EEVblog #472 - JBC CD-2BB Soldering Iron Teardown - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 10:53:43 pm
content: What's inside the JBC CD-2BB soldering station.http://bit.ly/180GwAPhttp://www.mektronics.com.au/

author: Spikee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 11:32:04 pm
content: I also have one and it is awesome compared to all the irons i have used. It beats the cheap ass Aoyue , weller ws80 etc...It is a bit more expensive but it is worth it!

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 11:34:57 pm
content: Probably the EU is misspelled because European Union (EU) is Unión Europea in Spanish (UE). Crovisa is a Spanish company.Alexander.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 11:36:43 pm
content: LOL, a bit more expensive. It certainly is a great tool, and in this case you definitely get what you pay for. But over $450?

author: xenocide702
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 11:41:44 pm
content: I just bought the newer model with USB last week. I took a peek inside (pics coming). No prizes for guessing what they addeda cp2102 silicon labs USB to UART along with an si8421 digital isolator. I didn't both tracking down what port pin the lines led to. They wouldn't need the hardware UART, they could bit bang it at whatever baudrate they feel like.Hopefully they used the serial bootloader on the original model, that'd mean flashing firmware wouldn't be a problem even for those with the older model, if there's any interest I'll take out the board and show a picture of where the pins lead.PS: Everything Dave said about the iron is true, the thing a BEAST. It really puts our little 40 watt metcals to shame. I love almost everything about it other than the piss poor non removable stand. I may kludge together a little infrared deal on a movable stand to signal it to go to sleep.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 12:07:08 am
content: Quote from: Lightages on May 21, 2013, 11:36:43 pmHere in Oz the Hakko FX-888D is $205http://www.mektronics.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8777&category_id=67&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=94&Itemid=57The JBC is $420http://www.mektronics.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=4199&category_id=149&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=57So just over double.Does it have double the performance? Yes, most definitely.Is it worth paying double? For me, yes, I'd buy it.But as always, YMMV.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 12:36:23 am
content: Quote from: Lightages on May 21, 2013, 11:36:43 pmYou can always buy Chinese garbage with VFD screen for $150 and then come here to wonder why they keep dying

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 12:51:39 am
content: Well there are other alternatives to Chinese junk and this JBC. It doesn't meant that you have to buy a $450 soldering station to do good soldering nor to get a reliable machine.If you are a hobbyist then $450 would be better spent on other things and reserve somewhere between $100 to $200 for a decent soldering station. If you are soldering all the time and doing more "professional" work ( I actually despise this word but it is what people use) then I can see spending for something like this.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 12:59:35 am
content: A point about the "bloody software" and EMI-related lockups, etc - I don't know how this one works, but dead lockups are a pretty easy problem to get around... All you need is a small timeout circuit triggered repeatedly by the microcontroller. If the MCU locks, it times out and shuts the thing down. Doesn't do much for plain software bugs, but with the power of that processor you could do quite a bit of background self-testing to minimize those as well. (dsPIC33F does have an internal PLL, so it's probably running above that 4 MHz)

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 01:07:40 am
content: The "quality control tested" mark built into the case is almost as funny as the "Qenuine" sticker on my cheap soldering station... I'd at least like to see a sticker that has to be put on after QC!

author: xenocide702
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 01:45:03 am
content: Fairly large files, be warned. The only picture I got of the additional chips is blurry, but I posted the chip numbers above.

author: Deagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 02:02:46 am
content: Get a look at the transformer at 8:30, are those F-F laminations? Can't say I've seen them before.And that Microchip:http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/devicedoc/70165a.pdfWith the memory chip:http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheets2/12/129921_1.pdfmaybe they just have the big chip for all the I/O for the display? otherwise the chip still seems like overkill?

author: Salas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 04:05:29 am
content: Dave, you did not mention if the case material is hot iron proof I think? What is it made from?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 04:43:22 am
content: Quote from: Lightages on May 22, 2013, 12:51:39 amSure. If that's all you have to spend then the Hakko FX-888 will serve you well for a long time.The JBC (and metcal et.al) is capable of a lot better performance though than the cheaper thermal capacity irons though.A cheaper iron generally won't prevent you from get the job done, but it may let you do it faster, safer, and with potentially better quality.YMMV.

