Safety is not optional

[John Miller]

Today has been an eye opener to me. Some of you may know that my other hobby is Ham Radio. I've been involved in it for nearly 4 decades, and have always been safety conscious. That is, until today.

Tomorrow is the beginning of "Field Day" where we go out to remote locations, set up our emergency gear, and practise doing what we sometimes are called on to do, communicate under simulated emergency conditions. We have a contest of sorts to try and contact as many stations around the world, as we can under these conditions.

I volunteered to head up the "GOTA" station. This is a special station set up to introduce new, or potential new Hams into the activity. We also help older "inactive" Hams to Get On The Air. This activity will go on for 24 hours straight. We camp out on site and basically have a good time.

I was planning on bringing my station to use, along with my vertical antenna, so of course, I needed to disassemble and pack it all into the van.

My Ham friend Les came over to help out. I suspect complacency got in the way, and to make a long story somewhat shorter, we failed to clear our area and the tip of the aluminum antenna struck the primary line of a 7200 volt electrical line.

We both got hit, the electricity arced through the aluminum very fast, and the antenna fell away, which likely saved us fom any real damage.

My Ham station was toasted, and is now expensive junk, but we both managed to get by with the shock and no real after effects so far. The center section of my mobile home suffered a massive short circuit, and is electrically dead. I'll need to have an electrician check it all out. My swamp cooler is on that circuit, and it's hot today.

The lesson learned applies to both of my hobbies Ham and Model planes, as well as life.

Pay attention to details, consider the effects caused by your actions. accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, so be aware.

Both Les and I are happy to be alive. we will pay closer attention in the future.

[Tim Wescott]

Check with a doc if you can afford it -- getting zapped and living through it doesn't mean that your heart's still A-OK.

I can't manage to stay active in both amateur radio and airplanes at the same time.  My current ham activity is limited to renewing my license every ten years...

[Peter Nevai]

We both got hit, the electricity arced through the aluminum very fast, and the antenna fell away, which likely saved us fom any real damage.

Ugh yeah, like at the speed of light. What were using that was that big, a half, or better omni? Back in tje day I had a super penetrator GP and that sucker was big. Great antenna though, if you had the room.

[John Miller]

It was a Comet CHA 250B 80 - 6 meter vertical. One of the series of computer designed antennas. Didn't require radials, and worked pretty decent for what it was. I'm not sure yet if it will be easily repairable.

I just checked on Les, and he seems to be OK too. aWe were lucky.

[W.D. Roland]

WOW John!

So glad ya'll are ok.!

Question:
Did you get a loud buzz in your head?
Did your body vibrate?

Thats what high voltage shocks do to me! 2 times in life now, hope no 3rd will happen!

What a hell of a BUZZ it is!


Glad your ok

David

[Randy Cuberly]

Holy Cow John,
Really glad you survived...it sounds like a really close call.  Someone up there likes you guys.
I would echo what Tim said and add be sure you talk to a doctor about the situation and have an EKG done.  That kind of shock can cause some permanent damage to a lot of organs especially your heart.  Not trying to scare you buddy but better safe than sorry! 

Randy Cuberly

[John Miller]

I recall the jolt, and a loud bang. It was over before the sound of the bang was finished. Amazing how I know that, 'cause it was only milliseconds.

I'm pretty sure that I did not get the full brunt of the voltage, I think Les got the worst of it, as he was up on the roof, and closer to the action.

His hands, which are always numb, due to an industrial accidentyears ago, where most of the digits were severed and re-attached, actually seemed to get their feeling back to almost normal for about a half hour, then went back numb again. I've checked on him several times, to make sure he's OK. Well be going to the Field Day site in the morning, but I'm going to check him over real good first.

Me, other than a slightly sore neck, I seem to be doing fine.

[John Leidle]

  John, I believe you had zero damage done to your body. At high voltage  the danage is catastrofic, I mean horible. Just for kicks google in the tempature during a fault on voltages over 1000volts ,,, you might be astonished.. If you were shocked you'ed be in the burn center for 10 weeks..  most likely you guys got some static. Or better yet google in pictures of high voltage burns & dismemberments. I know what it looks like & you boys should go to Reno because are the luckiest guys alive.  Some guys take powerlines with a grain of salt  ..   I bet you wont ever again.
   john

[John Miller]

John, I believe I have to agree with you. whatever we got hit with was minimal compared to the damage to the equipment. It took out the power supply, it's gat burn and smoke residue all over the outside. the plug in, one of those like the ones used for a computer, was blown apart where it plugged into the supply. The coax switch was fried, the Kenwood transciever is scortched all over the outside, and the power plug was exploded into fragments, along with the fuses and holders. Nothing really left to work with inside I'm sure.

