Controllers have electrical charge ?

[medusa569]

Well after building a new wiring harness for my bike and switching out connectors...I was fiddling around with the connector on the power wires for the controller. When my exacto knife must have hit the other terminal and a small spark flew. WTH?! Do controllers have a charge ?? The battery wasn't even connected. Did I fry any component on it?


medusa

 

[Lessss]

Controllers have a BIG MOTHER F@#%#$ CAPACITOR. So yeah they have a CHARGE OH YEAH! ZAP!

and the kentucky fried fingers darwin award winner of the day is__________________

 

[Ypedal]

They can hold a charge but nothing massive (as said above, capacitors, they are also what cause the spark when you hook the units up to a battery ) .. certainly nothing to give you a proper case of KFF.. just a really good zap-wake-the-f-up event !

 

[dogman dan]

Yeah, it should have been harmless. I got a nice suprise when changing the battery connectors on a controller. Took some nips and cut both wires at once. POW! but the controller was unharmed.

 

[medusa569]

Ah.. I should have known. Mental note if I decide to beef up controllers...discharge capacitor! Glad nothing fried...me or it. This brings me to another question. BTW whenever I should open the case the mofsets are located on side position with heat sink paste...do need to replace that paste every time I've open the case since it would disrupt the adhesion? I'd like to start learning more about controllers..any site ideas? thanks guys for all your responses !


medusa

 

[Ypedal]

depends on the units, some have WAY too much paste on them, so i clean it up and leave a small film..

others have none at all.. or some dried up crud.. those i clean with solvent and re-apply a new thin layer.

 

[Lessss]

AH Ypedal you ruined my fun. Was hoping to make him scared to touch his bike :-(

BTW capacitors can make a fun poor mans taser.

 

[tedcs]

.. certainly nothing to give you a proper case of KFF.. just a really good zap-wake-the-f-up event !

If you want some real excitement then, open up a microwave oven!