Question about moving an old Arcade Monitor

[LsLSpamMatt]

Hey Guys,

I've got a cabinet with a jamma kit in it, but the cab is in .. "OK"
shape.  I'd like to rebuild it and just move all the old parts into
the new cab.
My question is:

Do I need to discharge the monitor before moving it, or
can I just be really careful to not touch the wires with the
suction cups?

Thanks,

Matt

[seibu]

Hey Guys,

I've got a cabinet with a jamma kit in it, but the cab is in .. "OK"
shape.  I'd like to rebuild it and just move all the old parts into
the new cab.
My question is:

Do I need to discharge the monitor before moving it, or
can I just be really careful to not touch the wires with the
suction cups?

Thanks,

Matt

Personally, I would have said that discharging the tube was more dangerous than moving the whole thing carefully. Others may disagree, though.

Probably the most dangerous thing about moving a monitor is the risk of dropping it and getting showered with broken glass. This remains a risk even when it is discharged!

Just be very careful and don't touch any part of the boards or tube - hold it by the frame at all times.

[LsLSpamMatt]

Seibu,

Haha, excellent.
I suppose I'll see if anyone else throws their hat in.
This move is a long ways  off regardless.
But thanks for the input.

Matt

[AndyWarne]

Think of the charge on the monitor CRT in terms of the fuel in a car tank. The fuel, or charge, in itself can be dangerous but as it is contained in a completely enclosed space, it is safe in it's location. So no need to discharge, which in itself is a dangerous procedure (as is draining a fuel tank!)
The only time to be concerned is if you are disconnecting the wire which carries the charge, ie the EHT rubber cap, just as a car mechanic would only worry about draining a fuel tank if he were going to work on the fuel lines.
BUT there are other stored charges on a monitor PCB, so always leave the monitor powered off for a few hours before handling.
Andy

[LsLSpamMatt]

Andy,

I like the way you phrased that,

Thanks,

Matt

[MonitorGuru]

There is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED to discharge a monitor of any type, be it an arcade monitor, a PC monitor or a consumer TV set, if all you're doing is "moving it".

The only time you should ever even think about discharging a monitor is when you are:
- Reparing the monitor boards (e.g. cap kit, new flyback or HOT, fuses, etc...)
- Swapping tubes out


It is more dangerous to you and more potential for damage to the monitor by discharging it when it doesn't need to be.  Also a defanged (discharged and anode wire removed) tube is actually more apt to give you a shock than one that is still connected, because if you discharge it and leave it sit without reattaching the anode wire, it will rebuild a charge just by sitting in the air, waiting to zap you when you attempt to put it back together (or accidentially touch the anode hole) if you don't discharge again.

Each discharge can send thousands of volts of electricity through the monitor and if the wrong things are touched by inexperience or just bad luck you will ruin the electronics.

There is always the risk of implosion, charged or discharged, it's always the same.  Also you need to be careful not to touch any part of the circuit board underside (or metal parts on the top side) as the main capacitor can hold a mighty powerful charge even when the monitor is off, if there is a problem on the board that is, like a blown fuse.  Also be carefull!


The best analogy is this: Attempting to discharge a monitor just to move it is like asking someone to remove the POSITVE wire from the battery terminal of their car if all they wanted to do was put it in neutral and physically push it backwards out of their garage without starting it.  Again, it makes absolutely no sense to do such a thing, and a removed postive wire in your car is just asking for trouble when reattached as you could cause a spark and have collateral damage.

[LsLSpamMatt]

Monitor Guru,

No Discharge is the path I will pursue... someday, far down the road.
Appreciate the advice.

Thanks,

Matt