
Section 1
Test Instrument Safety
WARNING
Normal use of test equipment exposes you to a certain amount of danger from electrical shock because testing
must sometimes be performed where exposed voltage is present. An electrical shock causing 10 milliamps of
current to pass through the heart will stop most human heartbeats. A Voltage as low as 35 volts dc or ac (rms.)
should be considered dangerous and hazardous since it can produce a lethal current under certain conditions.
Highervoltagesposeanevengreaterthreatbecausesuchvoltagecanmoreeasilyproducealethalcurrent.Your
normal work habits should include all accepted practices to prevent contact with exposed high voltage and to
steer current away from your heart in case of accidental contact with high voltage. You will significantly reduce
the risk factor if you know and observe the following safety precaution.
1. Don’t expose high voltage needlessly. Remove housings and covers only when necessary. Turn off equip-
ment while making test connections in high voltage circuits. Discharge high voltage capacitors after removing
power.
2. If possible, familiarize yourself with the equipment being tested and the location of its high voltage points.
However, remember that high voltage may appear at unexpected points in defective equipment.
3. Use an insulated floor material or a large, insulated floor to stand on and an insulated work surface on which
to place equipment and make certain such surfaces are not damp or wet.
4. Use the time proven “one hand in the pocket” technique while handling an instrument probe. Be particularly
careful to avoid contacting a nearby metal object that could provide a good ground return path.
5. When testing ac powered equipment, remember that ac line voltage is usually present on some power input
circuits such as the on-off switch, fuses, power transformer etc. any time the equipment is connected to an ac
outlet, even if the equipment is turned off.
6. Some equipment with a two-wire ac power cord, including some with polarized power plugs, is the “hot chas-
sis” type. This includes most recent television receivers and audio equipment. A plastic wooden cabinet
insulates the chassis to protect the customer. When the cabinet is removed for servicing, a serious shock
hazard exists if the chassis is touched. Not only does this present a dangerous shock hazard, but damage to
test equipment. Always connect an isolation transformer between the ac outlet and the equipment under test.
TheB&KPrecisionModelTR-110 or 1604AIsolationTransformeror Model 1653A or 1655AACPowerSupply
is suitable for most applications. To be on the safe side, treat all two-wire ac equipment as “hot chassis”
unless you are sure it is isolated chassis or an earth ground chassis.
7. On test instruments or any equipment with a 3-wire ac power plug, use only a 3-wire outlet. This is a safety
feature to keep the housing or other exposed elements at earth ground.
8. B&K Precision products are not authorized for use in any application involving direct contact between our
product and the human body or for use as a critical component in a life support device or system. Here “direct
contact” refers to any connection from or to our equipment via any cabling or switching means. A “critical
component” is any component of a life support device or system whose failure to perform can be reasonably
expected to cause failure of that device or system or to affect its safety or effectiveness.
Never work all alone. Someone should be nearby to render aid if necessary. Training in CPR (cardiopulmo-
nary resuscitation) first aid is highly recommended.