How does a soldering iron work?

DIY soldering iron at home in different ways

The purpose of a soldering iron is known even to people who are far from electricians. There is no need to talk about those who work in this field - for them it is simply an indispensable assistant. And the market, taking this into account, provides a huge number of devices that differ in many parameters. But it is not advisable to spend money in all cases, because you can make a full-fledged soldering iron with your own hands, without having any specific knowledge.

Homemade soldering iron

It makes sense to buy a soldering iron if you have to work with it constantly, or at least quite often. But if it’s a tool that spends most of its time gathering dust on a shelf, then there’s not much point in wasting money. Moreover, it is quite possible to independently make a full-fledged device of the required power, taking into account the likely needs.

Of course, in order to know how to make a soldering iron with your own hands, you need to understand its structure and operating principle. Indeed, despite its apparent simplicity, there are some nuances that are preferable to know before starting work.

Structure and principle of operation

Soldering irons have an extremely simple structure: a copper rod that interacts with a heating element is placed in a kind of tube that acts as a housing. A heat-resistant power wire is connected to the heater. And the whole structure is completed by a handle made of a material with low thermal conductivity.

Under the influence of electric current, a heating element (for example, a nichrome spiral) transfers thermal energy to a copper rod called a tip. The tip, having high thermal conductivity, heats up, which allows soldering.

Knowing how a soldering iron works, you can easily make one yourself. Moreover, this idea can be implemented in different ways, taking into account the needs of a particular situation.

220 volt soldering iron with resistor

The 220 V option is, first of all, good because it does not require searching for a power supply. At the same time, depending on specific needs, its power can be made different, which allows you to create an electric soldering iron with your own hands, both for soldering small equipment, and a hammer one for sealing tanks, pans and other metal utensils.

First you need to prepare the parts that will be required in the process of making a soldering iron :

• The rod is made of red copper, as it has excellent thermal conductivity. Moreover, the thickness of the rod is selected based on the calculation of the power of the product.
• A resistor, which is also calculated based on the required power of the final product.
• Silicate glue.
• Asbestos thread.
• Wires, some of which must be heat-resistant.
• Metal tube.
• The handle or its like is made of a material that does not conduct heat well.

Depending on what kind of work the soldering iron is designed to perform in the future, you need to choose its power. And based on these data, it is necessary to carry out calculations.

Here it is worth remembering the school physics course, and in particular the power formula and Ohm’s law. To simplify the calculation, it is assumed to take a 100 ohm resistor as an example.

Considering that the current will be 2.2 A, when using such a resistor, the soldering iron will consume 484 watts, and this, of course, is too much. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the voltage. A 300 Ohm damping resistance and a 10 µF capacitor up to 300 V will help with this.

In this way, it will be possible to reduce the current four times, i.e. to approximately 0.5 amperes, which will allow us to obtain a voltage across the resistor of 55 V.

Source: https://pochini.guru/instrument/payalnik-svoimi-rukami

Top 5 best pulse soldering guns

Greetings, soldering iron gun seeker! On this page I will tell you which pulse soldering irons are now available in stores and how they differ.

I myself have three pulse soldering irons, so based on my experience I will give a rating of the Top 5 best soldering iron guns.

Why is a soldering iron gun called a pulse gun?

The concept of a pulse soldering iron in the Soviet Union appeared even before the introduction of power supplies with pulse width modulation (PWM). So in those days, a pulse soldering iron was called a soldering iron that had an on and off button. It turns out that it is possible to supply power to the heating element in an intermittent mode. For simplicity, they began to be called pulsed.

Such soldering irons are characterized by fast tip heating time. By the way, a U-shaped piece of steel or copper wire with a diameter of 1 to 3 mm is used as a sting. A large alternating current flows through it through current collectors with fastening screws from the step-down transformer. The diameter of the wire is selected so that at the rated power of the transformer the tip heats up quickly (1 - 3 seconds), but does not burn out quickly.

Below I will tell you in more detail about each soldering iron gun that can be purchased through the online store. The main criteria for selection into the rating were the principles of accessibility, ease of use and reliability of soldering irons.

1. MAXMAN JST2901

Model MAXMAN JST2901 (DLT001) is closest in characteristics to Soviet pulse soldering irons. There is an extended version of MAXMAN JST2902, which includes a case, solder, flux in a jar and replacement tips.

Some craftsmen complain about the round tip profile and the inconvenience of soldering, but all soldering irons with a step-down transformer have such disadvantages. But an arc-shaped sting is very convenient for tinning wires. The advantage of such soldering irons is that there is no heating inertia and you can quickly heat up large metal parts.

Specifications:

• Heating power 100 (175) W;
• Maximum temperature 800 degrees;
• Heating time: 10 seconds;
• Cooling time: 48 seconds;
• Cable length: 1.3 m.

• high power and operating temperature;
• durable tip made of alloy;
• soft power cord that can be bent;
• convenient design with backlight;
• Easy to operate and can be used with one hand.

• considerable weight, so the hand gets tired.

The soldering iron costs only about $15.

2. BISON 55412-H4

The features of this model include high... power – 150 W. This soldering iron can be used, among other things, for burning wood.

Specifications:

• Heating power 150 W;
• Heating time: 6 seconds;
• Supply voltage: 220 V.

• high power;
• availability of replaceable tips, solder and flux;
• convenient plastic case;
• there is a backlight;
• nozzle for wood burning;
• Russian production;
• brand reliability.

• with such a high power there is a risk of melting the plastic;
• decent weight, like a victim of high power.

Pulse soldering iron ZUBR 55412-H4 can be purchased for $20 .

3. Rexant Profi 12-0162-1

This soldering iron gun has a ceramic heater, but it is not quite pulsed. It has two operating modes. When plugged into a socket, preheating is activated with a reduced power of 25 W and a power increase mode up to 130 W when you press the button.

In general, Rexant Profi 12-0162-1 is not intended for long-term installation work, but the durability of its tip can be noted as an advantage over its analogues.

Specifications:

• Heating power 25/130 W;
• Warm-up time: 5 minutes;
• Tip shape: cone;
• Supply voltage: 220 V.

• two power modes;
• ceramic heating element;
• ergonomic handle;
• housing made of impact-resistant plastic with rubber inserts;
• low cost.

• there is no galvanic isolation from the 220 V power supply network;
• there is no grounding of the tip.

Soldering iron Rexant Pro 12-0162-1 is sold for a modest $10 .

4. Newacalox SGY-005-EU

This soldering iron was included in the rating only due to the supply of tubular solder. Such a mechanism is quite rarely found in amateur soldering irons. Now the issue of using coils when supplying solder is completely removed. The solder feeding mechanism is quite simple - press the lever button and the solder moves forward.

However, this soldering iron is not a pulse soldering iron as defined in the beginning. The power button is located at the top, and at the bottom there is only solder supply.

