St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-12-01
SOMETHING TO WATCH CLOSELY
ON YOUR TELEVISION
(FrOm The Monark)

her 1O-month-old son crawl be-
tween the metal legs of an operat-
ing TV and apparently fall asleep.
When she picked up the child, his
body was limp, and she noticed
burns around his face and stom-
ach. He had been electrocuted
without sound or spark when he
simultaneously touched the metal
case of the shock-ridden set and
a floor register.
Electricity in your set-as high
as 10000 volts is constantly
striving to find the shortest route
to the ground. You can provide
this need by having your service
man ground your set. 1t is a cheap
precaution and a needed one.
Electrocution is not the only
danger from a TV set. Like any
other appliances, your TV can
kindle a fire right before your
eyes. The National Board of Fire
Underwriters has urged set own
ers never to leave televisions run
ming unattended. You also create a
fire hazard if you place a televi-
sion in a tight place with little air
circulation. A check of 46 cities
showed that "suffocated" TV sets
were causing eight times as many
fires as Christmas tree wiring.
If a fire breaks out in your TV
because of improper repair, install
lation, or inadequate ventilation,
there's usually more smoke than
flame. However, there is always
the additional hazard of high vol
tage current and an implosion "a
bursting inward) of the picture
tube. In case of fire, the NBFU
advises:
1. DISCONNECT the set by
pulling Tic pug
2. DO NOT TOUCH ANY
METAL part of the set.
3. Because of implosion and frag-
mentation hazards, avoid standing
directly in front of or behind the
set.
4. Even though disconnected,
DON'T USE WATER to put out
the fire. Use only extinguishers ap-
proved for electrical fires carbon
diodde or dry chemical is best) .
5. COVER THE SET with a rug
or heavy blanket to help smother
the fire, and contain the glass If
an implosion occurs.
The antenna can also be a killer
for the do-it-yourself. A typical
case is that of a father, son, and
daughter who were taking down
an antenna to replace the arms
for better reception. The antenna
was supported by a 3O-foot steel
pipe. It was set close to a 1900
volt distribution line. The father
and son were lowering the mast
while the daughter was trying to
control the top with a guy wire.
Suddenly the antenna tumbled out
of control, touching the power
wire. The father and son were
killed; the girl was miraculously
knocked free.
The best advice is to secure a
competent, reputable, professional
serviceman. An ignorant tinkerer,
or part-time dabbler, can kill him
self and others. The Radio Corp
grafton of America agrees with
the dangers Of self repairs. 1t lists
several violations common to do
it-yourselfers, such as leaving out
screws, by-passing safety inter-
lock switches, and shorting out
fuses, all of which can have tragic
effects.
The most feared accident, even
among experienced repairmen, is
an implosion. In California an ex-
pectant mother was injured where
a TV set was being repaired. Some
how the sweeper handle fell
against the neck of the picture
tube. 1t imploded and one sharp
piece pierced the woman's abdo-
men, causing serious injury and
the loss of her baby. The force
was so great that glass spinters
were imbedded in the furniture.
Underwriters Laboratories places
the following warning on all TV
receivers it approves: High Vac
uum Picture Tube Is Dangerous
to Handle. Refer Servicing to Quail
flied Service Personnel" We add
keep the back cover in place.
Here are four simple safeguards
to follow: % Have the set ground
ed.
(2) Provide good ventilation,
and don't leave unattended. (3)
Ground antenna to avoid lightning
damage.
az Leave the repairs to a quail
flied, high-grade serviceman.
If everyone followed this advice,
our TV tragedies would be con-
fined to those viewed on the
screen.