[Elecraft] OT: Expedition soldering iron/station

[Don Brown]

Hi

One option would be a Weller WTCP iron. These soldering stations have all of the temperature regulating stuff inside the iron, the base is just a 24 volt transformer. A 220 to 24 volt 2 amp step down transformer should be easy to find. Just mount it in a bud box and you are ready to go. Many of these transformers have dual primaries and can be wired to switch between 120 and 220 volts. I had a bad transformer in the base of a WTCP that I converted this way. I could not find the connector Weller used so I cut it off and replaced it with a 3 pin DIN connector. I used a 2 amp 24 volt transformer from Radio Shack. WTCP irons can be bought from Weller as a replacement part but I would try to find a used or broken unit and rob the iron from it. If the iron is the bad part, they can be easily repaired. 

Don Brown


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Erickson<mailto:va7nt at telus.net> 
  To: Elecraft Reflector<mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
  Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 12:19 AM
  Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Expedition soldering iron/station


  I am getting some tool together for an upcoming DXpedition, and the issue
  of a decent soldering iron came to mind. Where we will be operating from
  has 220v, so my regular station will not be suitable by itself. As I see
  it, there are 4 possible options.

  1 - Look for 220v iron
  2 - Get a 12v iron to run off one of the 12v supplies. Weller makes a 2v
  version of their iron, but $110. is a bit steep for a couple of weeks.
  3 - Bring a 12vdc to 110vac inverter and run one of our existing stations.
  4 - 220v to 110v transformer

  I realize one can get butane irons, but while that would be fine for
  outdoor antenna work, I would want to use one for fine work.

  Any other suggestions?


  -- 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  cheers, Paul - VA7NT - email: va7nt at telus.net<mailto:va7nt at telus.net>

  "Those who hear not the music, think the dancers mad."


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