Weller WX2 station/iron no longer working!

[drummerdimitri]

I was using my Weller WX2 station with the WXP120 soldering iron to solder a large lug to a cable and the iron stopped heating on me while it was heating the lug.

I do not have a second iron to test if the problem is with the station or the iron. Is there a way to know what went wrong? 

[The Soulman]

To check the heating element on the iron measure resistance (from to top of my head, so better double check) between pin 1 and 2
on the connector, should read fairly low (aprox. five ohms).

Does the station report anything or is it functioning as always?

Edit: wx series uses 12 pin and not the 7 pin connectors I was assuming  little information available on those..

[drummerdimitri]

To check the heating element on the iron measure resistance (from to top of my head, so better double check) between pin 1 and 2
on the connector, should read fairly low (aprox. five ohms).

Does the station report anything or is it functioning as always?

Edit: wx series uses 12 pin and not the 7 pin connectors I was assuming  little information available on those..

The station doesn't report anything. It give me the full power bar so I think it's trying to send the power to the iron but the iron wont heat up.

[Neshi]

WX2 has 2 input, so one easy check is to try both.
AFAIK 24V is applied between 2 top-most pins, mine's read 4-5 Ohm.

[drummerdimitri]

WX2 has 2 input, so one easy check is to try both.
AFAIK 24V is applied between 2 top-most pins, mine's read 4-5 Ohm.

Just took apart the iron and measured the voltage across the two solder points and the value fluctuates between 23-24V.

I get a resistance value of of 100 OHMS and an open circuit reading on what seems to be the heater element since the station still reads the temperature values as i heated the tip up with my heat gun.

Any way to replace the heater element and the thermometer assembly or should i buy a new iron?

[Rasz]

heating element is either 2/3 whole soldering iron price, or $35 but out of stock

[stj]

most common failure point on decent irons is actually the cable.
always check the cable.

[richnormand]

@ drummerdimitri

I have a WX2 unit with a WXMP-MS, a WXP 120 and a WXMT-MS tweezer. Multiple tips for each.

A)
Let me know should you want me to make a few voltage or resistance measurements to compare to yours. This might help your troubleshooting efforts.

B)
The weak point I found over the years is the main unit connector in the front and the wire going in the corresponding plug.

C)
Also keep in mind that removing and connecting tips while the power is applied can cause a failure. There is only a line in the user manual about this and no emphasis either.
This would not apply to the WXP 120 of course but an intermittent cable could.


Have not been able to secure a schematic diagram on this model either....

Good luck with it and keep us informed.

[drummerdimitri]

@ drummerdimitri

I have a WX2 unit with a WXMP-MS, a WXP 120 and a WXMT-MS tweezer. Multiple tips for each.

A)
Let me know should you want me to make a few voltage or resistance measurements to compare to yours. This might help your troubleshooting efforts.

B)
The weak point I found over the years is the main unit connector in the front and the wire going in the corresponding plug.

C)
Also keep in mind that removing and connecting tips while the power is applied can cause a failure. There is only a line in the user manual about this and no emphasis either.
This would not apply to the WXP 120 of course but an intermittent cable could.


Have not been able to secure a schematic diagram on this model either....

Good luck with it and keep us informed.

It would be great if you could disassemble your WXP 120 and measure the resistance on the heater element which I assume has brown wires and the temperature probe with blue wires.

Problem is I am not sure the Iron is still under warranty as it has been over a year since I purchased it and the cost replacing the heater is about 2/3- 3/4 the price of a new iron as someone mentioned earlier.

Let me know what reading you get and thanks in advance

[richnormand]

OK.

Two brown wires 4.2 ohms
Two blue wire 100.6 ohms, goes up with temperature when hand held.

Pics show where I took the measurements.

Also of note are the "personality" chips on board. These will store previous temperatures, calibrations and ID for the main unit.
It could be that if they are defective or corrupted the unit will not work properly?

[drummerdimitri]

OK.

Two brown wires 4.2 ohms
Two blue wire 100.6 ohms, goes up with temperature when hand held.

Pics show where I took the measurements.

Also of note are the "personality" chips on board. These will store previous temperatures, calibrations and ID for the main unit.
It could be that if they are defective or corrupted the unit will not work properly?

Thanks for the input.

As I would of thought, I get the same  value for the probe but open circuit for the brown wire so definitely a burnt up heating element.

Waiting for hear back from the online store I bought it from. Hopefully I wont have to pay 150-200$ for a replacement