TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 13.26 DATE: June 30, 2013 SUBJECT: FOLLOW THAT LEAD
When connecting up electronic equipment that operates on Direct Current or DC for short, be sure not to reverse the power leads. All DC electronic equipment has a Positive and a Negative voltage input and the reversal of them could mean disaster for the piece of equipment. During emergencies when DC electronic equipment such as radios and computers need to be connected in a not so normal fashion, care MOST be taken to be sure the leads to the power source are NOT reversed.
Normally the Positive lead is Red in color, and the Negative lead is Black in color, but there are times when the leads get reversed because power plugs and connectors are built for other uses, which need to be used for special purposes. It only takes a few seconds to trace out the Positive and Negative leads all the way from the power source to the device that it is going to power. Make sure the leads don't get reversed, even though the Red and Black leads don't follow normal wiring. The few seconds that it takes is well worth the time, and may save a piece of equipment from going to the repair shop or to the local landfill.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV