Safety concerns repairing test equipment

[bd139]

I had a colleague once who proceeded to drill one of the tabs out on a rather large and dead beryllium oxide filled RF power transistor to use as a keyring. He got a quick education in not being stupid from his superior.    ... As long as you don't do that sort of stuff, you'll be fine.

Disposal is difficult for beryllium compounds; you can't just take them to your normal commercial waste "tip", here in the UK at least. You have to pay someone to take it away.

I got given an old Harris PA a while ago. It was made in the 1960s. That was nasty. Had asbestos, beryllium and a mercuryin it! Someone really went to town on the hazardous shit there.

[Bicurico]

Well, a day has passed and so far no signs of any reaction, so I do assume I did not have any contact with BeO.

Also, I now understand that the BeO is used INSIDE power resistors and power transistors and not as a coating.

Here are some links on how people on this forum have been repairing the exact same modules:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/rohde-schwarz-cmu200-repair-(analyzer-levels)/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/rohde-and-schwartz-cmu200-rxtx-module-issues/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/rohde-schwarz-cmu200-repair-of-analyzer-level-dips/msg1160112/#msg1160112 -> on this thread is a picture: the attachment ex1.jpg shows some of the white powder
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sca-14-(c4)-mmic-amplifier-replacement-for-cmu200/ -> this thread shows a picture of the inside of the RF frontend

A forum member was kind and took many pictures of the RF Frontmodule: http://wunderkis.de/cmu200/rawpic

ex2.jpg shows where there is some dry white thermal pads. I would think this is NOT BeO.

In none of these threads is there a discussion on the BeO. Am I just paranoid now?

I still think that there should be a sticking post listing common problematic components and devices (YIG, Rubidium reference, stuff containing toxic materials, etc.). It is very easy for amateurs, noobs and beginners to commit a fatal mistake.

Regards,
Vitor

[vk6zgo]

The white stuff in ex1 looks like quite severe corrosion of the aluminium part, but is harmless.
The white stuff in ex2 is heat sink compound which tends to dry up with age & heat.

Heat sink compound hasn't used BeO for many years, so you should be OK.
If you are still worried, you can probably take samples & get some local Technical authority to test it.
(University Chemistry Dept, for instance).

[Bashstreet]

Well, a day has passed and so far no signs of any reaction, so I do assume I did not have any contact with BeO.

Also, I now understand that the BeO is used INSIDE power resistors and power transistors and not as a coating.

Here are some links on how people on this forum have been repairing the exact same modules:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/rohde-schwarz-cmu200-repair-(analyzer-levels)/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/rohde-and-schwartz-cmu200-rxtx-module-issues/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/rohde-schwarz-cmu200-repair-of-analyzer-level-dips/msg1160112/#msg1160112 -> on this thread is a picture: the attachment ex1.jpg shows some of the white powder
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sca-14-(c4)-mmic-amplifier-replacement-for-cmu200/ -> this thread shows a picture of the inside of the RF frontend

A forum member was kind and took many pictures of the RF Frontmodule: http://wunderkis.de/cmu200/rawpic

ex2.jpg shows where there is some dry white thermal pads. I would think this is NOT BeO.

In none of these threads is there a discussion on the BeO. Am I just paranoid now?

I still think that there should be a sticking post listing common problematic components and devices (YIG, Rubidium reference, stuff containing toxic materials, etc.). It is very easy for amateurs, noobs and beginners to commit a fatal mistake.

Regards,
Vitor

Ex2 I just dried up thermal compound and is "safe" Just wash hands after handling stuff like that.

Long as BeO is in it's intended form (solid) it is quite safe to handle you can use latex gloves if you are concerned about skin irritation.

I personally would not be concerned just use common sense  (the worry was the powder that turned out to be likely aluminum oxide.)

vk6zgo Also made sensible suggestion .