soldring iron resistance and AC leakage - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: SnakeBite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2010, 11:56:24 pm
content: Hello,i noticed lately that a lot of manufacterers have devices that check soldering tip temperature as well as tip resistance and AC leakage.a few questions:1. how important is to test the tip resistance and the tip AC leakage?2. it's important to check it dayley?3. it i found wrong tip resistance or/and AC leakage can i fix it in some way?thanksIdo

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2010, 12:11:22 am
content: For the most part concerns about tip resistance and leakage are to reduce or eliminate the potential for EOS/ESD damage of the board being soldered. Here's a really good reference...http://www.esda.org/documents/openforumhandtoolsprass08.pdfJohn ( Past President, Arizona Chapter of the EOS/ESD Association)

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2010, 06:29:31 am
content: The electrical safety standards in the UK state that the resistance of the earth conductor of and class 1 piece of equipment must be lower than 1 Ohm (I think, it might be even lower).Some soldering irons are powered off a transformer which is best for both ESD and safety alike. The transformer's voltage is always under 50VAC (normally 12V or 24V) so the soldering iron is considered to be a class 3 device which requires no earth connection, although some models connect the tip to earth via a 1M or 10M resistor to limit the current of ESD as well as protecting the transformer.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 01, 2010, 12:54:43 pm
content: when we lived in italy and the house had no earth (which I later installed myself) I remember getting a tingling feeling from a board I was taking apart and eventually realized it was coming from the iron, I was rather surprised (must have been like 20mA). Problem went away when i installed an earth

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2010, 01:09:11 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on October 01, 2010, 12:54:43 pmI had the same problem before the house was re-wired.There was no earth connection in my bedroom and the earth wire had a shocking voltage/current on it until I bonded it to the radiator.

author: SnakeBite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 04:57:41 pm
content: so basically i don't need this device if i got grounding in my room that what you saying?Ido

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 04:59:57 pm
content: well if your soldering iron tip is connected to earth and you have an earth connection you should be ok

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 06:09:32 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on October 02, 2010, 04:59:57 pmIndeed, as long as the tip is grounded, you can safely touch it.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 06:18:19 pm
content: Quote from: alm on October 02, 2010, 06:09:32 pmI wouldn't say a soldering iron tip, heated to over 300oC, is safe to touch.

author: SnakeBite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 07:28:55 pm
content: the iron i'm using is PACE MBT 250 WITH PS-70 soldering iron so i think they take care of the grounding.thanks for all the helpersIdo

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2010, 09:36:18 pm
content: Just ask PACE themselves. I don't know why you asked the question if you knew the answer already. Besides PACE has all relevant information on their website.

author: SnakeBite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2010, 08:20:03 am
content: i didn't know that the grounding of the soldering station is related to the AC leakage and the need to check grounding .but thanks anywaysIdo