[sdiy] Tube amp cap discharge tool?

[The Peasant]

> Never seen direct discharging a typical tube amp capacitor cause a 
> problem.  

Most DC filtering capacitors are only rated for a small amount of power 
dissipation and, for example, cannot be used on an AC line like a motor 
starting capacitor (these have much higher power ratings). Shorting a capacitor 
with a significant charge in it will exceed this power rating and will very 
likely damage the capacitor.

> You've got to remember I've been 
> doing this stuff since I was a boy and boys often test things.  
> Sometimes foolishly, but in the process..hopefully they survive and 
> learn lessons from those things and begin to comprehend limits.

Please realise that many of us here are in the same position as you. I 
personally have been working with electronics for 35 years, ever since I could 
say "resistor", and I know that I am not the most experienced or knowledgeable 
one here by far. I still believe that shorting out capacitors with screwdrivers 
is a very unwise thing to do. For the small amount of time that it would take 
to wire up a clip lead with a discharging resistor, it really makes sense to 
play it safe. I certainly wouldn't want anyone working on my equipment to start 
shorting out power supply capacitors.

> We live in a very fear filled society today 
--SNIP-- 
I warned him not to go there with it but 
> he had to please his lady (who later messed around on him..  oh well. ) 

Thanks for the story, but I don't really see much relevance here. Would you not 
wear a seat belt because "I have driven without one for many years, and never 
had a problem"? Personal experience is important, but if a bunch of other 
experienced fellows told me something that I was not aware of, I would tend to 
listen to them.

Take care,
Doug 
______________________
The Electronic Peasant

www.electronicpeasant.com