Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] cheap monitors?

["Igor Izyumin Jr." <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Sunday 04 March 2001 10:22, Stephen Montgomery-Smith wrote:
> Aaron Littich wrote:
> > That "WARNING THERE ARE HIGH VOLTAGES
> >
> > > INSIDE YOUR MONITOR!!!  BE VERY, VERY AFRAID!!!"
> >
> > label means all you have to do is look out for large
> > capacitors. You can make it safe by discharging them,
> > which you cand do by just shorting them out. That
> > neutralizes the charge stored on the plates.
>
> Won't that make a big spark?  (I did have a similar experience
> once when I was pulling a broken camera apart.)

Yes, it will make a big spark - MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger than on a camera.  
Discharging the capacitors should NOT be done by shorting them out.  That 
might destroy the capacitors, as well as anything that is attached to them.  
And I'm sure you don't want to hunt down $30 semiconductors that were 
destoyed by the spike you caused.  Also, the tube itself stores some HV, too. 
 Discharging capacitors should be done ONLY through a proper, high-wattage 
resistor.  Read the repairfaq for more info.  BTW, you really want to use an 
isolation transformer when working with (servicing) TVs, monitors, and 
microwave ovens and other live circuits.  Also, even tiny caps can bite.  
Anyway, CHECK BEFORE YOU TOUCH anything that may have high voltage, and do 
not assume anything (eg only big capacitors can be dangerous).
-- 
-- Igor
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