16.003 What Safety precautions should I take when working on my monitor?
Description
This article is from the Apple II Csa2 FAQ, by Jeff Hurlburt with numerous contributions by others.
16.003 What Safety precautions should I take when working on my monitor?
Basically: unplug the monitor and let sit for a day, wear goggles, work on
a non-conductive table surface, do not stress CRT neck.
Unplugging the monitor and letting it sit for a few hours reduces the
danger of shock from stored charges; it does not eliminate it. The usual
warning for this kind of work is AVOID touching two different circuit points at
the same time. Like, don't touch the metal chassis and the conductive surface
of the CRT at the same time.
WEAR protective GOGGLES. If you should, somehow, bump or stress the CRT
neck-- as in jumping when you get shocked-- it may break. The result may be a
peaceful THOOP! or the CRT may implode in a spray of glass. (Avoid using the
CRT's neck to support the monitor in any position.)
Work on a wooden or plastic-topped table with plenty of space. Try to
position yourself, tools, and the monitor so that when you get 'stung', the
chances of breaking something are reduced.
As much as posible, avoid using heavy tools of any kind. An inadvertant
tap from a mini-screwdriver is much less likely to crack the CRT than a bonk
from a full-sized screwdriver or pair of pliers.
Rubber gloves are probably a good idea so long as they do not get in the
way. Of course, pointy connections and components can puncture gloves.
It's a good idea to clip a wire to the chassis and touch the other end to
the conductive surface of the CRT a few times before doing any work in order to
drain off any charge there.
Note: Several places in a monitor or TV carry high enough voltages to deliver
an uncomfortable shock. Draining the charge from one point does not guarantee
that other points have been discharged.
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By: Joe Walters
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