Display/control board for ZD915 deoldering station - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pentium100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2013, 08:18:21 am
content: Hi, does anyone know where I could get a control board for the ZD915 desoldering station? The board is "ZD-LTY-6 100120), though as I understand ZD-LTY2, 5 or 7 would work too.Or maybe someone has the firmware for it?The board stopped working (nothing on the display) and it looks like the MCU is kinda-dead (well, it does not work, but if I connect a programmer to the C2 interface it can identify the chip). I though about replacing the MCU (C8051F310), but the flash is locked (I tried reading one of the good boards in my soldering/hot air station) so I cannot copy the firmware.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2013, 08:50:11 am
content: You could try your luck directly with ZhongDihttp://www.china-zhongdi.com/contact.htmBut don't have too high expectations.

author: peterpatze
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 14, 2013, 09:18:46 pm
content: got the Same Problem with My Station, did you found out any Solution?

author: OZ1LQB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2013, 08:01:51 pm
content: Hi All..I had the same problem..it started with the backlight got weaker and weakerthe numbers on the display also got weaker..one day it totaly died ..the fault turned out to be the 78l05 5 volt regulator had died..new regulator and my desoldering station was fine again..i hope it helps you..

author: ejtagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 10, 2013, 12:27:44 am
content: Quote from: Pentium100 on January 13, 2013, 08:18:21 amI had exactly the same problem. Finally, i decided to write a new firmware for the controller, and i succeded. It works. It is not as perfect as the original one (to make it perfect, i would need to tune the PID temperature controller by actual acquisition of tip temperatures after applying an step impulse to the heater... but i never had time to fine tune the process). As it is , the temperature converges and works, but it has 10% temperature overshot when changing temperature setpoints... If you are interested in fw, just contact me. I will gladly supply fw in source code form (C)...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2013, 12:38:18 am
content: This right here is why I love hanging around this forum. Don't like how something works? Write new code for it! It's like hacking on an entirely different level.Someday I'll have to show y'all what I'm doing to a lightboard.

author: ejtagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 09, 2013, 09:12:15 pm
content: Well, for completness sake, i am attaching the source code of the firmware i have developed for the ZDxxx solderstation. It is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0, so, you are free to share, but not free to forbid others to share.Any improvements, modifications, please, post them here. There is room for improvement in this firmware (specifically, a better temperature control algorithm, or perhaps, just fine tuning the PID loop parameters for faster convergence and less overshoot... Even new features are possible...-- And, any problems you might run into, you can contact me. I don't promise to answer inmediately, but i will eventually do so.Right now, firmware is feature complete compared with the original one...Eduardo

author: largosoft
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 08, 2013, 05:14:31 am
content: Thank you very much Eduardo (ejtagle), probe your firmware and while it works in a PID control optimally at least revived. now is a matter of tuning a little loop PID control. I will try in my power to improve the code, any improvement I'll let you know. LuisMuchas gracias Eduardo (ejtagle), probe tu firmware y si bien no funciona de una manera optima el control PID, al menos revivio. ahora es cuestion de afinar un poco el lazo del control PID. Intentare dentro de mis posibilidades mejorar el codigo, cualquier mejora te lo hare saber. Luis

author: ejtagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 09, 2013, 12:29:28 am
content: Do you want to try a completely untested piece of code ? ... Well, i have reimplemented the PID controller loop, fixed an stupid bug and added an autotuning algorithm to the program. I have simulated it and it seems to work pretty well, but, i had no time to actually program it into the solderstation board .... But, if you are interested in trying it, i think it will be a better base to start adjusting PID.Just flash it, then press UP+DOWN at the same time. The solderstation will1) Open control loop2) Set heating power to 20% of maximum3) Wait until temperature stabilizes4) Set heating power to 60% of maximum5) Wait until temperature starts to rise6) Measure temperature curve slope. When the maximum slope is found,7) Calculate PID parameters using Open loop Ziegler-NicholsSave those PID parameters into flash9) Close PID loop and return control to normalPlease, tell us if it works or not!

author: largosoft
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 28, 2013, 01:53:37 pm
content: Greetings Eduardo, recently this week I had time to test the new firmware, but unfortunately does not work. He fails to do anything.

author: tretec
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 07, 2013, 07:33:54 pm
content: Eduardo, very nice code.Anyway I'm checking it (1st release) as not completely working on my board.First: I noticed conversions CtoF and FtoC being erroneus: F = (C *9/5) +32 is ok, not F = (C+32) *9/5.Second: on my hw I found a 2.5V Reference tied to VREF pin of ADC peripheral. It should be usedas VCC is not really 3.3V but 3.0V as derived from a zener diode from 5V stabilized by the famous 78l05...As I fix code for my hw, I'll post it (probably I'll use SDCC compiler instead of Keil one)Mike

author: Crazor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 03:43:28 pm
content: Just got myself a ZD987. Same display/buttons in a different case, so probably compatible. The source code says ZD9xx, the parts seem to be identical from what I gained from the source.Any news regarding the replacement firmware? v3 sounds interesting...Has anyone tried this firmware on the ZD987 yet?Can I backup the original firmware, or is the readout disabled?