Specifications:

• Power: 60 W;
• Warm-up time: 2-4 minutes;
• Solder diameter: 0.8 - 1.2 mm;
• Heating temperature: up to 430 degrees;
• Tip tip: conical 900M.

• mechanical supply of solder from a coil;
• ceramic heater;
• viewing window on the side for cleaning the solder feed mechanism;
• ease of use and ease of replacement of some parts (tip and core).

• relatively large overall dimensions (18x19 cm);
• long distance from handle to tip;
• The solder supply tube may become sealed.

You can buy a Newacalox SGY-005-EU soldering iron for $20 .

5. Newacalox NL586-B-EU

This model of a pulse soldering iron-gun is practically no different from the previous one. The difference between them lies only in some technical characteristics and the supply of solder from above.

Newacalox NL586-B-EU has a power of 50 W. The operating temperature of the device is 430 degrees Celsius. The device warms up within 2 to 4 minutes. The manufacturer has provided devices of the 900M series as a tip.

Specifications:

• Power: 50 W;
• Warm-up time: 2-4 minutes;
• Solder diameter: 0.8 - 1.2 mm;
• Heating temperature: up to 430 degrees;
• Tip tip: conical 900M.

• • presence of power indicator;
  • small distance from the handle to the tip of the sting;
  • small overall dimensions (17x16 cm);
  • flexible power cord;

• supplying solder from above - there is a high risk of heating and soldering the solder supply tube;
• There is no side window to control the solder feeding mechanism.

The Newacalox NL586-B-EU soldering iron soldering iron sells for $20 .

How to make a pulse soldering iron with your own hands

In principle, everything is simple - take a step-down transformer and hang a wire with a diameter of 1 - 2 mm on the secondary winding. On the primary winding you need to install a button designed to work with a 220 V network. Make a comfortable handle and attach the transformer. Ready!

Below I will give several photographs of soldering irons with a button so that their design is clear.

Since Soviet times, the soldering iron “Moment” has been known, described in the magazine “Radio” for 1978, No. 6, p. 41. See below for how it works.

But you don’t always need such a powerful soldering iron. In order to assemble a low-power pulse soldering iron with your own hands, you need:

• MLT type resistor with a resistance of 8 Ohms and a power dissipation of 0.5-2 Watts;
• strip of double-sided foil PCB 10x30 mm;
• steel wire 0.8 mm thick;
• copper wire;
• ballpoint pen body;
• switching power supply with a power of 12-15 W and a current of 1 Ampere.

The algorithm for creating a pulse soldering iron with your own hands is as follows:

1. First you need to remove the varnish and paint from the resistor. To do this, it needs to be heated.
2. One of the leads should be cut using a needle file or jigsaw. In an open place, it is worth drilling a hole with a diameter of 1.1 mm, reaching the internal cavity.
3. The second pin must be connected to a power source. It will eventually be attached to the handle.
4. The hole in the cone resistor body must be widened to prevent contact between the tip and the internal walls of the resistor. At this point you should connect the second wire to the power supply.
5. The steel wire must be bent. At the bend, you should make a ring with a diameter the same as the size of the resistor. The latter must be bent at a right angle.
6. The ring needs to be tinned. It must be put on the resistor. After this, you should solder it so that the ends of the steel wire are directed in the same direction as the remaining terminal.
7. The board needs to be cut from a strip of PCB. The wide part should have two contact pads on both sides. They are intended for soldering the ends of the wire and leading into the handle body. On the narrow side there should be a pad for soldering wires from the power supply.
8. The ends of the wire and the resistance lead must be soldered to the board. On the opposite side you need to connect the wire from the power supply.
9. A piece of heat-resistant insulator should be firmly inserted into the hole in the resistor.
10. Next you need to insert the copper tip into the hole. Its shape can be made completely arbitrary.
11. In the end, you just need to pass the wires through the handle body. You need to insert the board into it and connect it to the power supply.

Source: https://masterpaiki.ru/top-5-luchshih-impulsnyh-payalnikov-pistoletov.html

Soldering iron design and repair

The soldering iron allows you to bond metal components using solder. Solder is a metal or alloy that has a melting point lower than that of the metals joined together using solder.

For soldering, tin-based alloys are used; in addition, the alloy contains lead, copper, nickel and some other metals. The alloy, heated to the melting temperature, fills the gaps between the workpieces, and after solidification, the alloy holds the parts to be soldered together.

You can use a soldering iron to join metal parts together.

Types of soldering equipment

There are several different types of tools for performing the soldering process. The most common types of devices are the following:

• instruments equipped with a nichrome heater;
• tool with ceramic heater;
• devices with induction heater;
• instrument with pulse heater;
• gas tools;
• battery powered devices;
• hot air and infrared soldering installations.

A soldering iron with a ceramic heater heats up faster.

Devices with heaters made of nichrome wire operate by passing alternating or direct current. This type of soldering iron usually does not have heat controls. The exception is a small number of models equipped with sensors to control heating. A thermocouple is used as a temperature sensor.

A tool with a ceramic heater is distinguished by the fact that heating is carried out by supplying power to the contacts of the heater, made of conductive special ceramics.

Such devices are more modern and have a number of advantages, the main ones being the heating rate of the working element of the device and a long service life.

In addition to this, devices with a ceramic heating element are equipped with temperature and power regulators, which have a wide range of adjustments.

Induction devices differ in that an inductor coil is used to heat the tool. The tip of the device has a ferromagnetic coating, in which the coil creates a magnetic field with an induced current. The tip is heated due to the action of currents induced in the magnetic field. By changing the properties of the ferromagnetic coating, the degree of heating of the device tip is adjusted.

Pulse soldering irons are a category of tools whose tip is heated by exposing it to a short current pulse after pressing the start button. These devices are characterized by particularly rapid heating of the tool tip.

Hot air and infrared soldering stations are specific equipment that is used only by specialists.

The design and principle of operation of a soldering iron

The most common types of soldering iron among the population are devices with a nichrome or ceramic heater.

Miniature low-voltage soldering iron.

These devices operate from household electrical current with a voltage of 220 V. The devices can have different power depending on the area of ​​application.

The design of a soldering iron made by different manufacturers may have slight differences. The main design elements of any electrical soldering device, the operation of which is based on the use of a heating element, are:

• kernel;
• a heating element;
• sting;
• holder;
• electrical cord for power supply from a household electrical outlet.

The rod, made of red copper, is heated using a heater made of nichrome wire of a certain cross-section or conductive special ceramics.

If the soldering iron uses a nichrome heater, then the diameter of the wire from which it is made depends on the power of the device. The rod is heated to the melting temperature of the solder.

Copper is used in the manufacture of the heating element rod due to its high thermal conductivity. The heating element transfers heat to the tip of the tool.

