High Power Soldering Stations - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: openyk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2024, 03:29:54 am
content: Can someone tell me some high quality options for high power (ideally 200W+) soldering stations? My Pace ADS200 has a known defect (poor higher power performance) where it is not able to sustain continuous 120W as rated, but rather effectively limited to 60W as evidenced in SDG's youtube review and month-long testing a few years back (is there even a firmware update path to fix this?). I know of the recently released Hakko FX-805 (Hakko known for mediocre UI) and Metcal's GT120 (not really high power), but surely there's more in the landscape.I want to buy 1 high-quality high-power soldering station with usable UI, decent tip selection, and be done with it.Hakko FX-805400W50C to 500CESD SAFEHAKKO T37 TIPScMETus certified960 USD (but no tips!)Wattage Comparison Video:Also found:Weller WXSmart200W (https://www.weller-tools.com/us/en/industrial-soldering) (WXS2012 is the heavy duty soldering set) (I know weller for their simple irons from a decade+ back, pretty old school impression, but these are fancy, though I don't need all these production control settings and wireless datafeed) (alternatively, the WT family seems to go up to 150W but it's an oldie 7+ years old)1300 USD (station)1600-2600 USD (kits)Animated Usage Video:UPDATE: might as well post details of what I foundUPDATE 2024-03-20: I ended up getting the Hakko FX-805 (needs T37 tips ordered separately). Reasoning is it's the highest power (400W), electrically certified (cMETus), video-demonstrated power comparison (150W vs 300W vs 400W), and even less expensive (960 USD + 75 USD per tip) than the reputable high-power alternatives (1500USD + tips). I know some people have mixed feelings about Hakko especially after Louis's video about their technical non-openness, and I share that sentiment, but it doesn't look like there's a kicad-like alternative here. In other words, JBC, Weller, Metcal, they all look similar in my eyes to Hakko. Even though the JBC first impression was good, I heard about their business/technical hiccups too (ex.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/warning-to-jbc-dde-1c-soldering-station-owners-check-your-firmware!/)

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2024, 11:46:55 pm
content: I have never used a high power (more than 120W) soldering station. There is a 250 Watt JBC HDE available.https://www.jbctools.com/hde-heavy-duty-product-933.htmlThe cartridge range is wide.https://www.jbctools.com/c470-cartridge-range-product-22.html

author: openyk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2024, 08:29:44 am
content: Quote from: Hydrawerk on March 09, 2024, 11:46:55 pmThis is my first time looking at JBC stations and I like them! Product design ethos seems very practical. They're advertising excellent tip thermal response and highly-consistent reactive power delivery, which is exactly the functional priority that I'd want an engineering team to focus on. JBC HDE has jumped to the top of my shortlist.UPDATE: alas I was informed that this JBC station is only CE approved and would not pass electrical inspection in Canada. Seems to be a common theme with many European machine/tool product lines.

author: khach
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2024, 10:07:41 am
content: RG150W induction heating with 500 series tip.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 09:22:31 pm
content: It might help to show some photos of what you are trying to solder, or what tips you want to use.Metcal GT120 was tested against JBC HDE and performance was supposedly similar:https://www.metcal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Inductive-vs-resistive-heating-a-comparison_by_Metcal.pdfBut:- This testing is from metcal themselves so clearly biased- We don't have indepentant tests of HDE, though SDG has compared GT120 and MX5200 and found the MX5200 to be superior (link:youtu.be/Z-hwjWW4G_A?t=974)- If you are using a massive specialized tip it might need more than 80-120W of the metcal.I'm sure either station will be good.

