RIDGID RT-175 User Manual
• Français – 9
• Castellano – pág. 19
WARNING!
Read this Operator’s Manual
carefully before using this tool.
Failure to understand and follow the contents of this manual may result in electrical
shock,fire and/or serious personal injury.
Electric
Soldering Gun
OPERATOR’S
MANUAL
RT-175
Ridge Tool Companyii
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
Table of Contents
Recording Form for Machine Serial Number..............................................................................................................1
General Safety Information
Work Area Safety........................................................................................................................................................2
Electrical Safety..........................................................................................................................................................2
Personal Safety ..........................................................................................................................................................2
Tool Use and Care......................................................................................................................................................2
Service........................................................................................................................................................................3
Specific Safety Information
Tool Safety..................................................................................................................................................................3
Description and Specifications
Description..................................................................................................................................................................3
Specifications..............................................................................................................................................................3
Tool Inspection..............................................................................................................................................................5
Tool and Work Area Set-Up..........................................................................................................................................5
Operating Instructions..................................................................................................................................................5
Maintenance Instructions
Carbon Tip Replacement............................................................................................................................................7
Accessories ..................................................................................................................................................................7
Tool Storage ..................................................................................................................................................................7
Service and Repair........................................................................................................................................................8
Wiring Diagram..............................................................................................................................................................8
Lifetime Warranty ........................................................................................................................................Back Cover
Model RT-175
Electric Soldering Gun
RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
Record Serial Number below and retain product serial number which is located on nameplate.
Serial
No.
Ridge Tool Company2
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
General Safety Information
WARNING! Read and understand all instructions. Failure
to follow all instructions listed below may
result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious
personal injury.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
Work Area Safety
• Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered
benches and dark areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate tools in explosive atmospheres,
such as in the presence of flammable liquids,
gases, or dust. Electrical switches may create sparks
which may ignite the dust or fumes.
• Keep by-standers, children, and visitors away
while operating an electric soldering gun.
Distractions can cause you to lose control.
Electrical Safety
• Grounded tools must be plugged into an outlet,
properly installed and grounded in accordance
with all codes and ordinances. Never remove the
grounding prong or modify the plug in any way. Do
not use any adapter plugs. Check with a qualified electrician if you are in doubt as to whether the
outlet is properly grounded. If the tool should elec-
trically malfunction or break down, grounding provides a low resistance path to carry electricity away
from the user.
• Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such
as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There
is an increased risk of electrical shock if your body is
grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet condi-
tions. Water entering a tool will increase the risk of
electrical shock.
• Do not abuse cord. Never use the cord to carry the
tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord
away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts.
Replace damaged cords immediately. Damaged
cords increase the risk of electrical shock.
• When operating an electrical tool outside, use an
outdoor extension cord marked “W-A” or “W”.
These cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the
risk of electrical shock.
• Use only three-wire extension cords which have
three-prong grounding plugs and three-pole receptacles which accept the tool’s plug. Use of other
extension cords will not ground the tool and increase
the risk of electrical shock.
• Use proper extension cords. (See Chart) Insufficient
conductor size will cause excessive voltage drop,
loss of power and overheating.
• Keep all electric connections dry and off the
ground. Do not touch plugs or tool with wet hands.
Reduces the risk of electrical shock.
Personal Safety
• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
common sense when operating a power tool. Do
not use tool while tired or under the influence of
drugs, alcohol, or medications. A moment of inat-
tention while operating tools may result in serious
personal injury.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewelry. Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing,
and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes,
jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• Avoid accidental starting. Be sure switch is OFF
before plugging in. Carrying tools with your finger on
the switch or plugging tools in that have the switch ON
invites accidents.
• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and bal-
ance at all times. Proper footing and balance enables
better control of the tool in unexpected situations.
• Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protec-
tion. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or
hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions.
