Can an unplugged appliance shock you?

Question

I am tearing out the wires out of old appliances. I have heard that T.V. s, microwaves, and computer monitors can really bite you even when unplugged some cases several years. What can I do to avoid this and still get the wire? Should a novice just not take the risk. Also I have an old car battery charger any risk with this?

Answer 1

Yes, some electronic devices can shock you without being plugged in. I don't know about years later, but certainly for a while.

The components in question are called capacitors, and they are made to hold a charge. It's too much work to go into why and how here, but yes, they can hold that charge for a while, and some of them are designed to hold a very large charge.

I'm not going to take responsibility for what you do inside an old TV, but search the web for pictures and learn to identify components that might look like capacitors. Use a "shorting stick" to discharge the capacitors. You should be ok then.

(As "shorting stick" is a long metal probe with an insulating handle. Attached to the probe is a length of conducting wire or braid, with an alligator clip at the other end. Attach the clip to a good ground, and touch the tip of the probe to the terminals of the capacitor. The charge will go into the probe, through the wire/braid, and via the alligator clip, to ground. Unless you're working with things like high power radars and power supplies, you can likely make one out of a long plastic-handled screwdriver and your own length of conducting braid with large alligator clip. Try and read up on this a bit though before playing around, or consult an experienced electronics technician.)

Answer 2

Yes. That is why most appliances made in the last few years state "no user serviceable parts". The don't want you to open the appliance or take it apart, because it will shock, possibly electrocute you. They don't want that liability. Heed the warnings, and play it safe. Better safe than toast. If you're looking to profit from the scrap wire, many places you can take the scrap to, will take the appliance and decimate it themselves- but you may not get as much $$ that way. Of course, if you fry yourself, $ will no longer seem a priority.

Answer 3

Yes the circuit can shock you if it has a devise called a capacitor in it. A capacitor, or sometimes referred to as "caps", are electrical devises that resist change in voltage. Simple way of looking at it is to think of a cap like a fast charge/discharge rechargeable battery. As power is applied to the system it builds a charge, and that charge sits in the cap until it discharges, sometime through the circuit, and sometime through you as you pull the wires and complete a circuit. Should you take the risk? I would not recommend it. The maximum discharge occurs at the beginning of the discharge, and drops as time continues. Some capacitors will have more than enough charge to kill you. All electrical shocks should be taken seriously, especially if you feel it anywhere in your arms or chest.

Answer 4

It depends on the appliance. TV,VCR,DVD,Cable boxes, Computers, Cell Phone chargers, chargers of any kind , all have alot of stand by draw. It is mostly electronic appliances. Your can opener, or a lamp doesn't Some of the items mentioned use almost as much electricity off as on. They are developing new guidelines as to what is an acceptable amount of stand by draw. If you want to see how much electricity these are using, turn off everything and go look at your meter. I'll guarantee it is turning. You can take a reading and another reading it 15min, Multiply by 2,880 and you will have KWH used by all your electronics in stand by for a month.

Answer 5

some other appliances can't but I believe you on computer monitors. Even a computer monitor that's been unplugged for many years can still shock you. Don't take that risk.

Answer 6

Even when unplugged, most electronic devices maintain residual eclectic current in their power transformers. So yes, you get still get a zap from a device even after it is unplugged.

Answer 7

Yes, yes indeed they can. Be very very care full and respect the current in them.

Answer 8

Better to find a normal job and leave dodgy stuff to others.

Answer 9

YES If it has a capacitor in it..