Capacitor Discharger

222

02:46:32

This is a civilized way to discharge electrolytic capacitors prior to testing, compared with just shorting the leads. The capacitor in the schematic is the one being discharged. I included the power to simulate a charged capacitor. The rig I made up for my workbench has red and green LEDs which illuminate brightly then slowly dim. Also, it depends on connection orientation as to which lights. Added switch to simulate capacitor discharge. Suitability designed for smaller capacitors, say 60v or less.

published 4 years ago

giomix

4 years ago

You can add a switch to detach power and simulate discharge-time. You omitted to say how much voltage the capacitor is charged when you start do discharge it. For example if you use a cap charged at 400 Volt, like capacitors used in tubes power supplies, your 3.4k resistors have to flow around 120mA and they have to dissipate 48 watt, even if for few time.

GerryB

4 years ago

Good idea, I added your suggestion. Also added a note that it is suitable for smaller capacitors. I had made a different type of discharge probe for my bench when using on 400v capacitor.

giomix

4 years ago

That''s good!

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