The rod end of the soldering iron is the working part of the tool; as a rule, the end of the rod is wedge-shaped. For this reason, this end of the rod is called the sting.

The soldering iron rod is fixed in a metal tube. To ensure its insulation from the heating element, the inserted end is wrapped in insulating material. The material used in the soldering iron can be fiberglass or mica. The nichrome thread is wound over the current-insulating material.

The soldering iron holder has a channel in its design through which the power cord passes, supplying voltage to the heating tool. The soldering iron holder can be made of wood or heat-resistant plastic.

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The most common breakdowns of soldering fixtures

Before starting repair of a soldering iron, the type of malfunction of the device is determined.

The most common malfunction encountered when using a tool equipped with a nichrome or ceramic heating element is the lack of heating of the copper rod of the device. There may be several reasons for such a malfunction. The lack of heating of the copper rod may be due to:

• failure of the electrical plug of the device;
• failure of the network cable that supplies electricity to the device;
• violation of contact between the device’s power cable and its heating element;
• failure of the heating element that heats the copper rod of the soldering iron.

In order to repair a soldering device, you will need to have a regular household ampere-voltmeter on hand, which will allow you to determine the type of malfunction that has occurred in the soldering iron device.

Soldering iron for soldering and desoldering.

If the power cord plug is found to be damaged, it will have to be replaced. Most often, manufacturers equip devices intended for soldering with solid plastic electric plugs, which cannot be repaired because they are non-separable. To replace such a plug, cut it off from the power cord and install a new collapsible structure in its place.

To detect failure of the power cord, check its integrity using an ampere-voltmeter. If the integrity of the current-carrying element of the cord is damaged, such a power cord must be replaced.

If the operation of the device is associated with a broken contact between the heating element and the power cord, then you should disassemble the soldering iron and restore its functionality by restoring electrical contact between these structural elements of the device.

If the heating element of the device fails, it must be replaced. A malfunction of the heating element can be detected in two ways: by using an ampere-voltmeter and experimentally by excluding all other types of device failures.

Choosing the type of soldering iron for soldering work

The choice of tool type depends entirely on its power and temperature characteristics and is determined by the operating conditions of the tool. In addition, the choice of the type of instrument is influenced by the personal preferences of the person who plans to work with this instrument.

If you plan to use the device in conditions where there is no electricity, you should purchase stand-alone models of the tool. Such models are battery-powered or gas-powered devices.

Hot air and infrared soldering stations should be purchased if you plan to perform soldering work on electronic boards.

The purchase of a pulse soldering iron is justified in cases where you need to save time and there is no desire to wait for a conventional soldering iron with a heating element to warm up to operating temperature.

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The power of the purchased tool should be selected depending on the work performed. So, for example, to perform work related to soldering components of electronic boards, a tool with a power of about 25 W is best suited. A more powerful tool should be used when carrying out larger tin work associated with the soldering process.

Source: https://masterinstrumenta.ru/info/ustrojstvo-payalnika.html

Soldering iron for microcircuits: the best models, varieties for phones, instructions for use for radio components and other electronics

The manufacture of various amateur devices, as well as simple repair work to replace radio components on various printed circuit boards, is inevitably associated with the soldering process. At the same time, you need to understand that a soldering iron for microcircuits has certain differences from conventional devices of this type. Using an unsuitable device may cause electronic failure and damage to the board. Therefore, you need to carefully consider his choice.

Design

Soldering irons for microcircuits have a number of differences:

• The tip of the soldering iron is called the tip. This is the main working part. From it, or more precisely from its shape and size, it is determined for what specific purposes this or that device serves.
• Another factor by which you can recognize this type of soldering tool is the size of the device itself. Small jobs require a soldering iron that is compact, lightweight, and easy to control. Standard devices are too crude for this.
• The power of a soldering iron for soldering microcircuits is also quite low. This is to ensure that the tip does not reach too high a temperature. This may harm circuit components.

Soldering iron design

Characteristics

Technical characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a tool:

• Power. In the case of soldering irons for circuits, the power value should not exceed 10 W. This parameter affects the performance and safety of electrical elements. This approach is used when installing a circuit. If elements are being removed from the board and their safety is not important, then a high power value will facilitate the process.

Important! Powerful devices can only be used by experienced radio amateurs who are able to perform work accurately and quickly without causing overheating of the elements.

Devices of various power

• The voltage required to operate. High voltage from the network, equal to 220 V, can also damage parts. For this reason, the soldering iron is connected through a step-down transformer, which, depending on the model, produces either 12 or 36 V. When choosing a product, it is best to take a kit that already includes a transformer or power supply, so as not to purchase it separately.
• The thickness of the tip also plays an important role. For conventional instruments it is about 5 mm. For micro-soldering tools, a value of up to 3 mm is considered normal. Replacement tips are most often sold separately, but there are kits that also include them.

Various soldering iron attachments

• The presence of a thermostat allows you to choose a comfortable temperature regime for each type of installation. This reduces the risk of element damage and also makes the work process more convenient and efficient. Typically, more expensive models are equipped with a thermostat.

Heaters of various types

User manual

There are often nuances in work that need to be corrected. The main points will be discussed below.

Soldering chips

When operating microcircuits and chips, it is necessary, first of all, to exclude the possibility of overheating of the chip. To do this, you need to touch each of its contacts for no more than three seconds. After this, the contact must be cooled and only then can the soldering process be carried out again.

Before soldering, the chip contacts are prepared and processed by applying a thin layer of solder to them, which will improve contact with the surface. Flux is applied to the legs of the element and a tip with solder is passed over them. If the procedure is carried out correctly, the contact will be shiny and smooth, without various accumulations of solder.

Various types of microcircuits

Pin chips

If the chip has leads in the form of pins, then the process of soldering it into the board occurs as follows:

1. The microcircuit is installed in special holes in the surface of the board.
2. On the opposite (back) side, flux is applied to the pin contacts.
3. Each pin is soldered on the same reverse side.
4. Remains of flux are removed.

Pin chip

Soic chips

Chips of this type are soldered slightly differently. This method is most often called "solder wave". Its essence is that molten solder in a liquid state fills the space between the metallized part of the board and the contacts of the part. This creates a drop that is capable of conducting electrical impulses.

The solder wave method is performed in the following few steps:

1. Tin and moisten with flux all surfaces that will provide contact.
2. Place the microcircuit on the surface of the board so that all the legs are aligned with the metallized tracks.
3. To begin with, you need to solder only one corner contact.
4. Next, the second contact is soldered, located diagonally in relation to the first. In this case, you need to make sure that all other contacts remain on their metal tracks.
5. Next, flux is applied to all soldered and free ends of the microcircuit.
6. Next, using the tip, the solder is evenly distributed over the contacts.
7. If solder bridges form between the contacts, you must remove them, as the jumpers will interfere with the operation of the components. Removal occurs using a special metal braid. To do this, place it on top of the jumper and pass it with the tip of a soldering iron. In this case, the solder is absorbed into the braid.

