Discharging CRT anode and capacitors on a VT52 DECscope

From: Tom Jennings <tomj_at_wps.com>
Date: Fri May 28 14:17:11 2004

On Thu, 2004-05-27 at 17:04, der Mouse wrote:
> >> In this process, be sure you keep your fingertips WELL away from the
> >> metal shaft of the screwdriver.
> > Considering the shaft is connected to ground through a very low
> > resistance in your set-up, what's the harm in touching it ?
>
> (a) You might knock the alligator clip loose.
>
> (b) You or something else might knock the other alligator clip loose.
>
> (c) The path, even if intact, is low resistance but not necessarily low
> impedance; if the current spike can throw enough EMI to kill
> semiconductors, it can generate enough back EMF to do unpleasant things
> to people touching the HV end of it.

I'm sorry, but this is all very silly. A meteor could smash you dead
too, it's just not a real worry. You have actual control over the puny
alligator clip. Live large!

I knew this thread would get out of hand...
Received on Fri May 28 2004 - 14:17:11 BST