JBC CLMU-PA Senior Tip Cleaner

[gaminn]

Hi,
I have https://www.jbctools.com/clmu-pa-universal-tip-cleaner-non-metal-brushes-product-1476.html tip cleaner. It cleans tips very well but there are 3 things that I really hate about it:

1) It consumes several W of energy in standby mode, it is warm on the top of the body.
2) When my table is not super clean and there is some static object in front of the unit then it is chaotically turning on and off. Please see this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/Fbg_8thIvBo
3) The cleaner produces unpleasant noises (in previous video).

All this exists from the very beginning when I purchased the cleaner new. Anybody with this or similar JBC tip cleaner - do you experience the same? I would not expect these flaws for this premium and expensive cleaning unit. JBC customer support told me all this is perfectly OK.

[woody]

I see this really bugs you so I took the time to measure it for you

I recently acquired a CLMU-A and my experience is indeed that it cleans tips like no other solution I used. It is also by far the most expensive solution I ever used or indeed that money can buy for the relatively simple activity of cleaning solder tips. But it does the job, keeps my desk completely clean after hours of use and it is a bomb-proof, well-made heavy device that does not move a millimeter on my desk when I use it. And although surprisingly a network connector lacks, its firmware is upgradable via USB. Try that with your brass wool!

In answer to your questions:

1) The device takes between 2.5W and 2.8W in standby mode (with only the middle power led lit). It takes between 2.8W and 3.2W when idle (all leds lit, as well as the light inside the chamber). It takes between 3.2W and 3.5W when turning. Mind, these measurements were taken with a 'household' type of wattmeter in the 230V line that is pretty accurate for higher loads, but I never tested that for low loads like this. If you need more detail I can connect it to a PSU but that starts to look like work.

I find 2.5W in standby quite a lot, especially considering that the idle load is only marginally more. I think that this might even be against an EU-law somewhere. But it does not bother me, nearly all my equipment sucks power when not used and if I do not want that I pull the plug. Shame though that for this amount of money there ain't a real power switch on the device.

If left in standby the device gets a bit warm on top, 36ºC at the JBC logo, measured with a Fluke 62Max infrared thermometer. Ambient here is 25ºC today.

2) No, that is not my experience. The sensitivity of the sensor however is adjustable (by holding in the right button) and if that is set too sensitive I found that moving my arm in front of it was enough to set it spinning. The setting it is now on just spins when I insert a tip and never spins for no reason.

3) The spinning brushes (metal in my case) and their drive make a not unpleasant (to me!), low, grinding noise. That noise is completely drowned out by the constant hissing of the fume extractor that is always on when I solder. So I have not given this any thought at all.

Hope this helps you.

[gaminn]

Thanks, woody, I really appreciate that.

1) I hate when such a high end device can't be designed to consume less than 1 W. Even my cheap TV can do that.
2) Really? Adjustable? Oh yes, I don't read manuals and even JBC customer support, when asked about the problem, didn't inform me that the cleaner has adjustable sensitivity. Hopefully my cleaner is set to the highest sensitivity and after 4 years of ownership of the cleaner I will be able to let it on all the time I work.
3) So obviously the noise problem is caused by my brushes, either they are deformed or the material of the brushes causes the noise. But it is ok, the noise problem is mostly annoying only because the cleaner is turning on/off chaotically. If 2) is solved then I'm happy...

I will try on Monday when I get to my workshop....

[gaminn]

I set CLMU-PA for lowest sensitivity (1 blink) and 1 out of 5 cleanings of my tip ends with brushes stopping right in the middle of the cleaning process potentially burning the brushes. The middle sensitivity still triggers when there is an object in front of the cleaner.

[gaminn]

At the moment it seems that I was not able to resolve the issue with my cleaner with JBC support. Cleaning of the sensor window didn't help. For sensitivity levels 2 and 3 the cleaner often triggers falsely even when there is no object in front of it, which is really annoying when you consider the cleaner is not super quiet. For sensitivity level 1, the cleaner sometimes triggers falsely even when there is no object in front of it, which I probably could live with, but more problematic is that sometimes it triggers with a delay which damages brushes of the cleaner.

Video 1: https://youtu.be/u2lCGPXqH5I - at the beginnning of the video, the cleaner is set for sensitivity level 1, nothing is in front of it and it still triggers.
Video 2: https://youtube.com/shorts/dOiYvbONorI - sensitivity level 1, 2 times out of approx 20 the cleaner triggers with a delay, brushes burned.

JBC promised to improve the problem with a software update. Hopefully they will update soon.

[Arts]

I was always a JBC fan.

I have had a DS5300 desoldering station for decades, and when I needed another soldering station a few years back, I went with a JBC CD-1BE.
At the time, pricing was similar to my usual Hakko and Pace products of similar capabilities, so I decided "why not try something different?"
Wow, excellent performer.

But, what a disappointment from a customer service perspective!
After many failed attempts to contact/deal with them directly to resolve issues and replacement parts needs (their North American distributors were useless), I came to the realization that while they do make (in general...) a very good-performing product, their attitude towards after sales service is a bloody disgrace.

Frankly, I cannot believe that they could possibly charge that amount of money for a tip cleaner. And that it's performance would, at that cost, be anything less than impeccable. That they are promising to resolve their problem "with a software update" is laughable. It's a TIP CLEANER, not an Airbus!!!

Good grief...and good luck.
Personally, I'm done with those clowns.

[KG7AMV]

Many reports of them ghosting.

I have an older CLMB-A Senior it Ghosts when its dirty. Not sure if the -PA has similar light gate check it to see if it's got flux residue on it. Noise can be form bearings.

Here is a teardown I did on the older CLMB-A Senior. https://www.stevenrhine.com/?p=132118

[thm_w]

Here is a teardown I did on the older CLMB-A Senior. https://www.stevenrhine.com/?p=132118

youtube.com/watch?v=tj_I5VQfxDI

Really good teardown.
You ordered the genuine belt already, which seems reasonably priced, but I assume the belt wasn't just a standard o-ring size?

Looks like the bearings could have been designed a bit better with a cover to avoid the flux splashes.

[KG7AMV]

Belt material is 3mm Eagle Green 89 Textured Round Belt I am sure a 3mm od o-ring would work, Not sure what belt they are using in the new one.

I am still running on my cleaned & lubed F689ZZ bearings. JBC could have used a actual sealed bearing vs. metal shield that solder dust and flux can enter as the case was with mine. But the shields remove easy enough for servicing. I was unable to locate a sealed F689ZZ flanged bearings just double shielded.

Gaminn, Keep us informed what ya find out with yours.