Why different devices for different voltages? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: dog80
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2013, 06:40:30 pm
content: I was looking the JBC website and they have three different models for every soldering station for 220, 120 and 100 volts respectively.Why make three separate models instead of one with a multi tap transformer and a voltage selector switch?

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2013, 06:45:23 pm
content: To save on cost, plus it probably helps them to charge different prices to different markets.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2013, 01:32:29 am
content: It probably also reduces the number of idiot consumers that set it on 120v in Europe and blow the thing up.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2013, 01:35:01 am
content: Just to charge 100% more in Europe and give the excuse that its the transformer, bla bla bla

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2013, 11:14:15 pm
content: Just upgrade to SMPS and make the whole thing smaller.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2013, 11:19:47 pm
content: Quote from: nukie on September 14, 2013, 11:14:15 pmThat might not be practical if the soldering iron is run off AC and is switched using a TRIAC.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2013, 11:21:50 pm
content: Quote from: nukie on September 14, 2013, 11:14:15 pmFrom what I've seen, soldering stations often use AC for the heater and control that with a triac. An SMPS wouldn't help you there.Plus I really don't think it would be worth voiding the warranty. Just buy the correct station for your mains and be done with it.Edit: Daingert! Hero beat me to it.

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2013, 10:24:14 pm
content: Quite a few Chinese are now offering compact sized DC controllers PCB upgrade kit for the AC based Hakko 936 and Hakko FX series. SMPS makes it extremely portable. Very impressive stuff developing in the communist land.There was one or two person here on this forum also built similar mosfet based controller for the JBC.The JBC can be plugged directly into one of the Hakko controller I forgot which one, there was a YouTube video.I dont see what's the problem with powering the heater with DC as long as the same power is applied.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2013, 10:49:55 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on September 14, 2013, 11:19:47 pmit's 2013. we got mosfets now... soldering stations are low voltage ...

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 09:56:07 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 18, 2013, 10:49:55 pmExactly, I'm thinking, since it is a pretty slow loop (compared to a lot of other things), even slow PWM could easily control an irons speeds sufficiently.

author: eevblogfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 11:02:01 am
content: HeyI saw it as if he wanted JBC to make that soldering station smaller and efficient by using SMPS , and the immediate thought of mine was pulse width modulation in order to control that heater the best efficiency possible ( and then the MTBF come in play though ... and the complexity is way off simple linear style station ... )anyway ... JBC are good

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 10:06:44 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 18, 2013, 10:49:55 pmYes I know but some soldering irons still run the element off 24VAC switched by a TRIAC and can't be operated off DC.