"Michael A. Terrell" writes:


William Sommerwerck wrote:

"Windmill" wrote in message
...
"Michael A. Terrell" writes:

Have you ever been near, or inside a high power RADAR system? We
had two at Ft Rucker in the '70s Each ran 2 MW to track aircraft around
the base, and to the Gulf of Mexico. One was always being serviced
while the other was in use, to reduce the chances of both being down.
Both transmitters, and the high intensity RF from the antenna could kill
in less than a heartbeat.

Unless you were standing near a tightly focused beam, this is unlikely.
Microwaves kill by overheating, and the first thing heated would be the
outer surface of your body, which probably wouldn't be lethal. It's more
likely you'd be blinded by having your corneas cooked.


Birds would drop dead if they flew too close to that RADAR antenna,
but the highest risk of death was from the high current, high voltage
power supplies in tube type microwave sources. High power RADAR tubes
were huge, when compared to the lowly Magnetron in an oven.

I think you must be talking about much newer equipment than I worked
on.
Long ago, magnetrons (of a different design from the ones still used in
microwave ovens) were the only way to generate high peak powers, and
the oscillation frequency of a magnetron wasn't very stable.

Since then, I hear that high power klystrons have been used as
amplifiers in radar systems, and I believe there's a still newer tube
type which is used in the latest gear.

But as you say, the power supplies are and were very dangerous, needing
elaborate interlock systems to enhance safety.

Urban legend had it that someone had found a way, in the days before
vasectomies, to stand in front of a radar antenna for just long enough
to produce temporary sterilization. But I didn't try that; doubtful if
anyone
would.

You could just as well dip your testicles in a bowl of hot water for 15
minutes.


That is used when Water boarding fails. ;-)

The radar tale was probably meant as a warning which would have a
considerable effect on most young guys!

--
Windmill, Use t m i l l
J.R.R. Tolkien:- @ O n e t e l . c o m
All that is gold does not glister / Not all who wander are lost