On 1/21/2011 6:02 PM Arfa Daily spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...

On 1/20/2011 4:44 AM Michael A. Terrell spake thus:

mike wrote:

Yes, that's what I had in mind. All you need is a switch that
can handle that much volts safely...and maybe some means to
make sure that switching a charged cap doesn't explode the
diode or the switch.

Some months ago, I had to replace the diode in my old one.
Hooked a resistor to a couple of clip leads and hooked them to
the cap. I never did find any of the resistor pieces. May have
gotten swept up when I cleaned up the puddle I made. ;-)

You exceeded the maximum voltage rating of that resistor.

Gee, ya think?

Another incredibly useful 1-line post from the shoot-from-the-hip
master ...

Actually, I think that it is quite a useful comment, as in my experience in
the electronics service business, many techs - particularly modern ones -
have no understanding that a resistor has a maximum working voltage rating,
and have even laughed at the very idea when I have suggested it to them,
until I have shown them in a component catalogue. I'm willing to bet that
prior to this exchange, there were more than a few reading what Michael
said, and doing just that ...

Well, I have to admit that it (maximum resistor voltage ratings) doesn't
often occur to me, simply because I don't work with HV. But the person
Mr. Terrell responded to above was certainly aware of why his resistor
got blown to smithereens. Hence my annoyance.


--
Comment on quaint Usenet customs, from Usenet:

To me, the *plonk...* reminds me of the old man at the public hearing
who stands to make his point, then removes his hearing aid as a sign
that he is not going to hear any rebuttals.