Yesterday I started a thread on the Dick Smith T2000 soldering station.
Or rather replacing the hand piece.
I haven't resolved My questions yet but I'm working on it.
Meanwhile I decided to check out the insides of my Duratech TS-1620 soldering station that I bought to get me by until I was able to get another Dick Smith station, The T-2200
It's just as good, if not better than the T-2000.
Today I was surprised to find that the inside of the Duratech TS-1620 was not what I expected.
First there was a heavy steel plate inside to give the feel of a transformer.
There was no transformer.
Instead I found a small PCB about 30 X 40mm.
Mains in - basically a dimmer control and chopped up mains to the iron. (NOTE)... I didn't remove the PCB to get a good look at it because that would wreck the iron altogether.
There is no Thermostat, thermo couple or thermistor feedback at all.
The tool is earthed but then I was soldering Cmos and working on Micro controllers with this iron.
For transistor circuits it is probably fine.
BILL.