Author Topic: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.  (Read 1112 times)

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Offline NeshcoTopic starter

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Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« on: July 17, 2024, 10:04:10 am »
Any advise where to start with troubleshooting with this soldering station?
I left it accidentally work for few days and recently found that.
Green indicator light work, there is some resistance inside the cable of the tip, but it doesnt heat.
Any tips appreciated.
 
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Online artag

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Re: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2024, 03:43:00 pm »
Have you tried another tip ? They do die, even in ways that leave the green light on.
If you feel you'd rather not replace the expensive tips until you're sure it's dead, buy one that's a usefully different shape so it's not wasted. Also look at replacements from thermaltronics (though I think for a PS900 you have to change the handle too).


« Last Edit: July 17, 2024, 03:45:29 pm by artag »
 

Online Smokey

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Re: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2024, 07:11:50 pm »
Ya, the tips have a run time.  That's why you can find used tips on ebay pretty often.  Companies replace them when their guaranteed run time has been used up even through they still work for a while after that.
 

Offline ardiesse

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Re: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2024, 05:15:26 am »
Check the internal power supplies.  I had a Metcal MX-PS5000 stop working, with the same symptoms.  The oscillator power supply failed.  The cause was a shorted diode at the output of a switching regulator.
 
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Offline NeshcoTopic starter

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Re: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2024, 05:26:40 pm »
Just for the record, forgot to conclude this one, needed to replace the coil. Now is up and running again.
Thank you all for answers.
 

Offline MathWizard

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Re: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2024, 06:22:58 pm »
A few years back, for a couple of days I was using my cheap iron to light smokes. With it cranked up on max, it would take on the order of 1 minute, of holding the twisted over paper tip, against the iron, for it to smoulder. I didn't kill the iron, but the tip needed sanding.

This reminds me, I don't have a spare heater element for my Hakko, it would be nice to have a replacement on the shelf.
 

Offline Arts

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Re: Left my Metcal PS-900 for days on, now it doesn`t work.
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2024, 08:48:10 pm »
Just for the record, forgot to conclude this one, needed to replace the coil. Now is up and running again.
Thank you all for answers.

Don't forget, with the PS-900 you need to turn the unit off before changing the tip. You may be lucky and get away with it, but usually you'll burn the coil.
I have two PS-900's, and they have been indestructible. And the tips are very long lasting too, despite their low price.
 


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