General Safety

[Project23D]

There are probably are going to be a lot who ignore this message, but you may want to as your life will depend on it.

Being around electronics for 20 years (I'm 27 now), I've learned a little bit about safety and general building tips. What prompted me to write a post was I saw a project that was built, and worked, but the craftmanship left something to be desired.

First things first - BE NEAT in your work! Nothing will stress you more when you are trying to troubleshoot a problem and then fumbling through a mess of wires or parts. Being neat will not only force you to take a little more time putting something together, it will also increase the chances your project is going to work the first time or after a few things are adjusted where-as a mess, you will you probably be zapped several times and you will give up.

Second - learn how to solder - PROPERLY! Are you heating your work then letting it melt the solder? Or are you heating the solder and trying to make it stick to your work and have it cause more problems such as over heating your work and damaging it or the most common problem - cold solders? Because both are very hard to spot, you will be searching for endless hours trying to locate a problem only to come to find out when you bend a wire or part a certain way does your project work.

Third - If you have zero idea what you are doing, then get some help here on the forums, or find a group of people who have similar interests. I have yet to see a electronics club anymore, so you best bet is to find a local amateur radio group. Not only will you meet people from all walks of life, many of them will help you - only if you ask.

Fourth - have fun blowing stuff up! But do so in a manner you or no one else gets injured. I'm not sure how many parts I've destroyed, let the smoke out, fried, and got zapped. I'm still here so that's enough to say I've done the right thing to still be around.

This has been my experience.
~Benjamin, KB9LFZ

[powerlabs]

Good advice Benjamin. I moved your post to its own thread since it didn't belong in the "welcome" post...

[cipher510]

there any labs that people CAN try at home without the danger blowing themselves up?

[StarKannon]

But what is the fun in that, blowing and frying stuff is part and parcel with this stuff. Just be careful stand away and be save about it, I have no idea how many caps and diodes have bit the dust on my projects. Honestly doing it on purpose gives you an idea of the stuff's failure modes ect.

[powerlabs]

Honestly if you can't figure out if what you are doing is safe or not, that probably means it isn't...
Safety comes from understanding what you are doing and what risks it can carry...