noob question

[talmikeabalm]

Okay so I just got my crack/speedball. I'm all set to start building but then I saw all these warnings about electrocution haha I just wanted to confirm that there is no risk until after I plug it in at the end?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[adamct]

Well, try to avoid sticking the soldering iron in your eye...

Just kidding. (Although you should take care not to burn yourself.)

Yes, you're fine. At the end, you do a resistance check without power before doing the voltage check with power. This gives you an opportunity to do a basic sanity check before playing with power. And if you follow the voltage check directions, you should be safe even if you've made a mistake somewhere. Just be careful, follow directions and go slow.

Best regards,
Adam

 

[talmikeabalm]

haha alright, thank you!  I'll try not to get the soldering iron in my eye, but no promises >.>

Tom

 

[earwaxxer]

Hey Tom --- Those are the legal disclaimers. It sounds like you are a cautions guy to ask the questions to begin with. Caution, and PATIENCE is needed. If in doubt let the multi meter take the hit not your body!

 

[talmikeabalm]

I will definitely be overly cautious and patient haha

 

[Doc B]

To be overly detailed, one can put a very small charge on filter capacitors when testing the circuit resistance before doing the voltage checks. This is inconsequential because a DMM usually has a 9V battery in it so there couldn't be more than 9V of potential stored in the cap. That won't be enough to hurt you. When we designed the Quickie battery powered preamp we wanted to do a circuit that couldn't hurt you even when live. It has four 9V batteries stacked up to give 36V. We tested it by having my son grab the positive terminal of the battery stack. He didn't feel even the tiniest tingle.

Of course when you apply AC wall power to the Crack circuit after testing the resistance readings, it will be carrying potentially harmful voltages like anything else plugged into a wall socket. So do be careful to follow the safety instructions about working on a live circuit.

 

[Grainger49]

Dan,

Why didn't YOU grab the 36V B+?  You and I know that is an intrinsically safe voltage. 

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Tom - your attention to reading all details of the manual is commendable! 

 

[earwaxxer]

Got to love those little tidbits from Dan! His SON for Gods sake was the canary in the mine. Of course he knew.... Still a good story...

 

[Doc B]

I think the way it went down was I told PB to test it, but he chickened out and talked Colin into doing it.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I think the way it went down was I told PB to test it, but he chickened out and talked Colin into doing it.

That's EXACTLY how it went down