Can you damage stuff from soldering?

[filipinoguy]

Just a thought. 'Cause whenever I solder something the wires get really hot.

[ApriliaRacer]

Reckon it is possible. In the old days we used to use heat sinks for those items that could be sensitive to extreme heat.

The key is to make sure you soldering iron is hot enough before touching it to the sensitive bits so that the hot iron isn't touching the wire or whatever for an extended period.

Personally, I never had a problem with the heat damaging anything.

[tadium54]

from wires? na, but batteries like NiMHs can be yes if the iron isn't hot enough.

[rocknbil]

You can also harm ESC's too. The trick is to get the tip heated up like Aprilia says, then apply the tip to the surfaces you're going to solder, then after a few seconds touch solder to the surfaces. If the surfaces are heated up right it should bond right away, get in and out as quick as possible and it's all good. :D

[Grizzbob]

Correct, & yes it is possible to damage electronics when soldering because of excess heat(like from hold an iron on something for too long). From what I heard(from some of Novak's bigwigs), nearly 90% of the ESC's sent in to them for warranty service end up there because of a poor soldering job by the user. They most likely heat up those ESC solder posts so much that the heat transfers to other parts of the circuit boards in the ESC, destroying traces(that's a kind of wiring built into a circuit board)& some of the smaller or more sensitive components on it. That's why we frequently say that it's important to have a good iron & to use it properly, just put it in contact with what you're connecting long enough to melt the solder & pull it off fast. It should never take more than a few seconds....:cool: