Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Possible hazard with woodburning tool?
adrien
>I've just noticed that my Colwood woodburning pen's RCA jack is not insulated: the external copper ring of the jack, apparently one of the two leads from an unpolarized plug is bare, at the connection end of the pen handle.
Does this represent a possible shock hazzard?
Re: Possible hazard with woodburning tool?
Richard Allen
>The reason the control unit weighs so much is that it is primarly a housing for a transformer. The voltage is low enough that it isn't a concern.
You can of course insulate the RCA plug if you want. It gets quite warm so the insulator you use should be heat resistant (electrial tape wouldn't likely provide any long term insulation).
Re: Possible hazard with woodburning tool?
Bill Howatt
>Like Richard said the voltage is low. Also the exposed RCA jack is probably at ground potential if you have a 3-pin wall plug on the unit or is floating with respect to ground (because of the transformer) if you have a 2-pin wall plug. The 3-pin plug scenario could also having the RCA plug floating with respect to ground as well but the tendency is to ground such an exposed connection if a known ground (the third pin on the wall plug) is present. Either situation means you are not at risk if you touch the RCA jack and something else.
If you want to cover it try and find a piece of heat-shrink plastic tubing. It is tough, heat-resistant and an insulator.
Bill
