Additional PSA: The local electric company always did elementary school assemblies to teach us kids not to go around downed power lines. In the presentation, they went over how the linemen blew air into their rubber gloves looking for a pinhole leak. They'd cut the finger off a glove if a leak was detected to make it obvious to never use again. The high voltage electricity has no problem using a pin sized hole to find the shortest path to ground through a lineman... That's what I think of when I see the oven mitt videos, so DTE Energy did their job on me... :) I have one of those HV probes after you showcased them the last couple times you did videos on this topic. Thanks Ralph!!! P.S. - I still remember your livestream discharging one of your first CRTs... hehehe
Thanks for this, it's the most thorough step-by-step I've seen of what I think is the best approach. The other big plus to using a probe aside from safety is that it's way gentler on the tube and isn't going to risk damage to it. The cause of the spark from using something like a screwdriver is because of electricity exiting the tube with that ~5-figure voltage behind it and nothing to get in its way. It's not a steady current of course, but there's enough force behind the electricity coming out to potentially cause damage and shorten the lifespan of a tube (especially cab tubes that can be anywhere from 15-40 years old or so?). A probe's main feature is high resistance that slows everything down, and it reduces electrical forces on the tube a ton (btw some later CRT setups w/bleeder circuits do the same thing when powered down).
Great video Ralph! I have a CRT which has just fully died on me and the fear of working on them has kept me away from repairing it. To be honest, I still think I'm gonna avoid working on it myself but a video like this does help ease me into the idea of at least taking the monitor out of the cab to be fixed else where. Thanks again dude.
@@RetroRalph I currently go the screw driver and giant rubber gloves route haha. That discharge tool is interesting though, I like that you can see the charge leaving it.
@@KillerArcadeGames Yeah I used the screwdriver method in the beginning, but this gives me piece of mind. I'm on CRT Repair # 26 at this point, so I want to just "know I'm safe" but I realize some will make fun of me for using this tool, it's all good though. Thanks so much for watching brother, stay safe out there!
@@Aberusugiit’s funny how after some time of doing this I barely worry at all now 😂 I even got a light zap adjusting a color pot with my finger the other day while the monitor was on. Thankfully it didn’t happen when I was learning or I’d have been even more afraid.
i was servicing my uncle's elevator action cab when i accidentally touched the anode and it shocked me so badly, i literally jumped 5 feet in the air and took a chunk of the wood from the cabinet. CRTs are NO JOKE, man :_( i might get that tool in the future. I also wanna add that I got the full shock. I'm just 16 and that was my first but probably not last CRT shock.
$160, probably worth it. I've got a 40" Misubishi (CS-40809) and it is VERY INTIMIDATING. It's pretty dirty inside since I found it on a curbside in Apple Valley Ca, very beautiful picture, but I try not to run it very often until I find a way to clean it out. I contemplated on using the screw driver method, but attaching a PVC pipe to the handle to give myself as much distance as possible (I've heard stories of arcs actually jumping and biting peoples' hand). Nope... I'll give this probe a try instead. I'd love to showcase my set, there already is a vid here on YT about it, but it's on 480i instead of 240p (the flicker is real on this set in 480i), but 240p is absolutely gorgeous!!!
i’m gonna be learning about crts and this video helps so much thanks ralph for showing how do discharge a monitor i need one of those tools gonna sell some parts to get one
Wait, do you live in the same neighborhood as me?! I knew you lived in Norterra, but I didn't realize we're in the same development. On a side note, I'm enjoying your vidoes. I usually don't comment because I watch on my TV.
there is no additional safety gained by using a high voltage probe to discharge a crt. in fact it is the exact opposite. A hv probe is intended to act as a voltage divider for measurement of high voltage. the thought that an hv probe is needed or provides additional safety is misinformation that stemmed from an old cinematronics service update which suggested a discharge via resistance. the update was a way to confront discharging rare factory defective tubes in which the inner Dag did not adhere properly. It was theorized that a fast discharge could create a repulsive charge that could separate the inner dag. but there has never been any evidence to support this idea. another rumor floating around is that you should use an hv probe to prevent damage to external flyback diodes. "mostly bw vectors' but the truth is the schematic for internal diode flybacks is exactly the same as external so there is no evidence to support that either. by the way you show in your video that you had to do a second discharge to fully discharge the tube. this is due to dielectric absorption. electrons are forced into the glass between dag layers and return to the plate after the voltage has decreased.
