Adding a solder port to a solder station

[hqbert]

I have a solder station with one soldering iron port. Hakko refers to it as a port and Pace refers to it as channel. Would anyone know if it would be possible to splice into an existing solder port and add an extra port?

I notice the CB / microphone 6 or 8 pin connectors could be bought and the power supply seems to have more than enough power to support a couple extra ports. All I would need then is to splice into the existing port but I'm not sure if all the components on the board would support it.

[wraper]

And what's the point? It's not like soldering station can control 2 soldering irons simultaneously. Nor it's transformer has enough power for two.

[hqbert]

And what's the point? It's not like soldering station can control 2 soldering irons simultaneously. Nor it's transformer has enough power for two.

The point is it's a nice solder station and basically new. It's a 750W unit. There's one other alternative with two ports in the same price point but it has a cheap display, no memory to quickly switch from leaded to lead free solder, and it's only 500W.

[Haenk]

Yes, but there is "stuff" (aka "electronics") inside, which regulates your iron. Most likely a single channel station only has electronics for one channel (iron).
So where do you add a second iron? Driving both from the same circuit will not work (obviously).

[hqbert]

Yes, but there is "stuff" (aka "electronics") inside, which regulates your iron. Most likely a single channel station only has electronics for one channel (iron).
So where do you add a second iron? Driving both from the same circuit will not work (obviously).

Yes I'm trying to confirm if the components would have a problem with it and I was thinking about splicing into the existing port. If there's a problem, maybe I could add a switch to flip between port 1 solder and 2 which I could use to desolder. If I was using port 2 to desolder, I would still need to match the wiring but that's been done by others before.

[wraper]

And what's the point? It's not like soldering station can control 2 soldering irons simultaneously. Nor it's transformer has enough power for two.

The point is it's a nice solder station and basically new. It's a 750W unit. There's one other alternative with two ports in the same price point but it has a cheap display, no memory to quickly switch from leaded to lead free solder, and it's only 500W.

Are you talking about hot air station or what? There are no soldering (iron) stations of such power.

[wraper]

Yes, but there is "stuff" (aka "electronics") inside, which regulates your iron. Most likely a single channel station only has electronics for one channel (iron).
So where do you add a second iron? Driving both from the same circuit will not work (obviously).

Yes I'm trying to confirm if the components would have a problem with it and I was thinking about splicing into the existing port. If there's a problem, maybe I could add a switch to flip between port 1 solder and 2 which I could use to desolder. If I was using port 2 to desolder, I would still need to match the wiring but that's been done by others before.

Do you not understand there is a temperature sensor in the iron and power is supplied to it according to temperature readings?

[S. Petrukhin]

I have a solder station with one soldering iron port. Hakko refers to it as a port and Pace refers to it as channel. Would anyone know if it would be possible to splice into an existing solder port and add an extra port?

I notice the CB / microphone 6 or 8 pin connectors could be bought and the power supply seems to have more than enough power to support a couple extra ports. All I would need then is to splice into the existing port but I'm not sure if all the components on the board would support it.

Why don't you take it apart and see what's inside the soldering station? If there is a filling board for the second soldering iron?

[wraper]

Why don't you take it apart and see what's inside the soldering station? If there is a filling board for the second soldering iron?

Even if there is something, it's not like it is supported in firmware. So even if you populate missing parts, it won't help.

[hqbert]

Yes, but there is "stuff" (aka "electronics") inside, which regulates your iron. Most likely a single channel station only has electronics for one channel (iron).
So where do you add a second iron? Driving both from the same circuit will not work (obviously).

Yes I'm trying to confirm if the components would have a problem with it and I was thinking about splicing into the existing port. If there's a problem, maybe I could add a switch to flip between port 1 solder and 2 which I could use to desolder. If I was using port 2 to desolder, I would still need to match the wiring but that's been done by others before.

Do you not understand there is a temperature sensor in the iron and power is supplied to it according to temperature readings?

Yes, it is also a hot air station with one soldering iron. No I don't understand how adding a second iron would be a problem. I was hoping for a clear technical explanation explaining how the circuits generally work.

[S. Petrukhin]

Why don't you take it apart and see what's inside the soldering station? If there is a filling board for the second soldering iron?

Even if there is something, it's not like it is supported in firmware. So even if you populate missing parts, it won't help.

Quite true. But then there will be a certain plan and tasks: search for firmware or a way to tell the firmware about the presence of two soldering irons, for example.

The author didn't even specify the model. Perhaps this is some simple Lykey. They just characterize themselves as a power of 500, 700W.

