Author Topic: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?  (Read 8722 times)

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Offline analogixTopic starter

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Re: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?
« Reply #75 on: December 19, 2024, 03:49:09 pm »
I just received and unpacked my Ersa iCon Nano Mk.2 today, and I'm super-impressed!  :-+
This is definitely a luxery upgrade from using basic soldering irons! I hadn't thought about it until now, but even the cable to the soldering iron makes a HUGE difference (I'm used to thick and much stiffer AC cables which are always in the way). The thin silicon cable is so much better  :)
The whole unit screams "quality" and "luxery", and "Made in Germany" adds to this.

I've powered it on just to see if everything's OK, and I was very impressed about how quickly it gets ready. Again, I'm used to a soldering iron which means plug it in, take a cup of coffee or something for a few minutes, then get back to soldering. But here it's just a matter of seconds! I look forward to actually using it (and with the filtered solder-fume fan the whole soldering experience will reach another level).
I have a couple of questions, which the manual doesn't answer:

1) the manual instructs to switch off the station and let the soldering iron tip cool down to 40 degrees C.
Obviously I can't follow the termperature reading in the display with it switched off, so how long do I have to wait for it to cool down?

2) What are the four brass rods for (that go on top of the stand)?


Offline w42i

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Re: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?
« Reply #76 on: December 19, 2024, 05:02:15 pm »
The brass tubes can be used for parking unused solder trips.

I never let the tip cool before changing them on my iCon Nano MK2. I just take the hot one off, put it on one of the brass tubes and stick the next on. The bayonet attachment makes this super quick, much quicker than with the iCon 1 MK1 I use at work (which has threads).
Maybe this causes additional thermal stress on the soldering iron and tips due to the heat shock. But waiting for everything to cool down before changing tips pretty much defeats the purpose of having the bayonet quick attachment, so I just take the risk.
Maybe they just want you to let it cool to prevent people from burning themselves and getting sued, but IANAL.

Edit: I use one bayonet collar per tip, because removing the collar from the tip and inserting a new one is not so easy when they are hot and takes too much time (in my opinion).
« Last Edit: December 19, 2024, 05:06:46 pm by w42i »
 

Offline tooki

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Re: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?
« Reply #77 on: December 19, 2024, 10:06:41 pm »
I've powered it on just to see if everything's OK, and I was very impressed about how quickly it gets ready. Again, I'm used to a soldering iron which means plug it in, take a cup of coffee or something for a few minutes, then get back to soldering. But here it's just a matter of seconds!
Satisfying, isn't it!? :)

2) What are the four brass rods for (that go on top of the stand)?
Tip storage pins.

1) the manual instructs to switch off the station and let the soldering iron tip cool down to 40 degrees C.
Obviously I can't follow the termperature reading in the display with it switched off, so how long do I have to wait for it to cool down?
Eh, that's some lawyer talking. Cooling to 40 degrees takes several minutes.

I NEVER wait for it to cool off. I just change tips carefully. Ersa actually used to make a special tip-changing tweezer specifically for these, to allow handling hot tips safely, model number 3N544. As best I can tell, it's been discontinued, but there are resellers that still have it in stock.

I usually don't even turn it off to change tips. Just very carefully remove the hot tip, place it on a storage pin, then put the new tip on.*


*Though one must be quick and decisive when putting the new tip on: if you do it slowly, the cold, new tip cools off the end of the heating element (where the sensor is) and tells it to heat up, which you really don't want it to do without a tip in place. The element will quickly get red hot, and I don't think that's good for it...)

« Last Edit: December 19, 2024, 10:08:46 pm by tooki »
 

Offline tooki

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Re: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?
« Reply #78 on: December 19, 2024, 10:08:39 pm »
The brass tubes can be used for parking unused solder trips.

I never let the tip cool before changing them on my iCon Nano MK2. I just take the hot one off, put it on one of the brass tubes and stick the next on. The bayonet attachment makes this super quick, much quicker than with the iCon 1 MK1 I use at work (which has threads).
[...]
Edit: I use one bayonet collar per tip, because removing the collar from the tip and inserting a new one is not so easy when they are hot and takes too much time (in my opinion).
Ummmm... that's not how the Mk2 (series 142) tips work: the bayonet collar is an integral part of the tip, and is preattached and thus also included with the price. It's not like the Mk1 (series 102) tips where the collar was a separate part.

If you have removed a collar from a 142 tip, you're doing it wrong. ;)
 

Offline analogixTopic starter

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Re: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?
« Reply #79 on: December 20, 2024, 03:23:06 pm »
w42i and tooki: thanks for your comments and insight.
I think to be on the safe side I'll just power off the soldering station, wait something like 1/2 or 1 minute to cool down, then carefully remove and replace the tip before powering up again. That way I won't risk any damage.
Since this is for hobby use I'm not working by the clock and can afford to wait  ;)


I've powered it on just to see if everything's OK, and I was very impressed about how quickly it gets ready. Again, I'm used to a soldering iron which means plug it in, take a cup of coffee or something for a few minutes, then get back to soldering. But here it's just a matter of seconds!
Satisfying, isn't it!? :)

Absolutely! I've never used a soldering station before, and see that there's more to it than just having a stable temperature.
I look forward to getting the time to use it (I've actually purchased and received several SMD soldering practice kits for Ali Express for this).
« Last Edit: December 20, 2024, 03:57:47 pm by analogix »
 

Offline w42i

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Re: Ersa i-Con 'Nano' and 'Nano' Mk2 differences?
« Reply #80 on: December 20, 2024, 06:13:44 pm »
The brass tubes can be used for parking unused solder trips.

I never let the tip cool before changing them on my iCon Nano MK2. I just take the hot one off, put it on one of the brass tubes and stick the next on. The bayonet attachment makes this super quick, much quicker than with the iCon 1 MK1 I use at work (which has threads).
[...]
Edit: I use one bayonet collar per tip, because removing the collar from the tip and inserting a new one is not so easy when they are hot and takes too much time (in my opinion).
Ummmm... that's not how the Mk2 (series 142) tips work: the bayonet collar is an integral part of the tip, and is preattached and thus also included with the price. It's not like the Mk1 (series 102) tips where the collar was a separate part.

If you have removed a collar from a 142 tip, you're doing it wrong. ;)

Ahhh, yes, I may have mixed things up since I have none of the two solder stations accessible at the moment. Sorry for the confusion.
 


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