Which motion-sensitive auto-switchoff bench soldering iron?

[tggzzz]

I'm looking at the possibility of getting a soldering iron:

• stays on indefinitely while being used
• automatically turns itself off after a period of inactivity
• is a general-purpose bench iron, so portability is not a significant benefit
• the tips will be changed regularly, so that should not expose design weaknesses
• for regular "expert" users and occasional "inexpert" users
• for general purpose electronic use: construction/repair, PTH/SMD PCBs, ground planes, wires, connectors etc

The TS100 has a motion sensor to detect inactivity, which seems like a good mechanism. It also gets good reviews, with a bias towards it being good for field use where you put it in a tool box in case you need it, and a bias away from it being a good bench iron.

So, what other alternative irons are worth examining?

(I'm not considering Metcal irons, nor external timeswitches)

[sn4k3]

ERSA i-con nano if you want the best at cheapest
I find TS100 better than T12 clones, TS tips are also better build than cheap T12 clones, i'm having a lot of trouble with them. T12 original tips worth every penny!

[tggzzz]

Thanks.

How does i-con nano sense whether to enter and exit standby mode?

[tsman]

Most soldering stations with auto setback just put a switch inside the stand to detect inactivity. It is a fairly common feature so check the usual people like Pace and Weller.

[tggzzz]

Most soldering stations with auto setback just put a switch inside the stand to detect inactivity. It is a fairly common feature so check the usual people like Pace and Weller.

Yes. But I would like that confirmed. The manual is silent on this topic.

[donkey77]

With regards to Weller the older wd1/2 stations use a "safety" stand with a switch. Unplug the iron from the station, plug the stand into the station and the iron back into the stand. The WX series have motion sensors in the iron. There are settings on both stations for set back temp, delay time to set back and time to off.

[donkey77]

Forgot to add. The WD series stand is WDH10T, for the standard iron at least. I think there's a different one for tweezers etc.

[LaurentR]

I'm not considering Metcal irons

That's too bad. Metcal irons have a completely straightforward sleep mode with no external parts and win in the simplicity department.

[sn4k3]

Thanks.

How does i-con nano sense whether to enter and exit standby mode?

ERSA i-tool and chip tool have an accelerometer inside the handle to detect movement, it's very reliable and put into sleep after x minutes of inactivity defined by you, it exit sleep as soon you move the handle and heat up very fast, so i have set my to 50ºc at sleep after 2 minutes. You can also define a time to shutdown and it will enter at room temperature mode.
No other hardware is required to use the sleep mode

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/2674859.pdf

As a bonus the i-tool is one of the best handpieces you can use, very light and good tip to grip, you can use that for hours without fell bad or hand pain.

My station is ERSA i-con 2v

[Shock]

Most soldering stations with auto setback just put a switch inside the stand to detect inactivity. It is a fairly common feature so check the usual people like Pace and Weller.

Yes. But I would like that confirmed. The manual is silent on this topic.

What station are you using at the moment?

The Pace ADS200 uses a configurable timer in the station called Setback (low power or standby mode) that starts counting when you are not soldering. There is another adjustable timer in the station that will power down the iron after it enters into that Setback mode called Auto Off (sleep mode). Frequent soldering keeps it out of Setback and therefore Auto Off. A press of a button on the station will wake it out of Setback or Auto Off. Every station comes with these features.

Then if you get the specific Instant Setback Stand version (a few bucks more) it has an attached cable that connects to the station and you can use it like a on/off switch for sending the iron into Setback or waking it up into operating temp (hardware switched low power/standby mode).

While it's totally unnecessary to have the Instant Setback Stand, you can tin the iron tip and return it to the stand and have instantly power down to 150C (below melt) and put to sleep at room temp soon after without doing anything further. Lift the handle and it's back to temp, in many cases it's so fast you don't see it heat up. So none of this 30-60 secs waiting.

Specs wise, materials and cartridges it obviously eats the Chinese clones.

[tggzzz]

Thanks to everybody for your suggestions; most helpful. We will examine the alternatives mentioned.

We aren't currently using any soldering stations with motion detection or other forms of autoturnoff - hence the very basic question!

For reasons that aren't worth discussing here (because I don't think they would apply to many other people), we aren't considering irons which turn themselves off when you insert them into their stand.

[capt bullshot]

For reasons that aren't worth discussing here (because I don't think they would apply to many other people), we aren't considering irons which turn themselves off when you insert them into their stand.

I've got a old (bought around 2005) ERSA station, these detect the iron is in use or not on the basis of temperature and necessary power deliverance. So if the iron isn't used to solder (uses more power then, and temperature is more fluctuating)  a standby timer starts and reduces the temperature at expiry. Depending on the actual tool used, one has to push a button or push the tip onto the moist sponge to wake it up again. I really didn't like that behauviour as it turned off the iron always at the wrong time, so I've switched that feature off.

JBC does a way better job here, going into standby immediately / hibernation after timeout and very quick heating when needed - but it requires you to put the iron it its stand. There's no mechanical switch, detection is by closing the circuit throgh the metallic head of the tool trough the metallic stand. So in theory, you could use your own stand as long as it is conductive and connected to the original stand.

[Shock]

Thanks to everybody for your suggestions; most helpful. We will examine the alternatives mentioned.

We aren't currently using any soldering stations with motion detection or other forms of autoturnoff - hence the very basic question!

For reasons that aren't worth discussing here (because I don't think they would apply to many other people), we aren't considering irons which turn themselves off when you insert them into their stand.

Then I'd suggest getting the Pace ADS200 with standard stand (as I said setback and auto off are a function of the station), or get the instant setback stand version and remove the cable (can always add it later if you change your mind).

The ADS200 has too many significant advantages over other stations to ignore. It's only competition I think is JBC and still has advantages over it. Then I would put Ersa and Hakko somewhere after that.

Not that they aren't all usable stations but when you change a preset on the ADS200 station, swap between large and small tips without presets or temp changes in 5 seconds, you will know what I'm talking about.