- Most modern soldering irons now come with an automated shut off feature, which turns its heating element off after a certain amount of time. The irons that do not have this feature will keep on heating the element such that the tip temperature remains at the set value. If the tip of the iron is in contact with something else, it may get burned or damaged due to constant supply of heat energy from the soldering iron's heating element. In worst cases, this heat can cause fire if there is a flammable material nearby.
- A soldering iron that is kept on will keep on drawing current from the electrical outlet. If the heat is dissipating fast, for example when the iron is kept in a cold room, the current draw will be continuous. This current can heat up the cables, melt their insulation and create electrical shorts. An electrical short in the AC line can be fairly dangerous as it can cause fire.
- A soldering iron that is kept on in a cool environment for an extended period of time keeps on drawing current from the power source in order to retain its tip at the specified temperature. This constant draw of current can cause its heating element to burn and create an intermittent electrical shorting condition. That is, the short occurs whenever the burned wire of the element touches the metallic tube it is in. In this case, a person handling the solder may receive an electrical shock that can be life threatening.
- A soldering iron that is left on and unattended can prove to be extremely hazardous to children. Typically soldering irons operate at a temperature between 480 and 850 degrees Fahrenheit. A child may unknowingly touch the tip of an iron and get serious skin burns. The tip may also get dislodged from its holder when hit by something, for example a ball, and land on a flammable material, catching fire.
previous post