"Lancer" wrote in message
news:43c7a6c4.83866046@2355323778...
On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 22:07:17 -0500, Scott in Baltimore
wrote:

Actually cordless soldering irons are preffered in small static
senesitive areas. Larger wattage irons that are plugged into AC
outlets can do more damage than cordless irons with static sensitive
parts.

I use a 12 VDC iron plugged into a 13.8 V ps for sensitive stuff.

Scott;
Its not the power it runs on, its the difference in potential
between the tip and the device your soldering. If the tips not at the
same potential (I.E. static) you can damage the component.

But you can ground yourself to the project at hand and use a butane iron.

DrDeath wrote:
"Lancer" wrote in message
news:43c7a6c4.83866046@2355323778...

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 22:07:17 -0500, Scott in Baltimore
wrote:


Actually cordless soldering irons are preffered in small static
senesitive areas. Larger wattage irons that are plugged into AC
outlets can do more damage than cordless irons with static sensitive
parts.

I use a 12 VDC iron plugged into a 13.8 V ps for sensitive stuff.

Scott;
Its not the power it runs on, its the difference in potential
between the tip and the device your soldering. If the tips not at the
same potential (I.E. static) you can damage the component.


But you can ground yourself to the project at hand and use a butane iron.



I never saw Lancer's post. Glad you quoted it.

I have another iron that's AC. I connected a wire to the heater's frame and
run that to the screw on the outlet. It drops the 40 volts leakage to about
1 or 2 volts. Make sure the item is unplugged that you're working on! There
should be a resistor between the frame and the ground to prevent mucho current
from flowing. There are 1Mohm resistors in a grounding strap to limit current
way below 100 mA if you should touch a 120 VAC line while grounded.