230v transformer for 110v hakko fx-888?

[jbomba]

Hey guys I've been searching the forums for an answer on this. I know a few of you guys have successfully swapped out the 110v transformer for a 230v one. I cannot find a definitive va rating that the transformer should be. If anyone has done this mod and could perhaps send me a link for a suitable transformer it would be great. I'm getting sick of lugging around my transformer

[Thor-Arne]

Is there not any marking on it?
You only need to know the secondary current and voltage.

[mariush]

Well, the fx888 is rated for 65w and I think the output voltage is 24v .. so I would guess a 24v 3.5-4A transformer will do.. just to have some room to drive the electronics inside as well.

[jbomba]

No there does not appear to be any markings on the transformer unfortunately

[potatogun96]

The base says that it is rated for 70 watts at 110 VAC. The electronics inside draw 5 watts. I am not sure about the voltage.

[paulsev]

The VA rating must be larger than the VA of the load.

Remember the power always remains the same.  70W of power is always the same regardless of the line voltage or current combination.

So if I was you I would look for a (110 primary / 230VAC secondary) step up transformer, that is capable of delivering 70Watts or greater just to be safe. So a few calculations: VA = Watts of power (at unity power factor).... so the VA needs to be 70VA or greater. I would just go with 100VA to be on the safe side.

Also don't forget to fuse the thing with a 1 Amp or less fuse.

[agwdm2]

I contacted Hakko support about the transformer, so I'm posting the communication below:

My original question:

Hi,

Can you tell me the VA rating of the transformer used in Hakko FX-888? Asking this since I've bought a US model but want to use it in India where mains volatge is 230V AC/50Hz. Measuring with a DMM reavealed that the transformer had 24VAC output at full load and 27.5V AC at no load. So I know I need a 230 to 24 step down transformer but still don't know the VA rating. I am aware of the fact that replacing the transformer may void my warranty but still want to do it.



Their Answer:

Thanks for visiting the American Hakko web site at www.HakkoUSA.com and for your Support question. I checked with our Product Manager and the transformer is rated for 3.2A, so you'd look for a 90VA transformer. Hope this information helps.


Now the problem is to find a replacement transformer small enough to fit inside the case. (may not be possible as 50Hz ones are bigger)

[RCMR]

Just use an external 230 -> 110 stepdown transformer.

These are "cheap as beans", even in 300-500VA versions.

If you do this then you can pick up a US-style multi-way box and add a 110VAC outlet strip to your lab for any other 110V gear you may pick up (that's what I've done).

It's actually really handy for those awful US-type wall-wart adaptors that seem to come with some imported equipment (even though they are rated 110-240V they seem to have a US-style pinset).

[neslekkim]

Not possible to order partnumber B3491 from Hakko? (And probably B3490), that's the partnumbers for Hakko's original transformer anc pwb(?) (not sure if the PWB comes with the transformer though)
(Other partnumbers for the 888d btw)

[mariush]

It might be possible, but generally spare parts for Hakko are very expensive... for example the iron holder is 60$ when the whole station is in stores for 85$... see http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/hakko/soldering-systems/fx888d.htm for example.

[Thor-Arne]

Perhaps RS Stock#  504-105 ?

[paulsev]

Anyone game to just pull apart their 240V Hakko and just tell him what the transformer is and photo graph it to see if you can directly order the part from Digikey or somewhere?

[jbomba]

It might be possible, but generally spare parts for Hakko are very expensive... for example the iron holder is 60$ when the whole station is in stores for 85$... see http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/hakko/soldering-systems/fx888d.htm for example.

I contacted hakko distributor and the told me they couldn't get transformer and if they could it would cost more than a new unit

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