Unplug hot things!

[Astrodog]

Today whilst working in the shed/garage, I went to turn my radio on, damn it - quad powerpoint full.... how can that be, only the fridge and circular saw plugged in - or so I thought. The soldering iron on the electronics bench was on - for anyone's guess how long, I suspect since Easter, but could have been several weeks prior to that when I was using it! Just sitting there being hot.... only 45W, but surely enough to smoulder the truckloads of blackbutt dust I'm coating everything with at present.
Probably shouldn't have told SWMBO!

[Christos]

I think you need to get a central switch to turn off power when you leave the shed.

[HazzaB]

Hey There,

A Central Switch would be good but make sure that the Wireless and Fridge are on a seperate circuit

HazzaB

[BobL]

Hey There,

A Central Switch would be good but make sure that the Wireless and Fridge are on a seperate circuit

HazzaB

Rechargeables probably also need to be on a separate circuit.

[Handyjack]

I use a double adaptor. One outlet is my workbench light, the other for a tool such as iron or soldering iron. I do not touch the switch on the light, only the GPO switch. If light is off so is the tool.

[Astrodog]

Maybe I should use the trick we used to use on an essential oils heater my wife has - plug the heater into a timer, turn the timer and it stays on for up to 4 hours, should be more enough for most soldering jobs....

[soundman]

I've worked in workshops where most of the benches are isolated at the end of the day.

but in some of our workshops that realy is not practical.

what we do need to be very concious of is basic primary safety and house keeping.......any properly maintained soldering iron should sit happily turned on indefinitely and cause no danger at all as long as it is in a proper stand and it is not surrounded by clutter.

From time to time I do a very large amount of soldering, I may have a solldering iron on for 16 hours straight...and I do admit more than once left one on overnight.

Weller use to make a big deal of every soldering iron they sold being tested for 24 hours before being packed.

For the last 20 odd years I have used a weller station in the workshop, so when I turn out the lights I always look back into the workshop and look for lights... be it the drill press the soldering iron or something else.

we have got very cheap in the last few decades......in times past all power outlets had some sort of pilot light on them to show they were turned on.
You can still get powerpoints with neon lights next to the outlet.....I think perhaps they are a good idea in workshops.

cheers