Metcal MX-5000 never enters sleep mode - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PC
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 02:53:51 pm
content: Hi,I recently purchased an old Metcal MX-5000 soldering station. It was sold with an MX-H1-AV soldering iron, Sttc-037 tip and MX-W1-AV stand.The unit works great and I already used it for small pcb assembly. However, it seems that it just never goes to sleep.When I switch on the main supply, the power quickly rises to get the tip to its nominal temperature. This happens even when the iron is placed on the stand. I was expecting the iron to go to sleep after that, but leaving it for 5 minutes, I noticed that the handle was still quite hot when I picked it up again. And I saw no power increase on the main supply screen. It's as if it stayed in idle all the time, without going to sleep.I double-checked the stand to make sure the magnets weren't missing, and confirmed that both magnets were there.I also tried to factory-reset the main unit, just in case, but it didn't change anything.Does anyone know what could be the reason why the iron never goes to sleep ? Could it be that the magnets aren't strong enough ?Thanks

author: benj38
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 09:12:59 pm
content: The main unit has nothing to do with the sleep. The magnets interact directly with the magnetic properties of the tip, which in turn decide how much of the RF energy the main unit produces it absorbs, and thus how much it heats up.There are just two possible options (assuming it indeed never sleeps): either the magnets have lost strength, or they shifted and moved.Test with a strong external magnet like an old Microwave magnet. You should try multiple orientations/magnets. The magnetic field should have the right orientation with respect to the tip for it to work.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 09:57:18 pm
content: Quote from: PC on February 08, 2025, 02:53:51 pmyour description is too formulaic , just tell us what you see!

author: PC
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 10:37:08 pm
content: Thank you for the suggestion. I do not have some other magnet on hand at the moment. To confirm whether it was indeed the magnet, I put the iron tip really close to it, and it worked ! The main supply is increasing the power as soon as I put the iron away from the magnet.I'll check tomorrow if the magnets have shifted. I have to hold the soldering iron in place against them so I think they may just be too weak. When I push the iron all the way into the stand, the magnets have no effect at all.

author: PC
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2025, 12:04:32 pm
content: Update: After disassembling the stand, I saw no shift in the magnets position.The magnetic alloy of the tip has to be exactly next to the magnets for it to work. If I put the soldering iron all the way into the stand, I don't feel the magnets acting on the tip. It's like the magnets do not radiate in front of them.At that point I think I will just replace them.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2025, 10:09:56 pm
content: You can find some old threads here, few more I can't remember:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/dyi-thermaltronicsmetcal-sleep-stand-mod-question/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/metcal-autosleep-stands-how-do-they-work/Since its the right stand for that handle (I assume, though you didn't add photos) there should be no issue. Unless maybe it was assembled incorrectly or something.