author: arekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 04:17:28 pm
content: @ejtagle: btw. it's good to push source code to sites likehttp://github.com- doesn't get lost, provides versioning, history and other features. git tutorial athttp://git-scm.com/

author: Crazor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 04:17:35 pm
content: Ok since I am not very happy with the temperature control, I opened my ZD-987. To my surprise, I found what appear to be two nicely packaged switching mode power supplies. So far so goodI removed the display/control board for the desoldering side of the station. The board has "ZD-LTY-2013" on it and is dated 2013-03-05. There's a sticker reading "987GUN130521MZX", while the board for the soldering side says "987IRON130521MZX". The two boards are identical, so maybe they have different firmwares.The MCU on the boards is marked "On-Bright OB39A16M1", and it is an 8051 again (datasheet). The other peripherals appear to be virtually identical to the other boards (Holtek HT1621B display controller, '358 opamp, ...). I'm probing the pinout ATM.Anyone interested in porting the firmware over? I'd like to achieve better temperature control and also I have a bunch of features in mind, like improving the temperature entry, and adding some temp presets. Since I never use the °F/°C button, the original function can be buried in a settings menu, and then repurposed for presets.

author: Crazor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 09:02:44 pm
content: Well, after reviewing the datasheet and other documents on the SyncMOS page, I don't think I will be able to reflash the MCU any time soon. There's basically two ways to program it: Either via the ICP interface (which is some kind of TWI, but without any specification), which needs a SyncMOS programmer interface, or via the ISP service routine that might be in the firmware, which only Zhongdi knows about.So the only way would be to find a somewhat pin-compatible MCU to replace the SyncMOS/On-Bright one.For completeness, here's the pinout (needs verification):FunctionPinInternal NameBuzzer18P2.5Heater10P3.5°C/°F Button31P1.2Down Button30P1.1Up Button29P1.0Thermocouple15P2.2HT Data15P2.2HT WR14P2.1HT CS13P2.0UART RXD5(1)UART TXD6(1)Note (1):There are two vias directly next to the UART pins, but I haven't found any other place they connect to.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2013, 01:30:57 pm
content: STC12C56xx series has QFP32 version with at least power/gnd in the right place... and it is worth a try asking SyncMOS for programming specifications.

author: Crazor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2013, 01:42:21 pm
content: Thanks for the pointer. I've looked into Atmel's lineup and found the AT89LP428/828, which also have compatible pinout in the TQFP32 package (rotated 180°).

author: Mvedovetto
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 24, 2014, 11:31:12 am
content: Hi all,I have a temperature control problem with my ZD915: tip temperature rises up over the set point (reaches more than 485°C ... I turned off station to avoid damages). Control board is ZD-LTY-1 TC200691 05.12.Please I need help to find out a solution to repair it.

author: ejtagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 10, 2014, 12:12:21 am
content: Well, attached my latest version of the zd915 firmware... This time, tested and works as expected!

author: largosoft
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 20, 2014, 02:37:17 pm
content: Try to compile the firmware and I'm missing two files, "mytypes.h" and "PID_Autotune.h"where I can download them. Thank you.

author: soldersplash
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 09, 2014, 09:34:52 pm
content: Hi All,Has anyone got schematics for the ZD915? Mine has an excessively noisy mains transformer which I'm looking to replace with a couple of nice toroidal ones. The original E-I chassis transformer secondary's are labelled up :0-23.8V0-7.5-19VIt's clear the approx. 24Vac is used for iron element (after rectification and minimal smoothing).The other secondary with it's funky uneven tap is supplying the display/control PCA's on the front panel. What I want to work out is how critical these supply voltages are. After rectification they would be about 10V and 27V - seems odd...ATB,Soldersplash.

author: alex.br
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 18, 2015, 05:34:51 am
content: Good day. Does anybody have firmware *.bin?Thanks in advance.

author: big t
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2015, 07:43:47 am
content: Hi,I have the same temperature regulation problem with my ZD-916Z soldering station, like in this discussion:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/zhongdi-zd-916-soldering-station/msg116518/#msg116518Can someone share good working firmware (.hex file)??Thanks.

author: Hamberger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 05:43:40 pm
content: Hi folks,does anybody has a working .hex file of the final firmware for my great ZD 915?I can compile for myself if i have all the missing libraries in the ss.zip file above.ThanksHamberger

author: ejtagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 09, 2015, 05:32:30 pm
content: I'll attach all my sources to this project.The first ss_v2.zip is the working firmware sources i wroteTThe other is an snapshot of all the files and information i deduced by inspecting the hardware and all my attempts at writing a firmware for it

author: Hamberger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 11:52:41 am
content: Hi,this really works fine for me! Big thanksHamberger

author: big t
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2015, 11:21:37 am
content: Hi,Firmware works fine. But soldering station works constantly in ON or in OFF state. Can you modify firmware that solder will work in pulse mode like PWM etc. as this is done in WELLER soldering stations? Thanks.

