Alright, I recently bought a new monitor for my old computer down stairs (Black Dell) it had a 15 inch monitor that was white because the original broke. Well I brought a brand new 19 inch Black Monitor and I was interested in still using the white one since it is in great condition and I can have dual monitors in my basement so i can watch movies and work sometimes. Well Anyway, I was reading up on it and came across an article that said I should unplug it for about 8 hours or so, so it can discharge and the resistors and what not will relieve their electric charge.

I mean I know how to paint things, I have painted my cases before and my printer (Just for fun :) Threw it out but I did it anyway) So I know how to do that stuff. But I am worried about this electric thing because I read in another article that it takes about a month for a monitor to fully discharge.

I know the amount of electricity won't hurt me, as I have been shocked by about ummm 150v and it wasn't that bad. (Fork...Thats Another Story) But I really don't know since voltage doesn't have to a lot with how painful a shock will be.

Any one know of any ideas of how to avoid being shocked? How long should I wait before taking it apart after I unplug it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

Monitors hold charge for a long time. Be very very very careful when takeing it apart. Don't touch any of the metal within. As far as how long do you have to wait before you can use it?

I'd a month is a good wait.

I was under the impression that a monitor can hold it's charge for several years and there's enough voltage in it to kill an unfortunate soul.

Other than that, just spray some non-conductive spray paint on it...

It'll be a nice little jolt, but it's not going to kill you. I wasn't paying attention one day when doing a repair and got a stiff arm out of it.

Like the article said, it will hold it's charge for quite some time (the one I got jolted from had been unplugged for a couple of weeks I believe).

Just unplug it and open it up. Just make sure that you stay away from the electrical contacts. It's not hard to do as long as you're paying attention.

Nah, I am def sure there isn't enough of a charge for it to hold it for years. And even if I unplugged it right now I could take it apart grab the resistor and not be killed as its not as deadly (Unless you have a weak heart or something of that nature)

But it will be painful....Very painful. I hate being shocked because you can feel the vibration run through you arrg its just blah.

You mean non-conductive spray on the outside? Or inside?

Monitors are very very dangerous. I would consult an electrician to take it apart and than have you spray the covers, than have him put it back. Offer him $50 bucks to open it and close it.

I am in a debate with myself. I don't know what to do. I've taken apart a PSU before and didn't have problems, and I also played with an OLD Television one time and got shocked (Used a Screw Driver to poke stuff, I was like 9) and I also broke the tube and that made the loudest noise, (But I was far away as I threw something at it)

I've had my share of mess ups but I don't know if I should dare go on this one.

I know my electrician is coming next week to install a light, maybe I should let him do it, or maybe I will let me dad take the covers off and put them on as he used to work with electricity a lot.

The flyback transformer will make you fly back if you touch it. ;)Good thing those lines have heavy rubber/plastic around those lines.

What parts should I avoid touching or tell someone to avoid touching?

Any diagrams or links? Thanks

Isnt there anyway to remove this charge, like transferring it to ground..

I could think of one way, but then again thats still very painful :( (Grab one hand on your copper water pipe and the other grab the resistors and let it flow! But that defeats the point :) :) ) Any other ways

I removed my monitor casing a year or so ago. after an hour of unplugging it and had no issues. I turned mine into a fish tank though.

just groud it and that should remove the charge. monitors are not much diffrent then a teleivision. i suggest maybe asking a local tv repair shop what they suggest.

Whats the eaisest way to ground it?

Youve got to disconnect the antio lead.

You have to push a screw driver through the bottom of the monitor, this will discharge it, but you may still get shocked.

Insultated screwdriver.

Pull the chassis out, and you will see the lead, the lead will go into the monitor,

Put a test clip on the screwdriver and discharge it to the chassis of the computer, after you get the screwdriver into the whole

Where should I push the screw driver? You mean after I take off the back case? Also what does the lead look like?

Do you have a static strap? Would that work?

When you pull the chassis out, you will see a lead, big lead, you will see where it goes into the monitor.

Insulated screwdriver, tapped with a test clip from the screwdriver to the chassis

http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=2&q=http://www.arcadegames.net/sightsound/discharge.ppt&e=6350

I found this off google. Its a power point presentation on how to discharge a monitor/arcade but on the main site it says their basically the same. Is this what you are talking about Samuel?

Arrg...Im thinking about buying big Rubber Non-Conductive Gloves to take this thing apart? Make sense? That way I won't even discharge it, and I will just leave it the way it is. And put a big BIG BIG sign that says don't touch, until I finish doing the painting.

I can't open .ppt files, save it as a screenshot image

http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:m88zpzJ2OZ0C:www.arcadegames.net/sightsound/discharge.ppt+Discharge+your+Monitor&hl=en&start=2&ie=UTF-8

That doesn't include the pictures, but you get the idea.

It basically says, Connect one alligator clip to the Strap going around the monitor, and the other to the screw driver and then touch the screw driver to the Main Cord that comes out of your monitor, and that should discharge it.

Also, I assume if I connect the other part to a water pipe or something like that, it would do the same as connecting to that strap (If I don't have that strap that is.)

Yep, looks good

You should see an arc upon discharge.

Make sure your insurance is current.

Originally posted by DigiDesignz
Do you have a static strap? Would that work?

