Hakko FX888D / Hakko FX951 / Ersa I-CON Nano (or I-CON 1) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ironcurtain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 12:14:51 pm
content: Hi,I have to replace my old Aoyue 968 and I realized I need to spend on a good soldering iron.So far it has come to these choices after reading most of the threads related to them here, in order of preference:Ersa I-con Nano or I-con 1 if I find a good saleHakko FX951Hakko FX888DI would like to know pros/cons of the FX951 from Hakko and the Ersa units. They have a very similar cost in Europe and I do mostly SMT soldering, but plenty of TH work and RF connectors too. I need something dependable.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 03:58:18 pm
content: I would look and wait for the Pace ADS200, it's just been released and could be a game changer. Not a lot to go on yet since it's so new, but Pace is typically regarded as top shelf gear and unless it has issues may end up being top pick if they can keep the price down. It looks to deliver up to 120W with the high performance (thermal mass) tips and appears to have a nice handle with a desirable (short) working distance. It has a very large selection of tips (which I've seen from Pace in the past).Only have US pricing at the moment, the station is around $220 (slightly under the Hakko FX-951) the tips are reasonably priced at $11 for the standard and $13 for high performance (half the price of many T12 tips). Consider if you want the setback stand when ordering as it's a unique code.Read this post on EEVblog.https://assets.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/Pace_ADS200_-_Brochure.pdf

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 04:54:30 pm
content: PACE-Worldwide said:QuoteIt worth the try, i hope some reviews come out soon, also the tip life is very important to be known.But if you can't wait some months for a stable review, ERSA is the way to go, more than proved and very easy to stock parts for your country. Availability also matters!

author: ironcurtain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 09:53:50 pm
content: If I wait, I will have to try getting a new heating element for the Aoyue and use the TS100 meanwhile to do work.I assume the ERSA units all have separate heating elements, correct? I just don't want to risk having the heating element break down and then face a costly replacement part that is almost as expensive as the station itself, or 1/3 of it. I think the Nano has the heating element in the sleeve, like the Aoyue and Hakko lower end units, while the FX951 has the heating and sensor integrated in the tips. Isn't this a major functional advantage?

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 10:38:31 pm
content: Quote from: ironcurtain on March 27, 2018, 09:53:50 pmIs not TS100 capable of do the works you need?ERSA have heat element into handle, and tips are just plain tips (No cartridge), heat element can be replaced easy but they last very time, never replaced mine so far."Isn't this a major functional advantage?" Can be or not, if you go JBC for example i would say is a disavantage over ERSA, because tips are very expensive and dont last much as ERSA, so it depends from station to station, ERSA managed to get a excelent performance using that way, so advantage or disavantage depends on what you are comparing with.ERSA wins Hakko 888D easy and FX951 too, but 951 better than 888D.If someone offer me 3 options (Hakko FX951, Ersa i-con 1, JBC station) i would choose ERSA i-con 1 without doubt, or maybe JBC for sell and buy a ERSA as it worth moreAlso look at tip selection from ERSA and FX951, see what best fit you, both ERSA and FX951 are good choises. Compare prices, Availability and other criteria that you would like.PS: ERSA handle wins over all tools i have experienced, very nice, soft and lightweight, that also matters

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 11:13:29 pm
content: Quote from: ironcurtain on March 27, 2018, 09:53:50 pmYes, ERSA uses separate heaters.The pro for separate tips from the heating element is the TCO is less than cartridge tips as a general rule. For example, say tips need to be replaced once a year for 20 years, and in the case of a separate heating element, once over that 20yr cycle. Assuming just a single tip used all that time ($6 per plated tip & $30 per cartridge), cartridge tips come out to $600 total. The simple plated tips + 1 heating element @ $150, come out to $270. So less than half. More recent cartridge tip designs have gotten less expensive however, so this gap will likely close at some point.Please realize I only figured on a single heating element replacement as good quality manufacturers elements can last a decade at least, and should be longer for a less frequently used station. Unless you Widlarize it with a BFH of course.Of course it's still not quite that simple. As mentioned, tip selection is another deciding factor. But so are ergonomics, and cost & availability inyourparticular market/location. Then there's whether or not you genuinely need that couple of extra % in performance gains for what you're doing (assuming it exists*).* I say this based on YT videos I've seen on both an Ersa i-Con 1/2/4 with the iTool iron vs. a JBC station with a T245 iron.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 11:28:27 pm
content: QuoteIf you have to depend on your station where downtime can be costly, you probably need a backup station or three. But I have never broken or wore out anything on a Hakko 888 over almost a decade of using them pretty hard. The heating element isn't really a disposable/maintenance part on a genuine 888. As long as this style of heater is effectively sealed from oxygen and used within design parameters, it could potentially last forever... and forever is apparently what Hakko was shooting for on these. Because they came pretty close, IME. (Aoyue != Hakko).A quick search shows them available at about $20.00 from Tequipment.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 12:26:04 am
content: My oldest I-CON is about 8 years old, heater never failed, and I solder a lot. New heater costs around EUR 70. I think I've read only about faulty heaters which become shorted, some were damaged certainly because of mechanical impact.

