ERSA I-CON Pico Grounding - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Pexy13
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 09:34:21 am
content: Hey guys.I am planing to buy the ERSA I_CON PICO and was looking on youtube for reviews and saw the grounding "tutorial".Is that a good idea to do that or am I OK without doing it?Here's the link:Thanks

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 09:57:03 am
content: Quote from: Pexy13 on May 12, 2017, 09:34:21 amIt depends - what are you going to be soldering with it?Having been "got" by a non-grounded soldering iron I would prefer that the tip is grounded. I have the I-con-nano station, with a three-pin UK plug, and the iron tip is grounded.

author: Pexy13
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 11:14:30 am
content: I would be soldering just about everything.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 01:30:10 pm
content: Just buy the nano instead. Modding the station voids the warranty, and it's not as though the price difference is so big as to make it worth the time and loss of warranty. And the nano has the same heater as the bigger models, with the more durable metal threads and body, as well as a much nicer stand.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 01:52:16 pm
content: Unless you have ESD mat and wrist strap, it not like it will make any significant difference.BTW PICO should come 1.6 mm chisel tip. But you may want to order something larger for heavier job, like 2.4mm chisel (best size for general through hole IMO) or larger together with station to not waste money on separate shipping.

author: Pexy13
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 02:44:22 pm
content: Nano is 50$ more expensive

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 03:44:10 pm
content: Quote from: Pexy13 on May 12, 2017, 02:44:22 pmAnd it is a much better station as well. More powerful, grounded tip and you get a proper stand, not that unusable junk that comes with the Pico. Have a Nano myself, colleague has a Pico and certainly wouldn't want to swap to Pico after seeing it. This is not a good place where to pinch pennies.

author: Pexy13
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 08:55:16 pm
content: Allright if I find Nano for less than 150$ I will get it

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 09:09:51 pm
content: Quote from: Pexy13 on May 12, 2017, 08:55:16 pmTry sending a PM to Toploser on this forum. He may have one. Otherwise no chance for this. EUR 174 actually is cheap. A while ago they were selling for EUR 200+

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 09:24:17 pm
content: Proper stand is worth $200.00.Try making one, yourself.

author: Koen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 09:33:38 pm
content: Amazon.de sells the Nano for 170 EUR with free delivery to a few countries.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 11:28:27 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on May 12, 2017, 09:09:51 pmYep, mine was 265 EUR mid-2013. The price went down quite a bit since then. If you buy it, don't forget to buy also the nuts for fixing the tips. If you have to change the nut to the new tip whenever you change tips it is a major pain, they are quite difficult to remove, especially when the tip is hot. Having an extra one for each tip you use is a lot more convenient.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 10:41:13 am
content: Quote from: janoc on May 12, 2017, 03:44:10 pmThe rated power of the nano and pico is identical: 80W peak, 68W continuous.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2017, 09:23:32 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on May 13, 2017, 10:41:13 amHmm, I remember the Pico being less powerful, something like 60 vs 80W on the Nano, but you are right, the specs are the same. Not sure whether ERSA has updated the Pico in the meantime or I have remembered it wrong.They seem to use also different handsets but ERSA is pretty mum on what exactly the difference is, apart from the lack of grounding on the Pico.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2017, 04:12:53 pm
content: Quote from: janoc on May 13, 2017, 09:23:32 pmYou're neither remembering wrong or right, nor have there been any changes, it's simply that Ersa itself can't decide whether to market them as 68W or 80W. But as I said, the rated power of the nano and pico is identical: 80W peak, 68W continuous.Quote from: janoc on May 13, 2017, 09:23:32 pmThe i-TOOL nano handle uses the same heater as the "big" i-TOOL handle, whereas the i-TOOL pico handle uses a cheaper heater that's partly plastic.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2017, 10:11:45 am
content: Quote from: tooki on May 14, 2017, 04:12:53 pmThat has been my impression too, but it is not obvious from the photos and ERSA really doesn't make it clear what the differences are!Thanks for confirming it.