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USB Rechargeable soldering iron? — Parallax Forums

USB Rechargeable soldering iron?

GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
edited 2014-08-25 09:06 in General Discussion
Found this gizmo on Kickstarter...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/249225636/solderdoodle-pro-700of-usb-rechargeable-soldering

Not certain how good it is, but if it works...

Comments

  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2014-08-20 10:52
    I used to have a Weller Pyropen gas-powered iron, which was quite good. I see that they are still available, but are very expensive at £124 from Farnell.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-08-20 18:52
    I use a 20 watt, 120VAC cheap iron for nearly everything.. without regulation.

    It is all about Watts, watts, watts. At 5VDC and 500ma (USB nominal output), you can only realize 2.5 watts. Are 2.5 watt soldering irons really all that useful?

    I do admit, it may actually be a 20-40 watt rechargeable with the advantage of being cordless. But that is about the only advantage.
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2014-08-20 19:02
    I have problems seeing the point of a USB-rechargable iron. Why not charge it much more efficiently from the mains? Because trying to charge an iron to something that can resemble 30 watts of output for a reasonable time is not something you would want to do from the battery in a laptop computer. And if you have access to mains for the laptop anyway then you also have access to mains for charging the iron.

    I also used to have a gas-powered iron, actually I had two - I still have one of them somewhere. A gas-powered iron was very useful back when I was on the road, setting up and fixing equipment here and there, with no need to find somewhere to connect the iron (and as I was moving between countries, finding the right socket or even voltage).

    I don't know or remember the cost - I got them through work a very long time ago. They probably weren't in the expensive price range as those Weller Pyropen irons though. Mine could be refilled with ordinary lighter gas, available everywhere (back then at least. Are people still using refillable lighters? I wouldn't know.) The problem (and the reason I don't use the one I still have anymore) was that after some years of use they started to leak gas and would always be empty when I wanted to use one. But until then I used them extensively.

    -Tor
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-08-20 19:16
    Per Loopy, not much power there. I do see people plugging power monger items into laptops and later wonder why their computer battery died so quickly. This soldering iron seems almost as pointless as a USB coffee warmer, clock, and USB hub. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mug-Warmer-4-port-USB-2-0-Hub-Digital-Clock-Time-Temperature-Coffee-Tea-Soup-Cup-/121104914717?pt=US_USB_Cables_Hubs_Adapters&hash=item1c326a591d

    $T2eC16ZHJIkE9qU3k6w-BQD)rW7jDQ~~60_1.JPG
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-08-20 20:25
    erco wrote: »
    Per Loopy, not much power there. I do see people plugging power monger items into laptops and later wonder why their computer battery died so quickly. This soldering iron seems almost as pointless as a USB coffee warmer, clock, and USB hub. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mug-Warmer-4-port-USB-2-0-Hub-Digital-Clock-Time-Temperature-Coffee-Tea-Soup-Cup-/121104914717?pt=US_USB_Cables_Hubs_Adapters&hash=item1c326a591d

    $T2eC16ZHJIkE9qU3k6w-BQD)rW7jDQ~~60_1.JPG

    Awesome, lukewarm coffee and dead laptop batteries never get old.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-08-20 20:28
    Tor wrote: »
    I have problems seeing the point of a USB-rechargable iron. Why not charge it much more efficiently from the mains? Because trying to charge an iron to something that can resemble 30 watts of output for a reasonable time is not something you would want to do from the battery in a laptop computer. And if you have access to mains for the laptop anyway then you also have access to mains for charging the iron.

    I also used to have a gas-powered iron, actually I had two - I still have one of them somewhere. A gas-powered iron was very useful back when I was on the road, setting up and fixing equipment here and there, with no need to find somewhere to connect the iron (and as I was moving between countries, finding the right socket or even voltage).

    I don't know or remember the cost - I got them through work a very long time ago. They probably weren't in the expensive price range as those Weller Pyropen irons though. Mine could be refilled with ordinary lighter gas, available everywhere (back then at least. Are people still using refillable lighters? I wouldn't know.) The problem (and the reason I don't use the one I still have anymore) was that after some years of use they started to leak gas and would always be empty when I wanted to use one. But until then I used them extensively.

