Has anyone here built and used Bob Roberts' SafeBack discharger?

[RayB]

Hey,
I need to discharge a monitor, and like most first-timers to doing that, I feel very nervous about it. I followed Bob Roberts' plans on building his "SafeBack" discharger, but now I'm nervous about if I didn't build it right!!!

Anyone here use it? Should I wear rubber gloves when I use it?  

Ray B.

[SirPeale]

I've never done it.  What I do is take a length of wire, attach it to a flathead screwdriver, put an alligator clip on the other end.  Clip to the monitor frame, and slip the screwdriver under the cap.  

[RayB]

Hmm! Well that's basically what Bob's discharger is. Except his instructions have us drill a hole through the screwdriver with the wire inserted and heavily soldered. I think the reason for that is that you are taking a risk if your clip should happen to get knocked off atthe same time as you are discharging.

OK, I guess I will be safe with this method then!

 

[XtraSmiley]

I built and used the BR one about 1 month ago, it worked great and I even heard the static pop sound.  Hope this helps you.

[l8nite]

I too built one of the bob roberts one, except I couldn't drill through the screwdriver I bought (something about titanium being stronger than steel or somesuch... heh).   I ended up grinding a nice groove around the shaft using a grinding wheel and then wrapped/soldered my wire directly to it that way.  It has worked perfectly on several monitors now

[sonicflood]

I used a jumper cable and clipped one end to the frame & a screwdriver to the other end.  Slipped under the cap and.. it worked great!

Scott

[RayB]

Well guys, I am back from the hospital now. They say I'll slowly regain use of my arm in about 6 months.

[MiKman]

Well guys, I am back from the hospital now. They say I'll slowly regain use of my arm in about 6 months.

YIKES! I hope you are not serious :-)  I have a monitor I too am going to discharge this winter when I get a chance to do some work on this machine I have, so don't scare me like that or I'll be wearing a rubber suit when I do it haha

[fredster]

I use a screwdriver with a clip on the frame too.  I tried to build bob's but I lost interest after the drill broke.  The clip works fine. I've used it dozens of times in G07's and a couple of wells garners.

It's pretty freaky discharging the flyback the first time.  But after a while you get used to it.  I like to hear that pop.  If the monitor is cold, it won't pop or make any noise.

I suggest you make sure you hit the wire and leave it on there a few minutes before you remove the chassis.   If not, then discharge it and then wait about 3-5 minutes and then do it again.

Also, be careful of that big cap on the board.  It can bite too.  

[cw]

one thing.... if the monitor has a hv rectifier, you could blow it.  (You can build a small circuit  to protect it)

Its very easy to tell if you have one because it will be in line ( big red wire the runs from the flyback to the cub )

[RayB]

I was joking.

Um one thing I'm not clear on, when i slide the screwdriver under the cup, do I then take the cup and anode OUT? or am I supposed to leave it in?

If I take it out, what do I do to "discharge it again" as people suggest? Do I just waggle the screwdriver in the hole in the tube??

~Ray B.

[SirPeale]

I was joking.

Um one thing I'm not clear on, when i slide the screwdriver under the cup, do I then take the cup and anode OUT? or am I supposed to leave it in?

If I take it out, what do I do to "discharge it again" as people suggest? Do I just waggle the screwdriver in the hole in the tube??

Yes, and yes.

[XtraSmiley]

I was joking.

Um one thing I'm not clear on, when i slide the screwdriver under the cup, do I then take the cup and anode OUT? or am I supposed to leave it in?

If I take it out, what do I do to "discharge it again" as people suggest? Do I just waggle the screwdriver in the hole in the tube??

Yes, and yes.

YES and NO!

After you slide the screw driver under there, wait about 2-3 min. then do it again.  If you don't hear a sound the second time (a pop or a sizzle) then you can remove the suction cup and there is NO need to stick the screwdriver into the hole at all!  If on the 2nd time you still hear a sound, wait another 2-3 min and do it again.

[Rocky]

I was joking.

Um one thing I'm not clear on, when i slide the screwdriver under the cup, do I then take the cup and anode OUT? or am I supposed to leave it in?

If I take it out, what do I do to "discharge it again" as people suggest? Do I just waggle the screwdriver in the hole in the tube??

Yes, and yes.

YES and NO!

After you slide the screw driver under there, wait about 2-3 min. then do it again.  If you don't hear a sound the second time (a pop or a sizzle) then you can remove the suction cup and there is NO need to stick the screwdriver into the hole at all!  If on the 2nd time you still hear a sound, wait another 2-3 min and do it again.

Sorry, but you are wrong, XtraSmiley .

Please discharge the monitor again before you hook it back up.  I learned the hard way. I was re-attaching the suction cup and using a screw driver to squeeze the clip together and my hand slipped from the handle of the screw driver to the metal shaft.  Wow, talk about a jolt!

I'm sure it wasn't full voltage, since I had discharged it already, but for some reason, a charge can build again. In my situation it had been several hours that the monitor was sitting.

Anyway, even if you've discharded a monitor, go ahead and do it again just before you mess with the suction cup.


Rocky

[Hoagie_one]

i dont know about you guys, but id wear rubber gloves anyways, lol

[XtraSmiley]

Sorry, but you are wrong, XtraSmiley .

Please discharge the monitor again before you hook it back up.  I learned the hard way. I was re-attaching the suction cup and using a screw driver to squeeze the clip together and my hand slipped from the handle of the screw driver to the metal shaft.  Wow, talk about a jolt!

I'm sure it wasn't full voltage, since I had discharged it already, but for some reason, a charge can build again. In my situation it had been several hours that the monitor was sitting.

Anyway, even if you've discharded a monitor, go ahead and do it again just before you mess with the suction cup.


Rocky

Oh, sorry dude, yeah I never thought of that b/c I never had any problems with hooking it up later, I thought he meant during the disconnecting part.  You only have to do it the way I described.  Now after you are done hooking it back up, I've never done it again but I'll take your word that it's not a bad idea, you just have to be really carful to not scratch the glass.