Remember how we used to ride our bicycles with little to no safety gear when we were kids? Yeah, back then we drank tons of sugary beverages and used to play with power tools. We used chemistry sets without the slightest idea of what any given compound could do in the first place. Oh, and don’t forget about building all sorts of gizmos that were using actual electricity. Well, some people, like Mike here, continue doing crazy things way into adulthood. He demonstrates his work and warns everyone else – never try and do that at home! This thing of his is known as The Retro QRP Widowmaker.
This design could be seen in older electronic magazines from time to time. It had no ground wire, was built on an open board and did not require a comprehensive power supply unit. Also, it wasn’t limited to transmitters. Since some of the radios and TV sets had “hot chassis”, they told us to touch any unusual chassis with the back of our hands. The logic behind it was simple enough – since the shock will contract your muscles, it will push your arm away from the electrically active part instead of making it grab the thing.
Well, Mike decided to use an isolation transformer so as to prevent the disaster from happening in the first place. A lot of voltage is dropped by a big resistor to supply the tube located within the circuit. And there also was a neon bulb present that indicated if those plugs were installed the wrong way which could potentially lead to some dire consequences.
Let’s be frank – Mike’s outstanding code with an old J-38 style key is nothing less than enjoyable. Of course, not everyone is using a keyboard or a paddle in the first place. These days, little transmitters don’t require higher voltages. Furthermore, don’t forget that a few dozen bucks these days is way less than a dozen back in the day. If you have an eye for vintage things, it would be advisable to check old transistors to keep it all safe.
Any HAM radio enthusiast should definitely consider other options instead. That way, you will protect yourself from any possible dire consequences. The eula will help you get started with this one as well. So feel free to browse further if you are looking for a better option in the first place.
