> I seem
> to remember sawing one open years ago and finding no roll of
> anything, mostly a large piece of insulating material (rubber?) and
> I can't remember the rest of the details (it was when I was only
> about 7 years old!). I may saw one open now to see this, but I am a
> bit relutcant because I'm not sure of whether the dielectric might
> be hazardous, however I have had them blow up before and it didn't
> hurt me (although it didn't get in my eyes!).

I've started wearing safety glasses anytime I'm working on live
circuits or soldering (When I'm soldering anything big enough to see
through blurry safety glasses!)  or when sawing open components out
of curiosity!

The first time an electrolytic exploded on my bench it shot a hole in
the cieling, and blasted paper all over my CB. Could've put out an
eye.   My 12V power supply had failed and began putting out 60VDC,
which fried the main filter cap.  That was when a handheld four
function calculator cost $150.

Meanwhile I sawed open a golfball, without safety glasses (Why do
young engineers saw so many things open?) and it was some kind of
special pressurized core, that blasted me in the face with gunk.  I
sawed open a shotgun shell without killing myself, and a few caps
too.  Don't saw things open without safety equipment and maybe a good
shower handy.

Just yesterday I shorted two 120V leads together, destoying a good
part of the leads and a signifigant chunk of a PC board, meanwhile my
Tech put an electrolytic in backwards and shut it off when it began
to sound like frying chicken.  A bad day, all around.  I'd like to
still be watching sunsets when I retire.  These things explode and
arc and spark, and a little polycarbonate lens between you and it may
be crucial someday.
-- Lawrence Lile

 "If this were easy they'd have hired somebody else to do it."

Download AutoCad blocks for electrical drafting at:
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