[Elecraft] Soldering Iron Weller WTCP-S / WTCP 51 tip grounding direct or via 1MOhm res. ?

[Thomas Martin]

Hello,
knowing that here are some experienced Weller insiders 
around here is my question concerning the grounding of the
tip of these two stations.
Since 18 years I have been using my WTCP-S (Magnastat) 
with its jack for grounding of the tip at the front panel 
of the station. This jack and other ESD items (wrist band 
etc.) I normally connect to a standard ESD plug equipped 
with a 1 MOhm resistor to the (yellow/green here in DL) 
ground (Schutzleiter) of our 220V~ supply.
Now I had to replace the heating element of the WTCP-S and 
soon after that the switch within the iron itself needs to 
be replaced.
OK -- I think I'll replace the switch too but to have a 
second iron available I found the WTCP 51 station which 
seems to be the successor type using the same tips and 
iron. Having good experiences with Weller and not enough 
money to buy stations of JBS or even Metcall I want to 
stay with them.

The tip is no longer connected to a front panel jack but 
directly to the now three wire (two wires here at the 
power supply of the WTCP-S) mains connection's ground of 
the WTCP 51 station.

The question is:

Is it  better to insert a 1 MOhm resistor within the 
station enclosure instead of this "hard" grounding?

But perhaps "Weller" had a good idea when connecting the 
tip directly to ground and I only don't know it.

TNX, 73
Thomas, DF7TV

(We have a holiday here today and assembly of K2 #4138 
can't continue...arrrrgh!) 


-- 
Thomas Martin, Stuttgart, Germany
http://www.qsl.net/df7tv