Download the Tom's Hardware App from the App Store
The reference for current tech news
Yes No
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Other Components > Discharging a Cap- best method?

Discharging a Cap- best method?

Forum CPU & Components : Other Components Discharging a Cap- best method?

Related Content
You have searched for "Discharging a Cap- best method?" . You might be interested in the following threads:

See more for "Discharging a Cap- best method?"

Can't find your answer?
Ask!

CPUs

|

Power Supplies, Cases & Mods

|

Sound Cards

|

Servers

|

NICs

|

Other Components

|

Akasa

|

Antec

|

Cooler Master

|

Cougar

|

DeepCool

|

Enermax

Word :    Username :           
 
TheOriginalCarterofmars   02-06-2012 at 04:46:40 PM

Hello,

I want to be sure the caps I replace on boards are safely discharged before I handle. What are the best ways to do that?


Message edited by TheOriginalCarterofmars on 02-06-2012 at 04:48:07 PM
Reply to TheOriginalCarterofmars
Register or log in to remove.
Brett928S2   02-06-2012 at 05:22:32 PM

Hi :)

If you are replacing the capacitors on a motherboard, I hope you have a LOW temperature soldering so you dont take out the nearby tracks....I SERIOUSLY doubt it will ever start again though....

To answer your question...use a screwdriver WITH INSULTED HANDLES to discharge them.... wear SAFETY GLASSES and SAFETY gloves...JUST IN CASE...

All the best Brett :)

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Brett928S2
TheOriginalCarterofmars   02-06-2012 at 05:25:22 PM

Brett928S2 wrote :

Hi :)

If you are replacing the capacitors on a motherboard, I hope you have a LOW temperature soldering so you dont take out the nearby tracks....I SERIOUSLY doubt it will ever start again though....

To answer your question...use a screwdriver WITH INSULTED HANDLES to discharge them.... wear SAFETY GLASSES and SAFETY gloves...JUST IN CASE...

All the best Brett :)



I saw someone doing that on youtube and the cfap was off the board. Wasn't sure how to do if the cap is stuck right to a board and if discharging with a screwdriver could harm the capacitor in any way.

Reply to TheOriginalCarterofmars
swoz   02-06-2012 at 05:37:28 PM

You can damage the capacitor by shorting it, because they are rated to release so much current at a time - but NOT a short. I'm assuming you are replacing aluminum electrolytic or tantalum caps, though. These need to be soldered in correctly (they are polarized). Make sure you note the original caps' orientations, otherwise you may damage much more of the board.

To ensure the caps are discharged, simply remove the board from power for a long time, like a day or so. The internal resistance will slowly discharge the caps, as well as any resistance across the caps.

Like Brett said, make use of insulation.

If you can, reduce risk of ESD by grounding your skin with a ESD wrist strap.

Reply to swoz
Brett928S2   02-06-2012 at 08:26:22 PM

willard wrote :

Lick them.



Hi :)

Lol...good way to put a hole in your tongue... :(

All the best Brett :)

Reply to Brett928S2
13thmonkey   02-06-2012 at 08:58:04 PM

and if you don't know the answer to this yourself then don't do it. Get a Mohm resistor or some pencil lead and put that across the legs, it'll be slow enough not to damage it.
But if its the one you are removing why do you care about damage.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to 13thmonkey
TheOriginalCarterofmars   02-06-2012 at 09:06:20 PM

13thmonkey wrote :

and if you don't know the answer to this yourself then don't do it. Get a Mohm resistor or some pencil lead and put that across the legs, it'll be slow enough not to damage it.
But if its the one you are removing why do you care about damage.




Maybe I'm upgrading the caps on an amp and would like to recycle the ones I'm removing.

Common people, work with me... :pt1cable:

Reply to TheOriginalCarterofmars
13thmonkey   02-06-2012 at 09:19:07 PM

well, as stated above use a big fat resistor. Or pull the power from the wall whilst the amp is playing, you'll hear it pull the power down.

But learn some electronics, so that you can figure this out for yourself, and more importantly, far more importantly, spot the other problems that you don't know to ask us about.

I've built the aforementioned amp, and honking great big power supply, by the way.


Message edited by 13thmonkey on 02-06-2012 at 09:20:41 PM
Reply to 13thmonkey
Yoji   02-06-2012 at 09:32:52 PM

willard wrote :

Lick them.



Can I vote this as best answer :)

Reply to Yoji
tajisi   02-06-2012 at 10:26:54 PM

In the days of CRTs, I had a special cable keyed to ground when plugged into an outlet. I'd fasten it to a screwdriver with a clip, then gently prod the capacitor to discharge it. :) You'll know pretty fast if you do it wrong. It's a great learning experience and will quickly teach you to respect electricity.

Reply to tajisi
Register or log in to remove.
Ask the community Add a reply
See all topics related to "Discharging a Cap- best method?"
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Other Components > Discharging a Cap- best method?
Go to:

There are 888 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 1.665 seconds
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Latest best answer
Battery Compatibility issues in Windows XP on Gateway
By hang-the-9, 61 days ago:

If this is a 3rd party battery, issues like this are pretty much to be expected. If it's...

They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?
Partners