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2016, 09:17:28 am
content: If the author is still there, the author of theReally Universal Soldering Controlleris the owner of a ZD-915.Maybe you would like to add support to his controller

author: ejtagle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 01:06:38 am
content: The problem with the zd915 is that i was unable to make the temperature controller work with fast convergence to the desired setpoint. I think i will explain the problem that i had, so if someone has an idea on how to solve it, it would be a nice improvement:The thermal load of the solder tip is very variable: How much power is needed to reach a given temperature depends on the mass that the tip is in contact with. And also, there is significant thermal mass to heat, and once heated, it is not easy to cool down. I can't calibrate for a speedy convergence as it depends on those factors (thermal delay, and thermal load) and ideal tuning parameters change too much when the solder tip is in contact or in the air without touching anything.I thought on an adaptive system, but with such varying conditions (when the solder is being used) it is impossible to warranty convergence without overshoot. Finally, i settled down on a set fixed calibration values that seem to work, sometimes with overshoot, sometimes without it...

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2016, 07:48:36 am
content: Quote from: ejtagle on January 10, 2016, 01:06:38 amI predict my room would smell of burnt PCBs and ICs, my hands burnt too and get angryAre there some sane alternative as desoldering station? Maybe I'll need to save too much money, but my psycho-motor skills are shitty and this frustrates me in a depressive and angry way. I'm smoking a lot these days and not just the flux liquid that enters my nose...

author: Gall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2016, 07:58:18 am
content: Quote from: Crazor on December 16, 2013, 09:02:44 pmHi Crazor,are you sure that Thermocouple and HT Data both use the same pin?

author: Gall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2016, 02:30:49 pm
content: Quote from: Crazor on December 17, 2013, 01:42:21 pmAnother candidate is ATtiny88. This is avr, so it's easier to program (gcc support etc.)

author: audio86
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 30, 2017, 08:36:26 am
content: hi good morning i ask you for my problem i have the solder station with c8051f310 broken i change the mcu but don't have the firmware correct for this solder i download the ssv2 but don't have the file hex for my programmer please help me converter the file ssv2 in hex. thanks for the your time

author: Florin Tv
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 05:41:18 am
content: Hello, I also need HEX at the ZD-915 freezer station that it does not display anything, I have seen that you have firmware but I do not know how to put in C8051F310 with what to put firmware on this microcontroller? i have TNM5000 and i can not write firmware with TNM5000 in C8051F310 and i need bin or hex, thank you

author: Chris56000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 03:39:49 pm
content: The hex files are in the zip files, you just need to extract than with a zip file extractor, then copy them out separately (e.g., to Windows Desktop), and then you can import them with your programming software!The compiled file is "SolderStation.hex" and this is the one to flash!Chris Williams

author: Texmisure
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 10:24:10 am
content: The owners of ZD915 can tell me if this schematic is the same?

author: janekivi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 09:44:10 pm
content: Have many years ZD-987 (and ZD-982). But never liked that iron part.Had many years it apart to hack HAKKO 907 handle to it or something.But main issue is lack of MENU of course...So after drawing all schematics and PCB-s and hacking all together with ARDUINOand source code from here I got yesterday it finally done.But for ZD-915 there are diagrams like this below:That LCD board is the same for all(many...most) of them.

author: janekivi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 09:49:26 pm
content: One image is not uploading...

author: janekivi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2023, 01:09:23 pm
content: I did all like original but source code here didn't fit somehow to my screen layout.So I had to change everything.Now I can let it do whatever I WANT it to do! Ohhhh, it's not easy...

author: janekivi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2023, 07:01:36 pm
content: EasyEDA files, yes, of course:

author: gobi2000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 12, 2023, 01:51:39 pm
content: Thanks for this very useful information, does anyone have an extra pcb I can buy? is there a bin or ino file?

author: rlohmann
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2024, 01:57:47 pm
content: Hi janekivi,thank you for sharing you PCB and project.Would you be so kind to share your firmware as well?

author: dat-alex
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 06:58:39 pm
content: Hi! to all of you!Last night my ZD-LTY-5 stop working only LCD light no screen data. Firmware problemDo you guys know a cheapDIY C8051F Programmer JTAG/C2clone to upload fw data to C8051F130 ?I have to bring my ZD-982 soldering station back top life!Really thank you for your time!AlexandrosGREECE

author: dat-alex
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 05:35:57 am
content: After receivingSiliconLabs JTAG/C2 programmer10€ clone, I uploaded C8051Fejtagle hexon C8031 and my soldering station came to life!Thank you ejtagle for your effort to make this fw.(Note: in order to program the ZD-LTY-5 with custom fw I had to populate jtag pins -J2- on the pcb and desolder 78L05 output pinfrom pcb as according toschematicyou have to resolve the issue of 3.3V supply conflict from pcb and the programmer)