Important! When performing soldering using the “wave solder” method, there must be a sufficient amount of flux at the places where soldering is carried out directly to ensure wetting of the surfaces.

Source: https://rusenergetics.ru/ustroistvo/payalnik-dlya-mikroskhem

How to repair an electric soldering iron

An electric soldering iron is a well-known heating device designed for joining a wide variety of parts made of non-ferrous or ferrous metals.

The operating principle of the tool is based on the heating effect of its working tip (tip), which melts the solder with flux. The resulting liquid mixture fills all the unevenness and voids between the parts and forms a reliable connection after cooling.

But during operation, the tool can break, and such damage manifests itself in a variety of forms. That is why independent repair of a soldering iron is a mandatory operation that any master working with it must master.

Main details

In order to quickly and efficiently repair an electric soldering iron with your own hands, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with its design, which includes the following components:

• an electric heating element placed on a tubular base made of mica or fiberglass and made in the form of a twisted spiral winding;
• handle-holder with holes for a tubular base and an electric cord;
• a working tip inserted from the other end of the mica tube.

On top of the nichrome wire, another protective layer of mica or asbestos is made, which reduces heat loss and insulates the spiral from the metal parts of the body.

The ends of the winding are folded in half and soldered to the copper conductors of an electrical cord with a plug at the mating end. To prevent them from accidentally tearing, these places are reinforced with aluminum plates compressed under pressure, which remove excess heat from the contact area.

For better insulation, special tubes (ceramic or made of fiberglass or mica) are put on the areas where the wires are connected.

Electrical diagram

To understand the basics of repairing a soldering fixture, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with its diagram, which consists of a number of elements connected in series. It consists of an electrical plug, a connecting wire (cord) and a nichrome heating winding.

Since the power comes from a 220 V AC network, a converter is usually built into the circuit.

Voltage

One of the main technical characteristics taken into account when it is necessary to repair a soldering iron is the voltage supplied to the winding. In different device models, it can take the following values:

• 220 Volt (used in most domestic models);
• supply voltages reduced by a transformer ranging from 12 to 42 Volts (for hazardous working conditions);
• 5-volt power supply for miniature USB soldering irons, which are easy to repair at home.

Reduced voltages are used in conditions called dangerous and especially dangerous (at high levels of humidity or dust in the room, for example). The main purpose of reducing this value is to protect the user from electric shock.

Regardless of which of these models is subject to repair, the methods for restoring it come down to simple work operations.

Power

Electrical power refers to the energy taken from the network by a soldering iron, defined as the product of voltage and consumed current.

This indicator is directly related to the thermal power dissipated by the tip, which determines its operational capabilities. The higher this parameter, the better the soldering iron tip will warm up the soldering area.

The operating power values ​​for various product samples vary within very wide limits (from units to thousands of watts).

That is, there is a choice when, for working with small parts, preference is given to soldering devices with low consumption and heat dissipation. Well, for cases when you have to solder large metal products, on the contrary, only “powerful” devices are suitable.

Taking this indicator into account in the simplest case comes down to replacing the tip with a thicker tip or vice versa. If the heating element fails, the power is taken into account when it is necessary to rewind it independently and select the required number of turns.

Winding calculation

Repairing a soldering iron in most cases comes down to a procedure that allows you to rewind a burnt nichrome winding. When replacing it, it is important to correctly select the thickness and diameter of the nichrome wire, as well as the number of turns in the spiral, which determines the generated thermal power.

When calculating and selecting the required wire diameter, we proceed from the resistance value of the soldering iron’s heating winding, which, in turn, is determined by its operating power (supply voltage).

To determine the initial indicator (winding resistance), special tables are used.

Table for determining the resistance of a nichrome spiral depending on the power and supply voltage of electrical appliances, Ohm Power consumption by a soldering iron, W Soldering iron supply voltage, V12243612722012 24 36 42 60 75 100 150 200 300 400 500 700 900 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

12	48,0	108	1344	4033
6,0	24,0	54	672	2016
4,0	16,0	36	448	1344
3,4	13,7	31	384	1152
2,4	9,6	22	269	806
1.9	7.7	17	215	645
1,4	5,7	13	161	484
0,96	3,84	8,6	107	332
0,72	2,88	6,5	80,6	242
0,48	1,92	4,3	53,8	161
0,36	1,44	3,2	40,3	121
0,29	1,15	2,6	32,3	96,8
0,21	0,83	1,85	23,0	69,1
0,16	0,64	1,44	17,9	53,8
0,14	0,57	1,30	16,1	48,4
0,10	0,38	0,86	10,8	32,3
0,07	0,29	0,65	8,06	24,2
0,06	0,23	0,52	6,45	19,4
0,05	0,19	0,43	5,38	16,1

Table of dependence of linear resistance (one meter) of nichrome wire on diameterDiameter of nichrome wire, mm Linear resistance, Ohm/m at 20°C

0,05	0,07	0,08	0,1	0,2	0,3	0,4	0,5	0,60	0,7
550	280	208	137	34,6	15,7	8,75	5,60	3,93	2,89

Diameter of nichrome wire, mm Linear resistance, Ohm/m at 20°C

0,8	0,9	1,0	1,2	1,3	1,5	2,0	2,2	2,5	3,0
2,20	1,70	1,40	0,97	0,8	0,62	0,35	0,31	0,22	0,16

Using these tables, you can check the correctness of the winding calculations in order to carry out repairs in the future.

With a fixed supply voltage U and the resistance of the heating device R measured using a tester, the power P consumed by it is calculated using the formula P=(UxU)/R.

Possible faults

The most common malfunction of soldering irons (regardless of type and power) is burnout of the heater winding or partial interturn short circuit.

It manifests itself in the fact that the soldering iron does not heat up at all, that is, it loses its functionality.

As a rule, the shorting of individual turns over time also leads to the burning of the entire spiral, when ordinary repairs no longer help, and the spiral must be completely rewinded. Under the most favorable conditions, the lack of heating of the soldering iron may be due to the following reasons:

• poor contact at the junction of the voltage supply wire and the ends of the winding (spiral);
• faulty power plug;
• a break in one of the cores in the cord itself.

All these malfunctions are detected through visual inspection, or using a tester turned on in the “Ring” mode, after which repairs are made.

Sequence of repair work

To eliminate a break in the wires or plug, first use a multimeter (tester) to identify the exact location of the damage. And only after that one of the possible methods of repairing the soldering iron is selected.

