Paul, Both the lead-free solder and especially the silver solder require higher temperatures (maybe high-temperature flux as well?) to create a proper solder joint. This makes soldering without damaging a component or PC board trace more difficult. An ESD soldering iron with temperature control is a necessary tool for RoHS compliant work. But I wouldn't want to try to work on my TR7A without an ESD soldering iron either. For tube gear it isn't a problem.
73, Bob AD3K -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Paul Christensen Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 9:08 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Drakelist] OT a failure mode of solid state electronics A consequence of RoHS compliance. The problem has already been documented with N8LP's LP-100 display board (PLED version). Display segments begin failing, one-by-one until the display becomes very difficult to read. Not sure if there's been any recent developments concerning chemical or process improvements to lessen the severity of the "whiskering." I have spools of Kester clean solder, and a spool with 2% silver -- neither of them flow very well. I'm inclined to stay with Kester 44 60/40 solder from this point forward. Paul, W9AC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Spooner" <[email protected]> To: "'Ron'" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 8:47 AM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] OT a failure mode of solid state electronics > Ron, > > Vintage radios were made with regular leaded solder so they don't have > that > problem (unless you repair them with lead free solder.) It's the new rigs > that I'm concerned about. Tin whisker growth under surface mount > components > would be very difficult to detect and remove. So keep your vintage Drake > radios operational and you won't be without a rig if the new one fails. > > 73, > Bob AD3K > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Ron > Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 6:46 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Drakelist] OT a failure mode of solid state electronics > > All, > I was tooling around the web and ran into this video and document. For > those unfamiliar, the new lead free solder often has a higher tin content > and can causes tin whisker growth issues. Who knows when it might strike > your beloved solid state or hybrid vintage radio. Maybe we should all > return to hollow state :-) > > http://www.vintage-radio.info/whiskers/ > > Totally amazing IMO. > > 73, > Ron WD8SBB > > _______________________________________________ > Drakelist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > > > > _______________________________________________ > Drakelist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
