Would you guys trust this...possibly with your life?

[Jeff AMN]

I have a Donkey Kong cabinet that I'm restoring and I need to do a cap kit replacement on the monitor. I've never worked on monitors before, so this will all be a learning experience. Now, I don't have any tools to discharge the monitor, but I was wondering if you guys would trust this tool (which I do have) to tell me whether or not the monitor is holding a charge.



I picked one up from Home Depot for another project a while back, and it works well. It beeps and flashes if there is any voltage present. I've plugged the DK in, got it close to the monitor's no-no area, and it lit up. It even lit up after unplugging the machine for a while. However, just the other day it didn't light up. Do you guys think I can safely assume that the monitor has discharged? Would you trust it?

[shardian]

Short answer, no. Even with a bleed resistor, there could still be enough residual charge to give you a comfy tickle. Always thoroughly discharge a monitor before messing with the electronics.

[ChadTower]

Long answer, ---fudgesicle--- no.

If you can't be confident in your ability to discharge the monitor don't touch it.  You're not ready to do the job.

[BobA]

That tool detects AC voltage.   The charge on a monitor is DC and would not be detected.

Always discharge a monitor even if you think it has been discharged.  Be safe not SORRY.

[northerngames]

http://www.arcadegames.net/sightsound/discharge.ppt

this is a simple way to do it with common tools

[ChadTower]

That's not a bad tutorial.  I'd add a couple things, like making sure not to scrape off paint around the anode, and use a more insulated screwdriver than that.

[Jeff AMN]

Ok, thanks guys.

I'm confident enough in learning how to discharge and doing it, I just wanted to know if I could trust that thing to avoid having to learn.

[shardian]

It is still a very handy tool when doing household electrical work.

[northerngames]

I pulled the link from the monitor FAQ by menace but yeah I was thinking the same thing with the screw driver shown I have the exact same one and don't think I would try it with that type just to be sure I would suggest one with a rubber casing over the handle or if you do use a screw driver like that at least were a rubber glove I never been shocked by one and hopefully never do lol.