Help Me Please. My Weller Soldering Station Has Gone Off.

[rickb]

I read some years ago that turning off the primary power to a transformer when the sine wave is at the peak of one polarity, and then turning it on at the peak of the opposite polarity will result in a current surge that will pop a properly rated primary fuse. That would be a possible, but rather rare event.

[Qiaozhi]

I read some years ago that turning off the primary power to a transformer when the sine wave is at the peak of one polarity, and then turning it on at the peak of the opposite polarity will result in a current surge that will pop a properly rated primary fuse. That would be a possible, but rather rare event.

It's also most likely that the fuse has weakened with age.

[keith777]

It's also most likely that the fuse has weakened with age.

hopefully this was just the case.....

[ivconic]

I was using Weller Magnastat WTCP-S for over the 20 years.
With original heather. Only changed peaks from time to time.
And finally heather died last year.
Trust me; as a part of me died as well.
Nothing was the same after that.
Even my attitude towards Electronics changed.
Why?
In local shops (wider in region, not only in my country); you can not find such quality heaters.
They are expensive (40-70e) and yet very low quality. Can die randomly within few months.
It's not problem to pay 70e, but i want it to last at least year or two.
Some colleagues did that, changed heater, and it dies usually after few months, sometimes earlier.
Also there is complete handle brand new with cable. 130e price.
Some of the colleagues also did that, bought complete new handle. It is not the same as the genuine one, they say.
Also it can die randomly in short period.
Either those are not genuine... either they don't make it good as in the past.
All my colleagues that i know are using Weller equipment. So i collected experiences during the years.
Therefore i didn't even try to fix it and replace the heater. I dismantled it to see what's inside and scraped it.
Than i bought cheap Baku 936D. Poor design at handle, poor design at attaching the peaks.
Most of all; poor peak quality. They simply taking a part after few hours of soldering.
So my "emotional" life towards Electronics went down rapidly.
I started to hate each moment spent on the bench soldering some stuff.
Worst thing that can happen to "radioactive" mad enthusiast as i am.

[Xtrem]

Same history, im also was using Weller magnastat
for over 30 years,from 1984, before i was using the 220 volt,
one 25w and one 40w, at the crisis in Greece ,i have
problem with the tips. then i bought also, this cheap
Chinese soldering iron (hakko style)and i found out that it
is garbage for me. ...EXCEPT ONE POINT , the soldering tips.
they are better than original old Weller, the last years
im cut these chinese tips with Dremmel , and the magnastat tips
and make a cheap (not bad) solution for the Weller
iron. WEller is using this solution to.

[Xtrem]

[Xtrem]

[Xtrem]

But now i think i have the best solder station of the
world ,and the cheapest, he he he, do not laugh,
TRY IT.
It is a makeshift construction, and no more permanent
than the temporary one. can be improved and made perfect.
im using this for the last 5 months , and working
better than ever, the little pcb doing nothing now.
it has to be improved to.
The BIG (little) secret is the cheap chinese tips are
made inside with iron , so the induction is working
perfect.

[Xtrem]

[Xtrem]

[Qiaozhi]

I used to use a Weller soldering station, but (if I recall correctly) the transformer died. Then I had a cheap one from Maplin (who have since gone bust) and that lasted quite a long time. The soldering tips were always rubbish though. Since then I've used Antex soldering irons, as they're suitable for the leadless solder we have to use nowadays. Mostly I use the 25W, but also have a 15W and 80W.

Just remembered that I still have an old working Weller Expert soldering gun, type 8200D, 100/140W.

[ivconic]

But now i think i have the best solder station of the
world ,and the cheapest, he he he, do not laugh,
TRY IT.
It is a makeshift construction, and no more permanent
than the temporary one. can be improved and made perfect.
im using this for the last 5 months , and working
better than ever, the little pcb doing nothing now.
it has to be improved to.
The BIG (little) secret is the cheap chinese tips are
made inside with iron , so the induction is working
perfect.

Xtrem that's original idea, i must say that.
Induction heated tips!? ha!
I suppose you must act fast when soldering; because tip is getting cooler fast?

[ivconic]

I used to use a Weller soldering station, but (if I recall correctly) the transformer died. Then I had a cheap one from Maplin (who have since gone bust) and that lasted quite a long time. The soldering tips were always rubbish though. Since then I've used Antex soldering irons, as they're suitable for the leadless solder we have to use nowadays. Mostly I use the 25W, but also have a 15W and 80W.
Just remembered that I still have an old working Weller Expert soldering gun, type 8200D, 100/140W.

