sohchx
Active member
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?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
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
Buy a HV Probe like a Fluke 80k/40 and forget the screwdriver. Much better tool for discharging.
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.
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.
I agree. I own a HV probe. Had it from way back, Way Back!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 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 agree. However, my DMM said there was no voltage and I've still got a lil shock before.