Opening up a CRT: dangerous?

Damn, I'm out of my parents house for one week and when I get back the power button on my computer's screen has been pushed in too far and now it won't spring back... which oddly renders the OSD inoperable. So, I set forth to open up the screen, first removing the plastic housing. However, upon seeing the coils, fat capacitors and super-insulated cables I felt a hint of The Fear creeping up my spine... is there any danger of electrocution? Before I can get at the power button, I'm gonna have to remove the front part of the plastic housing, that sits around the front of the tube (the one I removed goes from the back to about 5 cm from the front, but there's all sort of weird cabling going around the front of the tube. What I do?

 

Just discharge the caps, from what ive heard thats the only danger. Of course, i could be talking shite - A quick external bodge could be a better option

 

CRTs are the only thing I'm scared of taking apart. I've already got electrocuted by 127V... twice... when I was about 7 - God knows what 20kV will feel like!

Isn't there something about the tube holding a charge as well as the cap's? If you leave it unplugged for about a month (or is it more?) you'll *probably* be OK, but I dunno if you want to wait that long.

 

No way!

They do make a special tool to draw off all that stored power, if you don't have that tool DON'T do ANYTHING with it, it is LETHAL!
Also note: NEVER use a grounding strap with a CRT, it gives the electricity a straight path to you.
~Krelian

 

If I ever have a problem with a monitor, I throw it out and buy a new one. You couldn't pay me to open one up.

 

NEVER mess with a CRT !! I touched the back of the tube once and let me tell you that I'm bloody lucky to be here ! I'd never felt such a feeling in all my life. My hand was shot back by the force and I could feel my heart beat speed up to quite a fast pace. Everything sort of when blackish too. was I on my way to death's door? Who knows but I do know one thing, I'm never touching the back of a CRT again without wearing a pair of rubber gloves.

I read that even if the monitor/TV has been off for an hour it still retains it's electrical charge.

Yakumo

 

It'll still keep a charge for quite a while - days more than hours. That's why I said to leave it about a month just be on the safe side. Though I can't remember if even that's long enough...

Let's just be thankful that modern TV tubes are very unlikely to IMPLODE, unlike ones from the 60's and before...

 

This is not true, ALL CRT's are vacuum sealed, be that old or new...

...But they only implode when they break

 

It's very awesome to watch a CRT implode Sparks swirl around

 

From all the later replies, I'd ignore my advice - Unless you have a deathwish that is

 

If its all for the plastic button to turn it on, simply hit the area around the button to knock it back up into place.

 

hehe it wouldnt actually be a problem for me as I've got 4 other CRT's of decent quality I picked up dirt cheap

But a few years back I did have 1 where after my mate did something the power was always on, so I just sold it for £10 and dug up a spare xD

 

I'd say only touch it if you're feeling bold, and find good directions on how to properly discharge a CRT.

 

I've opened mine before, nothing to worry about there.
Just don't touch anything inside =)
I managed to seperate the whole case from it, though, to fix my power button.... that isn't fixed.
Lovely monitor, though.
Sony 17" CRT, completely flat, fantastic colour and incredible clarity, a real gem =)
It operates at 85HZ 1280x1024, you can run it in 1600x1200, though.

 

Yeah, but there's loads of regulations and precautions and stuff these days to stop this from happening. The screens are pretty well protected - I remember seeing some kids hitting a CRT screen with a hammer once, and it was pretty much just bouncing off! But it wasn't always like this...

 

Those were some really smart kids lol

 

The front of a tube is quite strong and will probably not break if you hit it with a hammer, sadly do that with the neck and that is another thing. Some tubes will implode then explode if you manage to break the neck so be warned.

Basically if it's switched off then you probably won't have too much to worry about, the caps won't be exposed from the top and nearly all modern monitors and TVs discharge the stored charge from the tube. At worst the caps would give you a nasty kick but they won't kill you as most are under 50 volts... The tube probably won't kill you, just hurt a lot. Just don't go anywhere the anode (rubber thing at top of the TV) or the neck of the tube.

If you think you can get to the switch then you could wear rubber soled shoes, a jacket that covers your arms and some rubber gloves and push that button out or seek professional help (what help is up to you...).

Failing that look up Discharing Tubes or Discharing Monitors on the next, thenit'll be safe to work with completely.

 

shit :-/

 

Like ASSEMbler said, Don't mess about with a CRT. As I posted above it can be very nasty. I honestly thought I was going to die when I was hit by a shit load of electricity. I'm not too sure what part it came from but I'm 90% it was the back of the tube (neck area).

Yakumo