I can't even count nor name other soldering tools that i also have.
NONE of those gives me any satisfaction.
I am perfectionist when it comes to pcb and soldering.
Over the years I have developed a great deal of impatience and disgust towards messy soldering and overall messy pcbs.
If i do something; it must be perfectly clean and neat. Otherwise i wont do it.
And Magnastat provided me exactly that; the neatness.
"...The soldering tips were always rubbish though..."
That depends how long you recall the past.
20-25 years before tips were much better and of high quality.
I remember i could make least dozen detectors before i even notice some shaded changes on the tip.
Today is different. Tip becomes shaded after few hours.
Start taking apart and loosing particles after few days, best case few weeks.
Maybe i got it all wrong; maybe is not about tips quality ... but is about solder content? (now when you mentioned it)
Maybe something in "new fashion"-solder content is causing tips to decompose faster?
I know lead is poisonous, alright. But i don't understand why "they" banned lead from the solder?!
WTF?
PCB is usually closed in some device enclosure. Solder on pcb is usually thin, narrow and coated, except the holes.
So i don't see how such "lead"-ed pcb can present any danger or health hazard?!
Allegedly the whole story is about human health? Right?
To satisfy some "standards" ... "they" pressed globally?
...
Don't know. Not sure. But I'm not doing well in these "modern" times... last 15-20 years.
One thing i know for sure; less lead in solder = more cold joints on pcb.
...
The other day i was about to post.. than i deleted half of that post... to avoid to be beaten by bad luck... to avoid jinx!
But now is confirmed:
i bought on Ebay the same Weller Magnastat WTCP-S in BRAND NEW NEVER USED MINT STATE!
The old one. The one i am talking about. The one 20-25 years old.
Never used!
Price is 160e.
Will arrive soon.
Looking forward!

[ivconic]

"...One thing i know for sure; less lead in solder = more cold joints on pcb..."

Slightly off topic.
But funny!
Don't know about you folks... but for me: the worst possible "modern" cars you can buy today are ... French cars!
Especially Renault! Any model.
Paradox is; those are most sold cars today!?
Damn Renault will last and serve you EXACTLY the period under warranty.
A day after warranty expires; Renault will DIE HARD!

...
I never had Renault on my own... except once in deep past that i recall one Renault 4 that i had for one year.
But i am surrounded with stupid people, the "consumers", who massively driving Renault.
So... sooner or later; i simply had to face and deal with that problem. Mostly because of my curiosity.
Now... don't take me wrong; i don't have anything against Renault, nor French cars generally.
Nor i am putting here accent only on Renault. ALL those are the same crap, more or less.
I can name even Mercedes middle class models as totally crappy cars!
"Modern times". No quality. Only crap around.
So i did my own investigation on this problem and i came up to some conclusions.
1) Generally all world wide car manufacturers are making crap lately!
2) "Modern" French cars are the WORST ever in history.
3) Renault is No. 1 on the "WORST EVER" list.
...
BTW there is a joke here in Serbia, the question: "if you climb up to the moon, stand there and take a look back at planet Earth: what are the most visible shapes that you will most certainly recognize from there?"
Answer is: " Chinese great wall and.... Renault scrapyard!!!"


Why generally cars are crappy today? Why those last as long as the warranty from the manufacturer?
First of all; all "modern" cars today are having "computer" inside.
Second; all "modern" cars are totally fed up with "zillion" of totally nonsense "sensors" and "brains".
In 99% of cases Renault will die because of some sensor or/and computer malfunction.
In 99% of 99% cases from above; main cause will be ... cold junction... somewhere on computer pcb or in path to the sensor.
In 99% of the 99% of the 99% from the above; they will skin you like a poor cat when fixing the "problem" in their service.
...
That's the major "philosophy" in "modern" and "rich" societies today. Say... "mad consumer" societies.
You are simply not allowed to buy and use some thing for long period. You must be a lifetime consumer. You must buy new stuff periodically.
When it comes to cars; 5-7 years is most that you can expect.
(my Opel is 30 years old, still alive and kicking... but it has only engine and "four wires")
...
Why they totally banned lead from modern electronics?
Probably to get more cold junctions!

[ivconic]

Second important aspect: the computer inside the car!
As long as there is computer inside, controlling the car: that long is possible to place the limits in code and to program the date when car will die.
Now... this looks like just another conspiracy theory.
But only in minds of common consumers and believers.
It is not my main occupation... but occasionally i get some modern OBD's to reprogram, to install some hack, to prolong trials etc.
So by now i got pretty good insight in those and all the capabilities.
It is so obvious that so many things are pretty controlled and LIMITED by the car computer.
It becomes total nonsense!
Slight possible tolerance coming from some sensor; will provoke computer to act and prevent you to use car... until you cache out decent sum!
Recently i had chance to "peek" into most modern and lunatic expensive OBD and its detailed options and functions. Total nonsense.
And total control!
Year licence to use that OBD is over 1000 euros! (will not name brand and model)
Price of the OBD is ~5000 euros and year licence 1000e !!! C'mon!
And than you have the car system totally opened and disclosed.
And than you can clearly see all the madness and nonsense of this sad "modern" times!
And than you can realize that consumers are nothing but most stupid flock of sheep in all history!
Bigger the scam and fraud; more mad consumers will want to waste hard earned money and have it!
To finally have it... and to enjoy it just for a while, just for a strictly LIMITED time!
Ehm... modern times, modern world...



Speaking of soldering irons... solder... cold joints etc.