I was reading info on making turnouts DCC friendly and soldering and came across Allan Gartner's artcle http://wiringfordcc.com/solder.htm . In order to protect from electrostatic dischage he proposes unplugging wires from a comand station when working on track. Although not specifically stated you would draw the conclusion that you should take all locomotives with decoders off the track before soldering feeders or rail joiners.
I have soldered many connections, including decoder installations, without knowing anything about ESD or taking precautions. Is this something you worry about or have had problems with?
Rick
There is debate on how usefull the esu is for many things. Heard of problems from soldering irons but those are mostly on computer sites for those that build their own.
I don't worry about ESD either, I think the hype about it is overrated. You can read a lot on the Internet about the supposed "dangers" of ESD to electrical components. They'll say that when soldering circuits you should be wearing an anti-static wrist strap, on an anti-static soldering mat, with a grounded soldering iron, no touching an IC's legs ever, you can't work on dry days, etc.
Personally I don't bother with any of that. I have soldered literally hundreds of circuits over the years, using thousands of components, from ICs to individual transistors. The only ESD precaution I take is that I wear non-fleecy clothing and I ground myself by touching a faucet or washing my hands before I begin. As far as I know, ESD has never damaged anything for me.
When you're building components that control the life-support system of the next space shuttle, you should probably be careful with ESD. When you're hobbying with model trains, I wouldn't worry about it.
I use a soldering station, which is probably the single best investment (if you consider $50 an "investment" I ever made in electronic tools. It has a grounded ESD safe tip. I used to have a fixed 40 watt iron that had a grounded tip (3 wire cord). I have yet to blow any parts because of ESD - and my first computer was almost all CMOS and I didn't have an anti-static mat or anything back then.
I always disconnect system components before soldering track feeders or bus lines. And if you use a resistence soldering system - DEFINITELY disconnect things.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
don't know why command station electrionics would require extra protection when working on tracks. they are just as susceptible to ESD during normal use and should have ESD protection circuits, usually just a pair of diodes.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Besides soldering, keep aware of the static discharge when you have your increasingly popular "static grass" zapper. I made a home-brew model that has a small basket strainer on the business end. You'd be amazed at how quickly that arc can jump from the screen to the nearest rail head. IIRC, some of these generate something like 50 kV?
I keep all DCC locomotives a safe distance away when I'm using my zapper anywhere near the track.
Honestly, never gave any thought to pulling the plugs on the boosters. I suppose I'd fry something on the PSX breaker before damaging anything in the booster.
Good Luck, Ed
Most of my train electronics have 3-wire plugs, so by leaving them plugged in they may actually be safer, because they are therefore grounded.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasleyMost of my train electronics have 3-wire plugs, so by leaving them plugged in they may actually be safer, because they are therefore grounded.
If you were responding to my "pull the plug" comment, I meant the Digitrax plug where the track feeders plug into the booster.
Sorry, I should have been more specific.
Cheers, Ed