Pro tip: Don't toss that old CRT monitor without checking for a stuck charge first

I was clearing out a basement last month and nearly threw my back out hauling a 27-inch Sony Trinitron. Took me 45 minutes to find the right screwdriver to pop the casing and discharge the tube safely. Has anyone else had a close call with old monitors holding a charge for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

eric54010d ago

Man, you got lucky that you at least knew to discharge it. I've heard stories of people getting a nasty jolt from tubes that sat unplugged for a decade or more. Did you use a standard screwdriver with a clip or a purpose-built discharge tool for yours?

the_robin9d ago

Those old TV tubes specifically can hold a charge for decades because they use a different kind of glass that acts like a giant capacitor. Most people don't realize the biggest danger isn't even the shock itself, it's the involuntary muscle spasm that can make you punch your hand through the tube. A standard screwdriver with a clip is fine for most stuff, but I always use a purpose-built tool with a big resistor to slow down the discharge on anything bigger than a computer monitor.