3 ms·

Why not use 110V AC for a hotplate and the soldering iron? USB seems silly.

Animats 3y ago
USB-powered coffee makers are a thing. There's a USB-powered fondue maker. A USB-powered mini-fridge. A USB-powered toaster.
- bloopernova 3y ago
  There's also USB heated fingerless gloves for cold winter days. And I have several USB powered fans. USB-C power delivery cables are pretty useful and better than a dozen transformers fighting for space on a power strip.
PennRobotics 3y ago
I think the nice Weller irons are using 24 volts DC between the box and the tip. Why deal with filtering and conversion to run a PID temperature controller, which you'll need anyway to get a mains iron to run as precisely as a high-end device?
- oakwhiz 3y ago
  Thyristor/SCR control works too.
wepple 3y ago
Can’t speak for the OP but having USB C devices is far tidier, and allows you to go portable. I’ve always had a 110 soldering station, but recently bought a Pinecil portable iron for soldering in the field, and damn that thing is so convenient and fast to heat and accurate, I hardly bother with my full solder station any more
- steve_adams_86 3y ago
  It’s actually good? It’s so inexpensive. My soldering station was $200, and I thought that was on the cheaper side. It looks like Pinecil V2 is only $25 at the moment.
  - noman-land 3y ago
    It's strangely good. I also haven't used my Weller since getting the Pinecil.
  - graphe 3y ago
    What do you need it for? I've used $4 ones that were "good". Once you go hot air it's different.
    - wepple 3y ago
      Repairing crashed drones, so maybe nothing fancy. If I’m doing precise SMT I prefer to be at a desk
      - graphe 3y ago
        I think these will do fine my nice soldering iron was $70ish when I got it and has temperature control. You don't need a weller or anything that was nice from back in the day, I think the in general temp control is very good from my experience with cheap ecigs too.
  - wepple 3y ago
    If they’d charged me $85 I’d be a very happy buyer. But I paid like $45 or something crazy? The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey because they seem to include the actual heating element, but even then it’s still such a great device IMO
    - duskwuff 3y ago
      > The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey And, at $25 for a set of four, they aren't even that expensive.
tiagod 3y ago
I carry mine in my backpack, uses as much space than a couple pens and I can use it with my powerbank and usb-c charger which I always carry anyway.
rainbowzootsuit 3y ago
The TS 100 / pinecil type irons can be run off an RC lipo battery or USB PD power bank. For small field repairs work they are fantastic.
usrusr 3y ago
Because then you can only sell to countries that have 110V mains. All three of them. If your product is more complex than a light bulb, dealing with mains power can be quite a hassle. It requires bigger and more expensive parts than negotiating for 20V DC with a USB PD source. You might want to take a look at USB-C to barrel connector adapters intended to run older laptops on modern chargers. They are tiny and cheap, I use one to liberate a thunderbolt 4 hub from the massive power brick it came with.

USB-powered coffee makers are a thing. There's a USB-powered fondue maker. A USB-powered mini-fridge. A USB-powered toaster.

bloopernova 3y ago
There's also USB heated fingerless gloves for cold winter days. And I have several USB powered fans. USB-C power delivery cables are pretty useful and better than a dozen transformers fighting for space on a power strip.

PennRobotics 3y ago

I think the nice Weller irons are using 24 volts DC between the box and the tip. Why deal with filtering and conversion to run a PID temperature controller, which you'll need anyway to get a mains iron to run as precisely as a high-end device?

oakwhiz 3y ago
Thyristor/SCR control works too.

wepple 3y ago

Can’t speak for the OP but having USB C devices is far tidier, and allows you to go portable. I’ve always had a 110 soldering station, but recently bought a Pinecil portable iron for soldering in the field, and damn that thing is so convenient and fast to heat and accurate, I hardly bother with my full solder station any more

steve_adams_86 3y ago
It’s actually good? It’s so inexpensive. My soldering station was $200, and I thought that was on the cheaper side. It looks like Pinecil V2 is only $25 at the moment.
- noman-land 3y ago
  It's strangely good. I also haven't used my Weller since getting the Pinecil.
- graphe 3y ago
  What do you need it for? I've used $4 ones that were "good". Once you go hot air it's different.
  - wepple 3y ago
    Repairing crashed drones, so maybe nothing fancy. If I’m doing precise SMT I prefer to be at a desk
    - graphe 3y ago
      I think these will do fine my nice soldering iron was $70ish when I got it and has temperature control. You don't need a weller or anything that was nice from back in the day, I think the in general temp control is very good from my experience with cheap ecigs too.
- wepple 3y ago
  If they’d charged me $85 I’d be a very happy buyer. But I paid like $45 or something crazy? The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey because they seem to include the actual heating element, but even then it’s still such a great device IMO
  - duskwuff 3y ago
    > The one downside someone pointed out is that replacement tips are pricey And, at $25 for a set of four, they aren't even that expensive.

tiagod 3y ago

I carry mine in my backpack, uses as much space than a couple pens and I can use it with my powerbank and usb-c charger which I always carry anyway.

rainbowzootsuit 3y ago

The TS 100 / pinecil type irons can be run off an RC lipo battery or USB PD power bank. For small field repairs work they are fantastic.

usrusr 3y ago

Because then you can only sell to countries that have 110V mains. All three of them. If your product is more complex than a light bulb, dealing with mains power can be quite a hassle. It requires bigger and more expensive parts than negotiating for 20V DC with a USB PD source. You might want to take a look at USB-C to barrel connector adapters intended to run older laptops on modern chargers. They are tiny and cheap, I use one to liberate a thunderbolt 4 hub from the massive power brick it came with.