author: Salas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 04:55:55 am
content: Expensive spares though.http://www.mektronics.com.au/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=150&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=57

author: komet
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 06:03:40 am
content: This German dealer carries a JBC with an analog base station for 198 EUR:http://www.weidinger.eu/shop/loet-_und_entloettechnik/jbc/loet-_und_entloetgeraete/jbc_loetstationen/wl26830I don't know how its performance compares with the digital version. It might be a viable option for the hobbyist.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 08:15:50 am
content: my $0.02:-4MHz crystal doesn't actually mean anything because all dspics have PLL inside-external eeprom is because dspic33's, pic24h's and pic32's don't have internal eeprom-dspic33's have the ADC implemented in an interesting way: they can take up to 8 samples simultaneously.-it has relatively non-shitty (as compared to other PIC microcontrollers) ADC @ INL+/-2, DNL < +/-1, gain error 1.25...3 and offset 1.25...2-dsp functionalities such as 2 saturating accumulators and a barrel shifter (all 40-bits) and a hardware 17x17 multiplier and MAC were for sure very nice for building an accurate and fast PID regulatorHow is the rectification of transformer output voltage done? I haven't noticed a bridge rectifier anywhere. Are they rectifying with single diode? Is the heater powered with AC or DC (AC would be my guess, because they seem to be using back to back N-MOSFETS for switching, and the two 3H7 optocouplers are most likely there to provide a proper gate drive for the MOSFETS).EDIT:-done a little searching for discretes near the optocouplers:Y6W = BZX84C18 (18V zener)Y4W = BZX84C15 (15V zener)5D = MMBD914 70V 200mA fast switching diodelooks like a floating gate drive to me

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 09:40:33 am
content: Quote from: komet on May 22, 2013, 06:03:40 amThis looks like a render plus photoshop...

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 10:36:29 am
content: Do anyone know the specs of the upgrade cable for the BB series?, the BC series have an USB connector, but on BB you need an cable, UC-1000, kinda expensive €72..http://jbctools.com/uc1000-usb-cable-adaptor-product-805-category-9-menu-70.htmlBut I guess it's some USB-serial conversion?, but will upgrade software accept other things?Probably not important to upgrade, but it's always cool to have the latest&greatesthttp://jbctools.com/software.html

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 10:54:25 am
content: If you can't justify a new JBC iron, analogue models are often available second-hand for very reasonable prices, and thanks to the excellent build quality are likely to be robust and reliable. I recently picked up an AD2700 for £87 (about $130). It offers similar thermal performance to the CD-2BB and looks and performs like a new unit. A seller on eBay recently had a range of new tips for £9 each, so accessories don't need to be outrageous.I believe KJDS, who is a member of this forum, sells used JBC kit from time to time.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 12:36:57 pm
content: Quote from: Salas on May 22, 2013, 04:55:55 amIf you use several tips and/or do a lot of soldering it becomes expensive. I use about 3 different tips regularly, so it would be around AUS$ 120 (EUR 92) for a new set. For my I-Tool a standard tip costs EUR 8 and a spare heater element is EUR 80. And the heater itself will outlive several tips (as the irons I had before). It's like the inkjet printers with combined ink & printhead cartridge vs. separated print head and ink tanks.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 01:34:52 pm
content: For me the most interesting thing about these JBC irons is the apparently great performance without rf heating and curie point temperature control.That has got to be down to the tips with integral heaters and sensors. If it works so well even compared to complex and expensive rf heating systems why don't more manufacturers (including cheap and Chinese) take the same approach?

author: Salas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 03:08:22 pm
content: Quote from: madires on May 22, 2013, 12:36:57 pmFor using several tips in low cost I opted for OKI/Metcal PS-900. Also for having a separate tray. Could not accept the single unit configuration ergonomically. That one cost me 149 UKP. Proved adequate for my power needs. Puts out 60W. I also like the ERSA Icon Nano. The JBC has a more agile handle VS PS-900, versatility, and peak output. The NANO has as agile a handle, cheaper spares, separate tray, not so powerful. I would go for the top JBC separate tray model if buying cost and long run spares expenses were not a problem for me.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 03:55:51 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on May 22, 2013, 10:54:25 amflash.pc also:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-jbc-cd-2bb-soldering-station-extras-(brand-new)/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-(brand-new)-3-x-jbc-c245-soldering-tips-for-t245-handpiece-factory-sealed/Bought the station and tips from him, good service, good price. (for me in Norway at least)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 07:51:46 pm
content: one fail point though ... the tip is grounded ... BAD DESIGN !there should be a 1 meg resistor between tip and ground. ( long body ,or three 1206 in series to avoid flashover )you want a pathway from tip to avoid ESD problems.you may want to put a 100pF cap in parallel with 2/3 of the total 1 meg resistance to deflect fast transients.having the tip shorted hard to ground is bad. very bad.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 08:15:05 pm
content: Quote from: madires on May 22, 2013, 12:36:57 pmI am not bashing your I-Tool but having a separate heater and tip guarantees that the performanceon high thermal demand jointswill not be in the same league of JBC, Ersa or Metcal.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 08:39:43 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on May 22, 2013, 10:54:25 amI just picked up a load of JBC kit yesterday. My arms now ache, though mostly for the two tonnes of scrap that I carried out to a lorry and the other tonne of possibly useful stuff. Yesterday I learnt not to bid on something described as "contents of room" without visiting the room. There was a lot of junk not in the photos.Amongst the normal JBC irons are some separate stands and cables to connect them back to the base unit. I also collected a dozen or more Metcals and some interesting Pace stuff. They are all very good irons, will try and find some time to spare to post more details at the weekend.

