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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: tony3d on February 10, 2014, 08:33:36 pm

Title: Solder Station and surge protector
Post by: tony3d on February 10, 2014, 08:33:36 pm
Is it a bad idea to plug a solder station into a surge protector? Does it limit the station's performance in any way? Is it best to plug it straight into the wall?
Title: Re: Solder Station and surge protector
Post by: dr.diesel on February 10, 2014, 08:38:07 pm
It will be fine assuming you're under the amperage of the surge protector, most solder stations pull very little current.

I think my Hakko FM-206 with three irons is still < 400 watts when all three are heating.
Title: Re: Solder Station and surge protector
Post by: GreyWoolfe on February 11, 2014, 02:33:49 am
My Hakko 936 is plugged into a Belkin surge protector with all 6 sockets filled.  The Belkin is plugged into an APC SmartUPS 1550with 3 more surge protectors running my entire workbench.  Have had no issues with the Hakko or anything else test equipment wise.
Title: Re: Solder Station and surge protector
Post by: tony3d on February 11, 2014, 12:30:12 pm
Ok, thanks for the reply's.
Title: Re: Solder Station and surge protector
Post by: dr.diesel on February 11, 2014, 12:54:12 pm
Most surge protectors only consist of an El-cheapo circuit breaker and a couple of undersized piss ant MOVs.  In the event of overloading, ie plugging in too much stuff, it's designed to disconnect all sockets from the mains (same as your main breaker panel).  In the event of a drastic overvoltage, the MOVs are there to shunt the offending line to ground/neutral.

For the most part, surge protectors are only good for port multiplication, rather than surge protection.