Page 97 - Testing Electronic Components

Use a resistor to discharge the capacitor leads

Third method and also my favourite method are to place the leads of a
high wattage resistor on the leads of the capacitors you want to discharge.
You can use either a 1.8 k or a 2.2 kilo ohm 5 to 10 watt resistor to
discharge the high voltage capacitor in a switch mode power supplies. It
is very simple to use and very effective .It takes only a couple of seconds
to fully discharge the capacitor. Please do not hold the two ends of the
resistor with your finger, only hold the body of the resistor. Otherwise
your fingers may get discharge from the capacitor! Using only one hand,
you can do the job while the other hand you still can hold a solder gun or
secure the equipment casing.

I strongly recommend to those who are using the screw driver to
discharge a capacitor in power supply to consider the second and third
method as these is the safest methods. It not only protects the circuit, it
also protects you. If you had discharge the capacitor and you are still not
sure or no confidence whether the charge already gone, you can always
use a meter to confirm it.

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