Saving Circuit Board w/o Tube

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by Outland

Just wondering, kind of scared.

Ever on a dry winter day shuffled your feet across carpet and got a really mean zap off a doorknob? The voltage and charges are in a CRT are very close to that.

I've even got bit by CRTs that we're turned off less than 10 sec before the bite, and while it will surprised you the first time it ain't dangerous unless you have a heart condition. It takes 30mA to kill...A flyback transformer when powered should not be able to supply the CRT more than 2uA (0.002mA). The biggest danger is the shock triggering your reflexes and your arm smashing into something full force as it retracts... been there done that had to track down convergence magnets and resolder a ground wire I snapped (though that Zap was the more dangerous AC HV on the yoke of a 60s color set)... Deflection can kill if you mess with it carelessly.

[MadMan]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

It takes 30mA to kill...

THROUGH your heart, though! Assuming you even make an electrical connection from hand to hand (across your chest area) the vast majority of current travels along your skin, then muscles, and so on. If you manage to get 30mA through your heart, you're really doing something wrong. That's why when you're working on actually dangerous electrical stuff, they say to keep one hand in your pocket.

Originally Posted by Outland

What would happen if I just pulled off the board without discharging?

Literally nothing, because the board on the crt plug isn't even connected to the anode cable.

Just to be clear, a crt's residual HV charge is NOT dangerous. It'll just hurt really bad for a split-second, you're going to let loose a string of expletives, and then you're going to continue what you were doing.