Safety.
Safety.
How could you best keep unauthorized persons from using your amateur station at home?
key word: UNAUTHORIZED. A locked switch in line with the electrical circuit feeding the station would prevent unauthorized operation of the station.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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How could you best keep unauthorized persons from using a mobile amateur station in your car?
Why would you use a key-operated on/off switch in the main power line of your station?
key word: UNAUTHORIZED. A locked switch in line with the electrical circuit feeding the station would prevent unauthorized operation of the station.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Why would there be a switch in a high-voltage power supply to turn off the power if its cabinet is opened?
key words: HIGH-VOLTAGE. Devices operating with high voltage should always include an 'interlock' switch so they power down when cabinets are open to prevent electrocution.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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How little electrical current flowing through the human body can be fatal?
Which body organ can be fatally affected by a very small amount of electrical current?
What is the minimum voltage which is usually dangerous to humans?
Under certain circumstances, even 30 VOLTS can be dangerous. If the human heart is part of the electrocution path, even one tenth of an ampere can lead to cardiac arrest. Wet skin or cuts to the skin and the exact path of the current are all factors that determine the severity of electrocution.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What should you do if you discover someone who is being burned by high voltage?
What is the safest method to remove an unconscious person from contact with a high voltage source?
Before checking a fault in a mains operated power supply unit, it would be safest to first:
key words: "MAINS" OPERATED. This refers to 'Household' current which runs at 120 volts and can supply hundreds of amperes (for a brief time) before a fuse or breaker interrupts the circuit after a fault. 30 VOLTS is considered potentially dangerous to humans and less than A TENTH of an AMPERE can lead to cardiac arrest.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Fault finding in a power supply of an amateur transmitter while the supply is operating is not a recommended technique because of the risk of:
This was especially true of transmitters using vacuum tubes. Plate voltages ran into the hundreds of volts with current capacities of hundreds of milliamperes. 30 VOLTS is considered potentially dangerous to humans and less than A TENTH of an AMPERE can lead to cardiac arrest.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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For best protection from electrical shock, what should be grounded in an amateur station?
An external ground connection on each cabinet serves as a backup to the normal electrical outlet ground ( the 'green' wire in a three-lead power cord ).
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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If a separate ground system is not possible for your amateur station, an alternative indoor grounding point could be:
To protect you against electrical shock, the chassis of each piece of your station equipment should be connected to:
An external ground connection on each cabinet serves as a backup to the normal electrical outlet ground ( the 'green' wire in a three-lead power cord ).
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Which of these materials is best for a ground rod driven into the earth?
'Copper-Clad' ( steel core, copper plating ) offers rigidity (when hammering the rod into the ground) and conductivity (for best ground connection).
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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If you ground your station equipment to a ground rod driven into the earth, what is the shortest length the rod should be?
Like everything else about electricity, station and antenna system grounding is governed by the electrical Code applicable to your province. Typically inspired by the "Canadian Electrical Code" (CSA Group, formerly Canadian Standard Association), provincial requirements are often appended to the national code.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Where should the green wire in a three-wire AC line cord be connected in a power supply?
The 'green wire' in a three-wire AC line cord is a ground connection. Securing the 'green wire' to the chassis (and outside cabinet) keeps the chassis at ground potential if a fault ever caused the 'live' side (120 volts) of the AC line to contact the chassis.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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If your third-floor amateur station has a ground wire running 10 metres (33 feet) down to a ground rod, why might you get an RF burn if you touch the front panel of your HF transceiver?
key word: 10 METRES. RF 'hot spots' and RF 'burns' are symptoms of 'Stray RF'. This is relatively long in comparison with some of the wavelengths in the HF (High Frequency) spectrum. For example, 10 metres is a quarter wavelength on the 40 metre band. A wire this long looks like an antenna and will not provide a low impedance ground connection necessary to evacuate 'Stray RF'.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What is one good way to avoid stray RF energy in your amateur station?
RF 'hot spots' and RF 'burns' are symptoms of 'Stray RF'. To eliminate 'Stray RF', a low impedance path to ground must be provided. Only SHORT and WIDE ground conductors can provide low impedance.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Which statement about station grounding is true?
RF 'hot spots' and RF 'burns' are symptoms of 'Stray RF'. To eliminate 'Stray RF', a low impedance path to ground must be provided. Only SHORT and WIDE ground conductors can provide low impedance.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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On mains operated power supplies, the ground wire should be connected to the metal chassis of the power supply. This ensures, in case there is a fault in the power supply, that the chassis:
The 'green wire' in a three-wire AC line cord is a ground connection. Securing the 'green wire' to the chassis (and outside cabinet) keeps the chassis at ground potential if a fault ever caused the 'live' side (120 volts) of the AC line to contact the chassis.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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The purpose of using a three-wire power cord and plug on amateur radio equipment is to:
The 'green wire' in a three-wire AC line cord is a ground connection. Securing the 'green wire' to the chassis (and outside cabinet) keeps the chassis at ground potential if a fault ever caused the 'live' side (120 volts) of the AC line to contact the chassis.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Why should you ground all antenna and rotator cables when your amateur station is not in use?
