Author Topic: Best way to discharge capacitors ?  (Read 3313 times)

Offline Teslaliveson

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Best way to discharge capacitors ?
« on: March 13, 2017, 09:37:24 AM »
 I have a few projects coming up involving capacitors in their circuitry  and during my research i have found several ways of discharging them. My question is what is the best way to make a reusable tool so to speak for discharging that is durable. I know a screwdriver can be used to short circuit them but thats not a great idea in my mind for several reasons. I have seen led's and bleeder resistors but is their perhaps a hand held tool that can be made to bleed them instantly and safely ? :o

Offline futurist

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Re: Best way to discharge capacitors ?
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2017, 03:07:12 PM »
You'll damage the caps by shorting them if they are not designed for pulse discharge (and most of them are not)

If you don't plan to use fixed bleeder resistors you can hook up some alligator clips to make portable bleeding resistor

Offline Mads Barnkob

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Re: Best way to discharge capacitors ?
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2017, 10:13:37 PM »
Install bleeding resistors! Safety first!

Also have a two factor voltage indication, like both a analog meter, but also neon lamps/LEDs around the circuit to indicate voltage at a certain level, it is always a good idea to have more indicators or fail safe circuits.

I wrote about bleeding resistors here: http://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/tesla-coils/drsstc-design-guide/dc-bus-capacitor/ and with the link there is to the capacitor discharge calculator you can check if the curve is falling too fast, if voltage sharing is a greater design issue etc.
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Offline MRMILSTAR

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Re: Best way to discharge capacitors ?
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2019, 05:49:12 PM »
Even pulse discharge capacitors have a maximum current specification. I cracked the plastic case on one of my Maxwell 37667 pulse caps due to an accidental flash-over between bus bars and it had a maximum current rating of 25,000 amps. I use bleeder resistors. After everything appears to be discharged by the resistors, I then follow that up with a chicken stick across the bus bars.
« Last Edit: June 16, 2019, 05:33:05 PM by MRMILSTAR »
Steve White
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Re: Best way to discharge capacitors ?
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2019, 05:49:12 PM »

 


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