Turn off power to the AC unit at the thermostat
Turn off power at the breaker
Verify power is off with a multimeter
Remove the access panel
Locate the capacitor
Wear insulated gloves and safety glasses
Use an insulated resistor or discharge tool rated for the capacitor voltage
Hold the tool across the capacitor terminals for several seconds
If it is a dual capacitor, discharge between C and FAN, then C and HERM
Recheck the capacitor with a multimeter to confirm zero voltage
Do not short the terminals with a screwdriver
Do not touch the terminals with bare hands
Replace the access panel after finishing