Jaycar stocked solder stations - experience with / known issues?

[Jonny]

Hey guys

I have this model 

http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=TS1574&keywords=rework&form=KEYWORD

and for $400 I thought it would have to be half decent..... right?

So just on 12months later, the solder iron controller gave up... no heat and the LCD was just random lines. They were apprehensive but eventually replaced it. Less than 12 months this time and the new one failed, no heat and blank LCD. Now on my 3rd unit and so far so good but thing is my father purchased the TS1390  (iron half with no blower) and less than 12 months in his has failed as well. Mine is lucky to be used once a month where his is daily and often.

So wondering if anyone knows about this brand? They are so simple inside, the power supply for the micro looks less than satisfactory. I can only think poor voltage regulation is killing it. I guess price does not mean quality and they're only that expensive because of their function only.

I'm surprised they still sell them given the high failure rate and given what they are/value I can't think they'd be selling many per month.

Jonny

[Bored@Work]

So wondering if anyone knows about this brand?

Looks like a Zhongdi ZD-912. Zhongdi does medium quality stuff, rebranded by many companies. If yours keeps breaking then, well, you got some sub-standard one.

and for $400 I thought it would have to be half decent..... right?

445 NZD is roughly 280 Euro. I am sorry to tell you but I think an ZD-912 (if you still get one, it is an older model) goes for 120 to 170 Euro. Its predecessor, the ZD-982, goes for a similar price.

I would recommend you try to get your money back from Jaycar.

[sotos]

So wondering if anyone knows about this brand?

Looks like a Zhongdi ZD-912. Zhongdi does medium quality stuff, rebranded by many companies. If yours keeps breaking then, well, you got some sub-standard one.

and for $400 I thought it would have to be half decent..... right?

445 NZD is roughly 280 Euro. I am sorry to tell you but I think an ZD-912 (if you still get one, it is an older model) goes for 120 to 170 Euro. Its predecessor, the ZD-982, goes for a similar price.

I would recommend you try to get your money back from Jaycar.

I agree. Here in Greece costs about 110 – 150 euro. Depends of the supplier.
If you search around here, you can get it 110 euro’s

[Jonny]

Thanks

[M. András]

for 3x400 bucks if i understand it right you could already bought a nice weller hot air station and a separate soldering station from that money

[Uncle Vernon]

for 3x400 bucks if i understand it right you could already bought a nice weller hot air station and a separate soldering station from that money

3 stations not 3 purchases!
Even so, and assuming the Jaycar iron could stay together for a reasonable, it is still expensive and priced equal or above better quality irons.

[Jonny]

And the temp control would likely be more stable. These ones are wacky.... if you change the temp, what it currently says it is suddenly changes. Most notably right after switch on it will get up to temp and turn heater off but iron temp on display slowly rises above that setting... if you then adjust temp setting the iron temp value will suddenly jump 100C+ and you have to wait until it thinks it's below your setting to start the heater again and by then it's a lot colder (presume the aftershock of a poorly implemented rapid heat feature).. it will regulate better after that initial one. After it has settled and shows say 270, changing the setting will suddenly show say 20 less.

I should shop around next time