| Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff |
| DIY hot plate for reflow soldering |
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| newbie666:
Hello, I've recently learned about those silicone heater matts[1] that can get up to 300 degC and that gave me an idea of sticking one to a copper plate and using it as a (precision) hot plate for reflow soldering. I'd probably have to build two of those and keep them at constant temperature - one for presoak and the other for reflow temp, but in theory that should give me a pretty consistent reflow process. Did anybody try to do anything similar or this idea is plain stupid? :-// [1] https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/silicone-heater-mats/0245641/ |
| Peabody:
I'm not familiar with the silicone heater mats, but I posted before about using two cheap hotplates, one at soak temperature and one at reflow temperature: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/manufacture/reflow-using-two-hot-plates/msg1975487/#msg1975487 I found that the temperature control of the hotplate I tested (the Walmart $10 open-element model) has far too much hysteresis to maintain a consistent temperature. But I've built a "controller" that cycles the mains power through an SSR every two seconds per an adjustable duty cycle, and it can maintain the temperature of a circular saw blade on top of the heating element at a constant temperature. So I think it's still an interesting possibility. In a 120VAC system like here in the US, there could be a problem running two 1000W hotplates at the same time without tripping a 20A circuit breaker. But one controller could make sure the two are not ON at the same time. But I think the controller and single hotplate can follow the required temperature profile well enough. The silicone mats apparently work up to 300C, but are only rated at 200W. I'm not sure how that works. |
| texaspyro:
For the price of a heater mat you could buy a toaster oven and build a reflow controller. |
| LapTop006:
Or, for not much more than that, buy the pre-existing cheap Chinese hot plates that already have a temperature controller. |
| soldar:
That sillycone heater is only 200 W and I am not sure that is enough. I would not go that way. I find hotplates in the trash (see my other thread) and you can easily add temperature control (on/off or even proportional) for very little. |
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