You want to install a lightning arrestor on your antenna transmission line, where should it be inserted?
The lightning arrestor must be outside to prevent as much energy as possible from entering the premises. It must be close to ground so that a path with the least possible impedance (resistance + inductance) can divert the most energy into the ground. Peak voltage between the transmission line and ground is thus minimized. Rise time in a lightning bolt is measured in microseconds (i.e., high frequency); voltage is high and current is zero in the first instant an inductance is subjected to a pulse.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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How can amateur station equipment best be protected from lightning damage?
If station equipment is totally disconnected from external circuits (power and antenna), damage to station equipment from lightning or voltage surges become impossible.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What equipment should be worn for working on an antenna tower?
Why should you wear approved fall arrest equipment if you are working on an antenna tower?
'Fall prevention' is a serious matter. In Canada, worker safety is a provincial responsibility. A 'safety harness' and 'hard hat' are minimum requirements.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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For safety, how high should you place a horizontal wire antenna?
Even at modest power, touching a radiating antenna or open-wire line can lead to 'RF burns'. Voltage is not the only factor, radio frequency reaches deep into the skin, potentially causing nasty burns. Suspending an antenna above electric lines is a dangerous mistake: if the antenna dropped, lethal voltages would be carried back to the station.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Why should you wear a hard hat if you are on the ground helping someone work on an antenna tower?
Why should your outside antennas be high enough so that no one can touch them while you are transmitting?
Even at modest power, touching a radiating antenna or open-wire line can lead to 'RF burns'. Voltage is not the only factor, radio frequency reaches deep into the skin, potentially causing nasty burns.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Why should you make sure that no one can touch an open wire transmission line while you are transmitting with it?
Even at modest power, touching a radiating antenna or open-wire line can lead to 'RF burns'. Voltage is not the only factor, radio frequency reaches deep into the skin, potentially causing nasty burns.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What safety precautions should you take before beginning repairs on an antenna?
"Disconnecting the transmission line", that is an important precaution to ensure that no RF is ever sent to the antenna. This is especially important if there are several parties in the work crew: an operator could return to the station, turn-on a transmitter and put someone outside at risk.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What precaution should you take when installing a ground-mounted antenna?
Even at modest power, touching a radiating antenna or open-wire line can lead to 'RF burns'. Voltage is not the only factor, radio frequency reaches deep into the skin, potentially causing nasty burns.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What should you do for safety when operating at UHF and microwave frequencies?
RF energy can heat body tissue. 1000 MHz is generally considered to be the low end of the MICROWAVE spectrum. Microwave energy has long been known for its 'heating' effect ( think "microwave oven" ). Never point antennas at anyone. Never look into antennas. Disconnect transmission lines before working on antennas (to further reduce the odds of an error at the station exposing to RF).
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What should you do for safety if you put up a UHF transmitting antenna?
RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. Never point antennas at anyone. Never look into antennas. Disconnect transmission lines before working on antennas (to further reduce the odds of an error at the station exposing to RF).
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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What should you do for safety, before removing the shielding on a UHF power amplifier?
Why should you make sure the antenna of a hand-held transceiver is not close to your head when transmitting?
RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. 30 MHz to 300 MHz is the range of radio frequencies over which Health-Canada's "Safety Code 6" recommends the lowest exposure level.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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How should you position the antenna of a hand-held transceiver while you are transmitting?
RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. 30 MHz to 300 MHz is the range of radio frequencies over which Health-Canada's "Safety Code 6" recommends the lowest exposure level.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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How can exposure to a large amount of RF energy affect body tissue?
RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. 30 MHz to 300 MHz is the range of radio frequencies over which Health-Canada's "Safety Code 6" recommends the lowest exposure level.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Which body organ is the most likely to be damaged from the heating effects of RF radiation?
The inside of the eye is mostly liquid. Ever seen a cup of water brought to a boil in a microwave oven ? RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. 30 MHz to 300 MHz is the range of radio frequencies over which Health-Canada's "Safety Code 6" recommends the lowest exposure level. Keep antennas away from your head.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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Depending on the wavelength of the signal, the energy density of the RF field, and other factors, in what way can RF energy affect body tissue?
RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. 30 MHz to 300 MHz is the range of radio frequencies over which Health-Canada's "Safety Code 6" recommends the lowest exposure level.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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If you operate your amateur station with indoor antennas, what precautions should you take when you install them?
Why should directional high-gain antennas be mounted higher than nearby structures?
RF energy can heat body tissue. VHF and UHF frequencies present the greatest risk. Never point antennas at anyone. Never look into antennas. Disconnect transmission lines before working on antennas (to further reduce the odds of an error at the station exposing to RF).
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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For best RF safety, where should the ends and center of a dipole antenna be located?
Even at modest power, touching a radiating antenna or open-wire line can lead to 'RF burns'. Voltage is not the only factor, radio frequency reaches deep into the skin, potentially causing nasty burns.
Original copyright; explanations transcribed with permission from Francois VE2AAY, author of the ExHAMiner exam simulator. Do not copy without his permission.
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