What does discharging a CRT involve?

Discharging a cathode-ray tube (CRT) involves grounding its dangerous charge to the chassis. CRTs operate at high voltages, which can pose a significant safety hazard even after the power has been turned off. The stored energy in the CRT can cause electric shock if someone comes into contact with it. To safely discharge a CRT, a proper procedure is followed where a discharge tool, often a resistor, is used to connect the anode to the chassis ground. This allows the built-up charge to safely flow away, mitigating the risk of shock.

The other options do not address the safety procedure necessary for handling a CRT. Connecting the CRT to power would increase the risk rather than mitigate it, replacing the CRT is not related to discharging it and does not address the immediate safety concerns, and reassembling the external cover occurs after ensuring all components are safe to handle, which would not involve discharging the device itself. Understanding this procedure is crucial for any technician handling older display technologies.