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cjjt
New Member
1 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 13 2007 : 9:17:43 PM
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HI,
I'm new here so was not sure where to post this. Just getting into electronics, tearing things apart seeing how they work etc.
Have heard that I need to be careful as some of the electronic parts can hold a charge that could shock me when I'm taking it apart.
Is this true? What types of equipment would have these parts and what part is it? What does this part look like?
Thanks |
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CurrentOverflow
Mad Scientist
Canada
311 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2007 : 10:50:05 PM
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| What these people are refering to are capacitors. Be careful as they can hold a big charge and can hold one for a long time, look on google for a picture. Besides that obviously dont take stuff apart while it is still plugged in. |
~Mike~
Theres 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 10:57:33 AM
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| Yep...Most modern devices have switching power supplies who's capacitors can store a considerable charge even when things have been turned off for a while. Most will self-discharge but some will not. TV picture tubes form a big capacitor as well which can be a nasty surprise. Basically any time you see a 200V or more capacitor in a circuit, be careful. |
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cyclopsitis
Nobel Prize Winner
Canada
732 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 2:19:14 PM
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I mentioned in the lounge under "largest explosion ever" that one time I took apart a tube amp and touched the wrong part of the amp and got about 350VDC in my hand that blew me off my feet destroying a few hundreds of $$$ in tubes. Not only did it hurt but it really makes you never want to do it again. I've also fixed TV's and Microwaves and have melted parts on my screw drivers from discharging the caps. Given the right conditions electricity is deadly. I mentioned in another post that it only takes a about 30ma or .03A to get a serious shock. 100ma or .1A can cause fibrillation of the heart and may result in death if not death then it can cause serious external and internal burns. Here are some picks:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/electrical_incidents/burns.html
This is OSHA (occupational health and safety administration) If you’re not from Ontario it does not matter because the effects of electricity are the same no matter where you’re from 
It's easy to say, "Be careful" but it’s hard to know how. People always say use "common sense" however, we as humans seem to not use it! So, how to be careful?
1) Have one hand in your pocket, If you are compelled to touch a circuit do so with the back of your hand (currents over 30ma can cause your muscles to contract and even though you want to let go you can't).
2) Measure components you are not sure of (better to be safe then dead). AC is a little safer then DC because the current alternates (means it returns to 0 every half cycle) it can give you a chance to "let go" if your muscles contract.
3) Don't ware rings or watches metallic things are good conductors. If your don't feel confident or have second thoughts (that little voice inside you saying "maybe I shouldn't") listen to it!
Ok, so, I might sound redundant but, be careful, be safe, and stay alive. "Remember only you can prevent forest fires" ect. Yada, yada, yada...
Have fun! |
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CurrentOverflow
Mad Scientist
Canada
311 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 2:45:17 PM
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Wow that was gross. Thank you for that link :P
As said by the guy who himself and his mother got shocked with 40kVDC
"Also plan ahead and know what you are dealing with"
In other words, get the theory down of how something works before u touch it physically or you will end up looking like those pictures |
~Mike~
Theres 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't |
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cyclopsitis
Nobel Prize Winner
Canada
732 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 2:59:41 PM
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| Shocking eh? (pun intended). I feel sorry for the people though; OUCH! |
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Binary 1011001101
Nobel Prize Winner
United Kingdom
569 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 4:43:47 PM
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| Nice pictures! I allways find disgusting injuries intresting. |
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robdude
Apprentice
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 10:36:01 PM
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| one question. were those people alive or dead? because the last two seemed like they couldnt possibly be on a live person. |
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cyclopsitis
Nobel Prize Winner
Canada
732 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2007 : 09:22:38 AM
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Yeah, those pics are from the OSHA site and they are real live people with really hurting burns! The bad thing about electrical burns is that sometimes the electricity travels on the inside of the body making internal burns that you can't but hurt like hell. The story up above that I gave on the tube amp shock? When that happened the electricity went through my finger and the majority came out of my thumb. I ended up with a 2nd degree burn inside my hand and it hurt for a quite a few weeks! However, it was cool at the same time because you could see the hole where the electricity went in and where it came out! It was about as big as the ball point end of a pen.
My burns were no where near as bad as those pictured on that site though. That is why electricity is dangerous!
K |
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can I get shocked?
