The difference between a Pulse Screwdriver and a Normal
The principle of soldering is based on the fact that at the end of the tip of the soldering iron the maximum heating is achieved, which is necessary for melting the solder and heating the connected elements. Preparing parts for soldering takes a lot of time. Keeping a constantly heated electric soldering iron unprofitable due to unjustified overspending of electricity. The traditional soldering devices have been replaced by energy-saving types of pulse soldering irons (IP).
Factory-made pulse soldering iron gun
Important! The main difference between pulse tools and conventional soldering irons is that the desired temperature at the end of the tip is reached in 3-4 seconds after switching on.
The principle of operation of the device
The tip of the instrument looks like a curved copper wire through which a strong current (25-50 A) passes. Until some time, in most IPs, a transformer supplied electricity of such power.
Its secondary winding looked like a pair of turns of a copper conductor with a cross section of 6 to 10 mm2. The powerful cross-section of the conductor compared to the sting wire allows the tire to remain relatively cold with maximum heat transfer to the end of the sting.
Copper wire stings
As a rule, the bus terminals from the device body are simultaneously the tip holders. The power supply itself is placed in a plastic case with a trigger type switch. Soldering irons are made in the form of a gun. They fit comfortably in the hand. By lightly pulling the trigger, the tool is brought into working condition.
The new generation of IP
The disadvantages of old pulse devices include their impressive weight due to the large mass of transformers, as well as the occurrence of vibration of the tool during soldering. In the latest generation models, instead of bulky and massive transformers, lighter and smaller electronic power supplies began to be used. The pulse circuit of the high frequency current conversion unit allows you to avoid the occurrence of these negative phenomena.
Homemade IP
Making a pulsed soldering iron with your own hands is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Today, two options for manufacturing IP are possible: the use of standard step-down transformers or the installation of electronic boards that create pulses of high-frequency voltage of an electric current.
Homemade IP design
Sp with step-down transformer
For a home-made device, a transformer is used, regardless of the type of magnetic circuit. The main requirement for a voltage converter is its power in the range from 50 to 150 watts. The secondary winding is removed. Instead, they arrange a couple of revolutions of a copper bus or braided copper wire around the core.
Note! Installation of a new winding should be done so that the tires do not contact each other and do not close directly to the core.
The difference between a Pulse Screwdriver and a Normal
Secondary copper busbars
When winding an elastic copper bus, care must be taken not to damage the primary winding of the transformer. After that, it is necessary to test the wiring for open and short circuits.
For the handle of the soldering iron, you can use the old handle from kitchen utensils made of wood or dielectric. Some craftsmen carve a holder out of utility material. A standard insulating tape serves as a fastener for soldering iron parts.
Pulse soldering iron with electronic transformer
For the manufacture of IP with their own hands, they often use the old case of the soldering iron-gun and the tip holders. Nowadays, electronic components for halogen lamps are widely used. Such a transformer at the output produces a voltage of 12 V and power from 50 to 150 watts.
The device fits easily in the old soldering iron case. Having sufficient qualifications, you can not spend money on the purchase of this part, but to make an electronic board with your own hands.
You can go the other way and purchase a ready-made high-frequency pulse transformer. That is, you need to purchase a voltage converter so that it can fit in the body of the soldering gun.
Additional Information. If the cross section of the existing tires or flexible wires is not enough, then several additional turns of the windings are connected.
Installation of parallel turns
Tip making
For the manufacture of the sting IP take a copper core with a diameter of 1-2 mm. The conductor is bent with a gap between the ends, which are fixed in bolted, screw joints or ring clamps of IP holders.
The desired thickness of the sting wire is selected empirically. It is clear that the tip of a 1 mm thick copper core will warm up almost twice as fast as a 2 mm bar.
Work area lighting
To illuminate the place of soldering, an ordinary light bulb from a household flashlight is installed. The bulb turns on synchronously with the start of heating the tip of the transmitter. Often, instead of an incandescent lamp, an LED is installed. To supply 12 volts to the light bulb, an additional small parallel secondary winding is placed in the power supply circuit. The factory-made electronic transformer housing has ready-made leads for powering the LED. The LED is mounted in such a way that the beam of light beams is precisely aimed at the tip of the tip.
Advantages and disadvantages of pulse soldering irons
Benefits
- The simplicity of the design allows even an inexperienced radio amateur to pick up the necessary parts on the radio market and assemble a pulse soldering iron with his own hands;
- Electricity is not wasted on warming up the environment. The device only works when the switch button is pressed;
- The soldering iron set aside is automatically turned off, and the tip is quickly cooled, which eliminates the possibility of accidental burns;
- Replacing a burnt sting is straightforward. It is enough to bend a piece of copper wire as needed and insert it into the clamps of the holders.
Disadvantage
Along with a number of advantages of these tools, home-made pulsed soldering irons have one drawback. Despite the compactness of the pulse soldering iron, its weight during long work significantly affects hand fatigue. This creates a certain inconvenience in the soldering process. There were skilled people who began to separate the electronic power supply and the working body of the soldering iron itself. For this, the unit is connected remotely.
Today, pulse soldering irons have firmly taken their place in the field of electronics. Due to its ease of use, such a tool can be found in almost every household.