite small currents can kill!
HIGH POWERED TRANSMITTERS also have lethal voltages inside
High current
POWER SUPPLIES can cause burns or start fires even at low voltages
BATTERIES can also supply enough current to make wires red hot
Repairs
Repairs should only be undertaken by a suitably qualified technician
Rings and watches must be removed before dealing with high voltages and currents
One hand should be kept in a pocket to avoid current passing through the chest
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Mains plugs & earths
THE MAINS EARTH is intended to protect you under fault conditions
PROTECTIVE MULTIPLE EARTHING (PME)
A FUSE of the right rating fitted in a plug is a vital part of the protection system.
A correctly wired plug
You are not expected to be able fit a plug until
the Intermediate exam. It is useful to be able
to recognise when it is safely fitted with the
correctly rated fuse installed.
Accidents & Emergencies
Switch off the mains supply before touching
The casualty! they may have suffered an electric
shock and could still be touching a live wire!
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reproduced from the RSGB publication 'Foundation Licence Now!'
Antennas & feeders
ANTENNAS must be:
Located where they can't be reached and won't be walked into
Fixed securely enough to survive gale force wind conditions
Far enough away to avoid contact with overhead power lines
from the RSGB publication 'Intermediate Licence Building
on the Foundation'
FEEDERS must be:
Routed to avoid being trip hazards
Out of reach if unscreened to avoid RF BURNS
even if they are insulated!
from the RSGB publication
'Intermediate Licence Building on the Foundation'
from the RSGB publication
'Intermediate Licence Building on the Foundation'
WORKING AT HEIGHTS
Erecting antennas must never be attempted alone
At least one adult should be in attendance preferably two
One person should “foot” the ladder to prevent it slipping
The ladder should be placed at the correct angle
Hard hats should be worn by people on the ground
Never lean out when on a ladder!
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4:1
from the RSGB publication 'Amateur Radio Exam Secrets'
Car batteries
Are designed to supply very high currents sufficient to melt heavy gauge wires!
Charging them causes the release of hydrogen
which can be explosive in an enclosed space!
They also contain a very corrosive acid
spills and splashes can cause serious injury and damage!
Consider using the safer sealed batteries instead
Headphones
Wearing headphones carries risk:
Long periods of high listening levels can in time result in permanent hearing loss
When servicing equipment could lead to electric shock
If you walk away with them on equipment could be dragged off the work surface
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Other hazards
The shack can contain a number of other potential risks:
Tools often have very sharp edges causing cuts
Soldering irons get very hot and can cause severe burns
Most tools can cause injury when used incorrectly
Cables trailing onto and across the floor are trip hazards
Cables running under carpets can become fire hazards
from the RSGB publication “Foundation Licence Now!”
Remember - most hazards can be avoided by thinking and planning ahead
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Revision questions
What colour is the neutral wire in a mains plug
green/yellow, blue or brown?
from the RSGB publication “Foundation Licence Now!”
Why must unscreened feeder be out of
reach?
RF burns are possible even if wires are
insulated.
from the RSGB publication 'Amateur Radio Exam Secrets'
What's wrong here?
The person footing the ladder could be in danger of serious head injury if
something is dropped from the top of the ladder. Hard hat is essential!
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