What are some consumer electronics you probably shouldn't tinker with?
I came up with this question right after I wanted to take apart a microwave to see why it wasn't heating anything before I remembered that that's a very, VERY bad idea
Anything with large capacitors?
And people don't realize how long they can hold power after the device has been "off".
Edit - I forgot to add my thing! A good example of something that doesn't sound scary is a TV, but it has large capacitors that can end you (or make a bad day).
Not a large capacitor in my case, but I took apart my old camera after it stopped working, and accidentally touched the capacitor for the flash. A memorable moment.
Word for word my answer
Is it true they can hold on to a charge for decades? I was told that but it seemed unlikely.
I'm treating them like guns. Assume they're loaded until you prove otherwise.
The coating on the inside of the tube can behave like a Leyden jar caps can accumulate charge over time even without an obvious power source.
Desktop computer power supplies. Don't open them.
How else am I supposed to put the magic smoke back in?
BS. Just drain capacitors. I've repaired a few (worthwhile ones) by replacing caps. You just need to know how. As with anything, read up.
Old CRT monitors. Particularly if they've been recently unplugged. There's a cable in there my old teacher used to call "the superman cable".
DO NOT backfeed your house's electricity with a generator when your electricity gets shut down. You might electrocute someone working on those lines.
At least have it set up downstream of the main shut off and make sure that main is off before firing up the generator. There are devices available commercially that do that for you but they aren't cheap and require professional installation.
=D--------ᗡ=
I'll expand the microwave to anything that can carry a large electrical charge without you really knowing. I had a UPC that started acting weird, that was one I just sent right back to the manufacturer. I'll swap out batteries, but I'm not cracking open something with that much potential energy stored in it without me fully understanding everything about it - and unless I helped build the thing I do not know enough about it.
But the blue smoke kinda smells good
Ok firstly.
Never, work on anything that is still connected to a power supply.
This includes any stored energy. Isolate it first. Gravitational, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic and chemical (if possible).
Don't fuck with stored energy.
Secondly.
Learn how to test if things are live, or have any stored energy.
Thirdly.
Once you KNOW you are safe. Go hard, learn all you can.
If you're gonna take a washing machine apart and you cut all the wires, make sure you cut the main electrical plug off as well or your dumbass son (me) will plug it in and electrocute himself with it.
and electrocute himself with it.
Um, aktschully, you shocked yourself. If you electrocuted yourself, you would be dead.
You can harvest the transformers for a couple junk microwaves to make an arc welder.
If you aren't experienced then pretty much all power supplies, battery backups, and motors should be left to someone else.
I saw someone lose a finger (later reattached) to a washing machine with a jammed tub. It was plugged in and on when they reached underneath it and yanked the belt, their sleeve ducked their hand into the drive wheel.
That said, if it fits your personality it can be both fun and satisfying to learn how to fix stuff. I try to teach anyone who's interested and asks. Except LG washing machines, those things can fuck right off.
How did they reattach the finger to the washing machine?
Duct tape of course
super glue. Don't get it on your eyelids, though.
Microwave
This whole thread is making me anxious
Same
kids today don't know about the scary suction cup on crts
I too was going to say microwave before reading the post body. Honestly though anything with a large capacitor, I can't give you examples unfortunately because I study physics not electrical engineering but some of those fat fucking capacitors will fry you and they hold their charge.
Air conditioner. I melted a screwdriver.
CRT TVs.
Seconded, they are basically eldritch as far as I am concerned
Anything connected to your garage door.
That spring will fucking kill you.
I heard once that old smoke detectors have some radioactive isotopes in them. Not sure how true or dangerous but sounds bad.
Ionization chamber smoke detectors have a tiny grain of Americium in them, which is radioactive. However, the radiation is almost entirely alpha particles which are relatively low risk as they don't penetrate skin particularly well.
They are also still sold, though you should buy the other kind (which use light beams instead) because they're significantly better at their jobs.
Current smoke detectors still do, and usually have some warning on them stating such.
Batteries
If it had warnings about not opening it, or not containing user serviceable parts, don’t fuck with it.
"As an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, FUCK. THAT."
– Me and my spouse.
P.S. Fuck John Deere.
Eh, I'm not sure about that broad. Macbooks say not to open them because "reasons", but most items in there can be easily repaired
Actually not. They CAN be repaired, but are a nightmare of soldered and glued shit. The only apple thing I own (Linux/Android/Win user) is an iPad, which admittedly is a sweet performer, and iPads are just plain better tablets, but no way I'm cracking it open. I've replaced Android screens, repaired laptops, but fuck apple. Not because of danger, but because breakage is almost guaranteed on newer stuff.
Old arcade machines. Giant capacitors + little knowledge on the subject = a very bad time.
As with anything it can be done safely if you know how. People still play those and they obviously need repairs/maintenance sometimes.
Holy shit, how has no one mentioned rechargable batteries?
Lithium Ion batteries, commonly used in phones and the like, rapidly catches fire and emits acidic smoke that will melt your lungs when the battery is punctured.
I had a problem with the control panel in my Panasonic microwave and was able to fix it pretty easily. Everything I needed to get to was inside the right front of the microwave; the control pad membrane and the sticker that goes on the front of it.
This is why we have specialized people who you call to handle these things.