[Boatanchors] Hot key

[howard holden]

The Valiant, like most Johnson transmitters, is timed sequence grid block keyed. It is NOT cathode keyed. You may measure a high negative voltage on the key with a DMM but because of the very high resistance in the keying circuit you shouldn’t get “bitten” by it. I had a Valiant years ago never got nailed by it. My Navigator uses the same keying circuit, and measures -94V with a DMM, but I can put my fingers across the key and feel absolutely nothing due to the very high series resistance in the keying circuit. Verified this just now.

I do see very tiny sparking with lights off when I key it but really minimal.

If you’re getting nailed by it, you have something wrong in the keying circuit or you have a grounding issue with the rig. 

73, Howie WB2AWQ/7



Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 8, 2019, at 02:07, 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
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