So, if a break is detected in the supply wire or plug, the easiest way is to completely replace these parts with a working product. To do this, it is more convenient to simply extend the undamaged part by soldering a new power cord to it.

When building up the supply wire, special attention is paid to the insulation of individual cores. The most reliable way to protect each of them is with a polyvinyl chloride tube (cambric).

If the soldering iron winding burns out, you will have to open the protective casing (cover) and completely disassemble the heating element, disconnecting it from the power wires.

When rewinding a spiral, you must carefully ensure that adjacent turns are located at a distance from one another, and a mica spacer is placed between the winding rows.

At the end of the winding work, the leads are soldered to the ends of the nichrome wire, and then the supply wires are crimped, after which the protective casing returns to its original place. At this point the repair can be considered complete.

Operating rules

When working with an electric soldering iron, in order to avoid accidental breakdowns of individual parts, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. During soldering, avoid strong mechanical stress on the cord and the electric heater of the device.
2. Do not overheat the soldering iron coil (do not leave it on for a long time).
3. It is necessary to use a power regulator that allows you to select the required mode for heating the tip.

In conclusion, we note that during operation it is necessary to monitor the condition of the power cord and prevent it from being accidentally damaged by contact with a tip heated to a high temperature.

If this cannot be avoided, you should carefully isolate the melted area by placing a cambric over the damaged core and wrapping it with electrical tape.

A simple repair will help get your soldering iron working again. In general, thanks to its simple design, this tool rarely fails.

Source: https://svaring.com/soldering/praktika/remont-pajalnika

Soldering iron repair

An electric soldering iron is a hand-held heating device for fixing metal parts using solder - an alloy heated to a liquid state and having a melting point lower than that of the workpieces being fastened.

Operation

The operating principle of a soldering tool is based on the conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy, which heats the tip through heating the coil and rod. The temperature in the soldering zone reaches 400-4500C. The resulting viscous-liquid mixture penetrates into cavities and irregularities between parts. After cooling, the metals will be securely connected.

Additional Information. The electrical circuit usually contains an AC to DC converter.

Kinds

The most popular types of soldering irons can be classified into two categories: heating features and design types.

According to the heating principle, soldering devices are distinguished:

• nichrome;
• ceramic;
• induction;
• pulsed.

Nichrome

The most common soldering iron device is with a spiral heater made of nichrome, through which direct mains current or alternating current from the mains and transformer can pass. This tool is affordable and shock-resistant. Suitable for infrequent use.

Ceramic

In this type of soldering iron, the heater is a ceramic rod through which thermal energy from the live contacts passes. Among the advantages noted: long service life with proper operation, fairly fast heating, the presence of a temperature and power control system, compactness.

Disadvantages include: fragility of the ceramic rod, use of only the original tip, high cost, risk of purchasing a nichrome fake.

Induction

The inductor coil, as the main working part of the soldering iron, creates a magnetic field and heats the core. Heat is transferred to the tip, which is maintained at a temperature thanks to the ferromagnetic coating.

Each metal and part requires its own heating, so the tip must be selected individually.

Pulse

The circuit of a pulse soldering iron contains: a frequency converter, a high-frequency transformer and a tip. An electrical impulse occurs with increasing frequency of the mains voltage, which after a short time decreases to the required value.

The tip is connected using clamps (current collectors) to the secondary transformer winding. Thanks to this, when you press and hold the start button, the end part of the tool instantly warms up.

Soldering irons of this type are designed for short-term soldering of parts of various sizes.

According to design differences, soldering devices are divided into:

• rod - the handle-holder turns into a straight rod with a sting;
• pistol type - the handle and the metal part are perpendicular to each other;
• soldering stations are complex devices with a built-in electronic control unit; according to operating technology, they are divided into infrared, hot-air, and digital.

There are models of soldering irons for children's technical modeling - low-power ones with a wooden handle. Compact USB devices operate from a car cigarette lighter, and hammer soldering irons are equipped with a thick tip for large parts. Cordless and gas tools are self-contained devices and are powered by a battery and a gas cartridge, respectively.

Soldering tools can have tips of various configurations (wedge-shaped, cone-shaped, chamfered, needle-shaped), made of copper or additionally nickel-plated. The handle is made of material with low thermal conductivity: wood, ebonite, textolite.

Note! Before work, you must familiarize yourself with the rules for operating and repairing the soldering iron.

terms of Use

Soldering iron repair is unlikely to be required if you follow the necessary operating rules:

• ensure safety precautions at the workplace in accordance with the product instructions;
• take into account the value of the mains voltage;
• in rooms with high humidity, use a 36 V device (no more), first grounding it;
• The heater and cord must be free from mechanical loads during operation;
• do not touch the cord with a hot tip;
• do not overheat the soldering iron coil;
• select the heating mode using the power regulator.

Important! Correct selection of power parameters does not guarantee the quality of soldering.

Causes of damage

The most common reasons for soldering tool failure are:

• damage to the plug or cord;
• network failure;
• violation of work contacts;
• heater failure.

How to repair

To prevent sudden damage to the instrument from causing inconvenience, every specialist or radio amateur must confidently wield a soldering iron and be able to repair it, especially since it is not difficult. It is necessary to have a conventional ampere-voltmeter that diagnoses the type of malfunction.

Replacing the heater with a new one

If the heating element loses its functionality, do the following:

• determine the winding resistance based on the power of the device and the network voltage;
• select the diameter of the nichrome wire according to the resistance of 1 meter;
• wind the spiral, laying the turns without gaps, placing a layer of mica between the rows;
• in order to retain heat and prevent short circuits, the winding is covered with fiberglass, instead of which mica or asbestos can be used; the latter has the advantage of creating the required shape and acquiring strength after drying.

Note! After applying the asbestos insulating layer, you need to wait for it to dry and only then turn on the device to the network.

Replacing the heater with a resistor

Instead of a heating element, you can successfully use a PEV-10 resistor. To repair a soldering iron with your own hands, you will need pliers, a well-sharpened knife, and asbestos thread. To replace the heater, you must:

• disassemble the soldering tool;
• remove the used heater;
• place the resistor in the vacant space;
• remove 1.5 cm of insulating coating from the power cord, connect the power wires to the resistor through the holder channel; make sure that the laid wires do not touch the housing; insulate the terminals with asbestos thread;
• assemble the tool and make sure it works.

If the power cord is damaged, it should be replaced. A faulty power cord plug must also be replaced. In this case, the broken fork (usually a solid one) is cut off and a collapsible one is installed instead.

Broken contact of the heater with the power cord can be easily eliminated. To do this, you need to disassemble the soldering iron and restore the connection of the contacts.

If you work with the soldering iron carefully, it will not require repair for a long time. If damage does occur, it is quite simple to fix it: you need to know the circuit diagram of the device (it is elementary), the basic rules of electrical engineering and safety.

