Tin foil hat .org

[VoiceofReason]

FCC Radio Technicians license with a Radar Endorsement.

Cool, I have one of those too. Haven't run across too many people with them. When I was getting out of the Marine Corps (Avionics Technician), it was 'highly recommended' to pick up this license for future employment purposes - so I did. That was about 18 years ago - I have never needed or used it once.

The Second Class license was required for a job I had. I went back and got the Radar Endorsement on my own. Doesn’t hurt to have them.

[VoiceofReason]

I have worked on radio transmitters, microwave communications and electronic equipment for forty years. Someone explain the term dirty electricity to me.

Well, actually there is such a thing. Any line levels that are not within a required voltage range or have spikes or drops is called 'dirty'. Poor connections, bad wiring, etc. can cause voltage fields and RF radiation outside of the wiring. Here is a site that covers a lot of it http://www.dirtyelectricity.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and here is a white paper http://www.electricalpollution.com/docu ... FAMemf.PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Keith,

No disrespect intended but the two citations you posted seemed only to have anecdotal “evidence” and the white paper hawked “The “Stetzerizer,” the Graham/Stetzer filter” and an “inexpensive meter developed by Dr. Martin Graham” that “detects levels of radio-frequency radiation on household wiring.”

Looks like a money maker.

http://www.nature4less.com/index.php?ma ... ucts_id=14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After searching the web and seeing so much on this topic, looks like OSHA should look into this in order to protect technicians. Would all the illnesses listed be covered by Workers Compensation?

Sorry about that but I wanted to make the point that if this really was a problem we would see some serious scientific study of it.

Well, I also have those certifications you have, and EM exposure is a real issue IMO. How big a risk is the question. Exposure to 'dirty electricity', aka EM or RF radiated from power lines and other sources has been studied for the effects on the human body. And, while opinions vary, there is enough concern to warrant the investigation further. And while OSHAdoesn't set the standards on EM exposure recommendations, the OET and ICES does http://www.ices-emfsafety.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. And I have worked on high powered RF and large electrical systems for over 30 years myself and do believe that long term exposure even at low levels does pose a risk; but it is not a guarantee that you will develop a cancer or some other impact from it, or that something else won't get you first.

Keith,

I am always willing to learn something. Check your P.M.

[Dave2]

I have allways heard that the big difference between good amps and cheap ones is the power supply.

This is all IMHO...

If I was going to claim that only one thing made the difference, I'd say that keeping the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) low is the important spec. Having a power supply that can deal with dirty power varies from "quite helpful" to "absolutely critical", depending on the type of amp (some amp classes are more sensitive than others).

In any case, last time I checked the circuitry to stabilize voltages and properly filter out all the line noise runs about $750 per amp (more precisely, per circuit, but where I work that's the same thing), which adds up to a lot when you're carrying 70 or so amps around. It's generally easier just to make sure there's nothing sharing circuits and that clears up most of it.

I'm not trying to end the conversation or anything, but we should probably start another thread if you (or anyone else) want to continue talking about it.