If you've ever used an Arduino or a comparable product, you've undoubtedly had your circuit boards burned. This can be caused by a variety of causes, but it's not always easy to figure out what's causing the problem and how to avoid it in the future. Continue reading to learn how to avoid burning your circuit boards.
Understand how voltage affects resistance
Because resistance isn't continuous, it might change dramatically depending on a variety of things. When working with high-resistance components (such as a light bulb or a heating element), it's critical to understand how much voltage your gadget needs to perform effectively. High voltages can cause more energy to be released from the current flow, resulting in more heat and the possibility of a burned component. Low resistance is also a problem; for example, if you use a light bulb with insufficient resistance (which is easy to do accidentally), electricity will skip the filament entirely, causing all of the energy from the power supply to evaporate as heat.
Why does heat damage a chip?
The maximum working temperature of all electronic components is specified. If a chip or other component is used beyond its full capacity, it will most likely fail by permanently destroying a part of itself (such as melting its leads) or shutting down completely. This is also true for microcontrollers that have a watchdog timer that turns them off when they get too hot. Damage occurs when a component's working temperature is exceeded.
Below are ways to avoid burning your circuit boards
Use PCB silk screening for marking
Silkscreen printing is the most efficient and effective way for applying markings on PCBs. A stencil constructed of film or paper with a transparent layer and a squeegee for pushing ink through, similar to how rubber stamps work, is required for screen-printing. Silk screening with stencils or laser etching can be used to install numerous layers of components on a single board. You may have even seen old-fashioned silkscreen banners printed on fabric, which is created by pushing ink through holes in a steel plate. That's just a different kind of PCB being made! When we print our items at SparkFun, we employ silk screening, so let us show you how it works!
Use the right soldering iron
Use a temperature-controlled soldering iron and never leave it plugged in while working. The optimal temperatures for electronics operations are 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) or 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) (175 C). You may purchase special irons with digital readouts that display how hot they are, or simply place a meat thermometer on your desk. When working with electronics, keep the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) at all times. If it's too hot, solder junctions can split or pads can melt; if it's too cold, you won't be able to establish a good joint. Avoid using instant-on soldering irons because they cool down quickly after being turned off.
Let hot chips cool down before touching them
Integrated circuits may grow hot, especially when used at full capacity for long periods of time. Because most integrated circuits are made of silicon, a semi-conductive substance (which also happens to be present in the sand! ), contacting them before they've cooled down can cause serious burns. And if you've ever touched an exposed wire or a component of a fuse box by accident and felt that abrupt, excruciating jolt, you know it's not enjoyable! What's the simplest technique to keep your fingertips from burning? Allow parts to cool completely before handling. Take a break from working on them if you're not in a hurry, and let everything settle down for a time.
Prevent static electricity from damaging your device
Many circuit board components are not composed of silicon or other semiconductors. They are instead thin metallic foil or thin wires that carry energy from one location to another. As a result, these materials may be prone to abrupt bursts of static electricity—tiny electrical discharges that occur when two distinct types of materials rub together. A hairdryer is a popular producer of these tiny sparks, and even dragging your feet over carpeted flooring may generate static electricity that can short out circuits. To protect oneself from static electricity, keep all electronics equipment away from static charge sources such as clothes and carpets, and always wear an anti-static wrist strap when working with electronics equipment.
Take care while moving a hot board around
During the soldering process, circuit boards heat up. With solder joints reaching temperatures of up to 230°F (110°C), you'll want to protect these components from overheating by keeping them out of direct sunlight as well as ensuring sure they don't become too hot. If you need to move a hot board, use a wooden tool rather than a metal one since metal might adhere to the component and harm it. Also, use latex gloves so that if you unintentionally brush up against something, it won't cling (and cause additional damage).
Unplug power before making any adjustments
When working on a circuit board, it is important that you remember to disconnect it. When making adjustments, you don't want any components to be switched on. This is a smart habit to develop for everyday use as well, since it can help prevent costly damage. Before making modifications or adding new components into a breadboard, check sure there is nothing hooked into the other power sources in your workstation. Also, if you have an old gadget on hand, such as an old printer, and remove all of its parts, consider utilizing that instead of looking for another outlet in case your equipment fails.
Don’t overload circuits with too many devices/switches
Excessive use of devices or switches can result in short circuits and burnout. A single on/off switch can handle a maximum current of 15A. If you have more than one switch in a room, make sure you don't go over that amperage. If you're having difficulties determining how much power something consumes, use an ohmmeter to determine how many amps a device consumes while turned on and off. Assume you wish to put light fixtures in every room except one, which has two overhead lights. Allowing two light fixtures per bedroom (one overhead fixture and one lamp) implies that each bedroom will receive four total light bulbs, each consuming around 7 watts, for a total of 28 watts.
Clear room ventilation is also important
A soldering iron may emit a lot of fumes, so make sure you have enough ventilation and fresh air in your space. Otherwise, you may get persistent headaches or other major health problems. Never use a damp sponge or towel to clear away extra solder from a hot soldering iron because it might catch fire; instead, use dry rags. And if anything goes wrong while you're working with your tools (or they begin to malfunction), turn them off immediately and contact an electrician or someone else who is familiar with working with high voltages. Make never attempt to repair anything yourself, since defective wiring might create fires or electric shocks that could cause serious damage.
Conclusion
Protecting electrical components and circuit boards is a simple but critical task. You may save a lot of unwanted harm by preventing heat buildup through effective ventilation and working with devices that are within their proper operating temperature range. Heat accumulation is frequently caused by inadequate ventilation in a confined environment, the use of malfunctioning equipment, or the use of inferior components. However, before using any of these ways for preserving your electrical components, ensure that you have well studied and comprehended the hazards involved. Best wishes!
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