unisolder 5.2c power supply - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 04:54:22 am
content: anyone build one of these in the usa and if so which transformer did you use? im told it needs a 24v 6amp output. i dont always have 220v where id be using it so looking for 120v primary i have a couple kits coming to assemble (someone bought them and never were able to figure them out supposedly everything except trans in there even the case they bough) and would like to use a toroidal vs switched one.

author: Ungolian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 05:40:16 am
content: The Hammond 1182Q12. 24V, 6.67A, 160 watts.https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Hammond/1182Q12?qs=qPaGMJUC%252BSt8h6eTVU61Xw%3D%3D

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 07:19:46 am
content: thank you i saw that one but for some reason i could have sworn i read to stay with 6amps max i may be wrong. im trying to remember where i thought i read that. there is also an antec one i found tonight. hammond makes nice stuff from my experience though

author: Ungolian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 08:09:04 am
content: Actually, I assume that was you that just posted on the Unisolder forum about this too. Ironically, the non-toroidal one he listed specifically is 144w, when he's saying 130w... Doesn't seem to specifically need 130w, but I also don't know how far over 130w the unit will tolerate. An extra 30w is 23% over recommendations. You could go with the Hammond 1182P12 which is 120w, to be on the safe side. I was going to get a unisolder, but I couldn't get into the forum, and I PMed him here, but never got an answer.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 08:29:09 am
content: that is actually my brother in law lol. he also ordered pre done boards from vulken there but he asked me which transformer to use and i was not sure. the kits i have are coming in pieces i have to fully assemble these so im even hoping everything is there. but i bought them for 50$ each "kit" because the guy sat on them for like a year.so i told him to post there and ask. i also have an account there under the same name as here. i think i only posted like once maybe twice about using the larger screen.so many mixed thoughts on the transformer. some tell me do not exceed 6a some say you can by a bit some say stay with a 5a one etc so im like huh which one is proper to actually use. i saw where the ones he was selling were 12v 4.16a / 24v 6a dual secondaries. but he said now with 5.2 you dont need those anymore just the 24v. thats why i was hoping to see which ones people actually did use that worked properly. i was thinking about testing some switched ones also but i guess with the newest firmware settings are not retained when using them

author: Ungolian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 08:44:53 am
content: Good luck then. Not sure what you were going to do for casings for them, but when I was looking into these, I considered using micro tower ATX PC casings. They are generally 6x13x13 inches, and were fairlry cheap on Newegg.com (like $35). But the front panels really limited it- fan placement, type of material, etc. I did manage to find one that looked like it would work, but since I never got a unisolder, that never happened.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 08:59:10 am
content: he wants to use these really slim ones so he was going toroidal so he can mount it sideways somehow he didnt show me his full idea yet. the one vulkan linked to i showed him a few days ago but its huge size wise and he will have to change up the case he was making or modding somehow. im not decided yet on housing myself so i can go either style. most people seem to use toroidal style trans though from the pics i have found anyway. appreciate it. hopefully someone will chine in who who uses them here in the usa and which ones they used to buld them

author: Ungolian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 09:13:40 am
content: Cool. I found the link to the one I was looking at. 6x13x13. Front panel is flat, didn't swing open like a door, power button on top, and comes in different colors. I was just going to pull out the front grill and fan, and replace it with plexi glass for the display and controls (preferably rotary encoder), the USB port looked problematic though. The pin connector mounting looked to be an issue too. I'm assuming the casing was plastic, and while you could drill through it, it probably wasn't too sturdy, and would probably have to brace it to one of the corner aluminum brackets. But I could get into it. I liked the white one.https://www.neweggbusiness.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9B-11-353-095&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleBiz&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleBiz-_-Cases%20(Computer%20Cases%20-%20ATX%20Form)-_-DIYPC-_-9B11353095&source=region

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 07, 2021, 11:45:42 pm
content: Quote from: mastershake on December 05, 2021, 07:19:46 amLooks an interesting project, I haven't heard of the Unisolder before.Regarding the transformer, it won't hurt having one with a higher current capability, it's bad if the transformers current capability is lower than what is required. Or if the voltage is too high.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 12:54:30 am
content: i read somewhere the board doesnt like it but i cant remember where i read that and i could be mistaken thats why i was curious to see what others used. id prefer to use a toroidal but there is a laminate one that fits exactly spec wise so im torn

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 01:13:14 am
content: There is something seriously wrong with the design of their board if it doesn't like like it. The only way this can happens is if the board is pulling too much current, but that's a bad a scenario with a transformer that cannot supply enough current. As if will get hot, burn out or not last as long. I'd go with what you want to fit such as that toroidal. The transformer should never be the item in the chain that's used for current limiting. That must be done elsewhere in the circuit.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 01:35:37 am
content: like i said there is an exact match el lam style transformer i just was kind of wanting to go toroidal because of the case i planned to use. im not thinking the toroidal will really have much benefit in a soldering station other then lighter weight and smaller size. its not audiophile lol. and the el lam style is less then half the cost. hmmm

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 02:31:49 am
content: I used a 6A toroid and made a case out of ¼" acrylic. It drives the Pace TD-200 just fine.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 02:49:16 am
content: Quote from: Ground_Loop on December 08, 2021, 02:31:49 amcan i ask the make and model of the one you used? case looks awesome

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 12:09:46 pm
content: Quote from: mastershake on December 08, 2021, 02:49:16 amPic attachedWhile I'm here, does anyone know what iron holder the sensor board is designed for? Adapting it to the Pace ADS200 holder is going to be a kluge that I want to avoid.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 04:59:50 pm
content: Quote from: mastershake on December 08, 2021, 01:35:37 amGiven the option I'd take the toroidal over an EI transformer, there are quite a few benefits and they don't hum as bad as EI transformers for a start.What is the cost difference between the 6A EI and 6.6A toroidal?

