Deciding between Hakko FX-888D or YIHUA 862BD+ soldering stations - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 02:40:57 am
content: i'm deciding between one of these stations.https://hakkousa.com/products/soldering/soldering-stations/fx-888d-digital-soldering-station.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/YIHUA-Soldering-Station-Multiple-Functions/dp/B07RY5XWVGIf you have one of these please let me know if you like it, if it does the job and how long you have it.. Also let me know if you can find replacement parts like irons and heater elements and other consumables like tips for it easily.Many thanks in advance

author: bidrohini
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 07:12:14 am
content: I am not sure where you live. If you live in North America where the outlet voltage is 110V AC, you can use Hakko directly. But if your supply voltage is 220V, you have to use a step-down transformer in between. Those are not always dependable. I have seen people returning this product just because of this voltage mismatch. Overall, the product quality is good and Hakko is a popular brand. YIHUA-862BD+ runs at 220V AC. If you decide to buy YIHUA, I suggest you buy from an authorized distributor.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 07:19:27 am
content: For the Hakko one you can find genuine parts at most Hakko distributors.The Yihua station uses handpiece and tips that are basically cloned from the older Hakko 936 (and others of that time) soldering station.The tips on Hakko 888 are a tiny bit different, I think a few mm longer, but they would probably work on Yihua station.There's lots of tips on eBay for the Yihua, you can buy them in packs of 10 if you want. You can also buy them from stores that sell Yihua and Atten stations, or sell rebranded stations from those - Atten is another big soldering station maker that has a bunch of stations that use the same hand pieces and tips "cloned" from old Hakko 936.For example Farnell/Newark rebrands some Atten stations under their Tenma brand, and sell some compatible tips for those and even have the product codes start with "900m" as the hakko 936 original tips series.The quality of these tips is not as good as genuine Hakko tips, but for beginners that want to solder stuff or repair some electronics, they're acceptable.You can also find heaters on eBay and hand pieces - there's probably 3 or 4 different hand pieces (difference is mostly in the connector plugging in the station) and the heaters are usually 24v AC and different wattagesSo the Yihua would be a better value for a beginner or someone that wants to repair things but has super tight budget, while the Hakko 888 has a higher build quality, more accurate, more consistent, better calibrated etc .There are better and cheaper soldering stations than both of these these days but I'm not up to date on which exact model is the best so not gonna recommend some.

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 11:24:13 am
content: Quote from: mariush on December 18, 2022, 07:19:27 amMany thanks Mariush. For me it is very important to find replacement parts. I think Hakko does a great job on that part

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 12:35:53 pm
content: We used old (non digital) Hakko for decades, 926, 936, excellent irons and still in use, genuine Hakko tips avail.No experience with Hakko 888 or the modern Blue/Yellow digital but Hakko Japan is a very high quality supplier.https://hakkousa.com/Best iron for SMD and power electronics (thick traces, gr planes, large wires) is the Metcal, my SP-200 design of 1995 is still made....https://www.testequipmentdepot.com/metcal/pdfs/sp200_manual.pdfChinese knockoff tips and irons have a bad reputation, short life, dangerous power supply, poor heat reg. In some Chinese irons, safety grounding and line isolation can be dangerous.I never save on tools , I get the best they will last a lifetime.Bon ChanceJon

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 02:34:27 pm
content: Quote from: jonpaul on December 18, 2022, 12:35:53 pmMany thanks Jon, i'll get the Hakko

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 03:32:29 pm
content: I have a Yihua 852D+, very similar to the one you are looking at. I've had it for 10 or so years and it has worked fine for me. The air-flow bottle sprung a leak recently due to bad assembly. It was an easy fix, but it did take 10 years to manifest itself. A testimony to the quality of the components if not the workmanship. I have replaced the iron once in that 10 years, but they are very inexpensive. I generally buy genuine Hakko tips to use on it. You can get them for pretty cheap too.

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2022, 02:25:33 am
content: I can buy a Zeny 862D+ rework station from a friend, but it needs a replacement iron. I searched the internet for a replacement iron, but can not find one. . The iron does not have a part number. I don't want to buy one based on the colors and looks of the broken iron. Anyone know where i can find a replacement iron?

