SOLD (UK) Ersa i-Con 2 rework station with i-Tool and Chip Tool

[TopLoser]

Customer return, reported i-Tool tip temperature fluctuating wildly. Yep, they were right so the old i-Tool is in the bin and I bought a shiny new working one.

It's this complete set here:

https://www.buerklin.com/en/soldering-station-complete/p/09l3745

Tweezer tips have been used, few little scuff marks on the side of the power unit but otherwise it look very nice indeed. Comes with manuals, CD, tatty box, all tested and working.

£375 £340 plus shipping? (£10 UK, £20 sensible EU countries, £35 US, £45 Aus)

SOLD

[jpb]

Tempting, but I think my existing Ersa Nano is probably adequate for my limited needs (though the tweezers look useful).

[nctnico]

I'm pretty happy with these SMT tweezers so I can recommend to buy them. The best I have used so far but it seems the one from Toploser is missing the rings to keep the tips aligned.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ersa-chiptool-quick-review/msg954633/#msg954633

[TopLoser]

Yep, missing. As is a big chunk of the list price!

Never noticed that but I’m not dropping the price just yet...

[nctnico]

Those rings can be bought separately so no worries.

[TopLoser]

Only really useful if you change tips on a regular basis anyway.

I’ll include a spare heater element for the tweezers for anybody that doesn’t try and batter me down on price now.

[sn4k3]

Very good station, customer should keep it
I think that chip tool better than Vario version, at least more tips...

[jhenderson0107]

Will you ship to the USA and if so, what would be the cost to ship to California? 

[TopLoser]

Yes of course, but it's 220 volt only. No range selector switch.

Shipping cost probably £60 UPS £35

[jhenderson0107]

Unfortunately, 220V is not available at my solder workstation.  But thank you for responding. 

[jhenderson0107]

TopLoser -

I have sent you a PM. 

[TopLoser]

Still for sale.

[nctnico]

Unfortunately, 220V is not available at my solder workstation.  But thank you for responding.

When will they learn to throw an SMPS in the controller... Metcal did that, and I'm glad they did that.
It's effectively the geographical license lock of software, on hardware.

These soldering stations still have a transformer and a thyristor/triac to control the temperature. Nowadays it might as well be an SMPS + MOSFET but ERSA combines the power and temperature sensor on two wires on many of their irons so I guess that will complicate things for a re-design. Also an SMPS is less reliable compared to a transformer.

[wraper]

ERSA combines the power and temperature sensor on two wires

They certainly don't do this on i-tool. There are separate terminals for heater and temperature sensor. Temperature is digitized and sent in digital form from i-tool to the station. I-CON also supports older tools without built in electronics, dunno about those. But there are certainly more than 2 wires used for those.
EDIT: just looked into X-tool, there are 5 wires.

[mairo]

Come on people, some one need to buy this otherwise I will have to be making myself another Christmas present.

This is a great station!

[TopLoser]

Price reduced. Make it go away in time for Christmas please...

[Kilo Tango]

Unfortunately, 220V is not available at my solder workstation.  But thank you for responding.

When will they learn to throw an SMPS in the controller... Metcal did that, and I'm glad they did that.
It's effectively the geographical license lock of software, on hardware.

These soldering stations still have a transformer and a thyristor/triac to control the temperature. Nowadays it might as well be an SMPS + MOSFET but ERSA combines the power and temperature sensor on two wires on many of their irons so I guess that will complicate things for a re-design. Also an SMPS is less reliable compared to a transformer.

Weller put in a 240V/110V switch on some of their transformer stations.

I have been running a 110V Weller WSD81  from a 240V/110V step down transformer for several years without incident. Can't you go the other way, 110V > 240V ?.

Ken

[jhenderson0107]

Kilo -

Step up transformers are available, but would add $50-100 to the cost.  I was able to route 220V to the electronics bench from elsewhere in the workshop to accommodate this unit.