Soldering station refurb

Projects General Guidance
1

I was given a dead Hakko FX-888D It does not respond at all. A quick check with my multimeter shows the switch/fuses are good and power is supplied to the boards. I have also tested the iron on another base unit and it works well. Later today I will be allowed to bring home it's replacement for the weekend. This will allow me to compare signals on both units with my still very new to me Siglent 1104xe.

Assuming the control board is dead and projecting that I might want to replace it with an Arduino. My question is can I take readings at the thermister on the good unit at different temp settings (allowing time to settle at each setting) to generate a table to calibrate the the thermister for the Arduino?

Feasible? Better way to do it? I surely don't know what I'm doing and would like suggestions on how to save this soldering station.

2

Would You mind telling what that is? Any link to technical information?

3

A popular soldering station.
This is the only official doc I found: https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Tools/fx888d.pdf

4

Thanks. That is an impressive owners manual, not the users manual I would like.
Have You considered buying a new station? Know that everything in the old station is the same old....

5

Assuming the control board does not use any custom ASICs, it would make far more sense to simply repair it. :roll_eyes:

6

The company I work for did replace it. which is how I ended up with this one.

@Paul_B

Unfortunately it does according to posts I found on EEVBlog.

7

Okay, you want to play? Post clear detailed close up images of the control board. Why didn't you?

8

Hi,
For everyone's info a Hakko FX-888D;

fx-888d-21by
fx-888d-21by1000×1000 103 KB

Have you enquired at a distributor or emailed Hakko if spares are available?

It is amazing what some manufactures will make available to high-end / commercial quality appliances.

Tom... :grinning: :+1: :coffee: :australia:
PS. Personal experience with JBC soldering stations, my work does warranty repairs for a local electronic/electrical distributor.

9

This is the UK Hakko agent. Be aware that it is extensively faked - lots of Chinese copies on eBay. That's why you need to go to an authorised agent.

11

Indeed @SteveThackery 's Link shows that a replacement board is available, I should of checked on that myself. At the US distributor the cost is $80 for the part and the cost of a new station is only $30 more so not a great savings over buying a whole new unit. Also my unit is a genuine Hakko. In the end I should of done more research before posting, For that my apologies I've been here long enough I should of known better.

Happily I found a project blog by our own @marco_c that not only address' my original concern(using one of these) he provides a complete solution including code and pcb. Fortunately I have most of the parts on hand and so should be able to do this quite cheaply.

Many Thanks to all who posted.

12

Before I would give the current device the last rites I would do the simple stuff:

  1. Verify the transformer output (to board) is functional.
  2. Verify the on board regulator is functional
  3. If you can read the IC part numbers find the Vcc pin on each and verify they are receiving the correct voltage.
  4. Of course check for burnt components, bulging capacitors etc.