Difference between Hakko FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Crush
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 08:50:00 pm
content: Hi,I noticed that there are two models available FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY.They are both listed from a USA Ebay seller with the latter costing $6 more:http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Hakko-FX888-23BY-FX888-Soldering-Station-Replace-model-936-12-/380433497967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58939a7f6f#ht_4412wt_848http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Hakko-FX888-29BY-FX888-29BY-P-All-New-Soldering-Station-Solder-Station-W-Pencil-/170831473615?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c6596bcf#ht_4391wt_848I've been to their website and searched all I could and still don't know why they have different part numbers.Any help would be greatly appreciated.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2012, 09:39:32 pm
content: Since your links are to ebay.ca, implying Canada, then another alternative is Active Electronics which has the FX888 on sale right now for $99.99 ($40 off). I bought it back a few months ago when it was on sale for $88.88. Mine came with a 1.6mm chisel tip. This will save on shipping and handling and if something goes wrong, you take it back to Active.http://www.active123.com/FX88829BY-Soldering-Station-Prodview.htmlActive's regular price is a complete rip-off (not as bad as the 220V customers, but still it is 50% higher than what USA customers pay).If you don't live in a big city, another Canadian mail order for the FX888 is ($98.95)http://www.solarbotics.com/product/44162/Shipping might be a bit cheaper?

author: Crush
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 12:00:50 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on July 19, 2012, 09:39:32 pmHey thanks for the links. I'm in the Toronto area but Solarbotics has the good 22 awg jumper cables for a very low price:http://www.solarbotics.com/product/21035/They have assorted heat shrink tubing also..

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 01:28:08 am
content: I got my FX-888 from the local Active store during their $88.88 sale and I'm sure they will repeat something close to that again.. If you can't wait, then anything under $100 seems fairly reasonable in Kanuckistan.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 04:56:27 am
content: Quote from: Crush on July 19, 2012, 08:50:00 pmThe only thing I know about the model number is that the BY stands for blue-yellow, the most common case color combination the FX888 comes in. As for the rest, no idea. Ok, well, the 888 is a lucky number in China, so many manufacturers try to use that for some product.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 07:28:17 pm
content: Quote from: Crush on July 20, 2012, 12:00:50 amActive has a store in the Toronto area.http://www.active123.com/Locations-ExtraPages.htmlPS. I'm not affliated with Active in anyway. In fact, I find all their prices superhigh and wouldn't have bought the FX888 had it not been on sale.

author: Crush
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 08:46:23 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on July 20, 2012, 04:56:27 amOk I got the answer:"Hakko made the 29BY with a special packaging sleeve. They are the same unit so buying either one will get you the same item. Thanks."So that's about it.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 10:19:40 pm
content: Hakko had several different numbers for the US version, different packaging I guess made sense to their marketers. There was an 'RCP' version made for retail sales.Most folks get the mail order plainer packaging:Quote from: Crush on July 20, 2012, 08:46:23 pm

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2012, 10:42:11 pm
content: I bought a few FX888's for the workshop boys last year and they cost nearly AUD $200 each here.That said, we're very happy with them and they perform better than the 936's (that they replaced) for heavier soldering.