Could this be the most useless item of the year - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 09:40:32 am
content: Spotted this today. I think it could well be the most useless item of the year but if you know better--post your own.http://www.banggood.com/Professional-USB-Mini-5V-8W-Powered-Soldering-Iron-With-LED-Indicator-p-1017109.html?utm_design=20&utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=Mail_men160_email&utm_campaign=newsletter-emarsys&utm_content=Claire&sc_src=email_1623939&sc_eh=693154ec8576c94f1&sc_llid=3230&sc_lid=76654301&sc_uid=jG1skpZSoe&e

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 09:59:55 am
content: Very funky design, nice translucent plastic.Quote

author: GNU_Ninja
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 10:02:06 am
content: I call the USB soldering iron and raise you any 'product' from these peoplehttp://madscientist-audio.com/presta/17-magic-tubes

author: Artlav
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 10:05:42 am
content: Ugh. I bought an iron like this, hoping to convert it to something powered by a li-ion cell at proper power level.The thing just does not work - it barely heats up enough to melt solder, modified or not.That is, it can get almost red hot, but it have zero heat capacity - touch any piece of copper, or just exhale at it, and it's instantly metal cold.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 10:49:30 am
content: Quote from: GNU_Ninja on December 07, 2015, 10:02:06 amWell they are mad...

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 11:03:16 am
content: Worse: a similar 5W USB 'soldering' iron is now in stock at Farnell!http://uk.farnell.com/mega-power/msd-086/soldering-iron-5w-usb-480-deg/dp/2308559(not my find, seehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/mega-power-msd-086-usb-powered-soldering-pen/)

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2015, 11:30:48 am
content: Bang Good.You sure that is a soldering iron?

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2015, 11:35:05 am
content: You're not trying hard enoughhttp://www.buydehydratedwater.com/

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 10:27:04 am
content: hey, it has the word "professional" in the product description so you know that its gotta be good.also jaycar sells a 6w battery powered soldering iron:http://www.jaycar.com.au/Tools-%26-Soldering/Soldering/Irons---Electric/Battery-Powered-6W-Soldering-Iron/p/TS1535

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 11:13:51 am
content: 8W from a USB port? Instant motherboard kill, unless this iron also sources energy from static electricity in the air, in the user's body, etc.OTOH, I'd buy a Hakko FX-901:http://www.hakko.com/english/products/hakko_fx901.html

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 11:17:42 am
content: Mikeselectric stuff has a great review of small irons and a TS100 comes out on top , great video.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 11:49:41 am
content: Quote from: AlxDroidDev on December 10, 2015, 11:13:51 amMaybe they use a Batteriser! 800% more watts!

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 12:38:17 pm
content: Well, with USB-PD you get up to 20V 5A, so I guess it is not impossible to make a decent USB powered soldering station. it will be incompatible with almost everything for the moment.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2015, 02:08:18 pm
content: Well, my Dell Venue PRO 11 7130 comes with a 5A USB chargerMost tablets come with 2A chargers, and My motherboard can charge up to 2A PER usb port, according to it's specs...lol, I just came across this iron on banggood myself, and had to check if there was already a thread about it here.

author: vk2amv
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2015, 09:28:25 pm
content: Quote from: AlxDroidDev on December 10, 2015, 11:13:51 amActually no.8 Watts is within the USB 2.0 Power Delivery Specification which allows up to 2A at 5 Volts. (10 Watts)So if the control circuitry in the iron is at least 80% efficient then it can certainly deliver the 8 Watts of heat to the tip.Still quite a useless amount of heat though except for the lightest soldering work.

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2015, 10:29:34 pm
content: Quote from: vk2amv on December 23, 2015, 09:28:25 pmPlease correct me if I am wrong, but isn't 2A @ 5V only within specs for USB Type C connectors?I believe that for USB 2.0 type A connectors (which is the one in the product), the max current is still 500mA.

author: vk2amv
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 24, 2015, 04:08:28 am
content: Quote from: AlxDroidDev on December 23, 2015, 10:29:34 pmFor the original USB 2.0 specification you are completely correct.It has a maximum power delivery to 500mA.However the USB 2.0 Specification was updated with "PD Power Delivery" specification in 2012.It supports up to 10 Watts at 5 volts using USB Type A and B Plugs. (And more than that for Type-C and USB 3.0 plugs)And also in the specification is support for other higher currents of 3 amps at 12 Volts all the way up to 5 amps at 20 volts.Wikipedia source herehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#USB_Power_DeliveryOr if you feel like a good read the USB 2.0 specifications including Power Delivery specifications are here (55 Megabyte zipped PDF file download)http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/usb20_docs/

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 25, 2015, 04:00:37 am
content: Quote from: SantaClaw on December 25, 2015, 12:00:23 amNah, just a disgruntled former member that was banned. He just keeps creating new accounts until it's banned again, ad nauseum. I'm sure that both him and the women he hires wish he had one as big as he draws.