So my old monitor died, about the time my computer's last crash. Monitor refused to work so I gave it to my 5 year old son, and with the help of screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, wirecutters, etc. We have broken it down to a nice pile of pieces. He seemed to enjoy himself immensely and it was very therapeutic for me. This may be the way of the future for me, if it breaks then we REALLY break it!!
Computer Fix by 5 year old
- Thread starter koehiir
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Um, this is a really BAD idea.
Capacitors in monitors can hold a lethal charge for a very long period of time (years) without connection to power. I've seen grown men fly halfway across a room from a wayward screwdriver touching a cap (luckily non-fatal, but did require EMS).
DO NOT open up your monitor and play with the insides if you're not trained to do so, much less let your 5-year old do so. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!
Capacitors in monitors can hold a lethal charge for a very long period of time (years) without connection to power. I've seen grown men fly halfway across a room from a wayward screwdriver touching a cap (luckily non-fatal, but did require EMS).
DO NOT open up your monitor and play with the insides if you're not trained to do so, much less let your 5-year old do so. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!
FWIW, I've personally my own arm go dead for 45 minutes from touching a cap with a screwdriver in an unplugged PSU. The larger caps in monitors can hold roughly 100x the charge of the one I touched, and keep that charge for years after it's been unplugged.
unless it was an LCD monitor, then you're fine of course :lol:
It was an honest mistake, we were lucky. I take the health and safety of my child very seriously, and do not see the humor. I felt poorly enough before your last post. I know death better than you.
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No posts in this thread were anything personal, Koehiir... I assure you, no offense was meant whatsoever...
...and to say you know death better than me, well I'm not sure you know what I've been through in my life to make that broad assumption... I assure you, death and I have quite a history as many people here can attest to.
...and to say you know death better than me, well I'm not sure you know what I've been through in my life to make that broad assumption... I assure you, death and I have quite a history as many people here can attest to.
Sir Alien, I only feel that your “skit” was personal, the others are certainly abrupt, but conversations about safety ought to be. I’ve often said that subtly is often lost on me, so I appreciate the to the point messages.
As to my statement about death, it is an obscure literary allusion that refers to the fact that you have just intensely, personally, and presently re-introduced me to the concept “death” and fragile nature of life.
As to my statement about death, it is an obscure literary allusion that refers to the fact that you have just intensely, personally, and presently re-introduced me to the concept “death” and fragile nature of life.
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I see.. Thanks for the clarity on that..
I just felt the need to respond since it was obscure enough to warrant one...
As for my original reply, it was just off-the-cuff and was meant to bring a little levity to the thread (we were attempting levity in our IRC channel even before that which you hadn't been present for).. When I first read it it made me nervous bringing back some memories of past visitors here that are no longer 'with us' (literally)... I only had your well being in mind.
-Jason
I just felt the need to respond since it was obscure enough to warrant one...
As for my original reply, it was just off-the-cuff and was meant to bring a little levity to the thread (we were attempting levity in our IRC channel even before that which you hadn't been present for).. When I first read it it made me nervous bringing back some memories of past visitors here that are no longer 'with us' (literally)... I only had your well being in mind.
-Jason
Thanks for all the info. Way back in the old days, I got to "fix" all the stuff that had broken.. Now, it's not the same. All the little IT-to-Be kids have it rough!
For most computer stuff, that's fine. Motherboards, hard drives (they're a lot of fun to get inside of), various cards, etc.
Monitors and TVs, however, have some incredibly dangerous stuff inside them that only trained professionals should go near. They're strictly hands-off if you don't know what you're doing, or there's some serious damage potential.
Monitors and TVs, however, have some incredibly dangerous stuff inside them that only trained professionals should go near. They're strictly hands-off if you don't know what you're doing, or there's some serious damage potential.
No, a CPU is mostly silicon and ceramic.
Certain capacitors on a motherboard *might* contain some heavy metals in the electrolytic fluid, but not nearly as much as the capacitors in a monitor.
In any case, it's still significantly more dangerous inside a monitor than inside a computer.
Certain capacitors on a motherboard *might* contain some heavy metals in the electrolytic fluid, but not nearly as much as the capacitors in a monitor.
In any case, it's still significantly more dangerous inside a monitor than inside a computer.