[wraper]

Yes, it is also a hot air station with one soldering iron. No I don't understand how adding a second iron would be a problem. I was hoping for a clear technical explanation explaining how the circuits generally work.

Then power you stated has nothing to do with soldering iron. Temperature is controlled by closed loop system. If you attach second heater, besides transformer being too weak to power both, you cannot take temperature readings from both heaters. And iron without temperature control will either overheat heavily when you try soldering something heavy with another iron (with temp. sensor used). Or will be barely able to melt solder when you try soldering with it. But with temperature sensors connected in parallel, both irons will operate badly.

[S. Petrukhin]

Yes, it is also a hot air station with one soldering iron. No I don't understand how adding a second iron would be a problem. I was hoping for a clear technical explanation explaining how the circuits generally work.

If you do not want to change the soldering irons in the output socket, add a second socket and select the sockets with a switch, then you need the second soldering iron to be exactly the same design. There are different designs, different characteristics of the heating element, different characteristics of the thermocouple and the presence of additional sensors in the soldering iron handle, as well as the circuit of the thermocouple is sometimes in series with the heating element, sometimes a separate wire.

Why don't you specify the model? There are probably people here who know your model inside.

[Mechatrommer]

due to OP's persistence even after few nay-advices.. how about we help him doing the mod? if he burn it, we got nothing to lose, it will be educational for any of us and OP in the process, furthermore if its burnt the OP can buy a brand name new and more quality 2 ports station which should be good for him and the manufacturers. ok lets start... first step is, dismantle the product and take a snapshot picture of the pcb esp near the one port or channel you have and post the picture here, if possible with product outer apperance too (model and brand and if any place to add port 2) we can help! we can do anything! but without picture, there is no more i can help, cheers. (DISCLAIMER!!! we should not be held responsible if the OP burn/damage his unit of injure/kill himself in the process, nor any other bad consequences... deal?)

[hqbert]

If you do not want to change the soldering irons in the output socket, add a second socket and select the sockets with a switch, then you need the second soldering iron to be exactly the same design. There are different designs, different characteristics of the heating element, different characteristics of the thermocouple and the presence of additional sensors in the soldering iron handle, as well as the circuit of the thermocouple is sometimes in series with the heating element, sometimes a separate wire.

Why don't you specify the model? There are probably people here who know your model inside.

I didn't realise it was important since they're all essentially the same. It's a WEP 992DA+. I can find replacement soldering irons and desolding guns that I'm interested to use. I'm aware of the different heating elements and number of wires used in the various desoldering gun models. I cam move them around and match them with the soldering station. The main tasks to overcome is the station itself.

[hqbert]

due to OP's persistence even after few nay-advices.. how about we help him doing the mod? if he burn it, we got nothing to lose, it will be educational for any of us and OP in the process, furthermore if its burnt the OP can buy a brand name new and more quality 2 ports station which should be good for him and the manufacturers. ok lets start... first step is, dismantle the product and take a snapshot picture of the pcb esp near the one port or channel you have and post the picture here, if possible with product outer apperance too (model and brand and if any place to add port 2) we can help! we can do anything! but without picture, there is no more i can help, cheers. (DISCLAIMER!!! we should not be held responsible if the OP burn/damage his unit of injure/kill himself in the process, nor any other bad consequences... deal?)

Well, it's not good to take no for an answer, say from your parents, if they simply say no without a clear and rational explanation. That's not how you overcome challenges and succeed in life.

[hqbert]

due to OP's persistence even after few nay-advices.. how about we help him doing the mod? if he burn it, we got nothing to lose, it will be educational for any of us and OP in the process, furthermore if its burnt the OP can buy a brand name new and more quality 2 ports station which should be good for him and the manufacturers. ok lets start... first step is, dismantle the product and take a snapshot picture of the pcb esp near the one port or channel you have and post the picture here, if possible with product outer apperance too (model and brand and if any place to add port 2) we can help! we can do anything! but without picture, there is no more i can help, cheers. (DISCLAIMER!!! we should not be held responsible if the OP burn/damage his unit of injure/kill himself in the process, nor any other bad consequences... deal?)

They don't allow me to up[load a picture of the board. It's likely I don't have enough posts.

[wraper]

Well, it's not good to take no for an answer, say from your parents, if they simply say no without a clear and rational explanation. That's not how you overcome challenges and succeed in life.

I already said several reasons. If you want jump from the cliff, you will say the same about suggestion that you should not? You have completely no idea how station functions or even about it's power rating yet you want to be left with zero working stations instead of one.

hey don't allow me to up[load a picture of the board. It's likely I don't have enough posts.

