Comments on: Repairing televisions https://www.repaircafe.org/en/repairing-televisions/ Weggooien? Mooi niet! Tue, 13 May 2025 05:41:58 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 By: Wayne Seltzer https://www.repaircafe.org/en/repairing-televisions/#comment-15871 Tue, 13 May 2025 05:41:58 +0000 https://www.repaircafe.org/repairing-televisions/#comment-15871 Safety first!
We (the Boulder U-Fix-It Clinic) wrote a Microwave Oven Diagnosis and Repair guide and shared it on:
https://www.boulderufixitclinic.org/repair-resources
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iPLeyMYtYwAYYqjfBloGxHalCGik0mpwDZLyRTqeHrU/edit?usp=sharing

Our experience with microwave oven repairs is that the door safety micro switches are the most common problem. ($0.34 USD each on Amazon in packs of 10. Free if you harvest them from unrepairable appliances!)
Easy and inexpensive to replace

]]> By: Bj Van Der Ceelen https://www.repaircafe.org/en/repairing-televisions/#comment-10409 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 18:42:16 +0000 https://www.repaircafe.org/repairing-televisions/#comment-10409 In reply to Stan: the correct method to discharge the capacitors is indeed with the mains disconnected. The picture was made for illustration purposes. It has been made with the mains connected in order to show the voltage across the capacitors and at she same time show the glowing light bulb. When the insulated clips are attached while the mains is disconnected, the voltage will drop (very) quickly through the low resistance light bulb. The light bulb may/may not show some light, depending on the energy stored in the capacitors and also depending on the light bulb rated power.
In reply to Dean: the high voltage capacitor on the primary side of SMPS (switched mode power supply) is present in many modern electronic devices and may also pose a safety risk.

]]> By: Stan Telson https://www.repaircafe.org/en/repairing-televisions/#comment-10408 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:28:36 +0000 https://www.repaircafe.org/repairing-televisions/#comment-10408 This article seems to suggest leaving the bulb and clips connected while operating the device (stereo). That’s not OK because the bulb will draw current from the stereo. Momentary connection after power turned off would be a safer alternative, with insulated clips and great care.

]]> By: Dean Gallea https://www.repaircafe.org/en/repairing-televisions/#comment-10325 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 05:11:45 +0000 https://www.repaircafe.org/repairing-televisions/#comment-10325 Fortunately, technology has moved on from picture-tube-based displays, and even from fluorescent backlights on older LCD flat-screens. There are few places in newer products where high-voltage capacitors will remain charged after the mains are disconnected. The remaining exception here is with microwave ovens, which have a potentially-lethal high-voltage capacitor that might not have a bleed resistor across it. Always use a multimeter to ensure things are discharged before touching them, and keep disconnected mains plugs in your field of vision.

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