Tool Use and Care
• Do not use tool if switch does not turn it ON or
Minimum Wire Gauge for Extension Cord
Nameplate
Amps
Total Length (in feet)
0 – 25 26 – 50 51 – 100
0 – 6 18 AWG 16 AWG 16 AWG
6 – 10 18 AWG 16 AWG 14 AWG
10 – 12 16 AWG 16 AWG 14 AWG
12 – 16 14 AWG 12 AWG
NOT RECOMMENDED
Grounding Prong
Cover of
grounded
outlet box
Grounding Prong
Ridge Tool Company 3
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
OFF. Any tool that cannot be controlled with the
switch is dangerous and must be repaired.
• Store idle tools out of the reach of children and
other untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in
the hands of untrained users.
• Maintain tools with care. Properly maintained tools
are less likely to cause injury.
• Check for breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the tool’s operation. If damaged, have the tool serviced before using. Many
accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools.
• Use only accessories that are recommended by
the manufacturer for your model. Accessories that
may be suitable for one tool may become hazardous
when used on another tool.
• Inspect tool and extension cords periodically and
replace if damaged. Damaged cords increase the risk
of electrical shock.
• Keep handles dry and clean; free from oil and
grease. Allows for better control of the tool.
• Check electrodes for wear and replace before the
threaded studs show. Prevents electrical arcing and
excessive current draw.
Service
• Tool service must be performed only by qualified
repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed
by unqualified repair personnel could result in injury.
• When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance
Section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or
failure to follow Maintenance Instructions may create a
risk of electrical shock or injury.
• Disconnect all power from the unit before servicing. Eliminates the risk of electrical shock and acci-
dental starting.
Specific Safety Information
WARNING
Read this operator’s manual carefully before using
the Electric Soldering Gun. Failure to understand
and follow the contents of this manual may result
in electrical shock, fire and/or serious personal
injury.
Call the Ridge Tool Company, Technical Service Department at (800) 519-3456 if you have any questions.
Tool Safety
• Tool is made to solder copper pipe. Follow instructions on proper use. Other uses may increase the risk
of injury.
• Do not leave the unit unattended. Such preventive
measures reduce the risk of injury or fire.
• Do not touch solder gun sleeves or carbon tips.
They remain hot after use.
• Do not operate unit with the electrical box cover
removed. Exposure to internal parts increases the
risk of electrical shock.
• Use soldering sleeves and carbon tips provided
with unit. Incorrect carbon tips or sleeves may result
in overheating of the wires.
• Keep soldering sleeves away from combustible
materials or articles that can be damaged by
heat. Soldering sleeves and carbon tips remain hot
after use.
• Do not solder near combustible materials. Copper
pipe and soldering sleeves reach temperatures that
can result in fire.
• Do not store the handle in the case until the carbon
tips have cooled. They may burn the cord or solder
gun cable.
• Do not clamp or touch threaded studs or stainless
steel sleeves against pipe or fittings. Prevents elec-
trical arcing and excessive current draw that may kick
out circuit breaker.
Description, Specifications and
Standard Equipment
Description
The RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun is capable of soldering joints in copper tube up to 3″ diameter while using a
standard 110V, 15A circuit. The soldering gun will heat
copper to temperatures in excess of 750°F which allows
it to successfully melt solders used in plumbing applications – from the 50/50 solders to the 95/5 lead-free types.
Specifications
Power Input...................115 V, 15 A
Power Output ................(open circuit voltage)
Hi = 7.0 V, Low = 6.2 V
Current Draw.................13.5A @ Low Setting
15.0A @ High Setting
Height
(A – See Figure 1).........6″
Length
(B – See Figure 1).........17″
Width
(C – See Figure 1).........11″
Duty Cycle.....................Continuous
Tube Capacity...............Up To 3″
Solder Gun
Cable Length.................136″
Power Cord Length .......98″
Weight...........................32 Lbs.
