Howdy,
so I have the red analog Weller hobby station for which not a lot of tips are available, and which does not have an earthing jack, so not so ESD friendly.
(I have soldered a bunch of QFP STM32's etc with that thing, apparently was lucky that it worked, or I have broke something I don't use inside
![Cheesy :D](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xcheesy.gif.pagespeed.ic.KPzuH4J-TG.png)
)
So I'm looking to upgrade.
I was looking at some lower end Ersa which are available from 115 to 220 or so EUR.
So I was preparing myself for a price in that range...
until I then saw some common complaints about those, which might kinda put them in the "does suck" category for me, which is:
-
stiff cable.
Now some reviews for any of these claim "no longer stiff cable" a year ago, while this year there were some again "yes stiff cable".
Even my hobby Welller for 70€ or so back then, has a nice, very flexible cable that's basically not any worse than of the $$$ stations at work (that I'm allowed to touch, even though I'm a software guy! Not every software guy is, though!)
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B008HPD0L6I can see the stiffness out of the photo, lol
https://www.amazon.de/ERSA-RDS80-elektronisch-geregelte-Lötstation/dp/B0009QX386Well. I guess I'm looking for a station that has these features:
- non-stiff cable
- chisel tips available from 1.6mm to 5mm or so (I hate pencil tips, I really do)
- temperature sensor close to tip, like in the one affordable Ersa (this is supposed to be an upgrade, after all!)
- grounding jack
-
commonly available in EuropeSuggestions?