This Soldering Iron Is Actually Nice | Voltlog #471

In recent years, the majority of soldering iron manufacturers have switched to using cartridge-style tips, which integrate the heater and thermocouple for optimal thermal conductivity and fast response. As a result, most soldering irons and stations that use these tips offer adequate soldering performance for the average user.

While reviewing thermal performance in great detail may not be as crucial nowadays, aspects like usability and accuracy are more important to consider. The FNIRSI HS-01 soldering iron is a portable and capable option that impresses with its excellent build quality and functionality. It comes with a 65W GaN USB-C charger, a flexible silicone-insulated USB-C cable, and a compact holder for the iron.

The tips are similar to Hakko T12 or T15 but shorter, allowing for greater precision when soldering small components. One standout feature is the intuitive temperature adjustment in 10-degree increments, making it quick and easy to dial in the desired setting. The iron also offers a sleek OLED display, a power percentage bar graph, and various settings accessible through a menu system.

In testing, the FNIRSI HS-01 handled soldering tasks with ease, from melting solder on large pads to precisely soldering pin headers and SMD components. Its ability to run from a power bank adds to its portability, making it an excellent choice for on-the-go soldering or as a backup to a dedicated soldering station.

Overall, the FNIRSI HS-01 soldering iron is a highly recommended option for those seeking a portable and capable soldering solution, offering excellent value for its performance and features.

2023’s Best Electronics Engineer Gifts | 462

As an electronics engineer, having the right tools can make all the difference in productivity and efficiency. With the 11.11 Shopping Festival just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to upgrade your workbench or surprise your engineer friend with a thoughtful gift. In this guide, we’ve curated a list of top-notch products that are sure to delight any tech enthusiast.

First on the list is high-quality ESD protection from Welectron. Their anti-static mats are not only durable and chemical-resistant but also free from unpleasant odors, ensuring a comfortable working environment. Whether you need a large mat for your workbench or a compact one for your computer desk, Welectron has got you covered.

Next up is the highly anticipated Raspberry Pi 5, a true powerhouse for any electronics engineer or hobbyist. With a significant performance boost and new features like PCIe Gen2 and an RTC module, this little computer packs a punch. As an official Raspberry Pi distributor, Welectron is the go-to source for snagging one of these coveted devices.

For those in need of a thermal camera, the options are diverse and tailored to different use cases. The DytSpectrumOwl is a top choice for PCB inspection on your workbench, while the UNI-T UTi260B and Infiray P2 PRO offer portability and macro lens capabilities, respectively. Whichever you choose, a thermal camera can unlock new levels of productivity and troubleshooting prowess.

The Sugon 8650 Hot Air Station is a game-changer for soldering and rework tasks. With its precise temperature regulation, massive power output, and user-friendly interface, this station can handle even the most demanding jobs with ease. Investing in this top-of-the-line tool is a surefire way to elevate your soldering skills.

Last but not least, the FNIRSI USB power monitors (FNB58 and FNB48) are sleek and highly capable tools for measuring USB power delivery. With their exceptional resolution, cable chip detection, and Bluetooth data logging, these monitors are a must-have for any engineer working with USB-C and power delivery protocols.

Voltlog #269 – 11.11 Shopping Suggestions For Makers

Welcome to a new Voltlog, it’s November and that means the biggest shopping event happening in Asia is coming up, I’m talking about the 11th of november. There are some numbers published for last years event and it seems they registered more than 30 billion in 24 hours in sales, yes you heard right, billions. So it’s a very big event with nice discounts and opportunities for makers like us to get some new gear. That’s why I prepared this video which will be published 1-2 days before the event so you can get some ideas of stuff that you could purchase. I assembled a list, these are products that I’ve tested and used myself which I think are good value for money and a nice addition to any hobbyist lab.

Voltlog #243 – TS80 VS KSGER T12 Soldering Iron Comparison

Welcome to a new Voltlog, yet another soldering iron comparison video and today it’s between the TS80 and the KSGER T12 station. Everyone knows the TS80, is quite a popular portable soldering iron, works with USB type C input, it needs a quick charge compatible adapter to reach full power and it’s quite a capable soldering iron. The drawback is the cost of the tips, it uses this proprietary type of tip and the cost is about $20 a piece.