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2022, 02:08:17 pm
content: Quote from: robsims on December 19, 2022, 02:25:33 amDon't pay too much for it. It's a cheap knock-off of a cheap knock-off.It looks like a standard 5-pin iron. Like this:https://www.amazon.ca/Electric-Soldering-Station-Heating-Portable/dp/B07GVBWTXV

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 06:38:23 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 18, 2022, 03:32:29 pmHow long do ceramic heating elements last?

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 06:42:28 pm
content: Quote from: robsims on December 19, 2022, 02:25:33 amMy friend bought a replacement soldering iron for the Zeny station, but it didn't work. He lost $20. It is a pain to find replacemenet parts for those chinese made units

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 09:49:46 pm
content: The Hakko 936 clone hand pieces have at least two incompatible types of heater element. One has a thermocouple temperature sensor and the other uses a PTC thermistor as original and can even be a genuine Hakko part.I recently bought my 3rd FX888D. They seem to be on permanent discount sale here,https://www.oritech.com.au/hakko-fx888d-soldering-station.html

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 10:01:43 pm
content: Quote from: xavier60 on December 21, 2022, 09:49:46 pmI'm going to buy a Hakko, because of the replacement parts that are available

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 10:29:10 pm
content: There are videos that explain settings instructions that may not be provided with the station.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 10:37:23 pm
content: Quote from: robsims on December 21, 2022, 06:38:23 pmAs I've said I have had mine for 10 years. I still have the original iron, but I just don't use it very often. I actually have 4 irons with 4 different size tips on them. I use the smallest and the largest the most often. The original handle has the 3rd largest tip in it and I use it the least. I have never had an element go on me, but I do have a couple of spares just in case. They are all readily available. If your friend bought a new iron and it does not work, the problem might be in the base unit.

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 11:17:45 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 21, 2022, 10:37:23 pmYihua is a known brand for electronic equipment. Other brands like zeny aren't. Also Yihua 862D+ differs from zeny 862D+. The boards inside are different. It's a waste of time to search for a replacement iron for the Zeny. If it was a Yihua i would have bought the station

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 11:20:31 pm
content: i made a picture of the heating element of the zeny iron. I saw dark spots on it. Question is, if the element is going to fail soon. Please have a look at the picture. Is the heating element still in good shape?

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 11:23:34 pm
content: That does not look good!.How many pins does the Zeni plug have? I have seen soem with 6 and 7 pins. I have never seen an replacement iron with 6 or 7 pins.

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 11:37:04 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 21, 2022, 11:23:34 pmIt has 5 pins. one ground, 2 for the heating element and 2 for the thermocouple

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 02:48:30 am
content: Quote from: robsims on December 21, 2022, 11:20:31 pmThat appears to be a reasonable quality PTC type heater element. The sensing PTC should measure about 50Ω cold and increase with temperature. With genuine Hakko heater elements, the heater is PTC also, but much lower resistance.

author: Pasan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 03:33:19 am
content: I do have both of the models for very long time.But my god HAKKO FX888D is clear winner.Temperature variation while soldering is very minimal.And the genuine tips are very durable.So my advice is go for the Hakko and you'll never ever regret the purchase.However when you buy make sure to order the correct voltage.

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 10:17:06 am
content: What is the lowest temperature you can set on the Hakko FX888D? If i have the unit i want to use that temperature as standby temp

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 10:18:45 am
content: Quote from: Pasan on December 22, 2022, 03:33:19 amWhat is the lowest temperature you can set on the Hakko FX888D? If i have the unit i want to use that temperature as standby temp

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 11:58:45 am
content: Quote from: robsims on December 22, 2022, 10:17:06 amMinimum settable temperature is 50°C.Up to 5 presets can be enabled, search for "FX888D enable presets"Due to the acceptable heat up time, I just switch mine off whenever I think the iron isn't going to be used for some time.

author: robsims
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 01:14:41 pm
content: Quote from: xavier60 on December 22, 2022, 11:58:45 amMany thanks Xavier60. I just ordered the Hakko, Many thanks again

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2022, 03:28:43 pm
content: I have 1 of the cheap 858D hotair stations. I found getting the handle back together pretty hard, and the wires break pretty easy just from low use.They don't have much power, but for now it was still worth the few bucks I paid. It works ok to remove a few parts, even a few BGA chips. (but actually IDK if any practice donor chips still work).IDK if I would like having both in 1, probably not, but it depends on your bench space/etc