Whether you work with electronics as a hobby or are a professional, many exciting advancements are taking place in the modern electronics industry. With this progress, however, comes a number of responsibilities and safety precautions that must be taken into account in order to protect yourself, others and ensure the viability of your project. Electrical injuries can be serious or even fatal, so it is in your best interest to do everything possible to stay safe when working with electronic equipment and components.
Look for safer alternatives
In some cases, safer alternatives exist to complete a project. For example, rocker switches traditionally use mercury to complete a circuit, but using mercury can lead to health issues in the event the mercury comes off. Instead, modern rocker switch solutions are mercury-free in many cases, allowing them to offer the same efficiency without the risks.
When you need to find the right toggle switches for your next project, consider looking for these mercury-free options as long as the end result doesn't suffer in the long run. Advice from the tilt switch manufacturer can be sought here as the manufacturer can supply alternatives if they exist. A tilt trim switch or adjustable tilt switch that doesn't use mercury can usually work just as well as a switch that uses mercury, so keep an open mind to alternatives.
Start at the source
The source of power for most electronic devices is in the form of electricity supplied to an outlet or from some battery. In either case, you must take precautions at the source to avoid accidents and injuries. This means unplugging electronic devices before working on them or removing batteries. In situations where it's not possible to unplug a device from an outlet, you'll want to cut power to the outlet completely. Even with these precautions taken, some electronic devices continue to store a charge for a short time after the power has been removed.
We also encourage you to review power consumption limits before turning on any device. Virtually all electronic components are designed to operate safely within a specific volt range. Exceeding the limit may result in equipment malfunction or breakage, and may also result in injury. If an outlet is 220V, as is common in Europe, you run the risk of accidents and injury if you plug in an electronic device designed for 110V consumption.
By the way, many modern batteries use lithium-ion technology. These types of batteries are found in a number of consumer electronics, but they are also common in the military and aerospace industry. Lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire hazard when mishandled, and some can also explode if overcharged. As such, special care should be taken when handling lithium-ion batteries to avoid overheating.
Refer to safety and instruction manuals
Even if you have experience working on electronics, it's always a good idea to consult the safety and instruction manuals that come with electronic equipment. These manuals often provide advice regarding technical details, and they may also offer advice on what to avoid if you choose to disassemble a piece of equipment.
By the way, these manuals also serve to present important information for warranty protection. Certain actions you take to work on electronic equipment could void the manufacturer's warranty. Working on the equipment against the manufacturer's recommendations could also hurt your claim for damages in court if you become injured by the equipment. By consulting your manuals first, you will better understand what to avoid to protect your investment and your health.