Your file should be too large.

[hqbert]

Well, it's not good to take no for an answer, say from your parents, if they simply say no without a clear and rational explanation. That's not how you overcome challenges and succeed in life.

I already said several reasons. If you want jump from the cliff, you will say the same about suggestion that you should not? You have completely no idea how station functions or even about it's power rating yet you want to be left with zero working stations instead of one.

hey don't allow me to up[load a picture of the board. It's likely I don't have enough posts.

Your file should be too large.

I hope you can see from my perspective they sound general and vague. Maybe something like, the transistors, resistors, capacitors, triac, pcb etc serves these functions and capabilities and therefore they aren't capable of supporting an additional soldering iron. And maybe the picture of the board would help, which I was able to upload.

[wraper]

And maybe the picture of the board would help, which I was able to upload.

It shows there is no functionality to support another iron.

Maybe something like, the transistors, resistors, capacitors, triac, pcb etc serves these functions and capabilities and therefore they aren't capable of supporting an additional soldering iron.

How easy do you think it is to attach another pair of wheels to a car which has no provision for such upgrade in it's design?

[hqbert]

And maybe the picture of the board would help, which I was able to upload.

It shows there is no functionality to support another iron.

Maybe something like, the transistors, resistors, capacitors, triac, pcb etc serves these functions and capabilities and therefore they aren't capable of supporting an additional soldering iron.

How easy do you think it is to attach another pair of wheels to a car which has no provision for such upgrade in it's design?

I guess you're not seeing it from my level. If you tell a toddler why they can't do something, they'll always respond with why? Things my be obvious to you and many here, but not everyone, but yeah I can accept there's no functionality, but I'll never know exactly why.

[Mechatrommer]

(attachment)..

good! but thats not very helpful,which pin goes to where? i guess B and E are where the hot air and older iron are connected, correct? A and C should provide power to E and B respectively correct? can you fill what the others "?"s? i'm guesssing H and I are high voltage power elements? whats the numbering labelled on the body? please note there are D,F,G optocoupler that means there are high voltage involved so be extra careful.

[wraper]

but I'll never know exactly why.

I said why. Each iron needs it's own separate temperature control loop and there is not enough power in transformer to power 2 irons. To attach another iron basically you will need to squeeze another full blown soldering station in the same enclosure.

[Mechatrommer]

And maybe the picture of the board would help, which I was able to upload.

It shows there is no functionality to support another iron.

Maybe something like, the transistors, resistors, capacitors, triac, pcb etc serves these functions and capabilities and therefore they aren't capable of supporting an additional soldering iron.

How easy do you think it is to attach another pair of wheels to a car which has no provision for such upgrade in it's design?

I guess you're not seeing it from my level. If you tell a toddler why they can't do something, they'll always respond with why? Things my be obvious to you and many here, but not everyone, but yeah I can accept there's no functionality, but I'll never know exactly why.

everybody with experience here should agree with wraper. in case of a car, if you want to add 5th wheel, you will not just add the wheel, you have to add the arm, absorber, bolting to body everything. in case of your station, you have to add the optocoupler, power elements (fet or/and triac) and everything identical supporting elements resistors, diodes everything to your pcb. knobs to control, and modify firmware if your station have one mcu. can you do that?

in case you cant (which all of us suspect you will as we all wont dare get into the hassle) we always have another way, you can parallel port connection, ie power wires of your soldering iron, but you cant parallel heat sensor's (sort of resistor divider) wire because of Ohm Law, your iron temperature will go either extra red hot or blue cold. and you also risk damaging your power elements because 1 power elements can only have burden 1 solder iron. if you put 2, it could breakrendering you have to buy a new one.

of course we cant stop you if you still want to try to see what will happen and find a reason that we usually have encountered. cheers happy learning.

[hqbert]

(attachment)..

good! but thats not very helpful,which pin goes to where? i guess B and E are where the hot air and older iron are connected, correct? A and C should provide power to E and B respectively correct? can you fill what the others "?"s? i'm guesssing H and I are high voltage power elements? whats the numbering labelled on the body? please note there are D,F,G optocoupler that means there are high voltage involved so be extra careful.

Now we're getting somewhere. That's not my board, but it's the same. What is C? But it should tie to B, which is the header for the soldering iron. As for E, which is my area of interest, it is an unused header and it looks similar to B. Is this where I can attach an additional soldering iron? I think H & I and the nearby headers support the hot air gun and the pump. So what's A and does it support E like you mentioned? If so, that's an extra unused slot.