Chpt 9 - Safety
Observing good safety practices around your ham shack and antenna system is a must! These are excellent links to have handy at any time, not just when you’re studying for your license.
This page is organized to support the Fifth Edition of the Ham Radio License Manual.
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These are excellent links to have handy at any time - not just when you're studying for your license! The need for safety never goes away...
Electrical Injury – an online guide to responding to shocks and burns
Lightning Protection
Mobile installation – from KØBG’s Mobile Operating Web siteAntenna and tower installation – from Universal Radio
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The ARRL Handbook – refer to the Safety chapter
The ARRL Antenna Book – specific information on antenna and tower installation
National Electrical Code - the master reference for electrical safetyAntenna Towers for the Radio Amateur by K4ZA - a guide on installing, constructing, and working with towers
Up The Tower by K7LXC – how to work with antennas on towers
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Electrical Safety - Shock Hazards
There are several different standards for defining electrical shock hazards, depending on the environment in which the standard is applied. For example, current leakage standards in medical equipment are different than for home appliances and those standards are different than on-the-job industrial standards. The table used in the HRLM is from OSHA Publication 3075, "Controlling Electrical Hazards".
The Wikipedia article on electric shock states, "A low-voltage (110 to 220 V), 50 or 60-Hz ac current travelling through the chest for a fraction of a second may induce ventricular fibrillation at currents as low as 60 mA. With dc, 300 to 500 mA is required. If the current has a direct pathway to the heart (e.g., via a cardiac catheter or other kind of electrode), a much lower current of less than 1 mA, (ac or dc) can cause fibrillation. Fibrillations are usually lethal because all the heart muscle cells move independently. Above 200 mA, muscle contractions are so strong that the heart muscles cannot move at all."
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Start by understanding what "grounding" means - it can be a complicated subject!
The ARRL's Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur helps you understand the different needs and methods for deallng with RF in your station. The book and associated resources will provide useful guidelines as you build a station at home or in the field.
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RF Interference (RFI) and Ferrite
Managing interference is an important part of successful ham radio – bookmark the ARRL Technical Information Service page on RFI and EMI for its many useful articles and tutorials. The ARRL RFI Book also provides guidance for troubleshooting and eliminating RFI.
A fine, if somewhat technical, tutorial by K9YC on the use of ferrite components for interference suppression is available online, as well.
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RF Exposure and Evaluating Your Station
The ARRL has a complete set of web pages on this important topic:
- RF Exposure
- RF Exposure and You – the ARRL’s printed reference guide
- Evaluating Your Station for RF Exposure by Ed Hare, W1RFI
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