[tigon_ridge]

@JimL11
OK, got the parts. I'm gonna start with the cap replacement. I don't know how to go about discharging the capacitors. I've set my multimeter to 500v dc, set the probes on the solder piles, and I get nothing - no voltage at all. I am almost certain there's still voltage in those things and I don't plan on dying, lol. What am I doing wrong?

No voltage means your cap isn't charged. If you're not sure that it is your meter that is broken, just touch both terminals of the cap with the ends of a resistor (500 ohms at least) and leave it touching for a few seconds. The higher the resistance of your resistor, the slower it drains the cap. Then, use a screwdriver to drain the remaining charge.

Edit: Honestly, though, it's not the best idea to tinker with these high voltage devices if you didn't already have the necessarily knowledge. But since you're already committed, I would recommend draining all the surrounding caps as well, just in case you might accidentally touch them and get a painful zap, or stop your heart from beating.

 

[Muffinhead]

No voltage means your cap isn't charged. If you're not sure that it is your meter that is broken, just touch both terminals of the cap with the ends of a resistor (500 ohms at least) and leave it touching for a few seconds. The higher the resistance of your resistor, the slower it drains the cap. Then, use a screwdriver to drain the remaining charge.

I tested the multimeter with both the wall outlet and a 9v battery and both read fine. With this being done, you pretty sure it's that the cap is drained?

 

[tigon_ridge]

I tested the multimeter with both the wall outlet and a 9v battery and both read fine. With this being done, you pretty sure it's that the cap is drained?

Then it is most definitely drained. Me being extra cautious, I would drain it with a screwdriver or any metal thingy anyway.

 

[Muffinhead]

Then it is most definitely drained. Me being extra cautious, I would drain it with a screwdriver or any metal thingy anyway.

Put a screwdrive on each solder point at once?

 

[Jones Bob]

I use my tongue.

> joking: DO NOT TRY AT HOME

 

[tigon_ridge]

Put a screwdrive on each solder point at once?

Uhh that question sounds like you're thinking you need two screwdrivers lol. No. Use one resistor and make contact with both terminals simultaneously. And then use ONE screwdriver to finish the job. If you don't use the resistor first, you risk damaging the cap. If you can't access the terminals directly (cap is situated very close to board), then yes, find the solder joints on the other side of the board.

So I'm guessing one reason why you didn't get a voltage before may be because your meter leads didn't touch the right solder joints, since it doesn't seem like you have direct access to the capacitor terminals, and you may be struggling to find the right solder points on the other side of the board. If that is the case, you should understand that it is seriously dangerous for you to continue on given your inexperience.

 

[Muffinhead]

Uhh that question sounds like you're thinking you need two screwdrivers lol. No. Use one resistor and make contact with both terminals simultaneously. And then use ONE screwdriver to finish the job. If you don't use the resistor first, you risk damaging the cap. If you can't access the terminals directly (cap is situated very close to board), then yes, find the solder joints on the other side of the board.

So I'm guessing one reason why you didn't get a voltage before may be because your meter leads didn't touch the right solder joints, since it doesn't seem like you have direct access to the capacitor terminals, and you may be struggling to find the right solder points on the other side of the board. If that is the case, you should understand that it is seriously dangerous for you to continue on given your inexperience.

Nah just figured out the units weren't right for the multimeter/ Instead of measuring the hundreds of volts I should have been measuring in millivolts. Turns out some of the caps have a couple hundred mV's in them. Using a resistor took care of them quickly. Thanks for your help.

 

[Muffinhead]

Uhh that question sounds like you're thinking you need two screwdrivers lol. No. Use one resistor and make contact with both terminals simultaneously. And then use ONE screwdriver to finish the job. If you don't use the resistor first, you risk damaging the cap. If you can't access the terminals directly (cap is situated very close to board), then yes, find the solder joints on the other side of the board.

Does this look safe to you? It 's the resistor attached to a wooden dowel with electrical tape.

 

[tigon_ridge]

Yes. Insulated pliers would also work, or just have any form of electrical insulation between your fingers and the resistor.

 

[JimL11]

I do not recommend using a screwdriver or pliers across a capacitor unless you want a nice divot where they connect. A 5000 ohm 10 watt resistor will gradually drain the charge from a PS cap without the sparks and drama. In any case, the T1 is mostly transistor, so if it's been off and unplugged from the power line overnight the PS should be pretty much drained.

 

[tigon_ridge]

I meant using the pliers to hold the resistor, but I agree. Resistor to discharge always. Screwdriver if you're bored and don't care about the cap, or to finish up the draining in the case you don't have a meter nearby to monitor the voltage, for extra safety. If you use a resistor with too high resistance, you could end up only partially draining...and then ZAP!

 

[DJ The Rocket]

Nah just figured out the units weren't right for the multimeter/ Instead of measuring the hundreds of volts I should have been measuring in millivolts

Yay, someone had a learning experience! Remember, an expert is just someone who knows all the possible ways to fail.

A 5000 ohm 10 watt resistor will gradually drain the charge from a PS cap without the sparks and drama

Don't let that fuddy-duddy jim11 tell you the sparks and drama are a bad thing, everybody knows they're the best part about playing with caps! Yes I'm the guy in science class who dropped the little potassium nugget into a water filled beaker

(Just kidding @JimL11, I actually do appreciate your posts )

 

[JimL11]

To quote somebody or other: Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.

 

[SeaWo|f]

Experience comes from bad judgment.

probably depends at bit on how bad the judgement was and how high the voltage was too.. lol

 

[Muffinhead]

Update: I got 4 of the smaller caps off the board no problem. I'm gonna need to wait for solder wick to come in to handle the rest. In the meanwhile, I dunno which way to put the caps in (they do have a polarity, right?)