Simple iCon Nano Mod. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 06:56:19 pm
content: Hi all,after coming home to once again discover that my iCon Nano iron had been happily heating my room for the last 24 hours, I decided it was time to do something about it. Although it's my favourite iron, Ersa in their infinite wisdom decided that it didn't need a power indicator or any lighting at all, hence the chance of forgetting to turn it off is quite high. Adding a light isn't rocket science, but I was pretty pleased with the result, so I thought I'd share it here. The mod most likely works on the iCon Pico too as I think it uses an identical case.Opening the station is really easy. Remove the connector to the iron, release the two front panel clips on the bottom followed by the clips on the top and you're in. The PCB has a small regulator at the bottom, regulating 24VDC down to 6VDC. I decided to add my LEDs on the 24V side. Although they only pull 20mA total, they don't need regulated voltage, so I didn't want to add further load to the regulator even if it's only 20mA. I used 2 blue LEDs via two 2K2 resistors. They are so light-weight that some stiff wire keeps them in place, although you could use "hot snot" if you wanted to be really careful. The great bit is, the front panel is clear plexiglas covered with brushed aluminium on the outside, so you don't need to drill any holes, the panel works as a pretty good light-pipe as is. There's also no chance of shorting anything because the inner surface is all plastic.Now when I leave the room, the blue glow lets me know that I've left it on againMcBryce.Here's some pics.

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 07:33:53 pm
content: Wow, great idea, that looks really cool!Kinda makes me want to do that too, problem is, if I take apart my soldering station, what do I do the soldering with?

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 07:37:43 pm
content: That was my problem too. The only other iron I had was one with a massive thermal mass which I use to desolder heatsinks from ground planes etc. It's almost a foot long with a massive tip and extremely difficult to solder SMD withMcBryce.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2015, 07:43:57 pm
content: Quote from: Maxlor on August 17, 2015, 07:33:53 pmWhat, no bootstrap iron around?Nice job.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 02:18:22 am
content: Looks just like it was done by Icon. Good on ya!

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 10:08:43 am
content: Well they should have! Although it's a great device, it's obvious that it was built to a price. The edge connector to the iron is an obvious give away.McBryce.

author: Kalvin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 11:21:59 am
content: A switch with a timer is also a nice solution. The iron will not be left on whther of not you remeber switch it off.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 11:26:44 am
content: A switch with a timer would have to be external, there's not a lot of space in there to switch 240VAC.When I leave my "lab" and turn the light off, I look for tell-tale lights to know if anything was left turned on. This iron was the only device that didn't work for the "lights-off" method.McBryce.

author: Kalvin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 11:45:26 am
content: Quote from: McBryce on August 18, 2015, 11:26:44 amTrue. But the switch doesn't require modding (boring, I know) and the single switch can be used to turn off multiple iron stations and lamps etc. as well.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 01:33:09 pm
content: Ah now I understand what you mean, but that's a bit more complicated than I needed.McBryce.