[AMRadio] Shorting stick

[W4AWM at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/2/2006 19:22:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
w5jo at brightok.net writes:

> One had a 10 uf, 15 kv oil cap 
> that he charged, then shorted with a screwdriver.  You probably have seen 
> the fireworks that generated.  It will give one pause around HV.  He then 
> waited about 20 minutes and shorted the terminals again.  Another bang but 
> not as brilliant as the first.  The second was enough to seriously hurt you 
> or make you hurt yourself.
> 

Why do you think that large capacitors are shipped form the factory with a 
lead shorting the terminals? Hint:  It is not there to give you a piece of hook 
up wire!

73,

John,  W4AWM