Like I said, I'm fortunate that the computer, which shared the same power outlet, has a very good Surge protector/ battery backup in line. it appears it shut down before any damage occured, in fact it was srunning on the battery when I came inside.

The electrical lines in that portion of the house do not work. I've turned the breaker switch off as whenever I try to energise the line, it arcs. I'm not taking chances with it, and will have a good electrician check it out.

Whatever we got hit with, was not the full brunt of the possible voltage. It took out the entire niehborhoods electricity, blowing a fuse at the substation.

Now, I wish I'd had a lottery ticket. Probably used up all my good luck for the rest of my life.  The power company guy was incredulous that we were not seriously injuredso were his supervisors who called us on the phone to check on us.

[dave siegler]

first of all you are very lucky indeed.  Not the kind of luck you can count on.

Your antenna hit the distribution side of your transformer.  While a lot of the damage is from the current path, much of the human damage come from the high temperatures of the arc flash when the connected equipment fails.   

If the current path was through your body, you would probally be dead now, but it sounds like the path was through your ham equipment and only a secondary path through your bodies.
Don't worry about the radios.  Your blown up ham rig saved your life by providing a lower resistance path than your body.   

At my job, in the case of any shock, an EKG by a Dr is mandatory before returning to work.  Also have someone around to keep tabs on you.   

[Jim Kraft]

If I remember right from safety training, the biggest problem is with heart rhythm after a shock like that. They sometimes have to stop your heart and restart it to get it back in sync.

I got hit by 220 when I was a teen working in a grain elevator. I was lucky as it was just a short burst and then off. The guys standing there said I jumped 6 feet in the air. All I remember is an involuntary scream and I was totally knocked out. I am sure if the power had stayed shorted through the switch that I got hit by, I would not be typing this.

[John Miller]

I'm beginning to understand just how fortunate we both are. I really do not believe either of us got hit with anything even approaching 1/4 of the force we could have. To be honest all I remember about the shock was like I was hit. My neck is sore this morning, and I've a little back pain. No burns, nothing to show for it physically. Thank the Lord.

It sure wiped out the electrical equipment, but that can all be replaced over time. Seeing the destruction of the equipmentis sobering. I can not imagine what it would have been like to take all that power through ones body.

As I said yesterday, the moral of the story is PAY ATTENTION. We are always working around tools and equipment that can hurt us if we get complacent. A simple thing like working with Carbon Fiber can cause serious injury should we get fibers into our eyes, or under the skin.

Thanks to all who have made comments, and offered their expertise. I know I will be paying attention in the future.

[Will Hinton]

John, I have to echo all the things and advice the other electrical guys have said.  I've been hit with astronomical voltage both in my job in avionics and the later career of industrial electrician.  (I have atrial fibrillation problems, but the medical folks know the cause isn't/wasn't any of those three separate shocks over a forty year span.)  However, having been there-done that, I strongly urge an EKG in spite of the fact you have no burns.  I had burns in one of my incidences, the burn was at the exit point because it was RF directly off the tube caps on a transmitter!  Lit my fire, for sure!
I also agree with others and yourself that God obviously intervened and I'm so thankful for that.  It's to bad your rig became a very expensive shunt, but it's cheaper than a funeral!  (And you're much more comfortable this way. :>)
Hang in there, we all like having you around.
Blessings,
Will

[Jim Kraft]

John; If you had any symptoms, I am pretty sure they would have shown up by now. All the ones I have heard about they usually feel really bad within a few hours of the incident. And yes, thank the Lord you guys are OK.

[FLOYD CARTER]

In my observations, most ham radio-related injuries involve climbing on roofs, towers, and tall antennas.

Floyd

K6BSU ---since 1952

[John Miller]

Thank you all for yuour comments, well wishes, concern, suggestions, and just being there. Floyd is right.

John AL7AA. If you hear my call during field day, give a shout. I'm working with the newby's, and wannabe's in the "GOTA" tent.

[John Miller]

Yes Ty, Ha,s still do use it. It always gets through when the going gets rough, but, proficiency, or even knowlege of, is no longer required.

[Peter Nevai]

Figured I would bump this up as it seems some people don't get the concept of safety.