Reflow Oven Controleo3 in EU - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2017, 06:55:04 pm
content: Hey everyone,Thanks for accepting my membership to this forum. I was looking for a reflow oven and found a lot on eBay but they seem to lack quality. After some research, I found Whizoo and the reflow oven build kit Controleo3. I'm actually doing some small easy PCB like this one at the hot air station but making 10 of them is a journey ! So I ordered the Controleo 3. Hopefully I'll get it quick ! It may also open new opportunities for me to solder some double sided PCB.Now I'm looking for a small oven, I've also read here and there and I found these. Seems I need to aim for 1500W.-https://www.amazon.fr/Spice-électrique-6-Choisissez-différents-ventilation/dp/B01LCOF9PI/ref=pd_sbs_79_6?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=YY4XYT6GX3HXT81D285G&th=1-https://www.amazon.fr/H-Koenig-FO35-Mini-Four-Electrique/dp/B00AZFJGZ0/ref=pd_sbs_79_7?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=YY4XYT6GX3HXT81D285G&th=1-https://www.amazon.fr/Andrew-James-Mini-Convection-Litres/dp/B00A9UQBEU/ref=pd_sbs_79_8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YY4XYT6GX3HXT81D285G-https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B003HD7YJC/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&p;smid=A1X6FK5RDHNB96;sc=1&Which one would you advise. I'm not going for big PCBs, so something small would be great!Cheers and thanks a lot!

author: oldnewb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2017, 05:04:24 am
content: Good choice! I love the oven I built with a Controleo2 kit. I used the cheap Black&Decker model mentioned in the Whizoo build guide. My only complaint is that cheap toaster ovens are made of really flimsy sheet metal which doesn't maintain its shape after being taken down to parts and then put back together again. The frame of mine wasn't entirely square after reassembly, and it took a few heat cycles for everything to pop back into place. So, maybe shop for something a bit nicer than those in the $30/€25 price range.

author: AllTheGearNoIdea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 09, 2017, 11:01:26 am
content: Nice post. I bought an industrial temperature controller, thermocouple and probe from Amazon. Still looking for a good cheap toaster oven here in the U.K. So I would be interested in seeing some recommendations for ovens in the U.K. I may have some Christmas money to spendChris

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2017, 09:19:43 pm
content: thanks both of you for your feedback. Seems any oven 1500W can do it right?I'm also searching or paste solder... would you be so kind to advise me a good quality one?

author: oldnewb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2017, 07:17:15 am
content: I've only used Chip Quick brand solder paste, so far. It's worked just fine for me. All of my failures have been related to operator error.

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2017, 08:35:27 pm
content: thanks a lot for the feedback; much appreciated ! any special reference I should consider?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2017, 09:31:29 pm
content: Most pastes sold in decent stores are ok, you should look for a company in your country supporting local manufacturers you will get a good price and fresh paste.Never buy overseas.As an example I buy with printec here in holland that sell Felder for half the price as Farnell asks for example for multicore that is also very good.http://www.printtec.nl/contents/en-uk/d239_Solder_paste_LEAD_FREE.htmlSo look in France where to find such a company, or ask on your local electronics fora.

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 05:58:46 pm
content: thanks man. great info.I've received the Controleo ! really happy how fast it has arrived to EU. For the oven... is this one that bad ?https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00AZFJGZ0/ref=pe_2444121_229820971_em_1p_0_ti

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 07:52:35 pm
content: I found this one that looks perfect 12L / 1400Whttps://www.boulanger.com/ref/1049373

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 08:35:43 am
content: Yihaa, anyone around to support? I don't want to get the wrong oven. I wish I could get a 10L 1500W. I'm not going to produce lots of PCB and not going for the motherboard PCB; just 10 of them, 4x4cm maximum. The last oven is pretty good but is convection.

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 08:47:51 am
content: I continued my searchhttps://www.boulanger.com/ref/800358320L / 1500W (grill) - 1300 Natural convection.=> 50 eurosor this onehttps://www.boulanger.com/ref/107772824L / 1500W Natural convectionI found the STEBA KB14 (which is smaller) but it's only 1200W... and really don't know what I need to do to make it 1500W for example.http://www.ebay.fr/itm/STEBA-KB-14-Backofen-mit-Umluft-Ober-Unterhitze-Programmwahler-1200-Watt/272638646453?hash=item3f7a8798b5:g:aJoAAOSwuspY-MJq

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 09:09:38 am
content: Still look and I think the STEBA KB11 would be great.http://www.ebay.de/itm/STEBA-KB-11-Mini-Backofen-silber-schwarz-Kompaktbackofen-1000-Watt-Innenraum-9L/282577774905?epid=1025216744&hash=item41caf2a939:g:3HoAAOSwt9NZbzlOHow can I make this oven go to 1500W? where can I buy the additional stuff to make this happen?

author: rbm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 01:22:08 pm
content: I emailed the Controleo developer when I purchased my controller, asking his opinion about the oven I found. He recommended selecting one with the smallest practical size. A larger interior volume makes it harder to maintain a uniform temperature throughout. I found my oven thrown away on the side of the road (Black & Decker CTO6120 12" pizza oven) and he thought it too big. I'm still in the construction phase but think I will reduce the interior volume somehow.

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 03:53:40 pm
content: Thanks, so the Steba KB11 seems to be fine right?

author: rbm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2017, 12:14:42 am
content: I don't know. The Steba 1000W doesn't look like it has more than 2 elements (1 top; 1 bottom). The 14L boulanger you linked to earlier shows 2 lower elements in one of the pictures. With 1400W, I suspect it then has 2 upper elements as well. At 14L that oven seems just right. My B&D oven is 19L and as I said it's a bit too big. Smaller is better. To boost the oven's ability to pump in heat, the Controleo build advises to add an additional element to the bottom. That's what I'm doing with mine.

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2017, 04:28:17 pm
content: I ordered two Steba KB11 and will take the component to make one.

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2017, 08:54:39 pm
content: I’m ready to build ! I received the two ovens today. I have totally disassemble one of them to get all the parts.Now I’m going to build my Oven to host the Controleo3. This is the first time I do this.As you can see the oven has two heating elements in series, one 500W top 115V, one 500W bottom 115V but 1000w is not enough.I think I need to separate these two heating elements, drill new holes and put them in new holes 3cm on the left; then put the two others on the right 3cm from the existing ones and then wire the two ones on the top and the two one on the bottom.Am I right?!

author: okp
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2017, 10:40:17 pm
content: This is my plan for the heating elements. I was pissed to be locked by the door opening system as I wanted to put one element more on the bottom left... but in fact.. I will let it like it is... because I'll be putting a booster system provided with the Controleo3.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2017, 11:49:44 pm
content: In my Torch reflow oven all six heating elements are placed on the top, none on the bottom.Since the components are on top it does not make much sense to have any elements on the bottom. Perhaps you can move them? If you are going to use them on the bottom anyway you might want to shield the pcb with alufoil and use a lot of fans for proper air and heat circulation.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2017, 01:21:22 am
content: Help me understand, these food ovens, top one at 100$ + your circuit controller and insulation mods, are better than a true authentic bottom end cheap Chinese 200$ real true SMT oven with programmable temperature curve?

author: donturner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2018, 02:23:35 pm
content: okp - how did you get on with the Steba KB 11 and the Controleo3? Interested in doing the same conversion myself so any info greatly appreciated.