I didn't even think of which side to connect up to the variable section. I figured I'd ground the case, and the stationary side of the capacitor, and hook the plate up to the rotor side. So now I have +400vdc /w RF connected to the metal tuning knob of the first capacitor. I then hooked up the next variable capacitor between the inductor of the pi filter and the antenna, but on this one I grounded the rotary part, and hooked the stationary part up to the antenna and inductor. So now I have ground connected to the metal tuning knob of the second capacitor.
Everything looked okay, so I powered up the transmitter, and started tuning the pi network. I first grabbed the first capacitor knob, tuned it until I got a dip in the swr meter, then without letting go I grabbed the second capacitor knob, and had 400vdc across my chest through my arms.
I knew I was going to die if I didn't do something soon, so I tried to jump up, backpedal and let go at the same time. Jumping up and backpedalling worked, however letting go was not working. In a very short time I had run backwards knocking the transmitter off the table, and backed far enough away to pull the cord out of the wall. Now all I had to do was wait for the 400vdc to discharge through me. It did not take very long, and I sat there for a long time thinking about life in general.
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