Electrical Engineering - Soldering iron questions

Author

Soldering iron questions

Chris W

2006-03-23, 4:21 pm

I am looking at the Weller soldering stations and was wondering if
someone could answer some questions for me. First, other than the
higher wattage, why would I want a WD1000 over a WESD51? Does any one
know the difference between the WESD51 and WESD51D? They look like the
same thing to me. Finally, is there a reason I might want the WD1001
with the 65 watt pencil, over the WD1000 with the 80 watt pencil?

--
Chris W
KE5GIX

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Jack Hayes

2006-03-23, 5:21 pm

"Chris W" <1qazse4@cox.net> wrote in message
news:0iDUf.2422$fS6.624@dukeread11...
> I am looking at the Weller soldering stations and was wondering if
> someone could answer some questions for me. First, other than the
> higher wattage, why would I want a WD1000 over a WESD51? Does any one
> know the difference between the WESD51 and WESD51D? They look like the
> same thing to me. Finally, is there a reason I might want the WD1001
> with the 65 watt pencil, over the WD1000 with the 80 watt pencil?
>
> --
> Chris W
> KE5GIX
>
> Gift Giving Made Easy
> Get the gifts you want &
> give the gifts they want
> One stop wish list for any gift,
> from anywhere, for any occasion!
> http://thewishzone.com

You really need to specify what you will be soldering with this tool. Larger
items require higher wattage.

Jack

Chris W

2006-03-23, 6:21 pm

Jack Hayes wrote:

>"Chris W" <1qazse4@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:0iDUf.2422$fS6.624@dukeread11...
>
>
>
>You really need to specify what you will be soldering with this tool. Larger
>items require higher wattage.
>
>Jack
>
>
I am already aware of the wattage differences and since these are all
temperature controlled units I don't see any reason why I couldn't use a
higher wattage iron than I needed for the task at hand, as long as the
tip was small enough. As for what I am going be doing, mostly through
hole circuit boards with some surface mount. Every now and then I do
solder UHF coax connectors on, but I don't think even the 80 watt is
large enough for that, so I will probably use something else.

--
Chris W
KE5GIX

Gift Giving Made Easy
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give the gifts they want
One stop wish list for any gift,
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Palindr☻me

2006-03-23, 6:21 pm

Chris W wrote:
> I am looking at the Weller soldering stations and was wondering if
> someone could answer some questions for me. First, other than the
> higher wattage, why would I want a WD1000 over a WESD51? Does any one
> know the difference between the WESD51 and WESD51D? They look like the
> same thing to me. Finally, is there a reason I might want the WD1001
> with the 65 watt pencil, over the WD1000 with the 80 watt pencil?
>
IIUC the WESD51D is the 240 volot variant of the WESD51. The WESD model
is simply the digital readout version of the WES.

Looking at the difference between the WMP iron, supplied with the WD1001
and the WSP80 iron, supplied with the WD1000 - the former looks a lot
smaller and lighter. Ideal for very fine, precise work. The latter looks
more suitable for a production environment, where the users may be less
gentle with their tools.

The difference in the prices of tips is quite something!

So, yes, me, I would rather have the WD1001. 65 watts is more than
enough for the sort of work that I do and the iron looks just my sort of
thing.

However, dream on, I could never justify that sort of expense. My 24v ac
Wellers do me well. I keep two on the bench - one with a fine round tip
and the other with a cylindrical BIG tip.. Although, sometimes, I use
both at the same time..one in each hand.

--
Sue

Chris W

2006-03-23, 8:21 pm

Palindr☻me wrote:

> IIUC the WESD51D is the 240 volot variant of the WESD51. The WESD
> model is simply the digital readout version of the WES.
>
After a second look, sure enough the spec sheet does say that, I must be
going blind

> Looking at the difference between the WMP iron, supplied with the
> WD1001 and the WSP80 iron, supplied with the WD1000 - the former looks
> a lot smaller and lighter. Ideal for very fine, precise work. The
> latter looks more suitable for a production environment, where the
> users may be less gentle with their tools.
>
> The difference in the prices of tips is quite something!
>
> So, yes, me, I would rather have the WD1001. 65 watts is more than
> enough for the sort of work that I do and the iron looks just my sort
> of thing.

Sounds like I would want the smaller one then I didn't really pay
attention to the size of the tips before. So now the question I have
left is why would I want a WD1001 over the WESD51? Other than it's
higher wattage output and the fact that it just looks cool to me, is
there anything it does that the the WESD51 doesn't.

--
Chris W
KE5GIX

Gift Giving Made Easy
Get the gifts you want &
give the gifts they want
One stop wish list for any gift,
from anywhere, for any occasion!
http://thewishzone.com

Palindr☻me

2006-03-24, 9:21 am

Chris W wrote:
> Palindr☻me wrote:
>
> After a second look, sure enough the spec sheet does say that, I must be
> going blind

>
>
>
>
>
> Sounds like I would want the smaller one then I didn't really pay
> attention to the size of the tips before. So now the question I have
> left is why would I want a WD1001 over the WESD51? Other than it's
> higher wattage output and the fact that it just looks cool to me, is
> there anything it does that the the WESD51 doesn't.
>
>

Just look at the difference in the irons. ISTM that they are designed
for very different working environments.

One is a very specialised iron, one a much more general purpose iron. It
is a bit like comparing a box cutter with a scalpel - both do the same
job but you get far more precise control with one of them.

--
Sue

chuck

2006-03-27, 12:21 pm

Chris W wrote:
> Palindr☻me wrote:
>
> After a second look, sure enough the spec sheet does say that, I must be
> going blind

>
>
>
>
>
> Sounds like I would want the smaller one then I didn't really pay
> attention to the size of the tips before. So now the question I have
> left is why would I want a WD1001 over the WESD51? Other than it's
> higher wattage output and the fact that it just looks cool to me, is
> there anything it does that the the WESD51 doesn't.
>
>

The higher wattage unit will probably offer faster recovery times, which
becomes important as the thermal mass of the tip decreases. For example,
which you solder a pad, the tip cools somewhat and the higher the
wattage the faster the preset tip temperature is restored. Probably of
more importance for production line work, but depending on what you're
soldering, that could be important. With enough wattage, even a small,
fine thermal mass tip can act like a heavier, clumsier tip.

Chuck

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