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 09:16:35 pm
content: Why all the processing power?/watch?v=IhZORsiawKcIts there marketing vid. It describes how important it is to:1. quickly heat the tip2. regulate the temperature3. most importantly, avoid overshootThis is also how they get radically increased tip life (the auto-shutoff also helps with this).Trying this with a few 3-terminal semis ain't going to accomplish the same results.Not A Shill

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 09:26:41 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 22, 2013, 07:51:46 pmthe wd1m i have have a nice external ground plug, if its not plugged in the bottom of the unit the iron itself is grounded with 100k resistance if you plug it in it cuts the conection to the mains earth and you can solder to that plug any value resistor you want, there must be some reason they did a "high end" station this way with directly grounded tip. user manuals arent too detailed

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 09:50:20 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on May 22, 2013, 08:15:05 pmGot no problems with large connectors or ground planes. The i-Tool is connected to an ERSA i-CON2 ;-)

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 10:00:22 pm
content: Quote from: M. András on May 22, 2013, 09:26:41 pmThe manual for the i-CON states, that the station is "hard gounded in accordance with Military and ESA standard".

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 10:19:43 pm
content: Quote from: poorchava on May 22, 2013, 08:15:50 amThe dspic has no internal EEPROM, but it can program its own flash memory. But only 10,000 erase/write cycles are guaranteed, which might be the reason for the external memory. Looks like they expect that you change the temperature a lot. It is the M24C16, a 16 kBit I2C EEPROM, which you can get for 20 cents at digikey in larger quantities. Can't find a guaranteed number of erase/write cycles, but usually it is millions of times for EEPROMs, and even more, if the software uses a good wear leveling algorithm.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 10:34:32 pm
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on May 22, 2013, 10:19:43 pmThe endurance issue can be worked around, e.g. by a timeout to wait a while before writing, however it is still a PITA as you have to deal with erase block sizes, and dick around with linker configs to allocate the flash. Adding an eeprom is often much just easier, and cost is minimal.I suspect another reason for using this chip is that Microchip provide lots of libraries for LCD control, DSP etc.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 11:19:42 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on May 22, 2013, 10:34:32 pmIt isn't a cheap part at $5.32 5k up on the Microchip site so it seems a strange choice to me. The Microchip graphics library isn't worth much - you can probably buy something better for $1000. Can't really believe it takes 256k of FLASH or fast ADCs or DSP instructions or many MIPS to run a temperature control loop for a soldering iron.100 pin package plenty of which look unused. They would save about a $ going to a 64 pin package and another dropping to 128k FLASH.If the LCD has no controller and they drive in with the dsPIC ram and dma it might help justify the choice, otherwise it looks like cost wasn't much of a consideration for this design.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 01:45:19 am
content: Quote from: madires on May 22, 2013, 09:50:20 pmMy apologies, I mistakenly assumed that a separate heater and tip would not be capable of as fast a control loop as a integrated tip/heater/sensor.

author: cthree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 01:59:37 am
content: My ghetto style ws51 does a decent job for what I need. If I find myself wanting Ill keep this unit in mind.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 02:23:24 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on May 22, 2013, 11:19:42 pmIm sure choice had nothing to do with potential 60mips performance. Saving a buck? Its like advocating Bentley should save some money switching to Philips Stereo systems, after all they are good bang for the buck in home entertainment market.Performance of this iron has nothing to do with Pid control loop, and everything with heater/tip quality.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 03:28:48 am
content: Quote from: Rasz on May 23, 2013, 02:23:24 amDamn, I never thought of adding 128k of FLASH full of FFs and 40 no-connect pins on the processor to improve the quality and reliability of my designs.

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 04:28:35 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on May 23, 2013, 03:28:48 amdsPICs are higher grade parts compared to Atmega8s.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 04:35:30 am
content: Quote from: Rasz on May 23, 2013, 04:28:35 amInteresting, are there any "trustworthy" references supporting that claim ?

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 06:21:28 am
content: Quotedspic33f's go only up to 40MIPS, dspic33e's go up to 60.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 01:18:16 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on May 23, 2013, 01:45:19 amNo worries! :-) The first time I used the i-Tool I was amazed how fast that tiny iron was able to heat up and output 150W if required. And you can adjust the control loop any time for optimizing the heating (three levels from low thermal load with no overshoot to high thermal load with overshoot). The display has a bargraph at the bottom to display the power currently used for heating. It's a good indicator when to go for a larger tip or to adjust the control loop. BTW, a single tool i-CON with the i-Tool costs as much (or less :-) as the JBC from the teardown.

author: Salas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 02:14:32 pm
content: ERSA has great expertise in industrial soldering train like machines and hand tools. I always liked their tips for solder flow. Metallurgical know-how obviously. In some thermal recovery and overshoot consecutive joints tests (marketing data) the JBC was the more consistent, followed closely by Metcal, the ERSA was kinda shaky, but the big I-Con is very parametric to set as you say. The ~13MHZ bigger dual port Metcal has a power indication bar too. The JBC uses a lot the peak power electrical push thing to heat up fast and to stay dynamic. I don't know what that means for tip/heater combo life when soldering high mass all the time. Professional users would know the parts exchange cost long term factor.

author: brabus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 07:33:23 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on May 23, 2013, 03:28:48 amMaybe it's just a production constraint, probably they use the same uC on the whole series of JBC soldering irons, also for the stations with three or four tools.I don't think it's a matter of quantities, production is just much easier if BOM is somehow similar for every product; I'm thinking about the hardware guys, but the firmware ones as well.There's only one way to discover it:tear down 'em all!!!

author: Fezder
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 02:58:40 pm
content: Nice video, again! I'm bit confused about hard-earth on the tip, is it the same thing that must be on lookout like say, 'scopes earth, when tinkering with live circuits? BUT, when is it really necessary to solder live electronics? could someone tell? thanks!

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 03:37:59 pm
content: Only for change a battery

author: abyrvalg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 08:41:31 pm
content: Quote from: brabus on May 24, 2013, 07:33:23 amDone, CD/CF series firmware is ~240k after stripping. dspic's instruction encoding looks a bit inefficient, there are lots of zeroes (not empty areas, but single zeroes between nonzero bytes). There are many kbs of text also (several languages), inefficiently encoded too - a zero byte after each two symbols (must be related to 24-bit architecture of this cpu).

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 09:26:18 pm
content: Quote from: abyrvalg on May 24, 2013, 08:41:31 pmThere is no protection to prevent reading the PIC firmware - sheesh.I count about 30 20 character strings in the user interface in the manual, in 30 languages that would still only be about 17k of FLASH.The 16 bit PIC tools use 32 bit hex file format to hold 24 bit words so every 4th byte will be zero. Constants in FLASH normally waste 8 bits of the 24 bit wide FLASH words although you can jump through some small hoops to avoid that.Even if it is 240k less 25% I am amazed. I have two PIC24 designs, one with mono QVGA and touch screen the other with colour QVGA and a lot more buttons/inputs. Both have more graphics and far more to do than I can imagine controlling a soldering iron involves yet both use about 60% of the FLASH in a 128k part.

author: alter Ratz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 09:32:52 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 22, 2013, 12:59:35 amDoes it not have an integrated watchdog. Even the cheapest MCUs have that, and I suppose a MCU with an integrated DPD would be in a higher price range and most ceartainly has a watchdog.

author: abyrvalg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2013, 09:35:15 pm
content: 240k is after stripping that fourth always 00 byte. I didn't checked the protection fuse, got fws from update software. There is an empty address area at the beginning, must be some bootloader that isn't overwritten.Also noticed interesting detail: all models fws mention same all kinds of possible tools (i.e. CD series knows about NP105 nano tweezers)

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2013, 05:09:52 am
content: Yes... This pic is a damn complex thing... Was not better in term of reliability something old?