On the other hand we have the KSGER soldering station which I reviewed in Voltlog #232. This station has a built in power supply and uses the well known T12 tips which are widely available on aliexpress, for example you can get KSGER T12 branded tips for about $3 a piece. I think that’s important, because I have 2-3 different tip shapes that I use regularly and maybe another 2 or 3 that I use occasionally for odd jobs. You can’t just rely on a single tip shape and purchasing the same number of tips for the TS80, is not going to be cheap.

Voltlog #234 – The Problems I Found With The KSGER T12 Soldering Station

In a previous Voltlog I reviewed this KSGER T12 soldering station, it was the first station I got my hands on from this manufacturer, it’s version 2.1S and I was pleasantly surprised by the features it has. If you haven’t seen that video I will link it on screen right now. Since then I’ve been using it as my main soldering station and I’ve been pretty happy with how it works but some of my viewers who have been using these for longer have pointed out a few things I missed in the video so this will be a quick update video to show the things I’ve missed previously.

Voltlog #232 – My New Prefered T12 Soldering Station KSGER V2.1S

Out of the three T12 stations that I have, this is now my favorite and will be the one I use daily. I’m not sure if the performance is higher or similar to the other I have, I’ll probably do a separate video to compare them but it’s just the user interface, the menu options, the nice handle that make me wanna use this instead of the others. Yes it has a few disadvantages regarding this handle, it does get warm and it doesn’t really fit that well with a regular stand but I can go past those disadvantages for how nice this station is. If you’re looking for a T12 station this is definitely the one to get.

I also did a second video where I showed the problems I found with this soldering station and if they can be fixed by the user or not.

 

Voltlog #215 – Is a genuine Hakko T12 tip much better than fake one?

A while ago in voltlog #186, I compared the TS100 soldering iron to the STM32 T12 based soldering station and the results were pretty interesting to watch, if you haven’t seen that video there will be a link in the video.

As we all know the market is flooded with counterfeit or replacements for hakko products. So I’ve always wondered how does a genuine T12 cartridge tip compare to a replacement or fake hakko tip. So today, we’re going to test a genuine T12 tip vs a replacement one. This is my genuine tip, I got it from an authorised reseller, the cost was $20, shipping excluded. As you might notice it says T15 on the packaging but don’t worry there is no difference between T12 and T15 tips, except they use a different part number depending of the markets. T15 for EU and US markets and T12 for Asia as far as I know.

Voltlog #186 – TS100 VS Generic T12 Station

Welcome to a new voltlog, today we’re talking about the TS100 portable soldering iron, but this won’t be a review because there is no point in making a review video for this mode. There are only a few things you can test with a soldering iron and there are already some very good reviews on youtube from known channels.

I am however interested in how will this iron compare with the stm32 soldering station that I’ve been using for a couple of years. So if you haven’t seen this before, I’ve shown it in detail in voltlog #85, this is a station which I got about 2 years ago, directly from taobao with the help of a friend who lives in China. At that time it wasn’t widely available so it was a bit of a gamble but it payed out because it uses hakko T12 tips and I have a bunch of different models of those and it payed out because the station works great. Nowadays you can find similar models on aliexpress so I will place a link in the description below if you would like to take a look.

I am curious though to see how this would compare with the newly acquired TS100 soldering iron. The TS100 uses a similar type of tip which has the heating element and the thermocouple built in, that type of construction ensures great thermal coupling so the tip can really transfer the heat to the joint and at the same type the sensing element get’s a very accurate reading of the tip temperature and can compensate for that.

Voltlog #179 – How To Solder Through-Hole Parts

In this video I’m gonna show you how to solder through hole parts. I’m gonna take you step by step through the procedure as well as give you several tips & tricks that should bring your soldering skills to a new level.

Links for all the tools and parts shown in this video are placed in the video description.