I was taught in school to use a screwdriver.  Touch the tip to one terminal,
and lay the shaft down across the others.  It arcs but not enough to burn
the screwdriver.  We used to charge them up and then toss them to some
unsuspecting nerd in class.  Not enough juice to be lethal.

Nerd

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug in Calif" <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 8:38 PM
Subject: Electrical discharging a capacitor

Anybody know how to safely discharge a capacitor?

Playing with another small ac unit and they have a capacitor  (110v) about
the size of a tennis ball.

I would like to be able to continue doing my vanagon tinkering without
losing my eyebrows.

I believe there are 3 spades on it and its my understanding you can connect
a standard light bulb say 60 watt to it and it will
discharge and then its safe?  no?

If you dont hear from me again, that was incorrect. (grin)

Doug