Hi, I wanted to share how stupid I am, and that even when we know the theory and laws, if we're not familiarized with the real world stuff we may get surprised, or shall I say, shocked.
The story is actually short and stupid, but here it goes. I was taking apart a few minutes ago my old printer that stopped working few weeks ago because I wanted to get the 2 motors inside. I got them, and then I saw the transformer, the black box actually. I tried to open it just to see it, but it was damn difficult. Now an inner voice started to whisper inside my head: "hey, if it's difficult to open, call me crazy, but may be it's because they don't want you to open it". After a lot of pulling I finally opened it, started to observe it, and that's when I failed. I guess I touched and shorted the IC and I got a little shock. Not painful, but a little "scary". I'm seeing 2 capacitors rated 50V and 470uF, and a big one rated 400V 120uF.
I have two little white points in my finger, I guess a little burnt skin? They hurt a little.
I know capacitors can be charged and be like batteries, but I saw everything unplugged and I over trusted the circumstances. One thing is to know that a capacitor can get charged, and another one is to actually comprehend that a capacitor can get charged and shock you.
My first question is:
I thought capacitors only had one spec: the capacity, measured in farads. Why do they mark the voltage?
How dangerous are those capacitors?
What's the proper way to discharge them?
The story is actually short and stupid, but here it goes. I was taking apart a few minutes ago my old printer that stopped working few weeks ago because I wanted to get the 2 motors inside. I got them, and then I saw the transformer, the black box actually. I tried to open it just to see it, but it was damn difficult. Now an inner voice started to whisper inside my head: "hey, if it's difficult to open, call me crazy, but may be it's because they don't want you to open it". After a lot of pulling I finally opened it, started to observe it, and that's when I failed. I guess I touched and shorted the IC and I got a little shock. Not painful, but a little "scary". I'm seeing 2 capacitors rated 50V and 470uF, and a big one rated 400V 120uF.
I have two little white points in my finger, I guess a little burnt skin? They hurt a little.
I know capacitors can be charged and be like batteries, but I saw everything unplugged and I over trusted the circumstances. One thing is to know that a capacitor can get charged, and another one is to actually comprehend that a capacitor can get charged and shock you.
My first question is:
I thought capacitors only had one spec: the capacity, measured in farads. Why do they mark the voltage?
How dangerous are those capacitors?
What's the proper way to discharge them?
Last edited by a moderator: