Help Me Find A Replacement Soldering Iron Element - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 10:11:55 am
content: It appears that the manufacturer of my soldering station (Fahrenheit) has gone out of business which means that spare parts will now be difficult if not impossible to obtain. I need to find some replacement elements that meet the following specification:Material: Ceramic with two connecting wires at one endDimensions: 5mm diameter 70mm longCold resistance: 3.8 ohmsPower: About 50WGut feeling tells me that they have used an element from another iron to build these so does anyone know of a soldering iron element that comes close to the above specification?

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 12:04:49 am
content: Will this help?https://www.google.com/search?q=ceramic+soldering+iron+element&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=VtGFEdi1z5jF7M%253A%252Cr-0EyCCtMTa7vM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTUcl9PYKH4Gzsix-Yo7TYZ7GUycQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA2fu_4fzmAhXnJzQIHatUAaIQ9QEwC3oECAkQCQ#imgrc=VtGFEdi1z5jF7M:

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 09:26:33 am
content: Not so far. I've spent a considerable amount of time on Google over the last week using various search terms and not had any luck. Hakko seem to rule the roost but their elements are 4mm diameter and 90mm length which makes them too narrow and too long. Also, there are a lot of 110/230v elements out there and my station works at 24V.I may end up scrapping the handpiece and wiring in a Hakko clone, which would be a shame as I would be writing off a large collection of bits. Right now I'm on my last element and on average they last four or five years so I have plenty of time for this.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 05:44:49 pm
content: There is one that is supposed to be compatible with Hakko 900M. 24Volts, 70mm but no idea what the diameter is.https://www.banggood.com/1Pc-24V-DC-50W-4-Pin-Ceramic-Core-Heating-Element-for-Soldering-Iron-p-1110155.html?cur_warehouse=CN

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 07:32:23 pm
content: Ah! Thank you for this.The picture looks exactly the same as the Hakko 1321 elements that are all over Ebay but if these really are 70mm long then one of my issues has been solved. This afternoon I found some brass tube that was 4mm on the inside and 4.9mm on the outside and I might be able to use this as 'padding' for a Hakko compatible element.Investigations continue.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 11:56:19 pm
content: It is cheap enough to warrant a try. But not sure how much the postage is!

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 05:09:34 pm
content: 1 spent the day making a replacement soldering iron shaft in brass using various diameters of pipe available at a local art supplies store. I can now use either a 4mm or a 5mm diameter heating element and it can be anything from 60mm to 90mm. Flaring the brass pipe was difficult at first so I cut off some short lengths and practiced with those before working on the real thing.