[Boatanchors] Hot key

[Rob Atkinson]

I am not familiar with the Valiant on CW but if it is cathode keyed,
the key v. is probably around 100 v. DC.  You can measure it with a
DMM.  If it isn't cathode keyed, then something may be wrong, but as
it sounds as if it is working normally, I doubt it.  So, what to do.
You can live with it, now that you know what the score it, as
thousands of ops have done in years gone by.  It's a nuisance only if
you want to adjust your bug with the rig on, and also because the key
contacts will develop burrs and pits after a time.  You can try
putting a RC snubber across the key, experimenting with various R and
C values.   That may help with the sparking but not the voltage.
You can get a TO Keyer and use that, but it won't be a bug unless you
modify the TO Keyer to just switch and not automatically make dits and
dahs.  Or you can work up some sort of switching circuit using a TV
transistor or some other device that pulls the key v. to ground and is
controlled by low v. DC across the bug.

73

Rob
K5UJ

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019 at 4:07 AM w3khg <w3khg-john at triad.rr.com> wrote:
>
> I plugged my bug into the Johnson Valiant and upon sending noticed sparks on the dot contact when keying. Also the key is hot! I was zapped. Is this due to the transmitter not having adequate grounding?
>
> john/w3khg
>
> Sent from my iPa