How to Handle High Frequency High Voltage Electricity Safely
Anything that produces 50 Volts or more can be considered high voltage. High frequency does not significantly change the type of safety procedures that need to be used, nor the risks involved. If you are dealing with anything that plugs in, even if it is currently unplugged, assume that there is a high voltage risk. If you keep your work area clean and your body insulated from ground, your risk of serious injury is very low. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Flat head Screwdriver
- Multimeter
- Rubber-Soled Shoes
- Rubber Mat
- Insulated Table
Instructions
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Prepare your work area properly. You want to make sure it is dry, clean, uncluttered, and equipped with plenty of light. Do not work at a metal table, and make sure that there are no nearby grounds such as metal chair legs or support structures that you may accidentally come in contact with.
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Make sure you are not grounded. Wear rubber soled shoes. If you have the luxury, try to work on a rubber mat.
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Unplug everything. If you are working on a computer, for example, it should not be connected to a phone line, wall outlet, or router.
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Work with one hand in your pocket. This is one of the most important safety guidelines for working with electricity. If you are wearing rubber shoes and only working with one hand, any electrical shock you get will be confined to the hand you are working with. This eliminates the risk of heart fibrillation, since there is no path through your heart to ground. You can still suffer burns, but death is extremely unlikely.
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Drain high voltage capacitors. Even after the circuit is turned off, high voltage caps can store power for weeks, making them the number one danger in an unplugged circuit. The easiest way to drain the voltage is to short the leads together with the shaft of a large, slotted head screwdriver. As long as it has an insulated handle and your hand is not touching the metal part, this is a safe way to discharge the capacitor.
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Insulate the circuit board if you have to remove it to work on it. Make sure you do not put it down on anything that is metal or consists of metal covered by a thin layer of insulating materials. Clear out all components and test equipment from the area before putting your board down. Even a small piece of wire can cause a short.
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Use a multimeter and test leads to probe anywhere you suspect current may still reside.
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Tips & Warnings
Work with someone else in the room.
Never service a live high voltage circuit without proper training.