No because the anti-static strap is to keep YOU from discharging, not from other things discharging on you.

Thanks Samuel for the boost of confidence :rolleyes:

Also, what type of arc?
On the screen? or in the air? Or in my brain? Or while im knocked out unconcious and in my dreams?

wear a rubber always good protection :D

I wouldn't advise playing around with your monitor. Very few top technicians would even touch one. So when in doubt DON'T. Take it to someone who specialises in monitors.

Yea but I've seen people do it online? It can't be that hard. Im not actually taking the monitor apart, I am just taking the casing off so if I wear rubber gloves, I won't have to worry if I slip while unscreweing the front panel right?

Im thinking about letting the electrician do it....he gets shocked all the time.

Originally posted by Neo3Net
Im thinking about letting the electrician do it....he gets shocked all the time.

Shocking experience eh! :D

If you're only taking the plastic casing off, I wouldn't worry too much as nothing is attached to the inner chassie except the earth.

Make sure its not pluggd in, if you do get shocked this is what could happen.

You might like it and touch it again,
Get burn't,
Heart might stop working,
Could enduce a stroke,
It will throw you rather than grab you, so it will be a short lived shock.

It will throw you rather than grab you, so it will be a short lived shock.

Sounds like fun :)

I used to do some work on all kinds of electronic items (I was an electronic buff) but TVs/Monitors ARE dangerous. Since I've replaced/removed some tubes in my time, here is how I did it.

1. Took cover off.
2. Put on rubber gloves (insulator) and leather gloves (helps prevent being stuck with wire)
3. Disconnected cathode (the circuitboard attached to the tube) as well as the wirey thing (I forget its name) their connectors are usually on the main board.
3. Unclamp anode (rubber cap usually on the top of the tube) it my take a bit of force to remove. DO NOT PRY IT LOOSE!
4. Remove the tube by removing the securing screws (usually 4) and carefully move the tube to a secure location and that hazard is now gone till you put it back.
CAUTION. The capacitors on the board can retain a charge for about another 30 mins- 1hr, but it is usually a "small" charge and they are "tolerable" usually 200-500 volts but low current. (small compared to the charge the tube holds).

If you wish to discharge the tube anyway (recommended) follow the directions given above. The "arc" you will see will travel through the air and you will most likely see it before it touches the surface of what you're grounding it with. So be sure to use an old screwdriver with a plastic handle. Yes, you will also hear the arc too. ;)

Reference: Most 13 inch TV's generate 14,600 (yes, fourteen thousand, six hundred) volts to light up the tube and the tube itself can retain this charge for about 6-8 months. This voltage can result in cardiac arrest if you get zapped by the full charge. If you want to verify this, read the warning label on the tube itself and it will usually have a voltage warning.

Reference: If you want some "proof" of the voltages that run through a TV/Monitor look at the anode wire... (thick wire connecting the anode cap to a transformer on the board). You will likey see dust that has accumulated on the wire and if the monitor was seldomly moved, the dust will look like fine hair. The reason is, when you have a large amount of voltage (note voltage and current are different!) it creates a magnetic field. Dust is attracted to this magnetic field, and the dust will accumulate on the wire as well as other high voltate parts over time. And if you look carefully, you will see that the dust hair is in a pattern. This is because the current travelling trough the wire is AC voltage which oscillates so there will be a pattern that coinsides with the current that travels through the wire. My sources of this information is personal experience as well as electrical books.

Anyways, please note I am NOT a certified electrician, and I'd really recommend against this if you do not use EXTREME caution. If you are unsure of doing this, please allow a professional to do it (dis-assemble it) for you.

Edit:
Added the text below.

Originally posted by Tux-e-do
It will throw you rather than grab you, so it will be a short lived shock.

Reference: Most shocks grab because when voltage travels trough a muscle, the muscles that the voltage travels through will contract making a hand grab, leg bend, etc. Depending on your position when getting shocked, you may be either pulled or pushed away. It just depends on what muscles the voltage transverses through. So if it does push you away, it will be short lived, but if it "grabs" you, unless nobody is around to break the connection between you and the source.... The result could be nasty. :eek:

Originally posted by Neo3Net
But it will be painful....Very painful. I hate being shocked because you can feel the vibration run through you arrg its just blah.

Agreed, I hate getting zapped. :( sometimes I'm able to touch someone afterwards and shock them. :D

Reference: The vibration is caused by the oscillation of the voltage, especially with AC (wall outlet) voltage.

My little "Reference" heading points out some stuff for people who may not know "how" or "why".

Originally posted by MGCJerry
Most shocks grab because when voltage travels trough a muscle, the muscles that the voltage travels through will contract making a hand grab, leg bend, etc. Depending on your position when getting shocked, you may be either pulled or pushed away. It just depends on what muscles the voltage transverses through. So if it does push you away, it will be short lived, but if it "grabs" you, unless nobody is around to break the connection between you and the source.... The result could be nasty. :eek:


I agree, but as the device would not be plugged in the current would not last long enough for a grab, I should have said that in the sentance. :)

When I was doing my Auto electrician trade (dropped out 2 years into it, just couldn't handle the greese in my hair :D ) some of the guys charged up a small capacitor and would throw it at people and say catach! whooof watching those arms fly out was nasty. :emlaugh:

LOL