>Sorry to hear that oz2cpu, I feel your pain.
Thanks a lot mate.. yes i was actually so mad, and sad, it took me 2hrs to fall a sleep yesterday,
mostly on my self, for beeing so mega stupid.. i knew this SSA input was a weak spot, i knew how to protect against it,
and i knew how to minimize the risks, yet did i ignore and forget all good known tricks..
now it is 11 and i just got up..
>Any idea on how it happened?
YES i know EXACTLY what happened, in fact i got a VIDEO of me blowing up the front end !!
since i was making another one of my test and teardown videos for youtube :-(
maybe it is a good idea to cut out that sad and stupid part out..
i was thinking about filling the unit i was testing with gunpowder put in in a large field, and shoot target at it..
so what did i do :
the unit i was testing did not use correct mains socket with earth pin
= missing earth to its chassis, i even see this !! yet continue to power it on (first mega stupid)
The front panel got a BNC RF output connector, i connect this to my SSA3021X
and forget to put my normally always connected 10dB attenuator on the SSA (2nd mega stupid)
The BNC connector turns out to be a home-brew plug in, into the old larger hole with a 4mm banana in the end,
this BNC adapter is made of plastic, so there is NO gnd connection at all !!
(i could not have known this, it was invisible from the front when not pulled out)
I even got painfull electric shock when touching the test units chassis, due to leakage / capacity to mains ! (3rd mega stupid for continue)
and at that point i pull out the BNC adapter and realize it is homebrew made of plastics,
i do complain about low RF level, in fact it looks like -30 to -40 of what i should expect.
when i pull out the bnc-banana adapter, and in again, i see no more RF signal on SSA, (4th mega stupid for in again)
(NOW i realize how brain dead i was... jaw dropped on the floor for beeing so clue less and stupid)
it starts with head in the hands for 2 mins, trying to remember all the bad words i am not alowed to say
and yes.. all of this is in a video clip.. dont even dare to watch it.. it is how bad i feel..
so if any of this can save one of your SSA
it was worth sharing.
please remember : the more clever and smart you think you are..
the higher risk to forget even the most simple things,
always : go slow.. do all things right, you know how, you know what to do.