CRT Discharge Tool Needed

Domn't know a source for buying that tool, but you can look following adresses,including par number of the tools,how to make one,precautions to use:
Discharge tool
http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_captest.html http://www.lowendmac.com/tech/crt.shtml/index.shtml
http://www.whoopis.com/computer_repair/Safety.pdf
http://www.whoopis.com/computerrepair/Quick_References/ToolsLibrary.pdf
http://www.ct-scan.com/iMacATX/displaydischarge.pdf
http://www.ewastecanada.ca/dischargecrt.htm
http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_captest.html
Be careful!

As you sometimes need to discharge TV as well, you may ask for a similar tool in an old-fashioned TV repair shop.

Since you have posted this in a public place where untrained readers may try to copy you, I must post to remind you that working inside a CRT is dangerous. The Flyback transformer, the Big Red Wire, and the CRT bottle itself can hold a charge of over 10,000 Volts for months after the power is removed. If you discharge that through your heart, e.g., hand-to-hand while working on the CRT, it could stop your heart.

In addition, the CRT bottle itself has a very high vacuum. If you were to tap it so that it broke (which is easy to do) it could implode, propelling sharp glass fragments in every direction, including your eyes.

Do not try this at home, kids, these men are trained professionals!

Now that we have that over with, many technicians use a long insulated screwdriver and a wire with alligator clips on each end to dump the excess charge from the CRT (under the rubber cap where the Big Red Wire joins the CRT) to ground. After that, the approved method is to establish a path from the CRT bottle to ground, typically through a 1 Meg Ohm resistor, for the duration of your work on it.

I am also in need of Studio Display info on how to take monitor apart, to replace Flyback Transformer...

Any info would be appreciated.

Jim

I was going to remove the shell of my dead 17" Studio Display and make something out of it. So I guess it's dangerous to even do that, right? I thought of making a fish tank out of the shell.

Now the question is: what do I do with it? Sounds like it's not safe to put out with the trash. I was actually going to add it to the pile for one of Chicagoland's electronics recycling events. Any other ideas?

As long as the case is still on it, the Display is not dangerous. If you can discharge the CRT, the CRT bottle can be removed and placed in a heavy corrugated cardboard box. There is a procedure for spoiling the vacuum inside by removing the connecting pins in the neck. Then it is just a big glass thing.

I'm not sure what Chicago's policy is. In my state, old CRTs are not to be put in dumps or landfills, so you have to pay to have them picked up.

You may look at
www.whoopis.com/computer_repair
for your info.
Be careful and follow all safety instructions like Grant-Bennet Alder has advised.

So how does one go about making a CRT discharge tool? Is it easy to do? I've read many different websites about it each with differing explanations of how to go about doing it & was wondering what the correct method is.

equestrienne,

I second Grant's sage warnings. However, in dismantling over 100 monitors and tvs, I have learned the following unorthodox methods. If you put a monitor into a cattle watering trough it will discharge any residual charge. The screw driver method works fine, too.

Once you are comfortable with the fact that high voltage will not kill you, and I mean that will all seriousness, a hammer to the neck of the tube will work just fine. 100 out of 100 times the glass imploded to the inside of the tube as outside air rushed in. Just like claims for water purification systems, it is safer to say 99.999% of bacteria killed, there isalways the possibility of breaking glass flying into your eye so wear safety goggles and keep your mouth closed.

Our city has a waste to energy plant that accepts monitors and TVs. They burn them whole and then scrub the smoke stack gases. If you are willing to take the necessary precautions, there is nothing wrong with recycling the plastic case into a new and novel use.

Jim

>"If you put a monitor into a cattle watering trough ..."

Is that a cattle watering trough with water in it? Is cow saliva required, or can you use some other shortcut?
Also, should cows be present? or perhaps this something they should not see?

Could equestrienne substitute a horse watering trough?

Grant,

Point well taken. I later thought of a dunk tank for city folk. I am currently in Seattle and it is a culture shock to have to wait in traffic. Yes, water is recommended. I understand that somewhere on the web is a video of pouring (spilling) a Pepsi into a live monitor. Maybe I have only seen it in my demented mind. It should make for an interesting show.

Original idea for the tank was to measure the amount of hazardous contaminants a worker would be exposed to if they spent several hours a day breaking down monitors. Spokane spent millions on their energy plant so they could just burn this stuff up.

I suppose using a bath tub would set the wrong example, given all the warnings about not using a hair dryer while in a bath tub.

Jim