Hi everyone, I'm looking for a new soldering iron to replace my crappy old one. After doing some research, the hakko fx-888d looks really good. However I live in New Zealand where we have 230V power @60Hz. Anyway I'm thinking that I have a few options.
Buy a 230V version from this website: http://www.dancap.co.uk/soldering/fx888ddigitalpricelist.htm
I'm not sure what shipping is from here. Or how to order. However, they are listed in hakko distributors. I have sent them a email and waiting for a reply.
Gut it and convert it with a new transformer:
This would be a real pain, I would prefer not to do this.
or consider another iron.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be the best choice, or recommend another iron that will run on 230V power?
Buying the 230V version is the best.
Whatever you do, don't buy that power converter. It has "don't buy me" written all over it. It might be fake, or burst into flames.
Thanks everyone. After contacting dancap they will not ship. They will also not ship to a UK address so I can have it forwarded. Other websites selling the 230V version are way too expensive. So I'm thinking that I will buy the US version and a cheap converter. I don't care about it being fake, as long as it's cheap , I am aware that these units can be dodgy, this will only be to get me running until I can afford a decent converter, I will be keeping a close eye on it at all times.
Can anyone recommend where I should buy from. I am having rouble spotting the difference between the knock offs and the real thing. I've looked at the list on their website, but they only have a limited list of websites.
It seems very cheap but is made in Australia and therefore has to comply with Aus safety standards (probably similar to NZ).
Says at the bottom of page " Servicing online and through outlets in Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada."
Argh! this is driving me up the wall, from the many, many websites that I have tried, most cannot ship to me, or the shipping costs are stupid.
HMC = No Ship
BDENT = $80 ship
Allspec = No Ship Frys.com = No Ship Amazon.com = No Ship
dancap = No Ship
Hakkousa = No Ship
I guess that I could use amazon to ship within USA and then forward it
However, This takes ages and I have know idea what it is going to cost me.
You could ask a local distributor of Adafruit and Sparkfun if it is possible to get the 230V version.
I can ask my local distributor for parts and he will put it on the list for his next order at Sparkfun. I only have to pay the local shipping costs (also no customs taxes).
..most cannot ship to me, or the shipping costs are stupid.
Buy the iron from the link above (Weller WE1010 Soldering Station - TOL-14734 - SparkFun Electronics) and it will cost $100 US with shipping to NZ of $42.60 economy or $56.60 expedited. Chuck in the transformer that I listed above (from NZ distributor) at $20. Total cost around $170.
Not bad for a quality iron. Sure its not as cheap as if we lived in US but you know that we have to pay more for living around this side of the world.
Haha, been there already. There are no available sipping options from them to new Zealand, unless I am willing to buy plane tickets and go their my self.
I think the best option is going to be to get a power converter, that way I should also be able to get cheap gear from the US in the future also. Thanks everyone for your'e help. I will probably be ordering tomorrow from amazon, but still need to decide what converter to get.
I assume that amazon have the genuine hakko products?
, I am aware that these units can be dodgy, this will only be to get me running until I can afford a decent converter, I will be keeping a close eye on it at all times.