Source: https://amperof.ru/elektropribory/remont-payalnika.html

How does a soldering iron for PVC pipes work and how to use it

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Until recently, laying or replacing a pipeline was an extremely inconvenient task. Metal pipes are quite heavy, difficult to process and install - the main resources needed for the work were time and knowledge. The advent of plastic pipes has significantly simplified the task - pipeline installation is now accessible to any owner.

A very important aspect is the proper selection of tools - in most cases this is already half the battle. Today you can find a lot of interesting offers on the market, and each of them will be justified in its own way. The only problem is to choose a really high-quality and suitable tool. This article will discuss how to choose a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes.

Soldering iron device

Polypropylene, despite its relatively recent appearance on the market, has already earned great trust among builders and owners. PVC pipes are reliable, durable and demonstrate good performance - and with all these advantages, they are also incredibly simple to install, requiring only a special soldering iron. To understand the structure of a soldering iron, it is worth considering its design in the photo, but you also need to know its main components.

The PVC pipe welding machine includes the following elements:

1. Body with handle.
2. Thermostatic element.
3. A heating element in a dense metal casing, necessary for heating the device.
4. A set of different-sized Teflon-coated nozzles.

The operating principle of the soldering iron is quite simple. In professional jargon, it is often called an “iron” due to the similarity of the work process. After connecting to the mains, the heating element of the soldering iron heats up, the heat is transferred through the outer plate to the installed nozzles, and they, in turn, ensure softening of the polypropylene.

Of course, the heating process is carefully controlled - exceeding the temperature is fraught with excessive melting of the pipe, and a low temperature is simply not enough for a normal connection of the material. The absence of a thermostat entails serious consequences - not only will the soldering iron simply not be able to work, it can also lead to its damage, up to the final melting of the elements and failure of the device.

If you have no experience working with a soldering iron for PVC pipes, it is better to opt for expensive and high-quality models - they are equipped with more reliable temperature regulators that protect the structure from damage. Most inexpensive devices cannot boast this level of security, so they will be much more difficult to use.

When talking about soldering iron attachments, you should first of all evaluate the thickness of the non-stick layer - it affects the durability of the elements and the quality of the connection. Choosing cheap nozzles (they are produced in large quantities in Turkey and China) always leads to negative consequences - burnt-out Teflon allows polypropylene to freely stick to the nozzles, thereby damaging both the material and the tool itself for soldering PVC pipes.  

Types of soldering irons for PVC pipes

Soldering irons for polypropylene differ only in the shape of the tip, depending on which there are two types of devices:

• With a flat tip;
• With a cylindrical tip.

Devices with a cylindrical tip are very comfortable and do not cause problems when used. The small dimensions of the soldering iron also make work easier, allowing you to connect pipes even in hard-to-reach sections.

Another advantage of devices with a cylindrical tip is the attachments, which are structurally very similar to a regular clamp, which is attached to the cylinder with two screws - they do not rotate during operation. Tools with a flat tip do not have this advantage, since the attachments are fixed in them using several holes.

An important aspect is the configuration of the soldering iron. As a rule, the kit comes with four different nozzles of standard sizes. Practice shows that for personal use nozzles with a volume of ½, ¾ and 1 ¼ will be sufficient. Specialists often have to use nozzles with a volume of 1.5 and 2.

Soldering iron manufacturers

Low cost almost always indicates the same quality of the instrument. This rule is no exception in this case - the desire to purchase a cheap soldering iron may result in wasted money.

You can often find craftsmen using inexpensive devices from Turkey or China. The motives for this decision are obvious - a cheap machine for soldering polypropylene pipes will pay for itself already at the first site, and immediately after that the net profit will go. Another thing is that the performance of such devices is so low that they are only enough to carry out several small orders.

In addition, for a professional, a good tool is a kind of guarantee of quality - a reliable soldering iron can work without failures or complaints, thereby working for the image of its owner. Expensive devices in this context turn out to be a much more profitable purchase.

The quality of products directly depends on the country of origin, depending on which the rating of soldering irons looks like this:

1. Czech . Czech-made devices are considered the best and most reliable. The price, however, fully corresponds to the quality - soldering irons from the Czech Republic are not cheap.
2. Turkey . Turkish products are a little cheaper than Czech ones, but they are inferior in quality by about the same.
3. Russia . Domestic soldering irons are not reliable, so their rating among users is not as high as that of previous products. The price of Russian devices is quite affordable.
4. China . Products from China are considered the lowest quality, which is largely evidenced by their incredibly low cost.

In any case, before choosing a soldering iron for PVC pipes, it is worth considering all the available models in a suitable price range and reviews about them - for example, by searching for “soldering iron for castorama polypropylene pipes.”  

Choosing a soldering iron for PVC pipes

A wide range of devices for soldering pipes complicates the choice of the optimal option, so you need to start from several parameters inherent in each soldering iron:

1. Power . This indicator directly affects the heating rate of the device. To solder PVC pipes with a volume of 10 cm, a device with a power of 1.5-2 kW is required. To select the power, you need to read the manufacturers' recommendations and know exactly the diameters of the pipes that will be connected.
2. Manufacturer . Do not underestimate the importance of this factor - reviews received from users indicate a direct dependence of the country of manufacture and the quality of soldering irons.
3. Equipment . Having an idea of ​​the scale of future work, you can select the appropriate equipment. The number of nozzles that come with a soldering iron and their quality are an important indicator that you need to pay attention to when purchasing devices for soldering pipes.

In addition, the soldering iron always comes with instructions, which you need to study and follow all the requirements specified in it when working.

Plastic pipe soldering technology

The process of connecting PVC pipes is not particularly complicated. Before work, you need to prepare a tool. In addition to the soldering iron, the kit for soldering pipes includes a marker, a tape measure, a building level and a pipe cutter for plastic products.

The algorithm for using a soldering iron looks like this:

• First, the soldering iron is installed on the legs and connected to the network for warming up, which takes from 10 minutes to half an hour;
• The elements that need to be connected are installed in pre-installed nozzles of the required volume;
• The soldering iron is heated to operating temperature, allowing the polypropylene to melt;
• The heated parts are quickly removed from the fasteners and gently but firmly compressed to create a reliable connection.

This completes the work - all that remains is to wait until the softened edges of the pipes harden and form a reliable joint.

Connecting PVC pipes without a soldering iron

If necessary, polypropylene pipes can be connected without a soldering iron, for which you should use the following methods:

1. Socket connection . Such a connection can most often be found in areas of drain pipelines in which liquid is transported under the influence of natural forces. In addition, the socket connection is suitable for all water lines operating without pressure.
2. Cold connection . To implement the cold method, compression fittings are used, which make it possible to do without a soldering iron - but instead you will need a crimp wrench, often sold along with the fittings. The main disadvantage of this method is that it takes a lot of time.
3. Adhesive connection . This method is quite good - it takes little time, and the quality of the connection is quite acceptable. For connection, a special glue is used, which dissolves the surface of polypropylene, due to which the individual parts are glued to each other at the molecular level.
4. Push fitting connection . A push fitting is a simple device consisting of an O-ring and a retaining ring (the latter prevents the fixed pipes from coming apart). The final fixation of the parts is carried out using a union nut, the inner part of which is made in the shape of a cone.

