Wish List: A Better Capacitor Discharger

For over 50 years I’ve always used a screwdriver to discharge electrolytic capacitors (actually, not that many per annum). More recently, people have told me it’s not a good idea, and I should use a resistor. Looking into it, indeed, the very high current may damage the capacitor. Whilst I wouldn’t disagree, I’d want to push back a little on safety grounds.

With the screwdriver it’s abundantly obvious that you’ve discharged the capacitor, from the sharp CRACK it makes. (It always startles me, even though I’m expecting it.)

Actually, most of the energy may well be dissipated through the spark, which will start when the screwdriver comes within a few thou of the 2nd capacitor terminal, so it may not be quite such a terrible idea.

With the resistor there’s no indication when you’ve held it there long enough. Worse, you wouldn’t know if the resistor or its connections had gone open circuit (far from unknown with flexible leads) leaving you at risk. OK, you can check it with a multimeter but some peope will forget or just not bother.

The screwdriver can be manipulated with one hand and it’s easy to find one with a very well insulated handle. Unless you’re an expert with chopsticks you’ll probably need 2 hands to apply the resistor. Should the insulation be inadequate the electric shock is likely to traverse your chest - the worst. The chances are, not all amateur fixers will adequately insulate their dischargers.

I would suggest there is a market niche for a professionally designed and manufactured capacitor discharger.

• It should be as compact as possible (we’ve all got overflowing toolboxes already!)
• It should facilitate single-handed operation, perhaps like desoldering tweezers, or maybe attach the contacts to two silicone rubber thimbles.
• It should include visual indication.

As for the visual indication, a neon is the obvious way but it won’t light with less then 150V and will extinguish at 90V (though a search did throw up a 12V neon - not sure how that works!)

But equally compact would be a 400V surface mount bridge rectifier feeding a LED through a constant current circuit using a high voltage depletion mode mosfet. This would continue to illuminate down to a few volts.

So iFixit, what could you come up with?