[sdiy] HV cap discharging re-revisited

[anthony]

Sure, I'll answer my own page:

Using a regular analog VOM is even BETTER for discharging HV caps. SInce 
it's putting much more of a load on, of course.

But are there any HIDDEN things that I should look out for? I mean it seems 
stupid to ask (but I don't like getting shocked): if the VOM says ZERO or 
close, then you're good, right? Should I switch down to the lower range as 
it gets close to ZERO or is ZERO on the 1000VDC range setting ZERO enough? I 
would think so.

cheers,
aa

>
> I am in the process of designing a new amp in the near-gutted chassis of a 
> Wards Airline radio that uses a 6V6-GT output tube and a 5Y3-GT rectifier. 
> I'm sure I've mentioned it a few times...
>
> Today I had everything disconnected from the power supply except the first 
> filter cap. to see what recified voltage coming off the cathode was (about 
> 330VDC after warm-up). I had planned to discharge the cap using an 
> ordinary lightbulb - I even prepared a special socket with big alligator 
> clips (too big really). So when I used it, nothing happened. And I should 
> have known nothing would happen because I let it sit for 2 hours, turned 
> off connected to my DMM, which showed 0V right before I disconnected it. 
> So, duh! If I'm not in a big hurry, can't I just let my DMM discharge the 
> cap and I can watch it go to 0-ish. What IS a safe DC voltage to let a cap 
> get to? I mean you can melt metal with 9 volts and a 50,000 uF cap. My 
> guess, for the circuits I'm working with, is below 50 VDC. But you can 
> still really feel 50 volts - nothing like getting bit by 400 volts (which 
> I have - fortunately I was not grounded and it was an ever so slight brush 
> to a charged cap in a circuit that was turned off - so it may not have 
> been the full voltage...) and REALLY nothing like getting bit by a 
> mini-bike magneto (that fucking stings!).
>
> What DID we decide was the best way to discharge caps - if one's in a bit 
> of a rush, that is. I remember someone offered their ex-wife?
>
>
> cheers,
> aa
>
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