10 Nov
2011
10 Nov
'11
11:47 a.m.
On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 2:57 PM, David Riley <fraveydank at gmail.com> wrote:
In the UK, at least, it appers the RoHX regulations only apply when the
device is offered for sale, which means that prototypes and
home-constructed units are excempt [It's crazxy IMHO that Maplin, who
sell mainly to hobbyists only sell lead-free solder now...]. And you can
sue leaded solder for repairs on things that were oriignally made with
leaded solder (like classic computers).
This is one reason I much prefer things to come as solder-yourself kits.
I can then use whatever solder I choose.
SOme connectors, particuallrly Mil-spec types seem to only exist in
non-RoHS versions (this may be cadmium plating, rather than lead). This
has the curuous feater that while I, or anyone else, can by the
conenctors to connect to an HP9830 pirnter port, or the input of an
HP9866 pritner, and while it is perfectly legal for anyone make up cables
and interaces for their own use, it is illegal for me to sell such cables
(or even kits to make such cables I think). Go figure.
Agreed. We only worked with RoHS because so many of our customers have to
see internationally. What RoHS mostly targets, I thought, was the folks
who just toss broken or outdated electronics in the trash (which, let's
face it, is probably most of the people we know because no one has ever
told them otherwise).
also, Telecom, Military and Medical hardware are exempted from RoHS. As such, we never had to follow RoHS in our Switching
Systems, I'm sure you've
heard - Lead-Free is unreliable for Hi-Rel Systems due to shorts created by
crystalline growths - ie. tin whiskers. Lead was initially added in the
early part of the 20th century to mitigate this known problem.
Indeed.
Unfortunately, I just read that Servers and Network
systems have recently
been removed from this exemption since 2010 - oh great.
Consumer items are made like junk anyway - they're meant to be thrown away
This doens't mean you _have_ to throw them away. You know me well enough
by now to know that I'll have a go at repairing them..
:) But now we have this new recycling law which you
are forced to pay a
recycler to dispose of consumer items. The trashman is no longer allowed to
haul away your junk. Now think what will really happens to the junk, spewn
in some remote area of the woods
In other words, these regulatios have almost certainly increased
polution. As usual...
-tony