Used to use a screw driver to chassis that's what I was taught how to do it on TVs might make up jump first time but it's all good fun. Best part was getting rid of the junkers and smashing the tube with a brick and watching it implode and explode or you could just knock the neck of the tube if you wanted to be safe but where's the fun in that 👍
It’s always scared me because I don’t want to get zapped. I’ll definitely need this as I need to recap my monitors soon. And love the Van Damme Universal Soldier mention!!
Question after discharging the CRT and working on it and turning on the Arcade afterwords will the CRT still work? Or is discharging the CRT only if your no longer going to be using it? Thanks!
I have a B&K Precision 470, I plan to do a video on it at some point. I've shown it in videos before but ever really did a tutorial on how to use it. I'm not an expert by any means but I think I could make a 101 video on it for sure. Thanks so much for watching!
Ralph, thanks for the video. I have a question if you don’t mind. Where are you located and do you repair arcades as a business or just a collector for yourself? Always have a hard time locating people who repair arcades. Thank man
I have zero shame in the fact that I use this vs. the screwdriver method. So, for my own piece of mind, it's worth it. Been electricuted several times in my life and if I can avoid it, I will. I apprecaite the comment and I appreciate you watching.
You should have flashed back to the first time you were discharging on here with you crapping yourself. That was hilarious, got Bob from RetroRgb talking you out of being a wuss on the video.
I needed the moral support ... haha. I had heard nothing but horror stories but most we're incorrect but still, I was genuinely scared as I've been electrocuted in the past, and it's not fun... haha. Thanks so much for watching!
You can safely say the yoke coil is discharged without checking voltage with a multi meter? You're discharging a capacitor. I don't care what you're using to discharge it. Meter voltage and test resistance.
Aren’t there still caps in there holding a significant charge? I didn’t think discharging at that point drained all points containing dangerous stored power.
You are correct, doing this won’t discharge everything. While probably not lethal there may be a couple of high voltage capacitors on the main board that you could also discharge manually after doing this.
Dude you should not post videos like this, if even one person follows your lead and does something wrong they could end up dead. You are not a qualified technician.
Additional PSA: The local electric company always did elementary school assemblies to teach us kids not to go around downed power lines. In the presentation, they went over how the linemen blew air into their rubber gloves looking for a pinhole leak. They'd cut the finger off a glove if a leak was detected to make it obvious to never use again. The high voltage electricity has no problem using a pin sized hole to find the shortest path to ground through a lineman... That's what I think of when I see the oven mitt videos, so DTE Energy did their job on me... :) I have one of those HV probes after you showcased them the last couple times you did videos on this topic. Thanks Ralph!!! P.S. - I still remember your livestream discharging one of your first CRTs... hehehe
So wait, the oven mits don't work? LOL Thanks so much for watching bud!
@@RetroRalph Well.... they might work as a fashion statement. I'll concede to that... :)
Thanks for this, it's the most thorough step-by-step I've seen of what I think is the best approach. The other big plus to using a probe aside from safety is that it's way gentler on the tube and isn't going to risk damage to it. The cause of the spark from using something like a screwdriver is because of electricity exiting the tube with that ~5-figure voltage behind it and nothing to get in its way. It's not a steady current of course, but there's enough force behind the electricity coming out to potentially cause damage and shorten the lifespan of a tube (especially cab tubes that can be anywhere from 15-40 years old or so?). A probe's main feature is high resistance that slows everything down, and it reduces electrical forces on the tube a ton (btw some later CRT setups w/bleeder circuits do the same thing when powered down).
Large screwdriver, black wire electrical taped and an alligator clip in my tool box... Let's go! LoL
Hey Ralph, I bought one of those HV probes after i watched your other video on it. Totally worth the money.
Awesome man, I’m glad it worked out! Thanks so much for watching!