Methods for connecting pipes without a soldering iron are quite varied, but have their pitfalls, so before installation you should carefully study all aspects - for example, whether the chosen method is suitable for a particular situation.

Conclusion

A soldering iron for PVC pipes is a device that greatly simplifies the installation of plastic pipes. Choosing the right soldering iron will allow you to create the most reliable connection, which will not cause problems throughout the entire period of operation of the pipeline.  

Source: https://trubaspec.com/soedinenie-trub/kak-ustroen-payalnik-dlya-trub-pvkh-i-kak-ego-ispolzovat.html

Soldering irons. Types and features. How to choose and device

For many people, soldering irons are considered devices with a coil heater. Although there are many types of soldering irons, which differ in the type of energy consumed, the methods of conversion into heat and the methods of transferring heat to the soldering site.

The most common known devices powered by electricity are electric soldering irons.

Electric soldering irons with nichrome heater

Made with a nichrome spiral. Electric current passes through it. Innovative models of soldering irons have control over tip heating using a temperature sensor, which sends a signal to turn off the coil in time when the temperature has reached the operating mode. The temperature sensor is made on the principle of a thermocouple.

Electric soldering irons with a nichrome heater have several different designs. Simple soldering irons have a nichrome spiral in their design. It is wound around a body of insulating material. A heating rod is inserted inside. In more advanced designs, nichrome is built into insulators that reduce heat loss and increase heat transfer.

There are options with heaters made of nichrome placed inside white insulating material. This element is sometimes mistaken for a ceramic heater. Manufacturers use this to influence the buyer's choice of soldering iron.

Ceramic

There are also designs of soldering irons that have a ceramic heater in the form of a rod. It heats up from the applied voltage to its contacts. Such heaters are recognized as more advanced. They have their advantages: fast heating, increased service life (if treated with care), a wide range of power and temperature.

Induction type soldering iron

In this device, the rod is heated by an induction coil. The tip is coated with ferromagnetic material. In this material, the coil forms a magnetic field, from which a current is induced, heating the soldering iron core.

When the temperature has reached the required value, the ferromagnetic coating no longer has magnetic properties, as a result of which the core no longer heats up. When the temperature drops to a certain value, the ferromagnetic properties of the coating are restored again, and heating of the core begins again. This is how the temperature of the soldering iron core is automatically maintained within the operating range without using a sensor or electronic control.

Pulse soldering irons

This type of soldering iron belongs to a special category. The procedure for turning them on is as follows: press the start button and keep it pressed. The tip of the soldering iron heats up quickly, reaching operating temperature in a few seconds. The required area is soldered. After soldering, the button turns off and the soldering iron cools down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSi-HTCH6Gs

In Russian-made pulse soldering irons, the following design works. A copper wire is included in the electrical circuit (it is also a tip). The circuit consists of a high-frequency transformer, a frequency converter that increases the frequency of the network voltage to 40 kHz.

The transformer reduces the network voltage to the operating value. The soldering iron core is attached to the current collector of the secondary coil of the transformer. This makes it possible for a significant current to form in it and rapid heating.

Innovative soldering irons are equipped with temperature and power level controls, which allow you to solder both large parts and small electronics.

Gas soldering irons

They belong to autonomous devices. Can be used anywhere. This is their main advantage. The soldering iron tip is heated by a gas flame. The soldering iron has a built-in gas cylinder, which you can refill yourself from a lighter cartridge. If you disconnect the nozzle from such a soldering iron, it can perform the functions of a gas burner.

Battery-powered soldering iron

This device is also a stand-alone tool. It has low power, up to 15 watts, and is used for soldering small electronic parts.

Soldering stations

There are two types of soldering stations. These are infrared type and hot air stations. They are not that common, but they have their advantages.

The hot-air version of soldering stations is equipped with heating of the soldering zone from the pressure of hot air that comes out of the soldering nozzle. They resemble hair dryers, the exhaust air of which comes from a nozzle.

Compressor and turbine soldering stations differ in the way air pressure is generated. For hot-air soldering irons, an electric motor with an impeller is located in the body of the soldering iron, which supplies air flow. In compressor stations, pressure is generated by a compressor with a diaphragm.

The compressor is also located in the station housing.

The infrared design of the stations generates heating by radiation of infrared waves. The heating zone can have a size of 10-60 mm. Its dimensions are determined by the adjustment system of the infrared emitter window. Different window shapes are obtained by using reflective tape made from foil. It covers areas of the electronic board that do not need to be heated.

How to choose soldering irons

The soldering iron must be selected based on its temperature and power parameters, as well as the conditions of use, and the user’s personal requirements.

If you need to use a soldering iron where there is no electricity, then purchase autonomous types of soldering irons, these are battery-powered or gas-powered. Infrared and hot air soldering stations are used more often for special work for soldering electronic parts.

Electric soldering irons with pulse heating have a high operating speed and are widely used among people who do not like to wait for a long time to heat up.

There are some criteria for choosing a soldering iron:

• Power . The required soldering iron power is selected depending on the type of work performed. If you need it for soldering electronic parts, then a power of up to 25 watts is better. You can use a device with a power of 40 watts, but then you will have to wind copper wire around the tip or make an attachment. It is also the best choice for tinning and soldering thick wires and desoldering.

For more extensive work on soldering massive and tin parts with significant heat dissipation, it is better to purchase a soldering iron with a power of 100 to several hundred watts. A hammer-type soldering iron is well suited for such purposes.

• Thermal stabilization . For professional solders, the most convenient type of soldering iron has become a model with thermal stabilization, which increases ease of use, speed and quality of soldering. For ordinary hobbyists who occasionally do soldering, this model is also convenient, since it can be set to the required temperature and automatically maintained. It is better that the soldering iron has the ability to accurately set the temperature, and not just the upper and lower limits. Instead of adjusting the temperature, it may be proposed to change the power, which has no connection with temperature. Without load and heat transfer, soldering irons will overheat, and with good heat transfer during soldering, the temperature may not be enough to work. The power regulator for a soldering iron is based on a dimmer.
• Sting . An important thing when choosing a soldering iron is the ability to change different tip configurations. If the soldering iron core is made of copper, then the tip configuration can be easily made into any shape if it is sharpened. You can also flatten it with a hammer instead of sharpening it. And if the core is covered with a fireproof material (nickel or other metal), then sharpening it is not recommended. Therefore, when deciding on choosing a soldering iron, you need to ask the seller about its configuration with spare tips.

