US/Mexico? type B to UK type G - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: magicj1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 03:51:55 pm
content: Hi,First time poster here. I bought a Weller soldering iron online, its arrived here in the UK (didn't even realise it was coming from the states, silly of me). I've cut the cord off the station power supple to fit into a UK plug but of the three wires, two are black one is green. Green should be ground/earth which is easy but the other two aren't coloured, just black.I can't plug it in to test which is live and neutral so my question is..if both are black (and one green) does it matter which wire goes into Live and which goes into Neutral? I've carefully stripped both a few times to double check i've not missed a colour to no avail.Any help appreciated. thanks! Pics can be provided but hopefully I've described it okMJ

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 03:52:56 pm
content: The first question to ask yourself is if it can handle 240V. The answer is likely no.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 03:58:17 pm
content: First, a pic of the back of the unit so we can tell you whether you can even do this. Wherever the label is that indicates voltage and power.Second, if it will work on 230V 50Hz, (and it probably won't, sorry to say) look at the plug you just cut off. Is one of the vertical prongs wider than the other? That would be the neutral, but since you've already cut it off, you probably can't match it up anymore. It probably won't matter, but the iron might have a bit more leakage one way than the other.

author: magicj1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:03:07 pm
content: Thanks for the replies. Heres a pic. The label says 120v but the leaflet says 230/24v.the unit is a WLC 100.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:05:37 pm
content: Only the sticker applies. You can't use this anywhere in Europe. Failed buy.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:06:17 pm
content: Well, the leaflet isn't authoritive, the unit is.You can't really use that over here. Which is mostly a good thing - that is a terrible soldering iron.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:06:49 pm
content: They most likely inserted the wrong leaflet.If the label says it is 120 volt and had a type B plug, safely assume that this is a US market variant. Connect it to the UK mains and the magic smoke should come out.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:09:03 pm
content: Since you already cut the cord and can't return the unit, you will require a 240/120 V converter transformer.If the unit inside has a steel cored transformer, it might overheat somewhat when applied with 50 Hz.

author: magicj1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:11:03 pm
content: Yeesh, should have done my homework I guess. £40 wasted!Thanks for the help. If anyone in the UK wants this let me know hahaThe website had a .uk, only to see it was being shipped from Texas!Wanted a half decent entry level one without getting wierd amazon lookalikes. Guess back to the drawing board!

author: magicj1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:13:36 pm
content: A quick search I see step down transformers at £50 or so here, I might just save my breath and get something else for the time being.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:13:58 pm
content: Quote from: schmitt trigger on June 09, 2020, 04:09:03 pmFor the price of a transformer, even that small, he may as well go and buy an actual temperature controlled station.This isn't exactly steller, but it beats that Weller (see what I did there? I'll get my coat..):https://cpc.farnell.com/tenma/21-21305/soldering-station-50w/dp/SD0220161

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:17:01 pm
content: Open it and see if it looks like this:http://www.tonyvanroon.com/oldwebsite/circ/wlc100.htmlIf it does, then the heating element most likely is for 110V, then youroptions is to use a step-down transformer or possibly to replace theelement with a 230V element.There's also another thread about this iron (where I found the link above):https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/weller-wlc100/

author: magicj1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:21:47 pm
content: Might just jump on this now.Been enjoying entering electronics during lockdown but the constant waiting for parts holds it up somewhat. Thanks for the reccomendation

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:26:17 pm
content: Quote from: magicj1 on June 09, 2020, 04:21:47 pmDon't forget tips and some decent solder. I strongly recommend one of the smaller chisels - 1.6mm goes well with most hobby work IME.https://cpc.farnell.com/multicore-loctite/x-39-60en-2c-0-7mm-r-250g/solder-wire-60-40-0-71mm-250g/dp/SD02679is probably perfectly nice for solder (although I've never used that particular flux). I use thinner, but that's probably about right for starting out.

author: magicj1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2020, 04:34:20 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on June 09, 2020, 04:26:17 pmThanks. I'll put this one down to experience and get that iron. Hopefully back on my feet soon!

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2020, 12:59:17 am
content: Did you open the unit and check if it is not one 110 / 220 Jumper there?This may help you safe some bucks on a 220 to 110v transformerhttps://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=220v%20To%20110v%20Transformer&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-154084-066388-8&mkcid=2&keyword=220v%20to%20110v%20transformer&crlp=432912992296_&MT_ID=584536&geo_id=32251&rlsatarget=aud-381667280843:kwd-304960044633&adpos=&device=c&mktype=&loc=1001773&poi=2826&abcId=1140026&cmpgn=1537574600&sitelnk=&adgroupid=60349938124&network=g&matchtype=p&gclid=CjwKCAjw5vz2BRAtEiwAbcVIL0jvF1V-xF4HwBmY1dYYFD3GAQTtL8AoU5OBhLLyQfjA2BMunykGlxoCUPYQAvD_BwE

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2020, 01:53:18 am
content: Quote from: ebclr on June 10, 2020, 12:59:17 amIt's a TRIAC and a 110V heater element. No, there is no jumper.QuoteGood money after bad.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2020, 04:46:59 am
content: If you want another approach with fresh moneyI'm quite happy with thesehttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/32958961150.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.16274ba4KCQKRe&algo_pvid=8c4f8561-c033-4cdc-85db-f1796389a46c&algo_expid=8c4f8561-c033-4cdc-85db-f1796389a46c-7&btsid=0ab6fab215917643230648294ef10b&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_