KSGER STM32 T12 soldering stations

[redwire]

Check the handle and its wiring. The shake switch can be installed upside down or wired wrong and it picks up noise.

Here is the schematic for your KSGER 24V power supply at post #3.

I doubt anything is wrong with it (PSU), aside from grounding. The 24VDC(-) should connect to earth ground for safety and noise.
The newer OLED-V3.0, OLED-V3.1 controller boards have an extra GND pad where you can solder a wire to, and then connect to a GND on the metal enclosure and IEC connector.
That also might fix the shake switch problem, if it is due to noise.

[Gas0r]

Hi, I would like to replace the three capacitors of my KSGER T12's PSU. Don't trust the cheap chinese Chongx caps after hearing stories about leakage and "exploding" soldering stations after ten months use...

- 1x ChongX VEHT, 82µF, 400V, diameter: 16mm, height: 25mm (not much room to the sides and top)
- 2x ChongX VEHT, 1000µF, 35V, diameter: 10mm, height: 20mm

Which ones should I use? Can't find a datasheet for ChongX caps and unsure about ESR and ripple values.

[stj]

for the 1000uf caps, can you fit 12.5mm diameter??

[redwire]

Primary cap was 68uF 400V 16x26mm and KSGER increased to 82uF. I couldn't find any 82uF 16x26mm caps at 400V. The heatsink and Y-cap are near it, so 18mm dia. would be really tight and hit the Y-cap. One problem is the low height, maximum 27mm. It must be a laptop brick cap. I have Ltec there.

The two 1,000uF 35V 10x20mm caps could go taller.
I think you could barely stuff in 12.5mm dia. parts, one cap has SMT resistors nearby. I have green Sanyo there.

Because the PSU is only under full load 3A for short periods, the caps are not highly stressed I think and ESR not so important.
The mains fuses are way too big, so if the mosfet shorts, many parts get damaged first and better off to throw the PSU in the garbage than try fix it.

[stj]

panasonic FS 10x25 for the 1000uf 35v

[stj]

if you drop to 68uf on the mains then chemicon EKXJ401ELL680ML25S
https://docs.rs-online.com/a51d/0900766b81086edc.pdf

[Gas0r]

Originally Posted by stj

panasonic FS 10x25 for the 1000uf 35v

Thanks! Now the big one, please.

[jayjr1105]

I have the 7 segment display version of this iron. I like it a lot but I did have to re-wire the new handle I bought that was originally intended for the KSGER T12.

[lti]

Has anyone here tried the "STC" controller (the one with an 8051 clone instead of an STM32)? I keep seeing those, and they tend to be the version with an external power supply. I'm looking at these to finally replace my $15 soldering iron, or I might go for a Weller WE1010 instead. The Weller probably won't perform as well, but it doesn't have the "unfinished hobby project" feel.

[stj]

the T12 is better, you can upgrade your base or pcb while keeping the handle and tips later.

[redwire]

Narrow it down a bit, how much soldering do you do and what is your budget? Small delicate work or bigger stuff?

I much prefer Hakko and Weller stations because they are more comfy and reliable. A soldering iron is a tool you want ease of use, otherwise years of reminder that you cheaped out.
The KSGER T12 copies are OK, quality has dropped, but what a hassle for PE grounding them, getting crappy quality tips, no decent handle grips and no decent stand exists for the handles, it will fall out onto your floor lol. They are cheap and unrefined.

The Weller WE1010 is better quality, the tips are a bit larger and smaller selection than T12. The base lacks a primary mains fuse, not sure if that has been corrected yet.

KSGER STM32 soldering iron controller firmware is copy-protected, I'm not sure who really owns it. It also uses an RTOS so in the end it is more expensive, as well as the MCU being more expensive but it has the code space for the OLED fonts and graphics. It's full of useless features like a real-time clock and 30 menus of nothing.

The STC MCU is much less expensive and decent hardware, Quicko (State renamed to Quecoo) uses them a lot.
LED one uses STC15F204EA only 4KB FLASH, 256B RAM, 10-bit ADC.
OLED one uses STC15W408AS only 8KB FLASH, 512B RAM, 10-bit ADC.

I would get a station with a built-in mains power supply. The mini falls off your desk, it's just silly it should be built-in to a stand so the cords don't yank it around. But people do run them with laptop 19V power bricks (45W) or mobile battery packs.

[lti]

I don't do much soldering anymore, and even when I did solder more, I got a decent amount of life out of that $15 iron. Because of the lack of use, that Weller is about as much as I want to spend. I'm not doing anything extremely tiny (smaller than 0402) or extremely large, but I might have an occasional motherboard repair.

The tiny box on the version without a power supply did look annoying.

[jayjr1105]

Originally Posted by lti

Has anyone here tried the "STC" controller (the one with an 8051 clone instead of an STM32)? I keep seeing those, and they tend to be the version with an external power supply. I'm looking at these to finally replace my $15 soldering iron, or I might go for a Weller WE1010 instead. The Weller probably won't perform as well, but it doesn't have the "unfinished hobby project" feel.

Check out the Pinecil https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-s...oldering-iron/

[mickelin]

When I turned on my KSGER today there was a loud bang. Turns out R1 is completely burned. Other components look OK. Any ideas what could cause this? Don’t want to replace and have it happen again.

[redwire]

That is the sense resistor for the SMPS 0.30Ω
It means your power mosfet failed shorted. Check R6 as well, but the IC could be blown as well.

Schematic here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/review...36/#msg2467236

For the time and money to repair it, I would just order a new PSU. The price of mosfet, IC, fuse, and maybe a cap or two, troubleshooting time...

Why it blew up - it could be a failing electrolytic capacitor, shorted wand or just cheap stuff off the junk.

[mickelin]

Originally Posted by redwire

That is the sense resistor for the SMPS 0.30Ω
It means your power mosfet failed shorted. Check R6 as well, but the IC could be blown as well.

Schematic here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/review...36/#msg2467236

For the time and money to repair it, I would just order a new PSU. The price of mosfet, IC, fuse, and maybe a cap or two, troubleshooting time...

Why it blew up - it could be a failing electrolytic capacitor, shorted wand or just cheap stuff off the junk.

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I will just power it off a 24V adapter for now, probably have one or two laying around. Thinking of getting a Pinecil instead.

[stj]

get this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26KXtHZqhMg