Nickel-plated tips do not allow access to copper. Electric soldering irons with such tips require careful handling to avoid overheating. The coating may be of insufficient quality

There are a variety of tip shapes: cone-shaped, needle-shaped, beveled, screwdriver-shaped, etc. Each form is suitable for its type of work. Universal forms are tips sharpened to fit a screwdriver. They are suitable for many types of work. The solder sticks to them well. Due to the large bevel area, the part for soldering can be quickly heated.

Manufacturers of soldering irons advise using original tips, which are included in the kit of ceramic heaters, since when replacing tips with parts from other manufacturers, the operating temperature of the heater is disrupted, which causes its failure.

• Nichrome or ceramic . Some hobbyists who often solder radio components can give specific recommendations and advice based on their experience in using such devices with different types of heaters.

The advantages of nichrome wire as a heater: low cost, less than that of a ceramic model, falls and impacts are not dangerous. Disadvantages: slow heating, limited service life, since the wire gradually burns out during operation. But this only happens with long-term daily use. If you solder occasionally, the nichrome wire will not burn.

The advantage of a ceramic heating element is durability. With careful, careful use, the soldering iron will serve for many years. Its heating rate is higher than nichrome. Among the disadvantages is the risk of breakage if hit or dropped. The soldering iron only works with its original tips.

Related topics:

Source: https://electrosam.ru/glavnaja/slabotochnye-seti/oborudovanie/paialniki/

Pulse soldering iron - popular manufacturers

A pulse soldering iron is used to dismantle and install circuit elements of electrical products and other small parts. With its help, you can desolder many parts, even relatively small ones, without damaging other parts of the circuit. The tip for a pulse soldering iron is made of copper wire, as for other models. The only difference can be those options in which its surface is covered with additional metal layers.

This is a modern model, which is presented on the market in a fairly wide variety, since their production technology is constantly evolving. Now you can find both simple models for home use and more serious professional options sold in protective cases.

An electric pulse soldering iron is often confused with network transformer models. In such devices there is a step-down transformer, but there is no high-frequency converter. Otherwise, the soldering irons are very similar to each other. Unlike transformer soldering irons, pulse soldering irons can work much faster and do not require as long breaks as their counterparts.

Appearance of a pulse soldering iron in the form of a gun

Application area

The pulse soldering iron gun is used when working with microcircuits and small electrical parts. All small contacts that can be soldered or need to be desoldered can be processed using this tool. Thanks to its unique operating principle, the soldering iron provides excellent conditions for working with such parts. The production and repair of gadgets, home appliances, radio circuits and other things, all this may require such a soldering iron in the arsenal.

Principle of operation

Before considering the question of how a pulse soldering iron works, you need to understand what is included in its composition. After all, these things are directly interconnected. The main structural elements are:

• The tip is the main working tool in contact with the soldering areas;
• Holder – serves for comfortable control of the tool during soldering;
• Heater – necessary to warm up the tip;
• Electrical cord with plug – used to connect the soldering iron to the network;
• The rod is the part of the device before the start of the sting.

The main heaters in modern models are most often a nichrome spiral. It heats up under the influence of electric current. The normal heating temperature for operation is the one at which the solder will melt. The rod is made of copper due to the fact that it conducts heat well and heats up as quickly as possible. Most often, the sting is made in the form of a wedge.

The inside of a pulse soldering iron

Due to the fact that this device operates at low voltage and has a unique design, it has a high efficiency. A pulsed ceramic soldering iron uses electricity efficiently. Current passes through the tip only during soldering.

This is how a pulse soldering iron differs from its usual use in practice. The remaining differences relate mainly to the presence of a frequency converter in the modern design.

As in a conventional design, the tip can be not only copper, but also made of other materials.

Advantages

The main advantages of this device include the following factors:

• Ergonomic design. The soldering iron is relatively lightweight, compact in size, and does not lose functionality.
• The presence of high-frequency voltage converters and some innovative materials creates excellent conditions for the soldering iron to work in its field.
• The presence of power regulators allows you to work with both small and larger parts and select individual parameters for each connection.
• The presence of a forced heating function in modern models allows you to save time when working with the device.

Flaws

Despite the abundance of advantages for its field, this type of device also has a number of disadvantages, which include:

• High cost, which is caused by the complexity of the design;
• Repairing soldering irons becomes quite a complex process;

"Important!

It is difficult to work with sensitive microcircuits, since they can be damaged due to the accumulation of high-frequency voltage in the tip.”

Types of pulse soldering irons

There are several varieties of this type of product. Features of models sometimes influence how to use a pulse soldering iron and what characteristics the tool will have. The main types of differences are those related to the method of heat transfer, the type of energy consumed, soldering, and so on. The main varieties include:

• Soldering irons with a copper tip;
• Soldering irons with ceramic tip;
• Devices with and without power regulator.

In addition, devices differ in power consumption, dimensions, shape and thickness of the tip, the presence of additional functions, and so on.

Soldering Features

Many novice craftsmen who encounter such devices for the first time may not know how the tool works. In fact, there are not many options for how to solder with a pulse soldering iron. Modern models have a special button that starts the device, creating the desired impulse.

Before this, the soldering iron is simply heated to the minimum temperature determined by its technical characteristics. As a rule, this temperature is not enough to melt the required parts. When you press the button, the power increases, which creates the desired impulse.

Thus, you need to bring the soldering iron tip to the place of soldering and at the right moment press the button that starts the heated device into operation.

Pulse soldering process

When disconnected from the network, it will no longer work, as could be the case with ordinary models that retain heat for a long time even after being disconnected from the network. Energy consumption with this operating scheme is minimal. Due to the peculiarities of soldering, these devices are most often made in the form of a pistol, which only adds convenience when pressing the button.

Popular manufacturers

On the modern market you can find a wide variety of models in different price categories with large differences in parameters. The segment of budget soldering irons, which are affordable to many people, is growing widely. The main manufacturers that have won the trust of customers include the following companies:

• Mega;
• ZD;
• Koot;
• Sturm;
• Topex;
• Bahco;
• Licota;
• Dedra.

Conclusion

A pulse soldering iron with a ceramic heater, like other models of this type, is an indispensable device for its field. All possible disadvantages and difficulties of its use fade into the background when an urgent need for its use arises.

The sophisticated design that allows the pulse soldering iron to work puts it in a separate row. They should not be compared with other models, as they have different application features. Soldering irons are used quite rarely for home use, unless we are talking about radio amateurs.

In any case, professionals will always choose high-quality and reliable products.

Source: https://svarkaipayka.ru/oborudovanie/payalniki/impulsnyiy-payalnik.html