Found [cheap]: Hakko FG-100 Soldering Iron Tip Thermometer on Ebay. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2012, 09:09:30 pm
content: No, it is not a necessary item, but for people like me... it sure is nice to be able to set both my Hakko stations so they both track to the same temperature, more or less. It also helps to figure out my different tips as I find that some don't end up at the same temperature as the others with the knob set to the same setting. I have the largest chisel tip which I use for heavy duty connector soldering and I now know that I need to bump it up 50C over a typical smaller chisel tip that I use for regular electronics soldering. I have a Hakko 936 and recently purchased an FX-888 and I found that out of the box, the two did NOT AGREE on the tip temps.... not by a long shot, but now, after my tweaking and using the FG-100, they are equal.I got an FG-100 a couple of years ago.... can't remember what I paid for it, but it was always flaky. I saw this one on ebay and decided... why not. For less than $17, I got a Hakko FG-100 delivered PLUS there was a 10 pack of sensors included (my last FG-100 did not include the 10 pack, only 1 sensor was in the box) and it works ticketyboo. I see many of these are selling for close to $40 on Ebay and I don't think I'd pay that, but for ~$17... meh... it's chump change, why not?!?!?!So if you are like me, who just has to know what the tip temperature is of your soldering station(s), you can, for a measly $16+, get what I think is a good deal.http://goo.gl/7Rbc2RegardsChristian

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2012, 11:32:55 am
content: Its probably counterfeit, but if it works, it works. I agree with you and do such myself. However, for quick tests, I use eutectic solder. The true Hakko is over $200.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/general-chat/do-you-calibrate-your-soldering-station-if-not-or-if-so-why/A lot of issues on why and why not of calibrating, and how to do it cheaply.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2012, 08:15:38 pm
content: I broadly find that if the solder melts and flows freely, but the flux does not sizzle, smoke or burn, then I have a happy temperature.Knowing the actual value of the tip temperature has some curiosity value, but I have not yet felt compelled to satisfy that curiosity.

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2012, 12:47:58 am
content: To put it in perspective, yes, it's probably a grey market or clone/fake. It does work fine, and the 10 sensors were a bonus.I am under no illusion that it is super accurate, but relative temperatures were all I was looking for. Getting both my solder stations on the same page, which could of course be done with eutectic solder as well.. if not a bit more fiddly, was my goal. It also helped me discover temperature differences between the tips I use. I always wondered why one tip seemed so dang cold (and yes, it's probably a fake/clone Hakko tip too... though the packaging/appearance was identical or at least remarkably similar). For less than $17.00 delivered, I felt it was a *good* deal for a weekend hacker like me.RegardsChristian