How to salvage a flyback transformer and other parts from an old CRT monitor

In this episode, I show you How to Salvage a Flyback Transformer and other Useful Parts from an old CRT Monitor.

Flyback Transformers are usually used in High-Voltage applications and projects such as in building Tesla Coils or using them to generate Plasma Arcs.

I begin by taking apart this old CRT monitor. The first step is to remove the plastic protective shell.

I then remove the metal shielding. And then I remove the main control board. It is recommended to drain the anode connection to chassis ground or earth ground.

You can do this by connecting a wire to a screw driver and touching the anode. You should power off the monitor at least a week before you disassemble it. This old monitor has been in storage for years.

This is the high-voltage flyback transformer we are looking to salvage. I unscrew it from the heat sink.

I then begin unsoldering all the pin connections on the bottom of the board. This took forever and I ended up using both my soldering iron and my hot air gun.

I finally got the flyback transformer off the board. After salvaging the flyback transformer, I remove the electron gun assembly in order to salvage the copper wire coils.

You can find lots of enameled copper wire (ie speaker wire) that you can salvage in these old monitors. There are also many other useful components you can salvage from the main board if you so choose.