author: RiRaRi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 04:29:23 pm
content: JBC HDE is same power as JBC compact stations which i have. 150W

author: eutectique
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 05:13:29 pm
content: Quote from: RiRaRi on March 12, 2024, 04:29:23 pmA compactJBC BT-2BQA, being advertised as 140W station, usesBT-2Apower supply, which is rated to 75W (scroll to the last page).Weidingercalls it "heat-up rating 140W / nominal power 75W", which is confusing.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2024, 09:24:39 pm
content: Quote from: RiRaRi on March 12, 2024, 04:29:23 pmNo, its 250W."It can provide up to 250W when used with a HDE Heavy Duty Station and C470 Cartridge Range."https://www.jbctools.com/hde-heavy-duty-soldering-station-product-933.htmlhttps://www.jbctools.com/t470f-thermal-insulator-grip-hd-handle-product-126.htmlOf course real world use might be a different story. And 250W might be peak not continuous.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2024, 10:54:57 pm
content: Another option is the Ersa i-tool HP handpiece (250W) with a compatible station.See pages 21-24 in the catalog:https://ts.kurtzersa.com/fileadmin/medien/members_final/Electronics/9_Medien/9.5_Kataloge/9.5.1_Tools/Ersa-Tools-Catalog-en.pdfThe smaller i-Tool (150W) irons are great everyday handpieces that work with the same stations.Out of curiosity, what is it you need so much power for? 200W+ is a lot.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2024, 11:08:57 pm
content: There is a 200W Bakon BK3300 soldering station.https://www.verpackungsgerate.de/detail/loten/desktop/mikrolotgerat-bakon-bk3300-200w.htmlhttps://www.bakon.cc/quality-lead-free-soldering-electric-iron-anti-static-fast-heating-welding-soldering-station-BK3300-pd46820125.htmlI am not sure whether it is good. Soldering tip range is rather limited.https://www.verpackungsgerate.de/loten/bakon-bk500-spitzen/p-1-24.html

author: azone
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 09:10:01 pm
content: ..happen to come across the old-ish thread. Just wanted to note I've been using the Pace ADS200 for a couple years and it's the best all around medium power station I've ever used. I have used Pace MBT250/MBT350/ST125 w/ PS90/TD100/TD200, Hakko 971 w/ 9701, JBC 1BQF w/ T245 handpiece, and some of the older Weller's. The ADS200 just works, small power supply module w/ detached stand so takes up minimal desk space and can use it roaming if need to. TD-200 tips last forever. Super comfortable handpiece, very short tip-to-grip. With the high capacity tips it meets power spec for me so not sure if they made changes or what.I will note that Pace having three different types of technologies is what is crazy. SensaTemp, IntelliHeat and AccuDrive, I end up having multiple power supply units to use all of my handpieces, I'm not buying an MBT-360 and replacing IntelliHeat tools (i.e. MT-100) just to have one unit for all. You get peanuts second hand for things like the MBT-250, SX-100, MT-100 etc.. it would cost a net of about $1300 just to swap to MBT-360 to get all your tools on one unit. But if you're starting from new Pace and the ADS200 is great.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 09:42:17 pm
content: Quote from: azone on July 21, 2025, 09:10:01 pmTake a look athttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/desoldering-devices/msg3399546/#msg3399546In that post (and another one a few posts earlier), I describe the Pace systems in use. With that info, you can decide whether it might help in any way to convert some handpieces from one connector type to another.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:28:02 pm
content: Quote from: azone on July 21, 2025, 09:10:01 pmWe have a ads200 thread here already:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/newest-pace-ads200-production-station-(a-jbc-killer-at-$239)/its not really relevant to this thread about high power stations.However, if you have used the 971, we have very little info on that, so feel free to add some (eg max power draw, etc.):https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/hakko-fx-971-fx-972/

author: BH3XON
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 01:31:09 am
content: In China, for around $10, you can get a heating element that uses a recycled C470 cartridge tip, re-soldered into a single integrated piece. Since the heating element and tip are fused together during reassembly, the performance is actually quite decent.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2025, 04:05:14 am
content: I have only had mine for 2-3 weeks but I really really like it.GeeBoon.com. I bought the unit as described in the video and nicer solder tool holder. I use the supplied GeeBoon tool and tip for high power stuff but have a JBC 245 and tips that also work perfectly with it. I have ordered the 3 tool switch for it now and I've ordered GeeBoon tips for the 245 to test them.I don't think you can go wrong getting a JBC system but my budget doesn't support such an investment. The GeeBoon seems very good quality and the pricing was fantastic when I ordered mine on Amazon but they show them currently unavailable right now.