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 05:48:01 pm
content: they are almost double the price generally usually around 20-30$ more. i did find a few china toroidal makers who will custom wind them for me but im questionable about the possible quality for the money but they would make exactly what i want for 50$ or so shipped.

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 06:15:03 pm
content: Quote from: mastershake on December 08, 2021, 05:48:01 pmWow yeah that starts to add up, it looks like the transformer is the most expensive part of the build!I've used transformers in lots of things I've built but I have never actually bought one new, I've taken them out of anything I've scrapped or got them from ham radio rallies.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 06:17:48 pm
content: i may order one from china custom to test out i mean they almost all come from there anyway unless you spend a lot more money. antek has a perfect one but its been out of stock and i called them they dont have then for a while

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 08, 2021, 06:24:11 pm
content: Quote from: mastershake on December 08, 2021, 06:17:48 pmThe irony would be buying a cheap Chinese soldering station/re-work station just to take the transformer out of it

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 05:09:38 pm
content: This thread renewed my interest in resolving a couple open issues I have with Unisolder. The first is getting the sensor installed and holder setback operating as I addressed earlier. The second is the horrible key bounce I have on the encoder. I have now solved that with a quick hardware fix. I soldered a 100nF cap over the top of and parallel to the S1 and S3 pull down resistors R36 and R41. Works really well if anyone is having a similar problem. I really didn't want to pay for an optical or hall encoder.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2021, 06:34:35 pm
content: so im down to either the triad ei trans or a "custom" wound one from china from a seller on ali who said they will custom wind one to my specs. i have not dealt with before. price is 62$ for 2 of the ei's or 118$ for 2 toroid's so almost double the cost. hmmm

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2021, 07:08:26 pm
content: You realize that just about any 24V AC or DC source will work. A couple 12 V batteries under the bench on a trickle charger would work. You only need the 6A for max performance. Try something laying around and later something might turn up.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2021, 10:12:38 pm
content: the new firmware requires a trans i guess to keep the settings. this is what vulken posted over on that forum "in the new firmware, the settings are saved from power AC ( transformer). if you have a switching power supply connected, the settings will not be saved." as well as im worried about it being on my desk and inducing any noise into anything i may be working on.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2022, 03:11:36 am
content: bummer i ended up getting two nicer EI trans for these and sparky i guess says those dont work well so now im back to finding toroidal ones again. these might work but im being told they dont work well. waste of money. damn

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2022, 12:25:26 pm
content: I think you are overthinking this, nothing wrong with an EI transformer in your application.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2022, 12:52:41 pm
content: i guess they cause instability or something over there at the forum they are now suggesting not to use them. ill hook one up and see but sparky said you have to use the newest firmware to even get them to work right at all. didnt make sense when my brother in law told me sparky said that they wouldnt work over there. ill try one this weekend and see what happens.

author: mastershake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2022, 10:21:21 pm
content: http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/index.php?topic=7218.msg74079#msg74079Here they are.This is toroidal, JBC C105, 1/8 power:XThere is no peaks, except really narrow negative one when the power is switched on. This is how it should be.This is EI, on the same iron, 1/4 power (the leakage inductance is so large that it cannot power it with 1/8 power eny more):XNotice the HUGE negative peak when the power is switched on, and the HUGE positive peak when the power is switched off later. The second peak also adds some error to the measurement of the temperature, although this is eliminated in firmware with wave shaping.So, again, USE TOROIDAL TRANSFORMERS with this project, please. You will save both me and yourselves much trouble.Yes, the EI I am using for tests is REALLY NASTY one (in fact the original one from BK3000LF station), yours may look considerably better, but there is no EI transformer that can be even close to the HUGELY less toroidal transformer leakage inductance.Sorry guys, but I cannot fight phisics. No one can.P.S: The leakage inductance, measured:- Toroidal: 3.76mH- EI: 122.7mH (yes, one hundred and twenty two, point 7)This is 33 times difference.I may put a setting in the menu for not using partial power in the future if someone absolutely insists, but I still won't be able to guarantee that it will work with any EI transformer in the world.

author: sparkybg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 10:08:28 am
content: Just use toroidal and you won't have problem. It does not matter how big - u can use 500W if you want - it just won't do enything more than 140-150W. The controller limits the RMS (not peak) current to 6A.Yes, when non-toroidal transformer is used, there were problems when 1/8 power is used. This is now corrected, but anyway I STRONGLY recommend using a toroidal transformer.The difference HUGE, due to HUGE difference in leakage inductance (33 times in my case).