Figure 1 – Soldering Gun Case Dimensions
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
Ridge Tool Company4
B
A
C
Figure 2a – RT-175 Soldering Gun
Figure 2b – RT-175 Handles and Carbon Tips
Power Cord
Locknut
Carbon Tips
Threaded Stud
Stainless Steel
Sleeves
Solder Gun
Cable
ON/OFF Switch
Handles
Handles
Transformer
• 15 Amp grounded electrical outlet.
• Clear path to the electrical outlet that does not
contain any sources of heat or oil, sharp edges or
moving parts that may damage electrical cord.
• Dry place for tool and operator. Do not use the
tool while standing in water.
• Flammable liquids, vapors, dust or any combustible
materials that may ignite.
2. Position RT-175 Soldering Gun near the copper tubing that is to be soldered.
3. Make sure ON/OFF switch is OFF and uncoil cable
completely from carrying case.
4. When plugging the Soldering Gun into the electrical
outlet, making sure to position the power cord along
the clear path selected earlier. If the power cord
does not reach the outlet, use an extension cord in
good condition.
To avoid electric shock and electrical fires,
never use an extension cord that is damaged or does not
meet the following requirements:
• The cord has a three-prong plug similar to shown
in Electrical Safety section.
• The cord is rated as “W” or “W-A” if being used
outdoors.
• The cord has sufficient wire thickness (14 AWG
below 25′/12 AWG 25-50′). If the wire thickness is
too small, the cord may overheat, melting the cord’s
insulation or causing nearby objects to ignite.
To reduce risk of electrical shock, keep
all electrical connections dry and off the ground. Do
not touch plug with wet hands.
Operating Instructions
WARNING
To reduce risk of electrical shock, keep all elec-
trical connections dry and off the ground. Do not
touch plug with wet hands.
Carbon tips and sleeves become hot during use.
Avoid contact with skin as burns can result.
Keep carbon tips and sleeves away from combustible materials or articles that can be damaged by heat.
Tool Inspection
WARNING
To prevent serious injury, inspect your electric
soldering gun. The following procedures should
be followed.
1. Make sure soldering gun is unplugged and the control
switches are in the OFF position (Figure 2).
2. Inspect the power cord and plug for damage. If the
plug has been modified, is missing the grounding
prong or if the cord is damaged, do not use the tool
until the cord has been replaced.
3. Inspect the cables and carbon tips for damage (Figure
2). If cable or tips are damaged, do not use the soldering gun until they are replaced. Only use soldering
sleeves and carbon tips provided with the unit.
Incorrect sleeves or tips may result in overheating of
the wires.
4. Clean any oil, grease or dirt from handles, controls
and clamps.
5. Inspect the soldering gun for any broken or missing
parts as well as damage to the metal enclosure. If any
of these conditions are present, do not use the tool
until any problem has been repaired.
Do not operate unit with electrical box
cover removed.
Tool and Work Area Set-Up
WARNING
To prevent serious injury, proper set-up of the
tool and work area is required. The following procedures should be followed to set-up the Soldering
Gun.
1. Check work area for:
• Adequate lighting
Ridge Tool Company 5
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
Do not leave the unit unattended while in use.
1. Make sure unit is turned OFF. Plug unit into a grounded 15 amp outlet making sure to position the power
cord along the clear path selected earlier.
2. Thoroughly clean the copper tube and fitting and
apply the flux (Figure 3).
NOTE! When using the RT-175, proper soldering tech-
niques should be followed.
Figure 3 – Cleaning Copper Tube and Fittings
Figure 4 – Control Switch
3. Turn the unit ON (Figure 4). Use the following guidelines for choosing between the HIGH and LOW settings:
LOW..............................3/8″ – 11/2″ 50/50 Soldering
3
/8″ – 1/2″ 95/5 Soldering
HIGH .............................11/2″ – 3″ 50/50 Soldering
1
/2″ – 3″ 95/5 Soldering
50′ Maximum Extension Cord
NOTE! On HIGH setting, the maximum length of exten-
sion cord should be 50′!