    -Tor

    I use this one - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062753

    Never had a problem with leaking gas, doubles as a torch and maintains a constant temp. Has a flint style ignition, but I've had it for almost 10 years and still going strong.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-08-20 21:00
    xanadu wrote: »
    I use this one - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062753

    Never had a problem with leaking gas, doubles as a torch and maintains a constant temp. Has a flint style ignition, but I've had it for almost 10 years and still going strong.

    Ten years ago, the Shack was solvent and they probably still had Battery of the Month cards!
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-08-21 16:26
    This is one of the most dumb ideas I have heard in recent years.

    Do the maths, it's going take tens of hours to charge a battery enough to power a soldering iron for use for any reasonable about of time.

    You could probably charge a Tesla via USB given long enough but who would want to?

    If you want a portable soldering iron for use in places where electric power is a problem get a gas powered iron: http://www.antex.co.uk/soldering/gas-powered-irons/ from 20 Euro and up.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-08-21 17:02
    I have one of these and I love it. It makes life much easier when up in the air and soldering wires for camera power pig tails. It is also just a great tool to have when in a rush and I do not want to break out the bench unit.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-08-22 00:02
    Unless USB has a new very, very high Amperage specification, no, you can't charge a Tesla with it. The self-discharge alone would be higher...

    How many Watts are needed for a Soldering iron?
    That depends on what you want to solder, right?
    This one is for AWG24 and smaller.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-08-22 06:37
    Nothing wrong with a cordless soldering iron, a cordless drill, etc.

    But when you start using a USB port to power all and everything when there is a perfectly good mains outlet nearby, it all begins to seem a bit mental to me.

    I can't help but wonder when engineers crossed the Rubicon and decided that the USB was a utility power outlet.

    +++++++++++

    In my youth, I thought electronics was all about Ohm's Law, and I ignored Watt's. How silly of me. There is real power in understanding power and how to use a tiny bit of it to control a lot.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-08-22 06:59
    My favorite part is when he says in the video, "..perfect for Arduino type projects."

    Seriously??? People won't know what to use this on unless you tell them "Arduino Type Projects" - I really don't want to put a 700 degree pointy tool in those people's hands!!

    Does this mean that electronics is not a hobby any more unless it is an "Arduino Type Project"?

    I'm starting to think you could fund anything on KickStarter if you mention Arduino and USB.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-08-22 13:52
    USB has become popular as a power source because it can be found almost anywhere these days, and the voltage is very predictable.

    And USB power banks are also getting ubiquous these days.
    (I have one that doubles as a flashlight that I bring on hikes. It even came with a 5W solar panel that happens to have a USB output)

    I've wanted one of the gas-powered soldering irons, but frankly, i'm a bit worried about leakage.
    They may not be allowed in some locations. (Not an issue for me these days. And I never did any soldering work when visiting that kind of locations when I served in the RNoAF. but still... )

    We'll see if it's any good or not. If not, it's not that big a loss.
    (It's fully financed by now. I guess everyone else here can sit back and wait for me to get hold of one for testing before buying one)

    Arduino...
    Frankly, this is beginning to annoy me, too.
    Also, the way that searching doesn't work on Kickstarter, the best way of finding interesting stuff is to go to Clicktraq.com and searching for Arduino...
  • MrBi11MrBi11 Posts: 117
    edited 2014-08-23 15:07
    erco wrote: »
    Per Loopy, not much power there. I do see people plugging power monger items into laptops and later wonder why their computer battery died so quickly. This soldering iron seems almost as pointless as a USB coffee warmer, clock, and USB hub. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mug-Warmer-4-port-USB-2-0-Hub-Digital-Clock-Time-Temperature-Coffee-Tea-Soup-Cup-/121104914717?pt=US_USB_Cables_Hubs_Adapters&hash=item1c326a591d

    $T2eC16ZHJIkE9qU3k6w-BQD)rW7jDQ~~60_1.JPG

    My deesktop computer all ready has a snazzy retractable 'coffee cup tray', it pops out at the push of a button. It's made by a company called 'DVD'
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-08-23 15:28
    Gadgetman,

    So what actually is the self discharge of a Tesla battery pack? Maybe we can parallel up some USB's like my old USB hard drive did.