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2013, 09:30:43 am
content: since you people now are playing with the firmware, anyone found an way of uploading it on BB, without the jbc specific cable?

author: abyrvalg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2013, 03:28:46 pm
content: Quote from: neslekkim on May 25, 2013, 09:30:43 amDone, found the pinout and updated my CD-2BB some minutes ago. Serial port is white 7-pin connector. Position the board so you can read dsPIC33FJ256 marking normally, pinout starting from top pin:nMCLR (don't use)+3.3VGNDAN26/RE2 (don't use)AN27/RE3 (don't use)RxD (station's receive, connect to PC's TxD)TxD (station's transmit, connect to PC's RxD)!!! WARNING 1 !!! These pins have 3.3V levels, don't connect them to RS-232 port directly (evil +-12V dwells there) !!!!!! WARNING 2 !!! Better disconnect the iron from the station before connecting the station to PC !!!I've left my one connected and experienced an unpleasant moment - the station started blinking between "NO TOOL" and (quickly rising) temperature display, tool's tip reached slight red glow before I cut the power. I suspect an overvoltage from my USB-Serial converter (it has 3.6V levels) or ground current caused some measurement failure. After disconnecting from PC the station is ok now. If you plan to use some "run time" features like "Lab register" datalogger - keep that in mind (use optocouplers ?).There are no quirks in the update process itself - connected the station throught FTDI-based USB-Serial cable (so no need to use CP210x as in original cable), started the updater, switched the station on when it asked "reset the station", it said "found CD/CF station with version XXX, will update to version YYY", pressed "Update" and waited several minutes (a bit slow process !) until sw said "Done".Logging entire USB communication just for curiosity

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2013, 09:06:56 pm
content: cool!I have this one that I was hoping to usehttp://www.adafruit.com/products/70I also have this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/320794559603How do you know its cp210x in the orginial cable?, does it exist schematics somewhere?

author: abyrvalg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2013, 10:57:24 pm
content: Quote from: neslekkim on May 26, 2013, 09:06:56 pmBoth should work just fine, 3.3V fits exactly. Just get some compatible 2mm pitch 7-pin connector (I've used a piece of thishttp://www.sos.sk/?str=371&artnum=128531&name=bl1x09g-st4-3-rm2-zl265-09sg), solder gnd/rxd/txd to it and you are ready to go.CP210x drivers are installed by updater sw, that's how I do know about it, no schematics. But there are no checks, any usb-serial should work.

author: moemoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2014, 11:08:27 am
content: As you asked for some pictures of the newer model with integrated USB, here they are. Looks like some minor changes in the main PCB, and an additional opto coupler and an additional cp2102. And they also changed the transformer brand.Btw, their update-tool sucks, because ita) forces you to install the complete driver packages, even if the driver was already set up correctly before.b) contains all firmware images for all stations, so you always need to download a new >300Mb package for updating your single station. No possibility to just download the one needed file from within the application.

author: LPaul
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2015, 09:21:22 am
content: Hello,In this video Dave says he plan to do a review of this unit. Is it still planned or did he make a forum review?

author: moemoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2015, 12:14:26 pm
content: At least with the latest firmware (didn't check for a year or so) they implemented the feature to preset 3 different fixed temperatures you can switch between with the arrow keys.IMHO very usefull (310-330-350 are used 99% of the time), but sadly this forces you to go into the menu, enter the PIN and disable the feature if you need any different temperature. It would be so handy if you could just press up/down longer and get into free temp mode.

author: picazzo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 09:15:31 pm
content: The worst thing manufacturers are doing in soldering stations right now are buttons instead of a rotary encoder. In this station, the encoder is a quick temperature change and, in addition, the encoder has a button that would act as confirmation in the menu. You do not even need settings with temperature memory.

author: hasan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 01, 2022, 10:01:13 am
content: Quote from: abyrvalg on May 25, 2013, 03:28:46 pmhello, I have this station, there is a station with a burned out processor. The 3.3v line is short-circuited. I bought a new processor but I can't install the software. The update program does not see the ports. What path should I follow? thank you.

author: moeyekung
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 07:16:14 am
content: You need a Pickit3 to program pic33I have firmware backup but chinese versionThai support this following model ;CD-B / CD-C / CD-D / CD-E (chinese language)Who you have firemware dump english model please share ?