Bridge or Short Circuit

[Tommy2shoes]

Hi Guys this maybe a silly question how do you distinguish between a soldered bridge and a short circuit. Again sorry if sounds dumb

[R_J]

Re: Bridge or Short Circuit

Basically the same thing, a solder bridge is usually caused when soldering 2 connections that are close together, like the pins on a ic, because of the close spacing the solder will "bridge" the 2 pins and cause them to be shorted.
Just a "normal" short in a circuit can be caused by any component becoming shorted. ie: a shorted F.E.T in a power supply would cause the main supply voltage to be shorted.

[Longbow]

Re: Bridge or Short Circuit

Hi Guys this maybe a silly question how do you distinguish between a soldered bridge and a short circuit. Again sorry if sounds dumb

In either case, 2 parts are joined by a low resistance connection. Is it a trick question?

[Tommy2shoes]

Re: Bridge or Short Circuit

Thanks for reply been close to 30 yrs since worked in industry perhaps bridge was terminology and I understand all components are linked to perform their task, just stuck on if it's designed as such or not. No definetly not a trick Might not be explaining myself right, in the pics it shows components that are joined how does one determine.

[budm]

Re: Bridge or Short Circuit

There are traces (Copper traces with green solder masks) connected all those pads together to complete the connections where the part's legs are soldered to in the pictures you have shown.
So if too much solder was applied to the pads and caused the two pads on the same trace (electrical connection) to be bridged by the solder it will not make any difference, it just does not look good but will not affect the circuit, it makes the difference if the pads are not on the same trace (electrical connection), that will be short circuit.
Solder mask:
http://www.robotroom.com/Silkscreen-...er-Mask-1.html

[Tommy2shoes]

Re: Bridge or Short Circuit

cool cheers Bud that was the method I am using as it was what I remembered, gets a bit if'y sometimes when they cluster up tiny smd 's. thanks mate.