Difference between Hakko FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY

[Crush]

Hi,

I noticed that there are two models available FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY.

They are both listed from a USA Ebay seller with the latter costing $6 more:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Hakko-FX888-23BY-FX888-Soldering-Station-Replace-model-936-12-/380433497967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58939a7f6f#ht_4412wt_848

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Hakko-FX888-29BY-FX888-29BY-P-All-New-Soldering-Station-Solder-Station-W-Pencil-/170831473615?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c6596bcf#ht_4391wt_848

I've been to their website and searched all I could and still don't know why they have different part numbers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[retiredcaps]

Since your links are to ebay.ca, implying Canada, then another alternative is Active Electronics which has the FX888 on sale right now for $99.99 ($40 off).  I bought it back a few months ago when it was on sale for $88.88.  Mine came with a 1.6mm chisel tip. This will save on shipping and handling and if something goes wrong, you take it back to Active.

http://www.active123.com/FX88829BY-Soldering-Station-Prodview.html

Active's regular price is a complete rip-off (not as bad as the 220V customers, but still it is 50% higher than what USA customers pay).

If you don't live in a big city, another Canadian mail order for the FX888 is ($98.95)

http://www.solarbotics.com/product/44162/

Shipping might be a bit cheaper?

[Crush]

Since your links are to ebay.ca, implying Canada, then another alternative is Active Electronics which has the FX888 on sale right now for $99.99 ($40 off).  I bought it back a few months ago when it was on sale for $88.88.  Mine came with a 1.6mm chisel tip. This will save on shipping and handling and if something goes wrong, you take it back to Active.

http://www.active123.com/FX88829BY-Soldering-Station-Prodview.html

Active's regular price is a complete rip-off (not as bad as the 220V customers, but still it is 50% higher than what USA customers pay).

If you don't live in a big city, another Canadian mail order for the FX888 is ($98.95)

http://www.solarbotics.com/product/44162/

Shipping might be a bit cheaper?

Hey thanks for the links. I'm in the Toronto area but Solarbotics has the good 22 awg jumper cables for a very low price:

http://www.solarbotics.com/product/21035/

They have assorted heat shrink tubing also..

[kaptain_zero]

I got my FX-888 from the local  Active store during their $88.88 sale and I'm sure they will repeat something close to that again..  If you can't wait, then anything under $100 seems fairly reasonable in Kanuckistan.

[Bored@Work]

I noticed that there are two models available FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY.

The only thing I know about the model number is that the BY stands for blue-yellow, the most common case color combination the FX888 comes in. As for the rest, no idea. Ok, well, the 888 is a lucky number in China, so many manufacturers try to use that for some product.

[retiredcaps]

I'm in the Toronto area

Active has a store in the Toronto area.

http://www.active123.com/Locations-ExtraPages.html

PS. I'm not affliated with Active in anyway.  In fact, I find all their prices superhigh and wouldn't have bought the FX888 had it not been on sale.

[Crush]

I noticed that there are two models available FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY.

The only thing I know about the model number is that the BY stands for blue-yellow, the most common case color combination the FX888 comes in. As for the rest, no idea. Ok, well, the 888 is a lucky number in China, so many manufacturers try to use that for some product.

Ok I got the answer:

"Hakko made the 29BY with a special packaging sleeve. They are the same unit so buying either one will get you the same item. Thanks."

So that's about it.

[saturation]

Hakko had several different numbers for the US version, different packaging I guess made sense to their marketers.  There was an 'RCP' version made for retail sales.



Most folks get the mail order plainer packaging:

I noticed that there are two models available FX888-29BY/P and FX888-23BY.

The only thing I know about the model number is that the BY stands for blue-yellow, the most common case color combination the FX888 comes in. As for the rest, no idea. Ok, well, the 888 is a lucky number in China, so many manufacturers try to use that for some product.

Ok I got the answer:

"Hakko made the 29BY with a special packaging sleeve. They are the same unit so buying either one will get you the same item. Thanks."

So that's about it.

[David_AVD]

I bought a few FX888's for the workshop boys last year and they cost nearly AUD $200 each here.   

That said, we're very happy with them and they perform better than the 936's (that they replaced) for heavier soldering.