Evening star., 1923-09-30
Radio Hazarls.

Radio Hazards.
Warnings were broadcast Yesterday
throughout the country against
careiessness by amateur radio fans
1oiloWing an investigation by engi-
heers connected with the national
saIety council into radio hazards and
their prevention.
The warning has been issued in an
this fall.
The investigation disclosed that
numerous accidents, some fatal, had
Deeh caused by lack of knowledge on
the part or enthusiastic radio bugs"
IN the construction and use of send
ing and receiving apparatus aeriaIs
and batteries.
The national safety council, follow
ing an extensive inquiry, has pre-
radio use and their prevention for
amateurs, which Will be issued in
pamphlet form in the near future.
The report follows:.
ON the whole, the underlying
causes of most accidents in connec-
tfon with radio apparatus are ig-
norance and carelessness. Many per-
sons using radio equipment do not
know the dangers of the apparatus;
others, conversant with the hazards,
forget them in their enthusiasm.
The handling of antenna wires
after they have become charged by
falling on or touching high voltage
power and light wires Cor by those
wires falling on the aeriafs) has re-
suited in severe shock and death. The
collapse of antenna masts due to i'm
proper or insufficient guying has led
to such cases as well as to serious
falls.
''An outdoor aerial is not neces-
sary for efficient reception of radio
messages. The use of an indoor aerial
eliminates contact with outside power
and light wires and the hazard of
climbing to unfamiliar places. A
lightning arrester, while not abso-
lutely necessary, should be installed.
Storage batteries have caused sew
eral accidents. due to the fact that
after charging, expelled oxygen and
ture) have come in contact with an
open flame or have been fgnited by
crossed wires. Splitting or leaking of
eletrolyte CASUALLY sulphuric acidp
has ruined interior furniture and
caused severe body burns.
There is ample current capacity in
dry-cell batteries to produce a fatal
shock, but ordinarily the voltage is
not sufficient to force this fatal shock
through the body. Some "B" bat
volts. which would cause a severe and
possible fatal shock to any one COM
ing in contact with both main term
inals when making or breaking the
connection. A good general rule for
avoiding shock is to use one hand
only and be sure the body is nowhere
grounded.
The sending station should pre-
ferably be located in a building of
substantial construction and should
derive the current necessary for
operation from source other than
the supply TO the building for other
purposes Where such stations have
been located in private dwellings and
apartment houses and secured their
operating currents from the building
supply lines, fire and accident hazards
have sometimes resulted. The atenna
should be located so that, should it
fall. ii would not touch any light or
power lines.
The poles supporting the antenna
should be guyed in four directions,
the guys should be provided with in
sulators and the poles should be To-
Gated with respect to the edges of the
hazard of falling off the roof.
THE lead-in wire should be kept
five inches away from all parts of the
building. The same air space should
be provided for all ground wires.
Splices and joints in the antenna span
and iead-in wires. unless made with
approved clamps or splicing devices.
should be soldered. All antennas and
lead-in wires should be of copper or
approved clad steel not smaller than
4NO. II d. a % BdSc ne ltdu-H III
wires should enter the building only
through non-combustible, non-ab-
sorptive Insulating bushings.
LAS protection to the transmission
equipment from lightning, 1t is plain
that a lightning arrester is not prac-
teal for sending sets. Radio engi-
neers have recommended the installa-
tion of a double throw knife switch,
the specifications to correspond with
the standard 60 ampere, 600 volt
switch, with the exception that a
slate base Is not recommended.
"Overfusing a circuit or replacing
a fuse with copper wire, pennies or
other Illicit methods is analogous to
tying the safety valve of a boiler so II
will not operate. In both cases the
protection which is depended upon to
prevent accidents is removed. Such
practice is indefensible.
Generally speaking. fire insurance
companies will not be affected ad-
versely by the installation of radio
receiving sets even with, outdoor an
tennas. It is suggested, however,
that those who wish to make certain
of this point, call up their insurance
broker, who will either give verbal
consent to the addition or will issue
a radio permit Endorsement for the