Is there a Minimal discharge tool length?

sohchx

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I am making a discharge tool from one of bob roberts tutorials but cannot find a 12' screwdriver anywhere across two cities. Would it be okay to use something shorter, and if so at what minimum length?
 
Well, screwdrivers that are twelve feet long are hard to come by...

It really depends on the cabs you intend to work in. If you can easily see and reach the anode cup then a shorter probe makes things easier. If you are reaching in there blind like on a Sega Titan system then you need the length for max safety.

I'd say a standard 8" blade shoud be plenty.
 
Yeah, I've never seen a twelve foot screwdriver either. I just use a standard sized one. Really, you don't need to go to all the trouble of grinding down, drilling holes or soldering to a screwdriver. Just use a normal screwdriver and a cliplead. That's all you need.

-Ian
 
Well, screwdrivers that are twelve feet long are hard to come by...

It really depends on the cabs you intend to work in. If you can easily see and reach the anode cup then a shorter probe makes things easier. If you are reaching in there blind like on a Sega Titan system then you need the length for max safety.

I'd say a standard 8" blade shoud be plenty.

Yeah, I've never seen a twelve foot screwdriver either. I just use a standard sized one. Really, you don't need to go to all the trouble of grinding down, drilling holes or soldering to a screwdriver. Just use a normal screwdriver and a cliplead. That's all you need.

-Ian



Sorry!!! LMAO 12" hahahah
 
I have used as short as a 4" blade (8" tip of blade to tip of handle) but that's a bit hairy for me. Of course I would hold it back as far as possible on the handle. I much more prefer the 8"-10" blades.
 
Buy a HV Probe like a Fluke 80k/40 and forget the screwdriver. Much better tool for discharging.
 
I'm one of those people who was terrified of electrocuting myself when I first had to discharge a monitor, so I went out looking for a 12-inch screwdriver too and was considering doing the grinding, drilling, and soldering bit. However, the fact that I couldn't actually find a 12-inch screwdriver and didn't have the equipment to do the grinding and drilling meant that I went with an eight-inch and a lot of duct tape, and that worked just fine. You lose most of your fear pretty quickly after doing a few discharges, but I hope I never get so blasé as to end up discharging live monitors or doing any of the other entertaining but hair-raising stunts people have recounted in these forums.
 
Hmmm HV probe for a few hundred dollars (Give or take) that most won't really have ANY use for...or a $5 screwdriver. I think I'll stick with my screwdriver.

Coming from the uneducated yes I guess I would stick with a screwdriver versus paying a few hundred. ;)

How about $50?? Fluke 80k/40s go regularly for that. I paid $45 shipped for mine.

Its proven to be safer to discharge a monitor with a probe. If you ever need to verify that you are putting the correct voltage to the tube after a chassis rebuild you need an HV probe. There are a few people on here that have bought probes even cheaper than $50. Yeah its more than $5. Is it worth the extra $$. You bet.
 
Coming from the uneducated yes I guess I would stick with a screwdriver versus paying a few hundred. ;)

How about $50?? Fluke 80k/40s go regularly for that. I paid $45 shipped for mine.

Its proven to be safer to discharge a monitor with a probe. If you ever need to verify that you are putting the correct voltage to the tube after a chassis rebuild you need an HV probe. There are a few people on here that have bought probes even cheaper than $50. Yeah its more than $5. Is it worth the extra $$. You bet.

Quick search led me to find em for hundreds...$50, yeah I'd go for that.
 
Coming from the uneducated yes I guess I would stick with a screwdriver versus paying a few hundred. ;)

How about $50?? Fluke 80k/40s go regularly for that. I paid $45 shipped for mine.

Its proven to be safer to discharge a monitor with a probe. If you ever need to verify that you are putting the correct voltage to the tube after a chassis rebuild you need an HV probe. There are a few people on here that have bought probes even cheaper than $50. Yeah its more than $5. Is it worth the extra $$. You bet.

I bought one because of the vectors I own/work on. Honestly if it weren't for the vectors I'm guessing I'd still be using the screw driver method. No right or wrong answer here as both methods work right? heh.
 
Who uses a tool? I just pop the anode cup out by grabbing the back and shaking it side to side. Then I take the dag wire from where it connects to the neckboard and stick the end in the anode hole. POP! It's discharged....


:D
 
I came across this the other day: http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TENMA-72-6530-/72-6530 ... not bad looking for $70 (all in one meter)... they also have one that plugs into your regular multimeter (must be 10M Ohm): http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/72-3040&cid=prodCrossSell for $53. I got a used HV probe w/ a built-in meter on ebay a few years ago for $10, but I waited around to find a good deal.

But really, I can't recommend spending any money or waiting for this stuff to arrive if you're only gonna discharge a monitor on rare occasions, and never need to know the voltage for adjusting. Just take any screwdriver you've got (preferably w/ a good insulated handle) and an alligator clip. I usually discharge w/ my probe now (mostly because I know where it's at, and I usually can't find a flat screwdriver and alligator clips :p), but I discharged hundreds or more monitors w/ a screwdriver and never had any problems.

But do make sure the monitor is off before trying to discharge, and make sure to remove the screwdriver before turning the monitor on ;) . I have done both, and I felt really stupid both times, though it never broke anything :) .

DogP
 
I bought one because of the vectors I own/work on. Honestly if it weren't for the vectors I'm guessing I'd still be using the screw driver method. No right or wrong answer here as both methods work right? heh.
I agree. I own a HV probe. Had it from way back, Way Back!
I still use a screw driver to discharge.
Call it old school or ignorance, but haven't had a hit to this day.
I just don't trust the probe to take out all of the charge like a solid piece of metal will (screwdriver).
 
I just don't trust the probe to take out all of the charge like a solid piece of metal will (screwdriver).

I guess I'm the direct opposite, I don't trust the screwdriver :)

I hook my probe to my DMM and I watch the voltage drop. Its nice to have the visual.
 
I guess I'm the direct opposite, I don't trust the screwdriver :)

I hook my probe to my DMM and I watch the voltage drop. Its nice to have the visual.

I agree. However, my DMM said there was no voltage and I've still got a lil shock before.
 
I agree. However, my DMM said there was no voltage and I've still got a lil shock before.

Interesting. How long between discharges? You should discharge them more than once. Tubes can build a charge back up in a short amount of time. I always discharge, wait a minute or so and discharge again.
 
Use a metric screwdriver.
They come in longer lengths than the 12' model.
 
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