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(Almost) shot dead by my flash
I recently bought a Vivitar SMS 30 flash for the outrageous sum of one whole dollar. It came complete with highly corroded batteries (4 AA) and I did yeoman's work opening the battery compartment only to find an utter mess.
I spent the greater of 30 minutes carefully cleaning the compartment and filing the contacts (so I could make contact!) Then came the moment of 'bargain affirmation'. I inserted four fresh batteries and heard the flash rev up!! Then I pressed the trial button and it went off! I affirmed this about 10 times and the capacitator seemed full of vigor.
Then...a loud 'shot' went off followed suddenly by a whiff of smell that seemed smoke (but not visible). The shot jolted me and I knew that the graveyard (for the flash, not me) was immanent.
What caused this? This is a warning for all to heed...NEVER take apart a flash, EVER. I am lucky that my curiosity did not get the better of me. A whole dollar shot. Imagine. - David Lyga.
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If you take it apart one more time you might find the failed component. 
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This is no joke, even small electronic flashes are capable of delivering 10,000 Volts and a fatal shock. 
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Yes, Benjiboy, I think that this important point is not made clearly enough in the industry (or the government). VERY important to state this redundantly.
Who, after all Brian, (besides myself) do we want shot? - David Lyga
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Any older electrical device can potentially blow a capacitor, and strobe units tend to have big ones (studio strobe units have REALLY big ones). I had one blow in a densitometer of all things--loud pop, smoke, oil leaking out, the works.
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Don't you just hate that smell too? I've smelled more burning electronics than I care to recall. HATE THAT SMELL!
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Many years ago my wife had a point and shoot that stopped working. I decided to take it apart just to see how it was made. I accidentally touched the capacitor and as it burned a hole in my finger, I tossed the camera in the air. I retrieved it after two or three bounces and put it back together. It worked afterward. The secret to repairs is to know how high to throw the equipment for a particular malady.
http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/
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Again, I hope that there are a lot of 'newbies' reading this because the danger is real and innocent in appearance. Once, maybe ten years ago I decided to take apart a small flash but (wisely!?!?) I discharged the flash before I did this. I was still scared but stupidly bold. I did take it apart and saw two contacts that I thought would be completely tame. Wisely, really wisely, I crossed them with a screwdriver, but one with a plastic handle (because I was still scared). The spark and noise that flew out of that tame piece of electronic synergism educated me for life. 'Nuff said. I ain't dead yet. - David Lyga
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In all seriousness, which I may have lacked in previous posts, this is a good warning!
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