[R-390] Re: Refinishing meters

[Roy Morgan]

At 01:15 PM 4/30/03 -0500, Scott, Barry (Clyde B) wrote:
>Roy,
>
>Good [repeat] advice.  One of the meters (Carrier Level) is marked "Sealed -
>Do Not Open" while the other (Line Level) is not marked as such.  I wonder
>if the Line Level meter would be considered "safe"?

Barry,

Many harmless meters are in fact "sealed" and are not intended to be opened 
for repair. I would not depend on the marking "Sealed do not open" as an 
indication one way or the other that the thing contains any radioactive 
material.

Instead, I suggest you do two things:

  1) Become familiar with the visual appearance of the radioactive 
markings. (Yellow-ish, thick, indistinct edges, may appear to have been 
dobbed on the surface over existing paint markings.)

  2) Look at the meter in the dark, complete darkness, after you have also 
been in the dark for at least 15 minutes to allow your eyes to 
adjust..  Also, try this after exposing the meter close range to the sun, 
or to a flourescent lamp (preferably a cool white one). This may 
"re-charge" the glowing material a bit.

>the Line Level meter doesn't appear to be all that well sealed (see 
>pictures) so
>I'm thinking it may not be a threat.

I don't know if the meters that have radioactive markings were sealed or 
not.  Will folks who know the nature of their meters comment on this please?

Roy


- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
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