Great video Ralph! I have a CRT which has just fully died on me and the fear of working on them has kept me away from repairing it. To be honest, I still think I'm gonna avoid working on it myself but a video like this does help ease me into the idea of at least taking the monitor out of the cab to be fixed else where. Thanks again dude.
The loud, scary pop makes me feel alive man! Until that one day when it makes me feel dead😂
LOL... Exactly!
@@RetroRalph I currently go the screw driver and giant rubber gloves route haha. That discharge tool is interesting though, I like that you can see the charge leaving it.
@@KillerArcadeGames Yeah I used the screwdriver method in the beginning, but this gives me piece of mind. I'm on CRT Repair # 26 at this point, so I want to just "know I'm safe" but I realize some will make fun of me for using this tool, it's all good though. Thanks so much for watching brother, stay safe out there!
It will probably never kill you because that loud pop has extremely low amps, but it will hurt like hell.
@@Aberusugiit’s funny how after some time of doing this I barely worry at all now 😂 I even got a light zap adjusting a color pot with my finger the other day while the monitor was on. Thankfully it didn’t happen when I was learning or I’d have been even more afraid.
i was servicing my uncle's elevator action cab when i accidentally touched the anode and it shocked me so badly, i literally jumped 5 feet in the air and took a chunk of the wood from the cabinet. CRTs are NO JOKE, man :_( i might get that tool in the future. I also wanna add that I got the full shock. I'm just 16 and that was my first but probably not last CRT shock.
As someone who’s very hesitant to work on CRT’s this certainly helps put my mind at ease. Thanks Ralph.
Picture Tubes A Go-Go!
Ralph,where was you in 2015 when my ass got lifted off the ground LOL. Words can not describe the feeling of being truly lit up by one of these.
I can only imagine bud, getting electrocuted sucks!
$160, probably worth it. I've got a 40" Misubishi (CS-40809) and it is VERY INTIMIDATING. It's pretty dirty inside since I found it on a curbside in Apple Valley Ca, very beautiful picture, but I try not to run it very often until I find a way to clean it out. I contemplated on using the screw driver method, but attaching a PVC pipe to the handle to give myself as much distance as possible (I've heard stories of arcs actually jumping and biting peoples' hand). Nope... I'll give this probe a try instead. I'd love to showcase my set, there already is a vid here on YT about it, but it's on 480i instead of 240p (the flicker is real on this set in 480i), but 240p is absolutely gorgeous!!!
Perhaps you should do a video on how to depressurize a broken CRT to prevent an implosion.
i’m gonna be learning about crts and this video helps so much thanks ralph for showing how do discharge a monitor i need one of those tools gonna sell some parts to get one
Awesome man, thanks so much for watching!!!
Man, everytime I walk my dogs past your garage I get a serious 80s flashback.
Wait, do you live in the same neighborhood as me?! I knew you lived in Norterra, but I didn't realize we're in the same development. On a side note, I'm enjoying your vidoes. I usually don't comment because I watch on my TV.
@Retro Ralph I am in the Enclave. I just walk my dogs along that road. Nice Jeep BTW.
Can we talk about this sinistar enclosed cabinet? That has to be extremely rare!
You said probe. 😅 If Ralph can do it and surive anyone can. 😄 In all seriousness I think its great that you made this public service announcement.
Thanks for watching my friend! I hope all is well!
there is no additional safety gained by using a high voltage probe to discharge a crt. in fact it is the exact opposite. A hv probe is intended to act as a voltage divider for measurement of high voltage. the thought that an hv probe is needed or provides additional safety is misinformation that stemmed from an old cinematronics service update which suggested a discharge via resistance. the update was a way to confront discharging rare factory defective tubes in which the inner Dag did not adhere properly. It was theorized that a fast discharge could create a repulsive charge that could separate the inner dag. but there has never been any evidence to support this idea. another rumor floating around is that you should use an hv probe to prevent damage to external flyback diodes. "mostly bw vectors' but the truth is the schematic for internal diode flybacks is exactly the same as external so there is no evidence to support that either. by the way you show in your video that you had to do a second discharge to fully discharge the tube. this is due to dielectric absorption. electrons are forced into the glass between dag layers and return to the plate after the voltage has decreased.
