I safely discharged capacitors in an old amp for the first time, no shocks!

3 comments

3 Comments

My old Fender Bandmaster had these two huge 50uF caps that scared me for weeks... finally bridged the terminals with a screwdriver and got that loud pop and spark. Felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders afterward.

sanchez.kevin1mo ago

Yeah that screwdriver method gets the job done but man it's rough on the terminals. Did you ever think about using a resistor on some leads instead, or were you just done waiting and wanted that instant satisfaction? Always feels like a tiny fireworks show when it finally goes.

the_christopher1mo ago

Sounds like miles534 was filming an action movie over there with that screwdriver spark show... Glad you made it out without the full light show experience. Some of those old amps store enough juice to really make you jump, even when you know it's coming. That first safe discharge does feel like defusing a tiny bomb in your living room, doesn't it? Just waiting for the pop that never comes is its own kind of victory.