Replacement heating element too long, trim?

[Agent24]

Re: Replacement heating element too long, trim?

Accuracy probably doesn't matter so much because the soldering iron will be affected by ambient temperature, tip size, etc so as long as the temperature is within 5-10 degrees it's good enough. There's nothing stopping you from using it as-is, really, unless the incorrect numbers on the dial bother you.

The only problem I'd think of is if the infra-red meter goes high enough to measure those temperatures, and also, they don't do too well measuring shiny surfaces, I believe.

You are probably better off getting https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Dis...-/232021156032
or http://www.ebay.com/itm/TM902C-LCD-K...-/182298100727 would probably work fine too.

The only way it's going to cause damage is if the heater you're using can draw more current than the triac or transformer in the station can supply. I would be surprised if that were the case, though.

In a professional environment you would be expected to re-calibrate the iron when replacing the heater or other parts, sometimes even just swapping the tips, so re-calibration is nothing to worry about.

[caphair]

Re: Replacement heating element too long, trim?

So is it the sensor in the heater that throws off the temp read out?

I'm curious if I'm able to melt solder at a lower temp readout, what would happen if I maxed the temp dial? Would the station draw more than it's designed to or?

[Agent24]

Re: Replacement heating element too long, trim?

Most likely to be the sensor I expect, but who knows with cheap Chinese stuff! If you re-calibrate it for the new sensor\heater then there should be no problem, regardless.

The heater can only draw as much power as it draws. If it was drawing more current than it should then this would be a problem no matter where the dial was set. (overload the transformer\triac)

I would be more worried about it overheating and ruining the tip or shortening the lifespan of the heater, it if you turned the dial up too far, because the station thinks that the heater is colder than it actually is.