Safety

SOLDERING RULES

 Potential Hazards

• Ingestion and Inhalation of Lead Solder or Flux/Rosin Solder: Surface contamination of lead solder can result in ingestion of lead, a known neurotoxin. Over-exposure of lead fume inhalation can give rise to chronic health effects. Reduced ventilation when using a Flux/Rosin Solder can result in respiratory irritation and/or eye irritation.

• Burns and Fire: Heated parts from the iron will be extremely hot and can easily burn through skin contact or could cause a fire if placed on flammable materials.

• Electrical: Frayed electrical cords could be a fire and/or shock hazard.

 

General Safety Precautions

 A. Soldering Iron Safety

  •  1. Never touch the element or tip, of the soldering iron. Temperatures at the element and tip of the soldering iron can exceed 400 °C, hot enough to burn flesh instantly.
  •  2. Use the provided fume extractors
  •  3. Ensure that tweezers, pliers or clamps are available to hold wires that are to be heated to avoid potentially receiving burns from objects that are heated.
  •  4. Always return the soldering iron to its stand when not in use. Never lay it directly on your workbench.
  •  5. Turn OFF or unplug the soldering iron when it is not in use. Unattended soldering equipment poses a fire hazard, and leaving the tip hot for long periods of time will oxidize the tip and render it useless.

 B. Fire Prevention

  •  1. Conduct work on a nonflammable surface that is not easily ignited. 
  •  2. Wear non-flammable clothing that covers your arms and legs. Flux and molten solder can splatter during soldering and can cause burns and irritation to exposed skin.

 C. Housekeeping

  •  1. Always wash your hands with soap and water after soldering.
  •  2. DO NOT eat or bring food into any spaces where soldering occurs. Beverages must be lidded and kept in a separate area where soldering occurs.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Eye protection: Safety glasses, goggles, or face shields must be worn when soldering and clipping wires.

First Aid

If you touch the element or tip of a soldering iron, immediately cool the affected area under cold water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if the burns cover an area bigger than 3 inches across.

 

PREVENT ACCIDENTS: FOLLOW THIS ADVICE

  • IF you don't feel comfortable working with the equipment ask for help!
  • Never hurry! Work deliberately and carefully.
  • Connect to the power source LAST.
  • If you are working with a circuit that will be connected to an external power supply, turn the power switch of the external supply OFF before you begin work on the circuit.
  • Check circuit power supply voltages for proper value and for type (DC, AC, frequency) before energizing the circuit.
  • Do not run wires over moving or rotating equipment, or on the floor, or string them across walkways from bench-to-bench.
  • Remove conductive watchbands or chains, finger rings, wristwatches, etc., and do not use metallic pencils, metal or metal edge rulers, etc. when working with exposed circuits.
  • When breaking any high-voltage or high current inductive circuit, open the switch with your non-dominant hand and turn your face away to avoid danger from any arc which may occur across the switch terminals.
  • When using large electrolytic capacitors, be sure to wait long enough (approximately five RC time constants) for the capacitors to discharge before working on the circuit.
  • All conducting surfaces intended to be at ground potential should be connected together. 

Battery Safety

 Short Circuits

 Current will take the path of least resistance, which is usually through a short-circuit instead of the load, delivering a high, unrestricted current flow in a short period of time.

  • Short circuits can cause injury, blindness, and death to the user, and permanently damage equipment. They can cause excess heat, fire, and arcing. This is especially dangerous with batteries that supply continuous strong current.
  • Never touch both battery terminals with your bare hands at the same time. Don’t wear rings, watches, or jewelry made of conductive materials (e.g., silver, gold, copper, or steel). Only use non-conductive tools to remove terminal or cell caps. 
  • Never modify the battery leads

 Soldering

 DO NOT solder to batteries.

  • DO NOT solder near batteries.
  • Heat generated from the soldering iron can destabilize and damage the battery, causing it to bulge, hiss, leak, catch fire, and even explode.
  • If you must solder to a battery, use a battery holder. Make sure the battery is elsewhere while connecting the holder to the device.