Genious WunHangLo soldering iron!

[tatus1969]

I knew that our far east copying friends are getting better and better with designing electronics by their own, but I didn't realize the sheer innovation power that they have developed. This is what I just received via ebay, and look at the specs! Amazing! That is what I call real energy efficiency.

[kalel]

They are advertising a reduced power consumption rate. The way I read it is: "What used to need 40w now needs just 12w, or what used to need 60w - now 14w". On the other hand, what it actually means... I don't know, perhaps the heater is more focused on a small area so that the temperature is reached more quickly? Maybe they are comparing it with a non regulated soldering iron that always uses the full power. Or it's just some random statement.

[Ampera]

This is incredible! Plug it into itself, we will get infinite energy!

[tatus1969]

They are advertising a reduced power consumption rate. The way I read it is: "What used to need 40w now needs just 12w, or what used to need 60w - now 14w". On the other hand, what it actually means... I don't know, perhaps the heater is more focused on a small area so that the temperature is reached more quickly? Maybe they are comparing it with a non regulated soldering iron that always uses the full power. Or it's just some random statement.

considering the rest of their writing, I would go for your last guess 

[ez24]

Besides their English (which is better than my Chinese), how do you like it?  Seems this gets lots of orders on Aliexpress and good reviews from a lot of sellers and buyers.  What I like is that it is not digital (the iron) and small, so this has my attention.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-EU-plug-YiHua-908D-soldering-iron-station-8858I-Hot-air-station-Adjustable-Constant-temperatur/32817435522.html?

[Rick Law]

I don't know how the solder iron would perform, but I have a roll of solder wire exactly like the one in the picture - from the purchase of also a Yihua, but instead of 908+, mine is a Yihua 937D iron.

The solder is very pastie, and however much flux you use (or not), the joints are always dull looking.  It took a good bit higher temperature than my 60/40 roll of better solder wire. I stop using it but save it except for emergency in case I run out of real solder write.

In my case,  upon delivery, I did had to open up the base to fix one loose wire.  This one is also a Yihua, may be this one will be okay...  Let's hear it from the one(s) who got this Yihua 908+.  I am curious.

[Red Squirrel]

Wait till this tech hits the space heater industry.  "1500w equivalent heater, only uses 300w!"   

[cdev]

Good point, mine too, unfortunately.

Besides their English (which is better than my Chinese)

[amyk]

It reminds me of the energy-saving statements on CCFLs... although I'm more curious about the "Pitch-dard".

It reads like some strange poem:

Pitch-dard
A turn
A rub
Sparkling!

[chriswebb]

Besides their English (which is better than my Chinese)

I'm confused by this comment. Are you doing manuals for cheap soldering irons that are being targeted for China?

[NiHaoMike]

Wait till this tech hits the space heater industry.  "1500w equivalent heater, only uses 300w!"   

That already exists, it's called a heat pump.

[tatus1969]

Besides their English (which is better than my Chinese), how do you like it?  Seems this gets lots of orders on Aliexpress and good reviews from a lot of sellers and buyers.  What I like is that it is not digital (the iron) and small, so this has my attention.

I bought it as a second iron for SMD rework, and it is more than good enough for that. I haven chosen this one because it is very compact.

My main concern about it is electrical safety. It could never pass CE testing because of the lead going to the iron is definitely not mains rated as you can see from this picture. The heating element is isolated (ceramic body), and the metal shaft is connected to earth via a spring.

Three "corrections" to the advertised specs:
- it is 18W max (measured), not 65W
- it has no temperature control, but uses a simple triac dimmer
- its max temperature is maybe 300°C ("measured" using kapton tape on tip to reduce reflections, and an IR thermometer),  most likely not 480°C

[gamalot]

Well, I am a Chinese, let me try to explain it.

I think it is just an analogy, like one says that a 10W LED bulb looks as bright as a 40W incandescent bulb.

[kalel]

Well, I am a Chinese, let me try to explain it.

I think it is just an analogy, like one says that a 10W LED bulb looks as bright as a 40W incandescent bulb.

I am not Chinese, but I understood it the same way. To understand these things (perhaps translated by Google or another translation service), we need to ask "what could it mean". It's just some marketing stuff as it doesn't say what it compares this with. The 14w of this iron is like 60w of what?

In any case, the lack of temperature control is not great. But at least it is earthed.

[gamalot]

Well, I am a Chinese, let me try to explain it.

I think it is just an analogy, like one says that a 10W LED bulb looks as bright as a 40W incandescent bulb.

I am not Chinese, but I understood it the same way. To understand these things (perhaps translated by Google or another translation service), we need to ask "what could it mean". It's just some marketing stuff as it doesn't say what it compares this with. The 14w of this iron is like 60w of what?

In any case, the lack of temperature control is not great. But at least it is earthed.

Their intention should be compared with the old school external heating soldering iron, I guess.

[tatus1969]

Well, I am a Chinese, let me try to explain it.

I think it is just an analogy, like one says that a 10W LED bulb looks as bright as a 40W incandescent bulb.

This analogy is not applicable to heaters, their efficiency is always 100% (except power transmission losses) because an electrical heating element always converts *all* electrical energy into thermal energy.

A soldering iron that consumes 18W is an 18W iron and cannot honestly be advertised as a 65W iron.