240V transformer

[prcguy]

I've been using the 200/260 watt version most of my life and its been adequate for soldering connectors. I recently came across the 240/325w version. Oh my gosh does that thing get hot and it will get solder flowing inside the PL-259 shield holes in seconds.

Otherwise there is no practical reason to use a 240 volt heating or soldering device in the US.

A Weller D550 soldering gun provides dual heat 200watt/260watt (old model was 240w/325w). This should be plenty for any heavy duty
soldering around the radio shack. It runs on 120 volts AC.

 

[bharvey2]

I've been using the 200/260 watt version most of my life and its been adequate for soldering connectors. I recently came across the 240/325w version. Oh my gosh does that thing get hot and it will get solder flowing inside the PL-259 shield holes in seconds.

Otherwise there is no practical reason to use a 240 volt heating or soldering device in the US.

In 45 years of electronics stuff, I've only gone through two Weller guns. Not a bad run. I've gone through lots of pencil irons. For most electronic work, my Weller WTCPT is my go to iron. I have gone through a few irons for it and the parts for them are getting harder to come by. Too bad. I really like it.

 

[a417]

(I'll probably get flamed for admitting it).

ha! I'm acknowledging this.

 

[prcguy]

When I worked at Pace Communications in the mid 70s I bought a used company surplus sale Weller WTCPL soldering iron cheap. 44yrs later its still going strong as my daily driver. I probably go through one soldering iron tip every 10yrs or so because of the excellent soldering training and certifications I had from Hughes Aircraft.

This is a similar unit to mine:

In 45 years of electronics stuff, I've only gone through two Weller guns. Not a bad run. I've gone through lots of pencil irons. For most electronic work, my Weller WTCPT is my go to iron. I have gone through a few irons for it and the parts for them are getting harder to come by. Too bad. I really like it.

 

[bharvey2]

When I worked at Pace Communications in the mid 70s I bought a used company surplus sale Weller WTCPL soldering iron cheap. 44yrs later its still going strong as my daily driver. I probably go through one soldering iron tip every 10yrs or so because of the excellent soldering training and certifications I had from Hughes Aircraft.

This is a similar unit to mine:

View attachment 78291

Mine is similar to that one as well. It has been the only pencil iron that has lasted. The cheap Rat Shack ones never seemed to hold up. I'm not particularly rough on them. I just think they burn out do as a result of being on so long. The thermostatically controlled ones live much longer lives. I've even bought cheap cheap pencil irons for emergency use and found that they get TOO hot. As soon as you try to tin them the flux burns away and your left with an improperly prepared iron. I stick to the Wellers these days.

 

[needairtime]

They do make step up transformers to get 240V in a 120V environment. But I only use this for low wattage 240V devices in the USA, best to just use 120V devices in a 120V environment.

The only thing that needs 240V that are high wattage that I use are things like clothes dryers, water heaters, and baking ovens. These exceed 2000W and loss from using "manageable" gauge wires would be quite high. Using both phases of the split phase wiring to the house is where I'd get the 240V, not through a step up - too much loss using a step up.

If soldering things like pipes, best to use torches.

(as an aside, the highest "wattage" I used on a PCB is 1500W. However this isn't a solder iron, this is a hot air gun but I deliberately wanted to take the PCB apart.)