New Cheap Chinese Soldering Plates

[stj]

Originally Posted by clearchris

Thanks for the idea. Kapton tape should probably work in this instance, there's little risk of the tape falling off and burning up since it's already temperature limited.

you could put a strip of spring-metal on one corner mounting hole to press the thermocouple to the plate

[diif]

Just jam the thermocouple in the end between kapton tape and profile.

[stj]

but thats reading the ptc and not the aluminium

[diif]

Originally Posted by stj

but thats reading the ptc and not the aluminium

As they are all touching the ptc should be the same as the aluminium.
The flat parts are also colder than the middle, so upside down the flat surface has an uneven heat anyway.

[clearchris]

Ok, did some testing. 3 minutes 30 seconds to 215C. Top temperature around 330C or so in another minute or so. It bounces aronud a bit between 225 and 235. I had one measurement around at 239C. I ran it on top of a marble slab, there were reviews that the feet get hot, and I believe them.

Hard to argue with the price on this one. I'll have to go through my projects and see if I need to reflow anything.

[stj]

i put mine on threaded standoff posts so it is a good inch from the table

[diif]

Mine rests on a silicone soldering mat. I have two large heatsinks that are the same height that sit either side to provide better support for strips. I have also got disc cut from the insulation for a log burner, good for over 1000c

[sam_sam_sam]

Originally Posted by clearchris

Ok, did some testing. 3 minutes 30 seconds to 215C. Top temperature around 330C or so in another minute or so. It bounces aronud a bit between 225 and 235. I had one measurement around at 239C. I ran it on top of a marble slab, there were reviews that the feet get hot, and I believe them.

Hard to argue with the price on this one. I'll have to go through my projects and see if I need to reflow anything.

Were these test at 120 volts or 240 volts which version do you have that you did testing on

[stj]

pretty sure he used 120v, because at 240v they heat a lot faster than that!

[clearchris]

Originally Posted by stj

pretty sure he used 120v, because at 240v they heat a lot faster than that!

Yes, tested at 120v.

[redwire]

How are people getting the hot pc board off the plate? My luck, I would bump it and have parts all over the place. There needs to be a lift or something?

clearchris, can you measure ohms cold and hot of the plate you have. I ordered one 100V for $9 and will compare when the slow boat comes in.

[stj]

i have an inline switch on mine that was intended for a table lamp.
i just power it off and let it and the pcb cool together usually

[diif]

I do strips, so there is extra support both sides of the plate and then I lift it with these. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003324153934.html

[clearchris]

Originally Posted by redwire

How are people getting the hot pc board off the plate? My luck, I would bump it and have parts all over the place. There needs to be a lift or something?

clearchris, can you measure ohms cold and hot of the plate you have. I ordered one 100V for $9 and will compare when the slow boat comes in.

Link? Which one?

I can't measure right now, my meter is across the country. I may pick up a cheap meter in the meantime though.

[megaraider]

Originally Posted by redwire

How are people getting the hot pc board off the plate? My luck, I would bump it and have parts all over the place. There needs to be a lift or something?

Originally Posted by diif

I do strips, so there is extra support both sides of the plate and then I lift it with these. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003324153934.html

Those gloves don't provide any accuracy
Even an aluminium foil paper sheet would provide much better results.
Place the sheet over the heat plate, leave good margins, place the strip, do the work, lift the strip picking up the aluminium foil paper edges.

If quick cool down isn't needed then follow:

Originally Posted by stj

i have an inline switch on mine that was intended for a table lamp.
i just power it off and let it and the pcb cool together usually

[diif]

Those gloves work great. I'm moving a hot pcb a few cm. I'm. Puzzled how you can tell me thy don't work when they work great?

[sam_sam_sam]

Originally Posted by clearchris

Yes, tested at 120v.

Thanks

[megaraider]

Originally Posted by diif

Those gloves work great. I'm moving a hot pcb a few cm. I'm. Puzzled how you can tell me thy don't work when they work great?

Working with LED strips... not imo.
But if those gloves work great with pcb boards there's possible answer to your question @redwire

[diif]

[QUOTE=megaraider;1082744]Working with LED strips... not imo./QUOTE]

Yes, mainly aluminium with the occasional fr4.

Whilst the OP and others might claim they are new, I've had mine since 2018, how long does it take you to find an optimal way of working with a tool ?

[megaraider]

Originally Posted by diif

Yes, mainly aluminium with the occasional fr4.
Whilst the OP and others might claim they are new, I've had mine since 2018, how long does it take you to find an optimal way of working with a tool ?

Agree, LED strips and tools to work with aren't new