How to Discharge an Arcade CRT Safely!

Welcome to another episode of Retro Ralph! In this video, I'll be showing you how to safely discharge an arcade CRT.

As you may know, CRTs or Cathode Ray Tubes are found in old arcade machines and can hold a significant amount of electrical charge even when the machine is turned off. Discharging a CRT improperly can result in serious injury or even death, so it's important to follow these steps carefully.

It's important to note that you should only attempt to discharge a CRT if you have the necessary experience and equipment. If you're unsure or uncomfortable with the process, it's best to leave it to a professional.

Links to the High Voltage Probe Used in my Video (this is NOT an affiliate link):
*I listed several websites that sell it in case any become out of stock

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[slinger]

Additional PSA: The local electric company always did elementary school assemblies to teach us kids not to go around downed power lines. In the presentation, they went over how the linemen blew air into their rubber gloves looking for a pinhole leak. They'd cut the finger off a glove if a leak was detected to make it obvious to never use again. The high voltage electricity has no problem using a pin sized hole to find the shortest path to ground through a lineman... That's what I think of when I see the oven mitt videos, so DTE Energy did their job on me... :) I have one of those HV probes after you showcased them the last couple times you did videos on this topic. Thanks Ralph!!! P.S. - I still remember your livestream discharging one of your first CRTs... hehehe

[mattsstuff]

Great video Ralph! I have a CRT which has just fully died on me and the fear of working on them has kept me away from repairing it. To be honest, I still think I'm gonna avoid working on it myself but a video like this does help ease me into the idea of at least taking the monitor out of the cab to be fixed else where. Thanks again dude.

[DereksArcade]

Hey Ralph, I bought one of those HV probes after i watched your other video on it. Totally worth the money.

[NightYoshi]

As someone who’s very hesitant to work on CRT’s this certainly helps put my mind at ease. Thanks Ralph.

[MandoMike]

Large screwdriver, black wire electrical taped and an alligator clip in my tool box... Let's go! LoL

[KillerArcadeGames]

The loud, scary pop makes me feel alive man! Until that one day when it makes me feel dead😂

[Retrogamingmaverick]

i was servicing my uncle's elevator action cab when i accidentally touched the anode and it shocked me so badly, i literally jumped 5 feet in the air and took a chunk of the wood from the cabinet. CRTs are NO JOKE, man :_( i might get that tool in the future. I also wanna add that I got the full shock. I'm just 16 and that was my first but probably not last CRT shock.

[tommythrowback]

It’s always scared me because I don’t want to get zapped. I’ll definitely need this as I need to recap my monitors soon. And love the Van Damme Universal Soldier mention!!

[joeydesimone]

i’m gonna be learning about crts and this video helps so much thanks ralph for showing how do discharge a monitor i need one of those tools gonna sell some parts to get one

[wildzeke]

Perhaps you should do a video on how to depressurize a broken CRT to prevent an implosion.

[arcaderacer]

Ralph, where was you in 2015 when my ass got lifted off the ground LOL. Words can not describe the feeling of being truly lit up by one of these.

[IzludeTingel]

$160, probably worth it. I've got a 40" Misubishi (CS-40809) and it is VERY INTIMIDATING. It's pretty dirty inside since I found it on a curbside in Apple Valley Ca, very beautiful picture, but I try not to run it very often until I find a way to clean it out. I contemplated on using the screw driver method, but attaching a PVC pipe to the handle to give myself as much distance as possible (I've heard stories of arcs actually jumping and biting peoples' hand). Nope... I'll give this probe a try instead. I'd love to showcase my set, there already is a vid here on YT about it, but it's on 480i instead of 240p (the flicker is real on this set in 480i), but 240p is absolutely gorgeous!!!

[vintagecapgunsatyourmomshouse]

First time I discharged my Carnevil it scared the shit out of me. I don't do much automotive or home electrical. Definitely something to do cautiously.

[michaels]

Can we talk about this sinistar enclosed cabinet? That has to be extremely rare!

[Evercade_Effect]

You said probe. 😅 If Ralph can do it and surive anyone can. 😄 In all seriousness I think its great that you made this public service announcement.

[JasonYoder]

Man, everytime I walk my dogs past your garage I get a serious 80s flashback.

[ArcadeJason]

there is no additional safety gained by using a high voltage probe to discharge a crt. in fact it is the exact opposite. A hv probe is intended to act as a voltage divider for measurement of high voltage. the thought that an hv probe is needed or provides additional safety is misinformation that stemmed from an old cinematronics service update which suggested a discharge via resistance. the update was a way to confront discharging rare factory defective tubes in which the inner Dag did not adhere properly. It was theorized that a fast discharge could create a repulsive charge that could separate the inner dag. but there has never been any evidence to support this idea. another rumor floating around is that you should use an hv probe to prevent damage to external flyback diodes. "mostly bw vectors' but the truth is the schematic for internal diode flybacks is exactly the same as external so there is no evidence to support that either. by the way you show in your video that you had to do a second discharge to fully discharge the tube. this is due to dielectric absorption. electrons are forced into the glass between dag layers and return to the plate after the voltage has decreased.

[piratestation]

I'm still scared to death even working on a CRT which I have yet to do. Someday, it's on the bucket list.

[donannis]

Next, need to make one on "how to rejuvinate your CRT" all my crt's have nice bright colors.

[AGCRetrogaming]

Got mine finally, not sure how I’m going do it, but I will do it 😂😂😂😂