[Elecraft] OT: DXpedition soldering iron/station

[G. Beat]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Erickson" <va7nt at telus.net>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <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

Paul,

Don Brown and Doug Faunt have provided you with some good ideas.
ALL of the 4 options that you mention are good logical approaches.

I have seen the 12 volt heater version of the Weller TCP iron appear on eBay 
for less then $ 50 the past couple of months.  By obtaining the 12 volt 
heater from Weller -- you could convert a 24 volt iron to run off 12 
volts -- takes time - since many Weller distributors do not carry the 12 
volt heater in-stock.

You may also wish to consider a butane style soldering iron -- IF you need 
heat for repairing wire antennas or PL-259 repair.

220 volt soldering station base units can be found (e.g. eBay, European 
source) - BUT you will have to check the 220 plug.
As you probably know -- 220 volt plugs vary widely across the world - that 
should be a question for your DXpediton tech leader.

IF you need the 3 pin plugs and jacks for the WTCP station/irons (that Don 
mentions in his post) ---- 
and you are building your own 220 volt to 24 volt step down --- I HAVE BOTH 
THE BASE JACK AND IRON PLUG (original Weller NOS) ---
so you would not have to cut the plug .. and could use "off the shelf" 
TC-201P or TC201T irons (that already have the 3 pin plug).

Greg, w9gb