CFW for KSGER/Quicko STM32 Soldering Stations

[Chris02]

I know this problem very well :-) Step by step I'll countinue and I'm sure I'll also need my time

Sometime ago I read a post from you that is it possible e.g. to run a 12V Iron at 24V by setting PWM. Am I right? Is there any documentation how to do it at the station. I guess you have to halve the duty cycle.

Running C470 @48V/6,6A is working pretty well. Now I want to try to use AT420 (tweezer) with two C245 cartridge @48V. So it will be possible to use one power supply für C470/C245.
The Problem will be two C245 parallel (3,2Ω||3,2Ω=1,6Ω) will result a peak current of 30A. Antiparallel PWM, for every cartdrige, can solve the problem. But I'm not able to adapt your code. Maybe a big cap will solve it too.

Are there any other software parameters I can try to solve this problem? I guess "Power" and "PMW Multiplier" can solve it.

Is the Smart Active feature for soldering big ground planes to get faster temperature reaction on the fron of the tip?

[Chris02]

And a small picture for modding and flashing T12-955 (v3.3)

[DavidAlfa]

Sometime ago I read a post from you that is it possible e.g. to run a 12V Iron at 24V by setting PWM.

It can be done by setting the nominal power in iron settings. The firmware will automatically adjust the PWM based on the voltage reading.
For JBC, increase the PWM frequency to 100Hz so the power delivery is smoother, 5ms ADC delay should be enough.

But 48V looks a bit crazy for C245, not sure if the heater will survive for long with those 15A / 700W pulses!
You could use a 24+24 transformer and switch the secondaries in series or parallel with a relay, toggled by the firmware when choosing C245 o C470 profiles.

[Chris02]

Thanks for your reply.

I don't know the inrush current, but I can measure it. That's the smallest problem :-) ATM I'm using a modified Quicko station like this one (https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller/tree/master/BOARDS/Quicko/Schematic).
Was very easy to get it working with C470:

 - making normal JBC mod
 - Using a normal T240 handle with C470
 - adjusting voltage reference for ADC
 - replacing "power" mosfet
 - replacing caps (I did after they blow away after first power, coz I forgot it  )
 - using Meanwell RSP-320-48 Powersupply insead of the internal one

So nominal current of RSP320-48 is 6,7A. Inrush current will be much higher of course. Will firmware calculate right PWM even if the voltage measurement is modfied and I'll also devide every by 2? µC measures 24V instead of 48 because of the adapted voltage divider.

At the moment I'm waiting for Bender Jack to connect the tweezer to the station.

ps: enjoy your cerveza :-)

[DavidAlfa]

It's a resistive load, there's no inrush current!
But keep in mind you can't just connect 48V to a t12 board, you'll blow it up.

- The fet is usually rated for 30 or 55V.
- The regulators, capacitors, etc won't be happy.
- The fet driving circuitry is designed for 24V.

The best you can do is to reduce the voltage to 24V and use that for the board, connecting 48V only to the fet.

For tweezers, see this:
https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller/discussions/128

[Chris02]

You are right, there should be no inrush current, was too late yesterday.

As I already said. You need to change just a few parts and the controll unit will work without any problems.
And C470 cartdirges are rated to work with 48V (not 24V!). It is the heavy duty series.

- DC/DC regulator is a XLSEMI XL7005A, rated up to 80V
- Caps are replaced with 63V Caps
- Fet is replaced with AOD409 (60V)
- Voltage divider for ADC voltage measurement R9= 4k7; (R10= still 100k), so it will measure the half


At the end of this week I'll get the jack for the tweezer and start playing with the tweezer. And forgett 48V for the tweezer. It will be a nice to have if you doesn't need a second power supply. But I'll start with 24V.

https://jopl.eu/solderingtweezers.php
That's exactly what I mean. Even with software mod. I just want to do it with and add on PCB, so you don't need to pick and place a complete new pcb.
My problem is, that I'm not able to modify your firmware, that it will work with your latest version. But will check if I can adapt my 955 controll uni with I2C Display.

[DavidAlfa]

Toggling pins, modifying adc factors... I will help for such simple stuff, what I meant yesterday is that I won't spend 5 hours programming someones's custom board...! 
Maybe using an adjustable DC/DC converter that allows 48/24V on the fly?

[Chris02]

I'm sure it is not only someones (my 's), even the community would like it, I'm sure. Using a tweezer makes SMD soldering much more comfortable. Maybe one day you will finde the time :-) 

A DC/DC converter for ~350W coast mostly the same as a 24W 320W Mean Well Power supply. But thanks for your suggestion.
Do you know, if there is any soldering station, which will work with your CFW, and already comes with JBC Hirose jack? I din't find one.

[DavidAlfa]

I don't know any...

[elektryk]

Do you know, if there is any soldering station, which will work with your CFW, and already comes with JBC Hirose jack? I din't find one.

You can use stand with Hirose connector and use it as GX12<->Hirose adapter.

[nokin]

Hi,
I've got some faulty boards of these soldering station front panel, 1.3" Oled. PCB layout revision looks compatible with CFW but these were used chips not STM32.
So I'm going to replace them with STM32 and flash new CFW, maybe it work ?

The original firmware only used with T12 tips.

/sorry for small attached pic.

[DavidAlfa]

Yes

[nokin]

These board were Ksger v3_4 fw v2.1s but "re-branded" by Wlida sticker and re flashed boot image.
Controller is ARM MM32.

All were broken diode from input power to LDO. Now they are all repaired.

[Chris02]

Edit: It's similar to the KSGER v2.1 but seems to have some differences?

