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» » »The simplest temperature regulator for a soldering iron tip.
Almost every radio amateur faces the problem of an overheated soldering iron when the tip is heated more than necessary. Soldering with such a soldering iron is not very convenient: the solder begins to change color, covered with an oxide film, the flux instantly evaporates or generally begins to shoot, etc. The way out can be very simple.
We need two things, this is a wired switch (which is mounted directly on the wire) and a diode with a reverse current voltage of at least 250 volts and a current of more than 0.5 amperes (depending on the power of the soldering iron, based on 100 W = 0.5 A).

Let's start the assembly. To do this, in a place convenient for you, it is necessary to open the insulation of the current-carrying wire, namely one of the wires and connect the switch. Mount a diode in the switch by connecting it parallel to the switch contacts. See the diagram.


We collect, turn on, check.


The device works like this: when the contacts of the switch are closed on the soldering iron, 100% of the power goes, respectively, the tip is heated for the same amount. This mode is used to quickly heat up the soldering iron. As soon as the soldering iron has warmed up (5-20 min.), Turn off the switch. When the switch is turned off, the current will flow through the diode, and the diode will pass only half the phase of the alternating voltage and therefore 50% of the power, the temperature of the soldering iron will decrease.
I have a 60 watt soldering iron. The temperature in the second mode is excellent for soldering the most common solders. I also had a soldering iron with a power of 100 and 30 watts with this regulator, it was also pleasant to work with them without overheating.
I want to note that with the use of this simplest regulator, I completely lost the desire to craft more complex ones or buy expensive ones.

But still I want to offer another version of the regulator. I did not use it myself, but my friends say that this regulator is not bad at work.
This is the idea. In electrical goods stores, ready-made regulators are sold, though for lighting devices. In appearance, it is slightly larger than a conventional switch and can be successfully applied to a soldering iron. See picture.


The disadvantage of such a regulator is its "invisibility of adjustment." In other words, if it is used for a light bulb, then obviously we see the level of adjustable brightness. And with a soldering iron, everything is sad. You can not visually surprise his temperature and you have to twist it from case to case. But there is still a way out. You just need to calibrate the regulator and mark the position with a marker.
Whatever regulator you choose when installing or commissioning, do not forget to disconnect it from the network! Good luck.

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Comments (15)
  1. dimansid
    #1 dimansid Guests December 8, 2010 19:53
    3
    Please note that the soldering iron stand is made of transformer core mount covers. These two covers are fastened together by bolts and nuts. This stand has been serving me for more than 5 years.
  2. Danbaz
    #2 Danbaz Guests September 26, 2011 22:05
    0
    Marker is correct. You can assemble the soldering station yourself: we buy a dimmer in the store, make a base, calibrate the dimmer control with a marker for a high-temperature thermometer (they come with some multimeters). A dimmer (a device for regulating voltage) will cost 150 rubles for us, and a soldering station from 1500, if you can still find it. So consider it.
  3. Veent
    #3 Veent Guests September 26, 2011 22:20
    1
    Are you sure that the dimmer will work? Have you assembled such a device?
    Just as far as I know, a dimmer is not a rheostat. It needs special load parameters.
  4. Daniel
    #4 Daniel Guests April 5, 2013 05:36
    1
    It will work with a dimer, on the network I have seen this more than once.
    By the way, according to the principle described in the post, many soldering irons "with a button" work, I use this myself
  5. Victor
    #5 Victor Guests March 26, 2015 11:23
    1
    the dimer will work with any active load / incandescent, spiral, and the like /.
  6. Artyom
    #6 Artyom Guests December 8, 2015 19:33
    0
    Marking is useless.
    Phase regulators of this type are critical to changes in line voltage.
  7. Ruslan
    #7 Ruslan Guests February 27, 2016 21:22
    0
    please tell me which diode is needed for a 40-gatt soldering iron, otherwise I'm not special in electronics
  8. Ilya
    #8 Ilya Guests June 10, 2016 23:32
    0
    Yes, the most affordable, for example, IN4007 (5, 6), there are many where you can meet.
  9. Peter Garin
    #9 Peter Garin Guests October 25, 2017 17:31
    0
    And this is called a regulator? Loud!
  10. Yuri
    #10 Yuri Guests October 30, 2017 10:42
    1
    Once I’ve made a battery powered soldering iron for a long time, a sting is taken from a soldering iron with a diameter of 4-5 mm, is clamped into a drill and a blind hole is drilled from the end by 1 cm less than the length of the sting with a 2-2.5 mm drill, we break the radio tube, I used the GU50, and pull it out with it’s glowing, we fill in the usual hole with clerical glue in the drilled hole and insert a spiral there, attach the pen and the soldering iron is ready ...... you can use a spiral with a 6-volt radio tube .... I made a sting out of bronze less ..... heats up seconds in 7-10
  11. Leon
    #11 Leon Guests March 15, 2018 21:16
    2
    Everything is much simpler if you use 400 V paper capacitors in series with a soldering iron. Capacities from 1 to 10 microfarads.
  12. Guest Victor
    #12 Guest Victor Guests July 5, 2018 07:22
    0
    I took the speed control from a faulty grinder, it works fine, I advise everyone.
  13. Konstantin
    #13 Konstantin Guests February 8, 2019 8:04 p.m.
    0
    I went through three soldering irons of different capacities and the same problem - they did not sing nichrome. I made it, as described above, and the soldering iron began to solder normally, and not eat solder with rosin. Thank you for your decision!
  14. Borisk
    #14 Borisk Guests February 17, 2019 12:59
    0
    I use this regulator all my life.
  15. Evgeniy
    #15 Evgeniy Guests March 2, 2019 8:44 p.m.
    0
    Nonsense with a diode. I bought a ZD-80 Chinese soldering iron, it has the same adjustment system, I didn’t notice any significant difference, replaced the diode with a capacitor, here, depending on the capacity, you can set the required heating temperature.

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