Assembly Introduction

In this section we cover the basics of Bat Detector assembly and safety.

Before starting you first build it is worth remembering that building detectors is not complicated, but it is fiddly. You will need patience, steady hands and good near vision.

The surface-mount components are very small, and need to be placed precisely onto the solder paste. So take your time and double check everything. If you use reading glasses, perhaps use a extra pair a bit stronger than usual. A hand lens or magnifying glass can also be useful.

The key thing is to remember it is a just a series of small steps, and to relax and enjoy the process. And most importantly remember to breath when you are placing those tiny components.

Safety

Building detectors does come with some risks, and it is important to be aware of the following potential hazards:

  • Hotplate – The hotplate can reach 260°C+ on the top, so never touch it directly. Even the hotplates that claim to have “cool edges” can still have the edge which is hot enough to burn if you leave you skin in contact with the edge. Beware of long tail and trailing sleeves, and keep them away from the plate when hot.
  • PCBs – Do not touch the circuit boards fresh off the hotplate. They will be at 250+°C, and will stay hot for quite a while. Leave them on a soldering mat until cool before handling.
  • Soldering iron – he tip of the soldering iron can reach 400°C, and stay hot for a long time after switching off. Hence only hold the soldering iron by the handle, and ensure it is safely in its stand when not in use.
  • Hot glue gun – Tip of the glue gun, and the melted glue that comes out of it can be at 200°C, so be careful not to touch either. Remember to stand the glue gun carefully over a soldering mat when it is heating up, or between uses while it is hot.
  • Solder paste – We recommend using solder paste that is lead free, but even this is still toxic. So after using solder paste do wash your hands, and especially before eating.
  • Flux – The solder paste contains flux to help it “wet” the surfaces and flow. This burns off as a smelly gas over 100°C. Hence use and extractor fan, in a well ventilated space and try to stand away from the fumes. If you are repeated, and regularly, exposed to solder flux fumes we would suggest looking at a appropriate face mask.
  • Flush cutters – These are SHARP, and there is a risk of the cut material flying away at high speed. So wear (safety) glasses when using them.

Risk assessment

For those leading Bat Detector Making workshops carrying out a risk assessment for the activity and venue is important. We have a generic risk assessment for the Somerset Bat Group Workshops which we amend for each event as required. If it helps, please feel free to reuse this: