Edsyn 971DX 230B Loner High P Deluxe Soldering Station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sparkypom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 02:55:12 pm
content: I thought I had a bargain when I got this off Ebay, but now I am not so sure. It was advertised as new but the seller had removed the wigapry calibration tool and was selling it bundled it with some other Edsyn items calling it an Edsyn PD534 toolkit when it didn't even contain a PD534. The seller refused to send me the wigapry because it wasn't explicitly shown in the listing even though it is mentioned as an included accessory in the manual so I decided to look inside.Check this chinese transformer out ! I tried to get an answer from Edsyn about whether this is likely to have been sent out of their factory in a new soldering station but so far they have been very cagey about it.Their customer support told me the stuff on the laminations is aramid paper but wouldn't tell me what it is doing just on this corner and it doesn't seem to serve any logical purpose. It looks like a microscopically thin layer of aramid paper on top of about half a mm of some hard dark stuff. Transformer bandage ?!And what is the broken bit of stuff stuck onto the side! I once spent 6 months in QA in an electronics factory and doubt something like this would have ever got out of the door. I'm no expert on transformers but this looks like some kind of repair job or the transformer has been previously used elsewhere.Anyone got any ideas ?

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 04:35:14 pm
content: Can it be removed? White tape like material seems to be curling out on the upper right. It looks like just a label.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 05:14:07 pm
content: It looks to me like they cut a portion of that black tape or cardboard or whatever it is that surrounds the transformer... i'm talking about the black material that's over the aramid paper.Perhaps this transformer was used in another device and on the portion above the transformer that was cut off, there was a label or notes that they didn't want you to see.Unrelated.... G-Luxon capacitors? Not quite a good brand...

author: sparkypom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 05:25:34 pm
content: The white stuff is allegedly aramid paper which is used as some kind of insulation. What I've found on the web about aramid suggests it is sometimes used as insulation on transformers, between or at the ends of the windings. I didn't find anything which suggests it is any use on the outside edges of laminations. Looking at it under a magnifier, it is fibrous like paper but microscopically thin. If you look for aramid paper in Google images, everything that comes up is a white colour. What you can see curling up is the darker material on which it is laid.When I asked the Edsyn customer support what purpose it served and why it was just on one corner, the answer I got was"the paper is used in one side of a corner on the transformer because that’s where is nee it on.It is not required to put the paper on other corners of the transformer"Not much helpI doubt that it left the factory like this and tend to think that their customer support is just rubbish.

author: sparkypom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 06:25:23 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on February 08, 2012, 05:14:07 pmIn one email to Edsyn I mentioned the G-Luxon cap. This station was manufactured in 2007, which was a time I have seen G-Luxon among many others mentioned as producing bad caps. Edsyn said that components and sub-assemblies are not all U.S.A. made so a bit unexpected for a station that retails at around USD $750.I just got another reply from one of their engineers I believe, in response to sending this image - "This appears to be an overflow of epoxy that is used to secure the Nomex insulation paper to the transformer. This is part of our assembly and is used to provide extra electrical insulation because right above this area is the Power Rocker Switch (high voltage). "That makes more sense but I wonder why they didn't put the insulation right across the top since the temperature adjustment pot is also above the transformer and the insulation doesn't extend that far. It is a bit higher than the insulated boots on the switch terminals though.Overall the construction is good and it is all very solid, but I sure wouldn't pay $750 for one. If I could have got a Hakko in the UK I would have.

author: zaoka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2012, 08:19:32 pm
content: I bought their desoldering station ZD500 a year ago, i dont like it!Once I press the switch it needs 3-6 seconds to start pump. They told me to clean it, I did, it was OK for 2 hours and its doing that again... I installed all new filter as well.Also when its in use it make so much noise and sponge holder is vibrating.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2012, 04:45:17 am
content: Yes,it's rough as guts!!Probably the gunk they stuck the white insulating stuff on with dissolved the black coating/paint which was already on the transformer.It doesn't compromise the safety of the transformer,though,& it does do what it is intended to do.Typical QA from the People's Republic!

author: joki
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 06, 2014, 11:38:48 pm
content: Just a reminder of the obvious ....Just because the interior of something is a little "rough" cosmetically does not mean the product performs poorly. The Edsyn's I have recently acquired perform beautifully even after 15-20 years of commercial use. These are mostly 951sx models, but I believe the 971 has a similar interior.You can't fault the way they work. The 971 is a little different though. Still, I'd choose a 951sx over a FX888D every day twice a day for ever and ever.