    Yes, the power required depends on what you want to do. I'm guessing a USB powered soldering iron is basically useless for anything normal people want to do. Or really annoying with the constant demand for long recharging periods from USB.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-08-24 03:39
    Actually, I don't have a clue... But if you buy me a Tesla, I'll check...

    All batteries self-discharge. How fast depends on the chemistry.
    Multiply with the number of cells in a aTesla battery pack, and it probably amounts to something.

    It's quite possible that the soldering iron is useless...
    It's still a cool gadget...

    Here's a video of it in operation:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZ9JCNU464&feature=youtu.be
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-08-24 04:10
    I've been trying to convince the boss to buy a Tesla for the company for such "research" purposes for ages, no luck yet.

    It's a cool gadget for sure. Probably even useful in situations where you might otherwise be using a gas iron.

    I can't see myself wanting to use it much:

    The handle looks too "fat".

    Having to hold that button all the time might get annoying.

    Having to wait 30 seconds to get up to temperature might be a drag when hacking around on a prototype and only soldering intermittently.

    In the above scenario most of the battery charge will be used just getting the thing up to temperature so you might not get many joints out of it.

    What would make it really cool would be to have temperature control built in. Then instead of the temperature ramping from 880 degrees down to useless it would stay at a constant 700 for as long as possible and allow longer working on the charge available.

    If you are in for one we look forward to hearing how you get on with it.
  • wasswass Posts: 151
    edited 2014-08-24 19:40
    The handle looks too "fat".

    Having to hold that button all the time might get annoying.

    Having to wait 30 seconds to get up to temperature might be a drag when hacking around on a prototype and only soldering intermittently.

    In the above scenario most of the battery charge will be used just getting the thing up to temperature so you might not get many joints out of it.

    What would make it really cool would be to have temperature control built in. Then instead of the temperature ramping from 880 degrees down to useless it would stay at a constant 700 for as long as possible and allow longer working on the charge available.

    If you are in for one we look forward to hearing how you get on with it.

    Weller makes (rather made) the WSM1C. It addresses all your concerns and is a pleasure to use. The price is totally outrageous, however: http://www.all-spec.com/products/WSM1C.html?gclid=CIuzq9eurcACFVQV7Aodmw0A_A

    They discontinued this in the US market but i believe make a nearly identical version for the European market. If you can find one of these on a closeout sale I highly recommend it. Aside from being portable (powered by 3 internal 18650 cells) , it's by far the best soldering iron I've ever used -- incredibly comfortable to hold (I have small hands), nearly instant heatup (a few seconds) and extremely precise control.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-08-24 23:06
    That cordless Weller looks sweet. Certainly a no go around here at that price.

    I quite like the look of the battery powered Hakko for those remote, emergency soldering jobs: http://www.tequipment.net/HakkoFX901.html It's cheap and we trust in Hakko.

    I can feel a project coming on. A LiPo powered soldering station in the style of the Weller. Using a 24v iron form Antex: http://www.antex.co.uk/soldering/soldering-stations/tc50/
  • wasswass Posts: 151
    edited 2014-08-25 07:14
    Heater. wrote: »
    I quite like the look of the battery powered Hakko for those remote, emergency soldering jobs: http://www.tequipment.net/HakkoFX901.html It's cheap and we trust in Hakko.

    It's okay, but does take a while to heat up and the tip is pretty large. I've tried a few of these types of battery powered irons and the 4-AA powered ones are the best, but all about equal.
    I can feel a project coming on. A LiPo powered soldering station in the style of the Weller. Using a 24v iron form Antex: http://www.antex.co.uk/soldering/soldering-stations/tc50/

    I like it!
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-08-25 08:38
    Like the look of the Hakko, so I just ordered it.
    For 'comparison' of course...

    Anyone got a link to a 4x AA model that's not too expensive?
  • wasswass Posts: 151
    edited 2014-08-25 09:06
    Gadgetman wrote: »
    Like the look of the Hakko, so I just ordered it.
    For 'comparison' of course...

    Anyone got a link to a 4x AA model that's not too expensive?

    Weller makes a bunch of these that are apparently nearly identical:

    http://www.newark.com/weller/bp860mp/battery-powered-soldering-iron/dp/31M1193?mckv=sda3NnMj5|pcrid|41566056141|plid|&CMP=KNC-GPLA

    http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/96-2275

    http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/96-3495

    http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/96-3500
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