[sdiy] Tube amp cap discharge tool?

[Bob Weigel]

Harry...the context was "how do we do this in a tube amp".  With a well 
insulated handle...how is the energy stored going to hurt anyone? 
(assuming this isn't some collasal amp that I've never witnessed..I 
mean..use some common sense.. if you see one..be sceeerd..be very 
scared).  I routinely have 'let 'er rip' for the last many amps I've 
worked on and while I recommend not sticking your face right in the arc 
zone..nobody gets hurt by the 100uF 450V caps that are commonly the max 
section found in a tube amp.    -Bob

harrybissell wrote:

> BAD BAD advice (let 'er rip).   The smile is not enough disclaimer.  ;^)
>
> Some newb (which Michael B isn't) will end up daid !!!
>
> I work with caps of 1500 - 3000uF charged to 700VDC with VERY LOW
> ESR... that will make your insulated screwdriver go supernova and fry 
> your
> face.  If the molten metal does not hit you directly it will be good 
> for a nice
> suntan from the ARC !!!
>
> Using a resistor is the best way.
>
> H^) harry
>
> Bob Weigel wrote:
>
>  
>
>> The lamp will spark initially but the response time of a typical light
>> bulb is milliseconds I think due to the tiny tiny amount of thermal mass
>> involved :-) .  So it will help some. But hey..just get a cheap
>> screwdriver with a well insulated handle and let er rip! :-)   -Bob
>>
>> Ken Stone wrote:
>>
>>   
>>
>>>> Might be a bad idea at 300V...
>>>>
>>>> (what voltage you got in AU ?   Our light bulbs are 120V)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>       
>>>
>>> Our mains is 240V. Even so, using a light bulb is still a bad idea. 
>>> Filament
>>> resistance is too low when it is cold, so I'd expect you'd still get 
>>> a heck
>>> of a spark (the sort that blows away a chunk of your terminal)
>>>
>>> Ken
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________________________________
>>> Ken Stone   sasami at hotkey.net.au or sasami at cgs.synth.net
>>> Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
>>> Australian Miniature Horses & Ponies <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     
>>
>
>
>
>  
>


>  
>