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EEVblog 1646 - iFixIt FixHub Portable USB Soldering Station REVIEW
EEVblog:
FixHub portable soldering station REVIEW
https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-portable-soldering-station
Just the iron:
https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-smart-soldering-iron
Schematic:
https://www.ifixit.com/Document/MeQmLlLKT2LSSKFY/Portable-Power-Station-Electrical-Schematics.pdf
Repair Guide:
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/FixHub_Portable_Power_Station
3D Model:
https://www.printables.com/model/1018125-fixhub-power-series-portable-power-station/
How intercreate designed the FixHub:
https://www.intercreate.io/case-stories/ifixit-soldering-iron-and-smart-hub
00:00 - iFixIt FixHub Portable Soldering Station
01:26 - iFixit Screwdriver set + unboxing
02:41 - The smart iron
03:41 - The Portable Power hub
05:04 - The smart iron in detail
06:51 - Auto setup & motion detection
08:43 - Just the Tip
11:18 - You can buy the smart iron on it's own
11:49 - The hate screens and buttons on iron handles
12:49 - Designed for repairability - Teardown Time
14:51 - Schematics!
15:16 - Concern about the battery terminal spacing
16:01 - Designed by Intercreate
16:47 - Complete bare PCB
18:01 - Dum Arse Dave got the battery to go sparky-spark
18:59 - It was DEAD out of the box!, repair time!
20:47 - Testing the iron from an external USB-C battery bank
22:06 - Testing the TS-80 tips
22:23 - Power meter water test
23:46 - Same power meter test with the JBC iron
24:53 - Same power meter test with the TS80P iron
25:13 - The temperature display is suspiciously consistant
25:52 - Power up timer and temperature comparison test
27:17 - Power up timer test on solder
28:06 - Basic copper clad ground plane soldering test
29:06 - Large package soldering test
29:40 - Small package soldering test
29:57 - Repetative ground plane solder test
30:28 - JBC reference test on large package
31:06 - Temperature accuracy test
31:46 - External USB device powering featurign the µSupply
32:02 - The magnetic stand
34:04 - Trying the computer connection and command line serial port
35:39 - Back to the water test with external power meter
36:54 - Conclusion
Chainsaw_:
The Pinecil fanboys are not happy in the YT comments.
AmericanLocomotive:
--- Quote from: Chainsaw_ on October 20, 2024, 01:44:17 pm ---The Pinecil fanboys are not happy in the YT comments.
--- End quote ---
I mean they're not wrong, though. This product has:
* Poor thermal design, unable to transfer heat effectively from the heater to the cartridge body
* Lying temperature display
* Misleading/Lying Power Output
The thing was barely able to achieve 50w - HALF of its advertised and rated power while dunked in water. iFixit told Dave that "not all tips can reach the full power output", despite ALL of the advertising on the website saying 100w, and the tip in his iron having "100W" printed right on it! It's straight up false advertising. Not to mention it uses the almost-but-not-quite the same cartridges as the TS80 for no discernible reason other than to force you to buy tips from iFixit.
The whole "slightly not compatible cartridge" thing should have been a major ding against it. The temperature display, and complete inability to hit its rated power output should have put it firmly in the "thumbs down" zone. I get that it's built well, it's repairable, there are schematics and that iFixit is generally a good company - but this product has some fairly major problems and flat out does not perform as advertised.
Smokey:
https://www.intercreate.io/case-stories/ifixit-soldering-iron-and-smart-hub
This is the firm that did the actual design and manufacturing. It's a marketing thing, but it does go through some of the process.
Note: I see Dave's link now. gg
Helio_Centra:
--- Quote from: Chainsaw_ on October 20, 2024, 01:44:17 pm ---The Pinecil fanboys are not happy in the YT comments.
--- End quote ---
Pinecil doesn't come with a battery, or stand, or even power cable. You can set one up for cheap and run it off a power tool battery you already have or wired off an old laptop charger. (3D printing adapters) But most people end up spending $100 or more setting their up just the way they like it.
iFixit is just making a more professional feeling hobbyist iron. So it isn't exactly the same customer base.
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