31 Dec
2006
31 Dec
'06
11:19 a.m.
Barry Watzman wrote:
This is a little late since I have been off line for a while.
Almost all new equipment has to comply with
"RoHS" (Reduction of Hazardous
Substances) requirements, which among other things means it's made with
lead-free solder. Enforcement is stronger in Europe than in the US, but in
any case industry is cleary moving in that direction even when and where not
absolutely required by law.
Question: If one is repairing RoHS compliant equipment, with respect to
functionality only is there a problem with using conventional tin/lead
solder? I'm not asking if it's legal or "environmentally friendly",
I'm
asking if mixing the lead free solder and conventional tin/lead solder will
cause functional problems (for example, any kind of problems similar to
those which we used to see when someone repaired electronic equipment using
plumbing acid flux solder).
From all that I have read it is only NEW products that are RoHS complant.
Classic computers are NOT new products. :)
From what I have done with soldering with the new solder is you need a
higher temp soldering temp 800F+ since a 700F tip does not handle large
joints that I used. This was however with a rather coarse solder ment for audio work
- Cardas solder.
http://www.cardas.com/content.php?area=oem&content_id=19&pagestring…
Also, if one wants to acquire and use RoHS compliant
solder, are there any
changes that someone accustomed to conventional tin/lead solder needs to
make to their soldering technique? And I guess I should also ask the
reverse question from the paragraph above: Are there any issues in using
lead-free RoHS compliant solders on equipment originally built from tin/lead
solder?
Are there any other implications of RoHS that a casual
classic computer and
electronics enthusiast should know about, in either direction?
.