4. Squeeze handles together to open the carbon tips to
fit of the joint. Be sure to place the carbon tips over
the joint to allow capillary effect to draw the solder into
the solder cup of the fitting (Figure 5).
Figure 5 – Positioning Carbon Tips
Figure 6 – Soldering Joint
5. Hand solder wire at fitting lip until the solder begins to
flow freely (Figure 6). When this occurs, squeeze
handles and remove solder gun.
Do not overheat fitting.
Solder gun stainless steel sleeves and
carbon tips remain hot. Do not touch. Do not lay on surfaces that may be damaged until sleeves and tips have
cooled.
6. If the joint to be soldered is in a difficult to reach
location, it is not necessary to clamp the carbon tips
around the tube. The carbon tips only have to be in
contact with the fitting (Figure 7).
Do not clamp or touch stainless steel
sleeves, threaded studs or lock nuts against the tube or
fittings. If this happens, electrical arcing or excessive current draw may occur, kicking out the circuit breaker.
7. Switch the unit OFF when not in use.
Do not store the handle in the case until
it has cooled. They can damage the power cord or solder gun cables if they are too hot.
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
Ridge Tool Company6
WARNING
WARNING
Fitting
Copper Tube
WARNING
WARNING
Ridge Tool Company 7
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
Figure 9 – Cleaning Threaded Stud
3. Clean threads of the threaded stud with a wire
brush to ensure good contact with the new carbon
tips (Figure 9). Burned threaded studs will not produce good contact and will not heat properly.
Replacement threaded studs are also available if
they are damaged.
4. Never apply torque to the insulated handles because
you can crack the plastic material.
Accessories
Only the following RIDGID products have been designed
to function with the RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun. Other
accessories suitable for use with other tools may become
hazardous when used on the RT-175. To prevent serious
injury, use only the accessories listed below.
Catalog No.
Carbon Tips 39966
Threaded Studs 39976
Tool Storage
Electrical equipment must be kept indoors
or well covered in rainy weather. Store the tool in a
locked area that is out of reach of children and people
unfamiliar with an Electric Soldering Gun. This tool can
cause serious injury in the hands of untrained users.
Figure 7 – Soldering with Carbon Tips Contacting Fitting
Maintenance
WARNING
Make sure unit is unplugged from power source
before performing maintenance or repairs.
The carbon tips are brittle. Care should be
taken when handling them. Do not over-torque and use
wrenches only when needed – otherwise, make everything “finger tight”.
Carbon Tip Replacement
The carbon tips will wear down as the RT-175 is used.
They should be inspected before each use and replaced
before the threaded studs begin to show through.
1. Unplug the RT-175.
2. Hold the lock nut and back-off the carbon tip by turning it counter-clockwise (Figure 8).
Figure 8 – Removing Carbon Tips
CAUTION
WARNING
Ridge Tool Company8
Model RT-175 Electric Soldering Gun
Service and Repair
WARNING
Service and repair work on this tool must be performed by
qualified repair personnel. Soldering unit should be taken
to a RIDGID Independent Authorized Service Center or
returned to the factory. All repairs made by Ridge service
facilities are warranted against defects in material and
workmanship.
When servicing this tool, only identical
replacement parts should be used. Failure to follow these
steps may create a risk of electrical shock or other serious
injury.
If you have any questions regarding the service or repair
of this machine, call or write to:
Ridge Tool Company
Technical Service Department
400 Clark Street
Elyria, Ohio 44035-6001
Tel: (800) 519-3456
E-mail: TechServices@ridgid.com
For name and address of your nearest Independent
Authorized Service Center, contact the Ridge Tool Company at (800) 519-3456 or http://www.ridgid.com
WARNING
Wiring Diagram
Power
Switch
BK
WH
GN
Output
L
N
PE
115V
60Hz
15A
Loading...