heating element with digitall read out flat iron ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Seaofdep
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 02:18:22 am
content: hey there don't meant to bug once again but newbie question < i was working on the bench power supply out of the psu and my soldering iron was < well lets just say it took a shit . i wont be able to order one till monday ( btw thanks for all the post and reviews about best starter station) so looking threw the garage for something with some nichrome wire to fix the element and found a flat iron that had the paddle broken off has a regulator looks well put together well better than my iron , 120v 90w- 220-240v 82w . plan on using it till i order and get a new one and was wondering how well will this work and best way to go about getting tip sufficiently hooked on to element

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 03:29:50 am
content: To put it simply ... Don't.No matter what approach you might be thinking ... just don't try it.If you want to salvage nichrome wire and repair your iron - don't try it. Nichrome comes in different resistance per length and unless you get that right, you will be over or under powered... but what is more important is safety. If your old iron is a simple mains powered stick, any attempt to repair MUST be respectful of any and ALL safety provisions in the design. Sometimes these are a function of the original manufacture and any attempts at repair will compromise them. Sometimes they are not obvious - especially to a newbie. If your old iron runs off lower voltage, there is still a safety concern with an improper repair of the iron.If you want to adapt the flat iron and add a soldering tip - don't try it. The result is going to be cumbersome and, therefore, unsafe. Wrangling a bulky, hacked together piece of hardware that is operating at biologically damaging temperatures is going to offer a high risk to you burning yourself or damaging anything you are working on - or around your work area. Not to mention the question about safety from the mains wiring. Another possible problem is the temperature and/or heat capacity of the flat iron.All of my consciousness says wait for the new iron.Spend the time waiting on something else more constructive. Don't waste it on trying to put together a Frankensteinian creation that will turn on you.Also, the likelihood of the performance of any DIY solution being substandard is high. Frustration and poor results are, IMHO, going to be the hallmarks of such an effort.

author: Seaofdep
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 04:13:42 am
content: looked up some decent irons and specs were similar so was thinking since it has a voltage reg. and ovp and be has wide adjustment , basiclly be its own variable power supply . but thank you for that i just started and thats why i am here i don't try anything unless i ask around first even with unlimited research , i don't mind waiting just figured another opportunity to learn and that i did < much appreciated

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 06:59:21 am
content: There is nothing wrong with having a play with stuff to see how they work - but if we are talking about mains powered stuff, then I would hang a great big CAUTION sign. With newbies, it would have a DANGER sign right under it.With electronics, you are going to make mistakes. These mistakes will decrease in frequency and severity as time goes by (but can increase in creativity) - but when starting out, it is a good idea to keep to a less risky environment.The one thing you will come to appreciate are the tools you have. It doesn't matter whether you have a $20 meter or a $2,000 scope, looking after them and using them properly will not only give you respect for what they can do, but also an understanding of what they can't. Using the right tool will make life easier ... and safer. When it comes to soldering irons, you really don't want to try and come up with a MacGyver solution unless you know what you're doing and have absolutely no choice.It is said: "Patience is a virtue" - and electronics is a field where it can pay dividends.