taking apart a TV

January 27, 2009 10:48am CST
I have an old TV that I have taken apart, I want to use some of the wire and components to recycle and make things from. THe TV has been unplugged for about 2 and a half months now. Is it safe to cut the wires? I'm not gonna touch the bulb or the bowl, but I want to make sure its safe to cut the wires.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
27 Jan 09
TV's have some parts that carry very high voltages. Often these are stored in large capacitors and can remain dangerous for a long time, depending on the circuitry. I would have thought that 2 months or longer would be enough but it's impossible to be sure. Better to be safe than sorry! You can short out these components with a screwdriver or a well insulated piece of thick wire, when they will become safe to handle. Be very careful not to break the tube. It contains phosphors which can be harmful. You should take it to your waste disposal site to be disposed of correctly and safely.
1 person likes this
27 Jan 09
Owl be smarter than me. Good advices, yup.
27 Jan 09
I have pulled some of the wires out, and nothing has happened. I'm not going to touch the tube, wooh no. I looked it up before and I heard the word "implosion"
• Brazil
27 Jan 09
Hello!! My friend (physicist)tell me TV can to generate a high voltage shok, later six month unplugged. So, I think better you wait more a time to open your TV... Happy myLotting ^^
27 Jan 09
I have opened it, I'm still here, I just want to know if i can cut the wires.
28 Jan 09
will do, I wonder what happens if I cut this wire?......
27 Jan 09
Cut the blue wire! No, the red wire! TV repair men will quite happily open up a TV and stick a screwdriver into it about ten seconds after it's unplugged. Now I'm not handyman, but unless there's electricity running through it or you're breaking open components, I don't see a problem. Wires are just wires. Bits of metal. I know I wouldn't worry, but then I don't know exactly what you're doing, so I'm a little less confident than if I were standing there encouraging you to electrocute yourself...
27 Jan 09
I'm just using the wires and circuit boards, I'll just cut the wire now,what could possibly go............
27 Jan 09
had ya goin' there didn't I? Ok I'll try the blue one, BBBBBBBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZCCCRRRRAAAAAACCCCCCCKKKKK BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!