T12 Hakko Clone Station

[ChrisGreece52]

Hello i just received a T12 clone from aliexpress
This one  :
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2017-STC-T12-Digital-Soldering-Iron-Station-Temperature-Controller-EU-Plug-Temperature-180-450-Degrees-T12/32803295956.html
And i think i made a mistake considering the price i paid for it (65 EUR (40 for the station and 25 in customs fees)
I cannot find a datasheet for these STC controleld clones or manual (i know how to use it is pretty straight forward with one encoder but i cannot find firmware updates or a way to see the firmware)
Have you any info on these clones ?
Thanks in advance.

[ChrisGreece52]

I opened the thing up before i even powered it on and saw this problem. I will sand a bit of the paint on both sides of the enclosure and ground it in the near future.
Also the iron tip is not grounded either.

Correction : I checked the iron tip and it is grounded the only thing that is not grounded is the case but it uses a plastic sheet for insulation. Only the case needs to be grounded.

[madcat]

i ordered similar to this station, but a DC version :
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MINI-T12-OLED-soldering-station-electronic-welding-iron-2017-New-design-DC-Version-Portable-T12-Digital/32839523934.html?spm=2114.10010108.100009.1.c69a513a7ixkV7&traffic_analysisId=recommend_2037_null_null_null&scm=1007.13482.95643.0&pvid=908901e6-cc81-4816-9725-b677b367c05a&tpp=1

i wonder if it still needs grounding for this model?

[chickenHeadKnob]

i ordered similar to this station, but a DC version :
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MINI-T12-OLED-soldering-station-electronic-welding-iron-2017-New-design-DC-Version-Portable-T12-Digital/32839523934.html?spm=2114.10010108.100009.1.c69a513a7ixkV7&traffic_analysisId=recommend_2037_null_null_null&scm=1007.13482.95643.0&pvid=908901e6-cc81-4816-9725-b677b367c05a&tpp=1

i wonder if it still needs grounding for this model?

They are all DC machines as far as I know. That is they work by PWM'ing a DC supply with a single mosfet to vary the tip heating. This is different from soldering stations like the JBC which variably switch an AC supply. The only thing different on your unit from the other T12 clones is that you need to provide the power supply. In general yes it is preferential to ground the metal enclosure to mains earth as well as the tip. However with your unit there is the possibility of powering with a battery and in that case you also have the option of leaving the tip floating. This can be useful in a situation like replacing the non-volitile RAM back-up battery found in some old test equipment. In that  specific situation a normal grounded tip will short the circuit you are soldering on.

[madcat]

thank you @chickenHeadKnob.
please bear with me as i'm totally noob at electronics, but in what kind of situation i should be corcerned about the fact that my iron is floating/not grounded?

[soundtec]

I ordered up an uncased kit version of the T-12 for about 12 euros incl delivery, more basic led display than the one you show . I got a suitable alloy case for a few euros extra ,I might try it out with 3x18650 batteries and see if I can make a compact rechargeable station.

[Shock]

thank you @chickenHeadKnob.
please bear with me as i'm totally noob at electronics, but in what kind of situation i should be corcerned about the fact that my iron is floating/not grounded?

User safety and isolation from mains e.g. the iron has exposed metal which presents a touch risk.
Damage to the component or circuit being worked on from the iron (ESD) and or it's power source (leakage current).
Dangerously designed cheap Chinese power supplies.
On a live circuit the opposite applies, grounding via your iron may cause damage or loss of data from a short.

[bd139]

They do a low voltage one as well. I have the same one as you  and a low voltage one. I’m doing some work on the dodgy one to Earth it properly before it sees the bench.

The low voltage one I need to run off 12v so I’ve added a boost converter in front of it to knock it up to 24V.

However they are fantastic when they are sorted. I mean really good. Better than my weller iron.

If you’re not happy with the switching supply they provide an external meanwell unit or something could be used.

[madcat]

User safety and isolation from mains e.g. the iron has exposed metal which presents a touch risk.
Damage to the component or circuit being worked on from the iron (ESD) and or it's power source (leakage current).
Dangerously designed cheap Chinese power supplies.
On a live circuit the opposite applies, grounding via your iron may cause damage or loss of data from a short.

thank you @Shock.
those are very well explained. i really appreciate that.

[ricktendo]

i cannot find firmware updates or a way to see the firmware

I hope this is not considered spam (as I already started a topic on this same station) but like you I purchased one (it has yet to arrive) I also searched for firmware updates for the unit and I did find custom fw: http://www.ptdreamer.com/

[thm_w]

I hope this is not considered spam (as I already started a topic on this same station) but like you I purchased one (it has yet to arrive) I also searched for firmware updates for the unit and I did find custom fw: http://www.ptdreamer.com/

Cool features:

Custom firmware features

    PID for temperature control
    Cold junction compensation
    Memory for 10 different tips
    Per tip PID constants
    Per tip termoucople calibration
    Boost mode (used when one requires a temporary boost in temperature, triggered by the press of a button, resumes normal temperature after an amount of time defined by user)
    User defined boost time and temperature
    User defined sleep time and temperature
    User defined stand by time
    Set temperature saved between uses
    3 point calibration values

[ricktendo]

Cool features:

Custom firmware features

    PID for temperature control
    Cold junction compensation
    Memory for 10 different tips
    Per tip PID constants
    Per tip termoucople calibration
    Boost mode (used when one requires a temporary boost in temperature, triggered by the press of a button, resumes normal temperature after an amount of time defined by user)
    User defined boost time and temperature
    User defined sleep time and temperature
    User defined stand by time
    Set temperature saved between uses
    3 point calibration values

Agreed!!!

I requested a cfw flashing tutorial and he delivered (note: apparently you cannot backup the original fw in case you want to revert)