Used to use a screw driver to chassis that's what I was taught how to do it on TVs might make up jump first time but it's all good fun. Best part was getting rid of the junkers and smashing the tube with a brick and watching it implode and explode or you could just knock the neck of the tube if you wanted to be safe but where's the fun in that 👍
Do you use Reddit?
This video is definitely a flex post. Only peasants use cheap flathead screwdrivers from harbor freight.
It’s always scared me because I don’t want to get zapped. I’ll definitely need this as I need to recap my monitors soon. And love the Van Damme Universal Soldier mention!!
Question after discharging the CRT and working on it and turning on the Arcade afterwords will the CRT still work? Or is discharging the CRT only if your no longer going to be using it? Thanks!
Yes, the CRT will still work. As soon as you plug it back in, the tube will become charged with electricity again.
Great Tutorial Video Ralph!
Next, need to make one on "how to rejuvinate your CRT" all my crt's have nice bright colors.
I have a B&K Precision 470, I plan to do a video on it at some point. I've shown it in videos before but ever really did a tutorial on how to use it. I'm not an expert by any means but I think I could make a 101 video on it for sure. Thanks so much for watching!
@@RetroRalph That would be great and helpful. I have all those types (tips and tricks) of your videos saved for reference.
What was that tool called that you used to rejuvenate the CRT?
It’s the B&K Precision 470 Picture Tube Tester Rejuvenator 👍🏻
Awesome, thanks. Still working on my Ghouls 'N Ghosts restore now that the weather finally broke.
Awesome! How much work do you have left?
@@RetroRalph Gonna dive in here soon as I have finally gathered all the new graphics, marquee, bezel, joysticks and buttons. Should be fun!
Got mine finally, not sure how I’m going do it, but I will do it 😂😂😂😂
I miss Oven Mitt Ralph LOL
Perfect doing this tomorrow
Ralph, thanks for the video. I have a question if you don’t mind. Where are you located and do you repair arcades as a business or just a collector for yourself? Always have a hard time locating people who repair arcades. Thank man
I'm still scared to death even working on a CRT which I have yet to do. Someday, it's on the bucket list.
Oh my! How funny 😄! K7000 etc self discharge
Older ones do not but grab a pair son!
I have zero shame in the fact that I use this vs. the screwdriver method. So, for my own piece of mind, it's worth it. Been electricuted several times in my life and if I can avoid it, I will. I apprecaite the comment and I appreciate you watching.
@@RetroRalph Love the vids! Someone has to give you a hard time! All love!
Now present your MANCard!
Nice probe Ralph …
I'm too stupid to work on this stuff, but if I did I would absolutely have messed up. I didn't know these existed.
You should have flashed back to the first time you were discharging on here with you crapping yourself. That was hilarious, got Bob from RetroRgb talking you out of being a wuss on the video.
I needed the moral support ... haha. I had heard nothing but horror stories but most we're incorrect but still, I was genuinely scared as I've been electrocuted in the past, and it's not fun... haha. Thanks so much for watching!
You can safely say the yoke coil is discharged without checking voltage with a multi meter? You're discharging a capacitor. I don't care what you're using to discharge it. Meter voltage and test resistance.
Can i use this to discharge a lcd monitor 😂
LOL!
*Butthead voice
Probe... Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh
LOL!!!
AKA, how not to die a horrible death just so you can play a game.
☠️
Your not a real game tech unless you have been biten at least once. I was reminded a couple weeks ago at TNT how much it realy sucks.
Worst I've ever got was a filter cap and that did NOT feel good...haha.
STEP 1. Turn this video OFF immediately! 😂
Ouch 😂
Aren’t there still caps in there holding a significant charge? I didn’t think discharging at that point drained all points containing dangerous stored power.
No, the anode is inside of the glass plate of the CRT.
You are correct, doing this won’t discharge everything. While probably not lethal there may be a couple of high voltage capacitors on the main board that you could also discharge manually after doing this.
Lol what a fig
Fig: a soft pear-shaped fruit with sweet dark flesh and many small seeds, eaten fresh or dried.
Dude you should not post videos like this, if even one person follows your lead and does something wrong they could end up dead. You are not a qualified technician.