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Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

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Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#151

Post by kube-system »

Zak wrote: post #126
Ancapistani wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the discharge rate for an 18650 be enough for a decent soldering iron? I normally power mine off either a power bank with PD, or a LiPo battery that I also use for drones.

Yes. The Sony VTC6, for example is rated to deliver up to 30A with temperature monitoring to ensure it doesn't exceed 80C. At 3.0V (partially discharged and with voltage sag from the load), that's 90W. I don't actually need 90W in the application I have in mind. I'd be more than happy with 60, and there are quite a few 18650 cells that can do 20A comfortably. Runtime at full power would be short of course, but I don'…

> Max. discharge current vs. time: 30A-40A > 44s

I figure that might be workable for a few power cycles and a few big solder joints, but it would probably be a frustrating experience for anything more than quick fixes in the field.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#152

Post by KingOfCoders »

brailsafe wrote: post #121
myrmidon wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I have more trust in ifixit then in pine64 to sell robust, quality tools. And most of what you are going to overpay (?) for this is going to ifixit, which is also a plus. It's like buying merch from a band you like.

I love iFixit, but their tools, parts, and kits have been a bit mixed (bit of poor, bit of good) in terms of quality.

I think their tools are overhyped - not worth the price, you pay for the brand they have built by basically PR (repair scores for iPhones).

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#153

Post by green-salt »

kwiens wrote: post #70
syntaxing wrote: post #60

Overall a great idea, though not a fan that you can’t directly change the temperature on the soldering iron without the power station.

You can set the temperature on the iron with our web console, which uses Web Serial: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console Once you set the temperature, the iron remembers it and you can use any power source. We've spent a lot of time talking to engineers and makers who solder all day, and it turns out that most people rarely change the temperature. Pick a temperature you like and leave it there. Our heating algorith…

Do you have plans to have an actual local application to do this? Chrome-only web tools are not sustainable and a deal breaker.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#155

Post by KingOfCoders »

kwiens wrote: post #105
mrandish wrote: post #81

After a quick look at the specs: Plus * 5 secs to temp. * Heat resistant, vented cap. * User can change auto idle and sleep times. Minus * Need iFixit power station or computer to change temp and other settings. * No temp indicator on the iron. No mention if the LED indicates it's reached set temp. I'd love to keep a small, lightweight, high-quality portable iron in my tool bag ready for quick repairs. It needs to he…

The LED on the iron turns orange once it reaches your target temperature. It glows purple while it's heating, and blue when it's safe to touch.

How cultures are different across the globe, I would have used RED for hot, orange for heating and green for safe (instead of orange, purple and blue - love purple though!)

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#156

Post by alnwlsn »

ssl-3 wrote: post #138
kwiens wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, the thermistor is inside the tip. That's essential to getting good performance out of the algorithm. The instant that the iron detects that it's under load, it pours power into the heating element. That makes it feel and perform like a much more powerful iron. We're dynamically responding to the power load and flowing heat into the material.

...just as IronOS does on a Pinecil.

The sensor for the Pinecil / TS100 seems to be located fully behind the tip though: https://web.archive.org/web/20221110163337/http://www.minids...

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#157

Post by KingOfCoders »

green-salt wrote: post #153
kwiens wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can set the temperature on the iron with our web console, which uses Web Serial: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console Once you set the temperature, the iron remembers it and you can use any power source. We've spent a lot of time talking to engineers and makers who solder all day, and it turns out that most people rarely change the temperature. Pick a temperature you like and leave it there. Our heating algorith…

Do you have plans to have an actual local application to do this? Chrome-only web tools are not sustainable and a deal breaker.

[flagged]

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#159

Post by foldr »

myrmidon wrote: post #82
thesh4d0w wrote: post #62

The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me. $110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane. Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing m…

For tools that you use regularly, it is sometimes worth it to take a step back, put the cost into an absolute perspective and then just get the thing if you know that it's well-made and you use it regularly, instead of getting a cheapish, price-optimized knockoff instead (my experience). I spent over 200$ on a glorified PCB holder and some probes (PCBite), which is in hindsight one of the most useful tools I own and…

The TS80P is very nicely made and can be obtained for around $70. It's only 30W, but this newer generation of irons has a much more efficient tip design, so it works much better than the wattage would suggest (if you're comparing to a Hakko or something).

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#160

Post by ryukafalz »

green-salt wrote: post #153
kwiens wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can set the temperature on the iron with our web console, which uses Web Serial: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console Once you set the temperature, the iron remembers it and you can use any power source. We've spent a lot of time talking to engineers and makers who solder all day, and it turns out that most people rarely change the temperature. Pick a temperature you like and leave it there. Our heating algorith…

Do you have plans to have an actual local application to do this? Chrome-only web tools are not sustainable and a deal breaker.

This is something I'm wondering about, because yeah - my ability to change the iron temperature (if not using the battery) shouldn't depend on iFixit's servers being online. I would at least hope that they document the protocol so that other people can write local applications to do it if not.
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