The display, encoder, PWM seem to be the same as the KSGER v2.1, but there are pins with unclear connections.

I didn't find anything about the CEIAH IC.
Seems  to be an independent voltage regulator for the analog? Or at least it sems to power only the op-amp and the stm32 VDDA.
I don't see the NTC anywhere, it's probaby in the handle like the KSGER. Or it might use the internal stm32 sensor.

I see the earth (PE, R25) is joined to the internal ground with a solder bridge. At least in mine, this causes a big reading offset > 70ºC.
I left the original 100K resistor there.

As a reference, check the v2.1 64 pin schematic.
https://github.com/dreamcat4/t12-t245-controllers-docs/blob/master/controllers/stm32-t12-oled/v2.1s-and-Ve2.1S/KSGER%20STM32%20Ver2_1S%20schematic%20rev%202_floobydust.pdf

Don't compare the pin numbers, but the pin names.
Ex.  PA2 is pin 12 in 48-pin package or pin 16 in 64-pin. If the same signal go to to PA2 in both, the firmware would work right away.

Any one who knows which Step Down U1 "W539" is? Mine is marked also with W539.

[DavidAlfa]

Did you try google?

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-game-consoles-other-weird-devices/105440-quicko-t12-955-repair-board-rev-3-3-help-identifying-components-needed/page2?t=120288

[itscoldoutside]

I noticed the custom firmware has a note 'Dedicated Stand input where supported (T12-958 v2 has this).' does anyone know how this works (magnet?) or if you need a special stand.

[DavidAlfa]

Detected when that pin is connected to ground, left floating when the handle is released.

[wasyoungonce]

Morning Gents...well it is here

Question on T12 NTC thermistor in the handle.   I read the CFW manual regarding NTC thermistors,
https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller/blob/master/Readme_files/Operation.md

My issue is their settings in sub-menus.  I'm using "NTC MF58 type.  MF58-103F3950/10K 1%.  It doesn't have a temp curve.  Yes i've seen  Which I take as 10K at 25 degrees C and beta 3950

I looked at beta calculation on web site but am confused why i need to put in two values and confused as to "high, Res and low, as well as 2 beta values"!
https://www.ametherm.com/thermistor/ntc-thermistor-beta

I have it as "pull up"
res: 12.6K
High: 40K
beta 3950
low 2.2K
beta 3950

So why do I put in an upper and lower resistance and a beta for both?   I assume the first "Res" is resistance at 25C.....~ 12K...but i do not know the other values I guessed, and no idea should I use the same beta for low rx......what temp is the low Rx set to?  Alternately what is the high Rx???

Any help appreciated Do I measure the rx at 25C and put this as "RES"? Do i measure the Rx at 0C and use this as low Rx?   Do I use the same beta for both?   What is the high Rx?

I have these on Open source controllers by Clytle374, but it uses the nice CFW firmware from deividAlfa.

Sorry if its a stupid question but I'm getting 39C ambient on one iron and 25 on another.I think they offset the tip temp??

Any advice appreciated...loving the T12s

cheers
Bren

edit: Should I solder in a backup battery as I read it saves settings to EPROM in processor and its better to save in SRAM (as read/writing to EPROM has limited cycles)....not sure my Open source has SRAM!  Just checked...no SRAM so that's moot!

cheers again

[DavidAlfa]

Read the manual properly, that's to automatically switch between NTCs when having i.e. 10K in one handle and 100K in other.
For normal operation disable NTC Detect, use only one NTC.

39°C is very possible after 10-15min of soldering, that's not the ambient temperature but the cold side of the T12 connection in the handle.
Some stations don't have it in the handle, but in board.
Depending on the power regulator circuit, the board can get pretty toasty!

[marck120]

Sorry for the trivial question, it's certainly an old topic already discussed, some KSGER/Quicko stations have been updated with the ground connected to the case, but the tip is not connected to ground, right ? A tip not connected to ground, what problem can it cause ? Can electrical discharges damage the components that are being soldered ?

Some add the ground wire, but some stations already have the ground wire on the controller.

[wasyoungonce]

Read the manual properly, that's to automatically switch between NTCs when having i.e. 10K in one handle and 100K in other.

Yep you are correct...I didn't read it properly I screwed up   Now fixed...Res pull up 4.7K, NTC prams set, one iron 19.8C ambient...other 19.7C. So funny thing...it works when you do it properly

Thanks

[wasyoungonce]

Yes run a ground to the Tip...definitely   My Quicko's were the same.   Good case ground and ground to the front panel...that went nowhere!   I ran it to the Tip GND.

[marck120]

Yes run a ground to the Tip...definitely   My Quicko's were the same.   Good case ground and ground to the front panel...that went nowhere!   I ran it to the Tip GND.

Excuse me, if there is a green ground wire on the front panel, is the tip also connected to ground ?

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005002724734568.html

Are the Quicko mini tips connected to ground ? I see the green wire on the front panel.

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32843974498.html

Is Tip GND the pin on the connector ?

[wasyoungonce]

No that green GND wire is not connected to anything.  I know I had the T12-958 exactly the same

I routed the wire to the tip GND. 

[marck120]

No that green GND wire is not connected to anything.  I know I had the T12-958 exactly the same

I routed the wire to the tip GND.

Thanks for the explanations, so this modification is mandatory on all KSGER and Quicko, is it really necessary ?

Is there no KSGER/Quicko model with the tip connected to the ground ?

I was always convinced that the green GND ground wire on the controller indicated that the tip was connected to the ground, but I was wrong.

I also read a similar discussion:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/ksger-t12-tip-not-grounded/