author: ironcurtain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 01:06:17 am
content: Without shipping to ES, these are the best prices I have found:- Hakko FX888D: 140 EUR (free shipping)- Hakko FX951: 279 EUR + shipping not incl. until order is >300 EUR- Ersa I-CON Nano: 200 EUR - 209 EUR- Ersa I-CON 1: 343 EUR (shipping not incl.)There is a more than substantial price difference between them. I understand the point behind separate heaters, but when it comes to performance, isn't the temp control more accurate when the heater is built in / a cartridge? I want to be able to swap tips with ease. This is the biggest selling point for me next to price and endurance.Based on these prices, what do you guys think?

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 01:23:15 am
content: QuoteWhatever floats your boat, but selling points don't solder your joints.I would suggest you check for price and availability/selection of tips in your area, as well.

author: ironcurtain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 01:41:24 am
content: Quote from: KL27x on March 28, 2018, 01:23:15 amSelection from the suppliers is the same as it is stateside, pricing follows the markup of the stations, for Ersa they are 8-15 EUR it seems, nothing under 8~. Hakko T15s are 14-55 EUR it seems, depending on the tip, but each of those is tip+heater+temp sensor. I don't expect to use more than a small chiseled tip, a straight 'pencil sharpened' one, and perhaps a bigger tip to solder components with big thermal dissipation or ground planes.How does it sound then? It just seems the cost adds up no matter what, but with Hakko T15s you basically remove the risk of damaged heating elements. The soldering iron for the Nano from Ersa runs around 60 eur I believe... if the heater breaks, I don't know if you can find a heater-only part for the assembly. Anyone can confirm? Also video review links would be neat...

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 02:03:11 am
content: ERSA i-con 1 seens to have gain value over time... I had buy one new for 287,90 €, 29. November 2016, with no active promotion and they are now at 342.90 €, that margin is more than ok to stock a lot of tips, but now its expensiver if you don't need the extra power, Nano use same tips and i-tool.I also have a i-con 2V and that is more expensive now too, i like the things that earn value and not lost over time

author: ironcurtain
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 03:44:04 am
content: I'm really leaning towards the 951 or the Nano because of that... ugh. I will fix the Aoyue 968+ and sell it after calibrating it properly. I think next step is to replace the hot air unit with something decent. Meanwhile I still need to build my reflow oven... wallet this year is taking multiple hits! (and thats without talking about my computer lab expenses... ugh)

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 03:48:04 am
content: QuoteQuoteYou are worrying over the wrong thing, IMO. You are comparing a Mauser bolt action rifle to a pile of stamped, sheet-metal Sten guns, and you are worried the Mauser is going to fail, first.Yes, the Ersa handpiece costs a lot. But think of how cheap the station is when you remove 60 bucks. You're getting the station for only 140!QuoteI bet you are more likely to benefit from other tips down the road than having to ever fix/replace a broken heater on an Ersa/888. The tip selection is one of the greatest reasons for owning a quality station over the latest fad. I am probably a minority, but I have more $$ in dfferent tips than the cost of one of my stations.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:17:55 pm
content: Quote from: ironcurtain on March 28, 2018, 03:44:04 amGiven what you've indicated, you'd be fine with an ErsaNanoori-Con 1rather than a cartridge tip based station. The heating elements are available for Ersa's irons should you need one, but unless you abuse the heck out of it (i.e. create a short), it's going to last you a very long time.In regard to station cost, theFX-951falls in between the two Ersa's above.FWIW, these are the least expensive sources in the EU I'm aware of.As per hot air, I'd recommend getting aQuick 861DW.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 08:41:38 pm
content: Ended up just ordering a couple of Pace ADS200 stations and a pile of tips.Fortunately I didn't have too much invested in my current setup, I've been holding out a while and considered using a nice iron with a DIY controller and box. Pace have packaged a superior handle with very competitively priced tips/cartridges along with the exact form factor I was looking to make, for less than it would cost to make it, so I've dropped that idea.I can't speak for Esra as they aren't that big here (not a huge fan of LCD/OLED displays anyway) but I'm fairly confidant the Pace ADS200 is going to outclass the Hakko FX-951. It will speak for itself in performance but if a precursory look at the build quality is anything to go by it's surpassed it.Last week I would have said the Hakko FX-951 was an ok option but this week the Pace ADS200 is worth looking into. As other people mention it's all about the tip selection. Pace has about 40 tips already and I'm assuming more coming, they are normally big on tips.

author: Deridex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 07:28:59 am
content: I can't say much about the Pace or the Hakko exept that i don't like there look.About the Ersa i think they are quite reliable tools.