Monitor discharge

[eccs19]

I've unhooked my monitor to install a cap kit.  My problem is that I went to discharge the monitor, and didn't get the ZAP that everyone mentions.  The monitor was last running less than a week ago. Am I doing something wrong, or is it possible that in less than a week the charge has dissipated?

[menace]

yup very possible--just try it again for good measure and then you should be good to go.

[eccs19]

yup very possible--just try it again for good measure and then you should be good to go.

Would that be because some of the caps are toast, and the voltage is leaking out there, or is it just nature of the beast, and one never knows what one's gonna get?

[Nipedley]

it doesn't mean anything, that's just the way it is! I got no zap either, no spark, no noise, nothing. Not sure why, but I don't mind. =)

[MaximRecoil]

I haven't gotten a zap or crack noise or anything yet, and I have been fiddling with that damnable arcing lower Punch-Out monitor for about a week now. Most monitors self discharge when you turn them off anyway, unless they are busted in some way that prevents them from doing so.

[eccs19]

I haven't gotten a zap or crack noise or anything yet, and I have been fiddling with that damnable arcing lower Punch-Out monitor for about a week now. Most monitors self discharge when you turn them off anyway, unless they are busted in some way that prevents them from doing so.

All this information from you guy's is great.  I was worried I would kill myself.  Now when I go home from work, I can dis-assemble.

Thanks again everyone.

[SirPeale]

Heck, I rarely bother discharging anymore.  Unless I've *just* had the monitor on.  If it's been off for more than 15 minutes, I just squeeze and pop it off.

[Jess--]

would say discharge before you reassemble, have had a few belts from discharged tubes that have picked up a charge while not connected, dont ask me how they do it.... they just do

[eccs19]

would say discharge before you reassemble, have had a few belts from discharged tubes that have picked up a charge while not connected, dont ask me how they do it.... they just do

I bet that would wake you up in a BIG hurry!

[thebrownshow]

Here's a question, since I'm about to do this myself:

Will my monitor discharge itself if it's left unplugged?

[SirPeale]

Here's a question, since I'm about to do this myself:

Will my monitor discharge itself if it's left unplugged?

See my post above.  Won't completely discharge, but if it's working the way it should, it will.

would say discharge before you reassemble, have had a few belts from discharged tubes that have picked up a charge while not connected, dont ask me how they do it.... they just do

Easy way to do that (what I do, anyway) is pinch the cup back so the anode is exposed, and (making sure you're not contacting the anode in any way) touch it to the hole.  It may or may not spark.  Either way, it'll do what it's supposed to.

[thebrownshow]

Here's a question, since I'm about to do this myself:

Will my monitor discharge itself if it's left unplugged?

See my post above.  Won't completely discharge, but if it's working the way it should, it will.

I guess my question was more along the lines of "does it need to be plugged in to discharge the way it should, or should it be UNPLUGGED in order to discharge the way it should?"  Does the monitor need to be connected to EARTH GROUND in order to naturally discharge?  Like most people, I'm nervous as hell about zapping myself the first time I do this.

[Jess--]

the charge in the tube only relates to the outside of the tube thats what you short out when you discharge a tube, so it will make no difference if the monitor is plugged in mains or not.

[eccs19]

Here's a question, since I'm about to do this myself:

Will my monitor discharge itself if it's left unplugged?

See my post above.

[subcriminal]

Mine was like that too. I got a long piece of wood, had a nail in one end and earthed it to the chassis, poked  around under the cup and nothing... makes you wonder if you did it right

[Jess--]

My bits for discharging are really simple.... 1 slim screwdriver and 1 bit of wire with a croc clip on each end (one end for the scredriver and one end to clip on the braid across the back of the tube)

very rarely hear / see anything when discharging while taking apart, but quite often see / hear a small spark when discharging before putting back together (about the same size as a spark from a spark plug in a car)

[thebrownshow]

http://www.instantarcade.com/discharge.php

[thebrownshow]

Ok, I just did it...not a spark, nothing.  Removed the board, no problems at all. 

I had the monitor off and unplugged for four days.