Fire Safety in the Lab

[charlie1218]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

This is news to me. I'm curious why that is? I can see why it might be an issue with some kinds of insulation (like paper... ugh). However, I don't understand why the temporary heat would be affecting the copper in that manner, except for possibly adding energy that could speed up the oxidation reaction.



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As you heat up any metal with intense heat, especially at a gauge that small, you cause it to rapidly expand, and contract, which causes finite cracks. This causes the wire to become brittle and greatly weakened, so that when the electric current passes through, its heat, which a normal wire can stand, is now too great and will cause a short in your wiring, which causes high heat. This heat will in turn compromise your remaining insulation and further damage the conductor. Essentially a giant Cluster*^%&

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by charlie1218

As you heat up any metal with intense heat, especially at a gauge that small, you cause it to rapidly expand, and contract, which causes finite cracks. This causes the wire to become brittle and greatly weakened, so that when the electric current passes through, its heat, which a normal wire can stand, is now too great and will cause a short in your wiring, which causes high heat. This heat will in turn compromise your remaining insulation and further damage the conductor. Essentially a giant Cluster*^%&

Wouldn't soldering do that too?
EDIT: Wait a minute, shouldn't a wire act as kinda like a short anyway since it is supposed to have as low a resistance as possible and a short is a low resistance path? A short inside a single conductor wire would simply imply that the electricity has found a lower resistance path through the wire, which would then imply that rapidly heating and cooling the wire would in fact improve its electrical performance?

[MrForbes]

I doubt using a lighter or torch to strip wire would damage the wire itself, but the insulation probably releases toxic fumes when burned....and using open flame instead of the proper tool for the job (wire strippers) is just not good practice.

[charlie1218]

It may not be as serious with a lower gauge wire, but 24 gauge will get very hot very easily when heated. SO DONT USE A TORCH.
Yes, but the heat up is not as rapid, and the solder will fill any cracks. Use a wire stripper. Similar idea, just with aluminum: