So my question is this: Would it be safe for me to use this to wire up my relay board. I plan on using screw terminals two connect the two AC wires. What sort of wire should I use to connect the terminals to the relay pins or would it be safe to use the copper connections already on the board?
I would like to note that I don't actually plan on running anything which would take 220V AC, I only plan on ever using 110V AC. Also it is very unlikely I would ever use anything close to 16A however I just want to make everything safe. I had a fire once that destroyed the place I was living and I don't want to screw around.
That board would be safe for low current levels.
You would need to add heftier wires (like 14 guage wire for up to 12A) in parallel with any traces on the board to actually carry the current you are talking about tho. 110V and any decent amount of current will vaporize the copper on the board.
CrossRoads:
You would need to add heftier wires (like 14 guage wire for up to 12A) in parallel with any traces on the board to actually carry the current you are talking about tho.
CrossRoads is correct here.
To do this, in case it wasn't clear from his description, route the switched connections from the relay to the screw terminals (make sure your screw terminals are rated for your currents as well!) by laying a piece of heavier-gauge wire along the route on the copper side of the board, then solder the wire in place to every pad along the route. If it looks like one giant track length of solder, then that's ok.
Use bare or pre-tinned solid copper wire (or flat strip if you can find it - this isn't as common, though) for the connections; stranded can be used, but only if you saturate the braid with solder as you tack it down.
Be sure to clip an alligator clip (as a heatsink) to the end of the wire just beyond your already soldered area, so that you don't raise the pads or melt the relay case or screw terminal strip.
Ok. At first I had no idea what you meant about using a heat sink but a quick google search cleared that up.
One more question, by essential covering the wire with solder so it is one big solder track running along the board, that means I should strip the wire first right? I know that might sound like a stupid question but I'm really not sure. And if I do have to strip the wire (or use wire that is not encased) won't that make it less safe because all of the metal is exposed? Or am I completely misunderstanding and on the wrong track.
won't that make it less safe because all of the metal is exposed?
Marginally yes but you should be making things in such a way that this is not a consideration. If it is then you have not got good enough skills to play with mains electricity.
I just wanted to make sure. I'm not comfortable with mains electricity yet but I have someone that knows about electricity/electrical wiring who is going to double check it for me (he doesn't know anything about microcontrollers or electronics though) before I turn anything on. I just want to get everything done as good as possible so I don't look like an idiot or have to take it all back apart and do it again.