In addition to my Metcal soldering station I have an old blue Weller 40W iron
on a small variac at my repair bench. The variac makes the iron very flexible,
and tips can be changed in seconds. I'm getting to where I use the iron/variac
combo even more than the much more expensive soldering station.
73 Frank W3UHF
On Oct 18, 2013, at 6:31 PM, Mike Hyder -N4NT- wrote:
> I've seen the thread about hot versus not so hot soldering irons and will
> relate my experience in specific terms:
>
> I use Weller soldering irons, they are blue and the tip can be replaced. I've
> used the 40 watt irons with a 'screwdriver tip' about 1/8 inch across. They
> were too hot for circuit board work (for me) but worked well on bigger solder
> lugs with big wires attached.
>
> I prefer the 25 watt model Weller with a screwdriver tip 1/16 inch or
> slightly smaller for circuit board work.
>
> These Weller things may be long gone from the market place, but watts is
> watts.
>
> NOTE: Your mileage may vary.
>
> 73 and good luck,
> Mike Hyder -N4NT-
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Harker" <paul.r.harker@gmail.com>
> To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 14, 2013 17:28
> Subject: [TenTec] Omni C + new Ham = Oops.
>
>
>> I am a new member of the amateur radio community, and my first HF rig is an
>> Omni C. I was attempting to tune an antenna with a MFJ949E, with the mode
>> select switch (SSB-R / SSB-N / CW / LOCK) switch in the LOCK position, and
>> DRIVE set just high enough to allow tuning.
>>
>> Suddenly the antenna tuner needles dropped to zero, and it appears I no
>> longer have RF output. The Model 255 power supply did not shut down, and
>> the receiver is still functioning. I am assuming that I managed to blow the
>> MRF458 output transistors due to doing _something_ wrong. Maybe just a
>> matter of fiddling too long and letting things get too hot. I don't know.
>>
>> Measuring the MRF458 with a meter suggests they might be bad, but it isn't
>> a case of a dead short, and in the past I've found that power transistors
>> can be deceiving when doing an in-circuit test.
>>
>> So... I looked for any sign of a fusible link or other protective circuit
>> in the Omni schematics and didn't see any, but I thought I'd ask the
>> experts before pressing "sumbit" on a transistor order.
>>
>> And any hints tips corrections to keep me from repeating my bungle would
>> also be appreciated.
>>
>> Much thanks,
>>
>> Paul
>> AC8OI
>> _______________________________________________
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>> TenTec@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
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