High Speed Flash Photography

Step 2: Carefully Disassemble the Camera

Peel off the stickers and use the screwdriver to gently open the tabs on the camera.
Once you get the back off, take the battery out.

WARNING: THE CAPACITOR IS STILL CHARGED UP AT THIS TIME, YOU MUST SHORT IT TO BE SAFE.
carefully pry out the film holder assembly. the flash circuit will come out with it.
Use an insulated screwdriver to short the capacitor by touching both leads with the blade of the tool. You know it worked when it sparks and pops at you. do it until it stops sparking. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS YOU RUN THE RISKS OF GETTING SHOCKED BY OVER 300 VOLTS.

Comments

[Default117]

I've shocked myself with one of those, decided I didn't want to be shocked again and shorted it out with a screw driver. Scared the crap outta me! Ever since then, whenever I get surprised it feels like a nine-volt on my tongue.

[homebowyerboy]

Just be carefull cause it does bloody hurt, though not as much as 37 of them in series, that feels like bloody hell! (Trust me, i know from experience)

[That Hurt This Time]

Cmon, 300 volts? Static electricity shocks you at around 12000 volts. Its not the volts that kill you, its the amps anyway. I think the highest voltage that someon has been shocked at is around 300000 volts.

[grahamslawson]

i took apart a digital camera and got shocked by it. My friend took apart a digital camera and ha as 2 spots on his finger where he shorted the cap I can tell you it bloody hurts He can tell you it bloody hurts That is why you short the cap.

[Vendigroth]

lightning's been known to leave survivors in one piece, able to move and speak and still technically alive. Actually, the best defense (actually, no, you're just as likely to get hit) against a lightning bolt is to wear a gold necklace. All the energy from the strike goes into boiling the gold away, not blowing you to cinders, OTOH, you get a necklace-shaped scar.

[lasersage]

It would only go into the necklace if that was the easiest path to ground. Electricity is lazy, always looking for the path of least resistance. Admittedly some may flow through the very nicely conducting gold, but chances are, that it is not grounded and you are. Hence you're going to get most of the shock . As for peoples previous comments, it is indeed true that current is the killer. People percieve that low voltages and DC are safer. This is WRONG! AC often causes a spasm, whereas DC often causes you to lock you muscles (unable to let go). 1V will kill you if you make a suitably good contact (low resistance, hence high current). The real danger with high voltage is that it can penetrate your skin. This is why low voltage is often considered "safe".

[Vulcanator]

my friend was struck by lightning... in a lake

[Gartral]

gee... anyone ever touch a computer power cable a cat just fried itself on (the cat isnt dead)? THAT wakes you up!

[deviant937]

Ehh ive been shocked by thoes, not too bad, like probabbly not the most healtiest thing, but it is one hell of a sensation. Now that doesnt mean anyone should get ideas, but dont let the capacitors scare you out of this particular hack

[Neodudeman]

I shot myself.

The I died.

DIdn't really wake me up at all. =(

[robotix]

One time I was pulling a falty cord out of a socket, thats what realy wakes you up!

[Coffee bean]

I got shocked once it really wakes you up. It is fun just to make sparks.