Electronics > Beginners
Bad soldering iron - maybe even worse
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fixit7:

I bought this thing.

It has setting to adjust but it does NOT maintain anything like a set temperature.

I left it on one night at the 300 setting.

When I woke up the next day and saw that it was on, I noticed that the tip was slightly glowing.


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https://www.ebay.com/itm/Electric-Soldering-Iron-Gun-Adjustable-Temperature-60W-Welding-Set-Tool-Kit-110V/372172941590?epid=18028313401&hash=item56a73c6916:g:XS0AAOSw2NhcnXZY

I now use it to melt holes in plastic, pvc, melt a hole thru fabric, etc.

Andy
Zero999:
At worse, the temperature control is fake and does nothing, at best, it's a phase controller, basically a lamp dimmer circuit, which just varies the amount of power delivered to the element, without monitoring the temperature.

I have a soldering iron with a phase controller. It's usable for small things only. When I first turn it on, I keep increasing the temperature until it's just hot enough to melt the solder, then I turn it up a little more.
ledtester:
When my Weller WP30 was my main iron I plugged it into a timer like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Teklectric-Curling-Straightener-Countdown-Conserve/dp/B01KKOJ42U/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=timed+outlet+plug&qid=1560786537&s=gateway&sr=8-5
Gyro:
You're being very over-optimistic if you expect to get decent temperature control for $10. Electrically safe would be quite an achievement (especially with a 2 pin mains plug).


P.S. A glowing tip sounds like a shorted Triac in the 'lamp dimmer' circuit.
Nerull:
Rather than buying a several super cheap irons, just buy one of the still-pretty-cheap knockoff hakkos, the newer stuff that uses T12s seem pretty nice for the money if you can't afford a name brand. The level of frustration you avoid when trying to use one of those shitty firestarter irons is worth the price difference.
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