CRT Discharge

[JerryGreenwood]

I scavenged a Macintosh SE that someone was throwing away. It sounds like it works, but the CRT monitor doesn't. I've read some things that make me feel like fixing isn't too difficult, hopefully as easy as reheating some solder that might have gone "cold".

But I've read varying things about discharging a CRT monitor. Some who are skilled with electrical work and are scared to death to attempt this themselves, others who claim the warnings are greatly exaggerated and you will be fine as long as you follow some simple, but critical, steps.

Does anyone have experience in this? Can it be easily done as long as you're super careful? Will it evaporate me and my neighborhood if I mess up?

[wildbil52]

Discharging a monitor isn't difficult and the dangers are (slightly) exaggerated.  As long as you are careful, you will be fine.  There are tons of YouTube videos demonstrating the process.   Once the monitor is discharged, you are free to handle it without fear of shock.  Take lots of pictures of where all of the wires are plugged in so that you can put everything back together when you are done tinkering.