Repairing SB-800 broken off wide-angle diffuser

Using a lathe, circular saw, routing tool or almost any other power tool presents far more risk IMO. But if safety procedures are followed, nothing bad happens.

Fully agreed!

But you can't 'see' a HV discharge potential!

For 'see' maybe..:eek:

I couldn't see or hear anything for several minutes afterwards

:eek: Didn't know camera equipment can be so hazardous. :eek: And I thought it was bad enough when my finger was pinched by a Nikon 14-24 lens (can't remember what I was doing), and when a finger was caught between the camera and some tripod heads. Be careful!

I've been 'nibbled' by the flash capacitor in a disposable camera too. I think the danger comes when you think that a feeble little disposable, or point'n'shoot flash can't possibly have enough power to bite you.

Though as pointed out previously, any flash tube needs in the region of 300 volts to work. And a 300 volt jolt isn't pleasant, no matter how little or much energy there is to sustain the current. You're going to involuntarily snatch your hand away long before the capacitor has delivered enough current to discharge itself.

As for discharging a high-energy capacitor by short-circuiting it - a bang and a bright arc is only to be expected. You wouldn't do that with a car battery without expecting consequences.. why do it with a capacitor?

:eek: Didn't know camera equipment can be so hazardous. :eek: And I thought it was bad enough when my finger was pinched by a Nikon 14-24 lens (can't remember what I was doing), and when a finger was caught between the camera and some tripod heads. Be careful!

If you wanted a common household appliance that was hazardous to repair, nothing quite compared to the old picture tube TV. The picture tube itself was a big capacitor that carried over 20,000 volts and retained that charge even when unplugged for several days if not months. That tube was capable of killing you.

common household appliance that was hazardous

How about dropping a hair dryer into the bathtub. I can imagine how this can happen.

How about dropping a hair dryer into the bathtub. I can imagine how this can happen.

That is one reason the Darwin Awards exist. ;)

LINK: Darwin Awards - Wikipedia

That is one reason the Darwin Awards exist. ;) LINK: Darwin Awards - Wikipedia

Seriously I think this can happen: Say someone is drying something near the sink or bathtub and the dryer fell into water; the immediate reflex can be to pick it up as soon as possible, especially if the user is a child. I am thinking there may be a built-in safety mechanism such as automatic shut-off. Want to try it and report back? ;)

Did some Googling. Oh darn it, there is no way you or I can win the coveted Darwin Award now because all portable hair dryers are equipped with GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) since 1991. :(

The report (link) says this US requirement came after "hundreds of people were electrocuted when they dropped their hair dryer into water-filled sinks and bathtubs". Imagine that. :eek:

"hundreds of people were electrocuted when they dropped their hair dryer into water-filled sinks and bathtubs". Imagine that. :eek:

Any stats for how many people were killed attempting to repair a flash gun?

Point is, that if safety rules are followed - like poking a resistor into the discharging holes provided - the liklihood of injury is reduced to almost zero.

Point is, that if safety rules are followed - like poking a resistor into the discharging holes provided - the liklihood of injury is reduced to almost zero.

Think this is too much common sense. :p If everyone follows every traffic rule and takes every safety precaution, then car accidents rarely happens. ;)

But it's equally amazing how many people shoot themselves whilst cleaning firearms.... so much for common sense;)

However, that doesn't happen much here in UK as almost no one has one.

I did manage to electrocute myself whilst pulling a 2 pin Euro plug out of its socket. I can confirm it is possible to touch both terminals, whilst they are still live!

It was an older surface/flush socket whereas more modern ones are a recessed socket to keep fingers from being able to reach around the plug, there's not enough space.

Think this is too much common sense.

Unfortunately, it's not that common!

As Frank Zappa said - "The most abundant substance in the universe is stupidity."

I did manage to electrocute myself whilst pulling a 2 pin Euro plug out of its socket.

Writing from beyond the grave then Mike?

Electrocution is being killed by electricity. I think you mean you just got an electric shock.

And I can't believe that we (in the UK) seem to be adopting the mad Edison screw light-fitting, when we had the much safer bayonet bi-pin.

Electrocution is being killed by electricity

Good point ;) Nothing so terminal (!), just a numb arm for a few hours!

the mad Edison screw light-fitting, when we had the much safer bayonet bi-pin.

ES is much easier to make and no moving parts.

Bayonet always struck me a bit easy to simply push your finger down the socket to touch both 'peg' terminals.... mind you, I guess the same also applies to the ES, where you have to touch the side and bottom to get zapped.

Late Edit.

Electrocution - Wikipedia

Seems modern usage doesn't necessarily mean DEATH!

Unfortunately, it's not that common!

As Frank Zappa said - "The most abundant substance in the universe is stupidity."

But it's equally amazing how many people shoot themselves whilst cleaning firearms.... so much for common sense;)

"Stupidity" is a generous giver indeed. How many times do photographers drop their equipment into water, hot springs, fall off the cliff, and almost (and actually) got killed by an animal? Not to mention the everyday faux pas such as over-and-under exposure, leaving the cap on... - Bringing topic back to forum relevance.

Bringing topic back to forum relevance.

I always found the small piece of 'prismed' plastic on-a-spring a PITA. You certainly couldn't latch it out with gloves on, or even cold fingers. Bit like the piece of white plastic for bounce flash!

I use the actual zoom function within the flash or the translucent clip on thing. As I'm now a digital-only user, when I'm using flash, I just adjust on-the-fly. I'm never that far off....:p

Thanks bigly to rodeo_joe|1--this is a potentially very useful thread to those of us with SB-800s. Very easy to follow, fantastic, cheers!

If you wanted a common household appliance that was hazardous to repair, nothing quite compared to the old picture tube TV. The picture tube itself was a big capacitor that carried over 20,000 volts and retained that charge even when unplugged for several days if not months. That tube was capable of killing you.

One of my very earliest memories, I must have been three or four years old (this would have been mid 1960s), a TV repairman came to our house to work on the TV. He apparently touched that thing with a screwdriver; he let out a yell, and the screwdriver flew out of his hand accompanied by a loud pop--the shock had actually split the plastic handle.

One of my very earliest memories, I must have been three or four years old (this would have been mid 1960s), a TV repairman came to our house to work on the TV. He apparently touched that thing with a screwdriver; he let out a yell, and the screwdriver flew out of his hand accompanied by a loud pop--the shock had actually split the plastic handle.

:eek: Glad he lived. :eek:

Bayonet always struck me a bit easy to simply push your finger down the socket to touch both 'peg' terminals.... mind you, I guess the same also applies to the ES, where you have to touch the side and bottom to get zapped.

Thing is, in normal use nobody sticks their finger down a light socket; whereas changing an ES bulb makes it very easy to touch the outer metal screw. All it needs is an incorrectly wired socket or plug (Live to outer) and... well it's not difficult to imagine the consequences.

Even a correctly wired lunatic ES socket exposes the user to touching the mains Neutral, which still isn't an ideal situation.