Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bitseeker]

This seems like a bad idea.  But I think I'll throw one in my order anyway.   

That has blown up motherboard written all over it. 

Ah, I opted for additional flexibility and access.

[bd139]

What could go wrong? 

[bitseeker]

Depends on the operator.

[bd139]

Well I'm screwed then 

[mnementh]

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Killer-Pro-Kit-Standard/dp/B06ZZS7NFS/

For only $139, you can have a PRO do it. 

mnem
$139... bd139...  Coincidence...? I think not...

[bd139]

139 is the discount 666 

[Specmaster]

Interesting as in bugger that. Apart from the fact it looks like it's a shit to assemble and will corrode its arse off the fittings due to the aluminium construction, 90% of the cheap mag loop promises end up as "I got this magic magloop and I'm only down 1 s-point". Dude that's 90W burning up in the snake oil and I2R losses before it even radiates. Your ERP is 10W and most of that is going into your ball sack and your shed. Stick a fucking long wire up in a tree if you're going to do that. Only costs a couple of dollars.

Edit: just read all the reviews. Suspicion confirmed. This is a attenuator that happens to radiate.

Edit 2: please excuse the vicious tone. Dealing with a technical cargo cult today 

Edit 3: actually cargo cult is being too generous. Zoo monkeys painting with their own excrement is more appropriate.

I don't know for sure but I do believe that Dave might just have done a video on this, I seem to remember getting an email this morning about fake rip off antenna's, as its not my bag, I just deleted the email, might be worth a view though, or there again, as I didn't watch it, I might be talking utter shit, you can decide which it is if you like, but I CBA 

[mnementh]

Hey... it got a rise out of bd139... and then a laugh. As far as I'm concerned, it was a win-win... 

mnem
"Laughter is my preferred currency." ~me

[xrunner]

Dear TEA Braintrust - I need your help.

I asked this basic question on the forum in another thread but no one answered. 

I got a Bakon 950D soldering iron to try the other day. It worked reasonably well except that I measured the tip temp as being 40 C too low (310 C) @ a setting of 350 C. In the consumer manual it does have a calibration procedure which entails holding the two buttons down and entering numbers to correct the temp. However, it doesn't say what exactly the numbers are to represent that you enter. So I figure, what the hell, how hard can it be. I'll just enter the offset that is needed to correct it, or perhaps a higher temp of 390 C so that it will get to the proper temp.

 

Now it will not set the temp correctly at all. At times it wants to pretend to be the surface of the sun, and it might get close if I didn't turn it off. At other times when I try to enter other numbers it will go up to some temp such as 250 C or other temps. But the actual secret code that you are supposed to use to calibrate it is at this time elusive. I have researched extensively on the Internets and You Tube and have found not a single example of anyone that shows you how to use the calibration properly.
 
The snippet of the cal procedure is included, should you so choose to interpret it for me properly. 

Thank you dear esteemed TEA members.

[mnementh]

Typically the cal procedure is simple enough; you check temp, enter CAL mode, reset the displayed temp to match measured temp, then exit CAL mode, set desired temp and verify. You can usually EITHER cal to be "dead-on" at a specific preferred operating temp, or adjust such that the difference between display and measured is minimized across a range. Rarely will any of these cheapies be closer than ~10° across the full range. Some of the newer STM32 T12 soldering stations can actually be cal'd to a profile for each of the popular types of T12 tip.



This video appears to show the user setting different temp presets; I couldn't tell if that indicated multiple profiles with different cal for each or not because he's speaking Ukranian/Russian. 

mnem
Everybody needs something to believe in; I believe I'm going to go eat some pie.

[xrunner]

Typically the cal procedure is simple enough; you check temp, enter CAL mode, reset the displayed temp to match measured temp, then exit CAL mode, set desired temp and verify. You can usually EITHER cal to be "dead-on" at a specific preferred operating temp, or adjust such that the difference between display and measured is minimized across a range. Rarely will any of these cheapies be closer than ~10° across the full range. Some of the newer STM32 T12 soldering stations can actually be to a profile for each of the popular types of T12 tip.



This video appears to show the user setting different temp presets; I couldn't tell if that indicated multiple profiles with different cal for each or not because he's speaking Ukranian/Russian. 

mnem
Everybody needs something to believe in; I believe I'm going to go eat some pie.

Yea I've run across those videos and all I can do is look at what they are pressing. But something just isn't clear and I don't know what. I don't even know if I'm "saving" the numbers I set because I don't understand what is supposed to be pressed to "set" or "confirm" the entries. I'll look at that video anyway becasue I haven't seen it yet.

Update: Yea he never even got into the cal mode there. 

[mnementh]

I don't know who carries this station, but some of the more popular sites maintain a user support thread for such products. Any luck there?

mnem
 

[xrunner]

I don't know who carries this station, but some of the more popular sites maintain a user support thread for such products. Any luck there?

mnem
 

Nope no luck looking for that. I did tell the Ebay seller that the cal is mucked up and that the user instructions are unfathomable. They said they had a "video" that would show me how to do it. I have yet to receive it but will see what tomorrow brings. I thought the same way as you did about how to correct it, but I don't think I am "saving" the numbers correctly. I think they left out of the the manual in what manner to press the two buttons to save the numbers, is what I'm thinking is wrong.

I dunno.

[mnementh]

I'd expect it to be the same as entering CAL mode... press & hold the UP/DOWN buttons again...?

Dumb question... have you tried any other tips? Maybe there's an actual malfunction. Also, you might want to disassemble the handle & GX12 connector and inspect for effed-up solder joints.

mnem
 

[xrunner]

I'd expect it to be the same as entering CAL mode... press & hold the UP/DOWN buttons again...?

Unfortunately - no. That doesn't do anything once you are in the cal mode. Trust me I've tried everything I can think of - except the one thing the Chinese designers decided on. 

But keep thinking maybe you can figure it out.

Dumb question... have you tried any other tips? Maybe there's an actual malfunction. Also, you might want to disassemble the handle ...

Yes I tried a new tip same thing happens. I will say this - they make their own T12 tips under their own brand name "Bakon" and they seem to be taking a beating and keep working. One of them got red hot once before I realized that we are not acheiving the stated goal here ... 

[mnementh]

At this point I'd take advantage of eBay customer service and send it back. You shouldn't have a problem; you attempted to use the device according to the instructions and it blew a brain cell. Get into one of the STM32 T12 units that have an understandable menu in English instead of guessing at inscrutable numbers. 

mnem
Not your problem, man. THEIR problem.

[xrunner]

Oh yea don't worry I will get my money back one way or the other. I'll give them a last chance to send me the Secret Cal Code video. 

[Specmaster]

Why not take a good photo of the instructions and post them here so we can have a go at deciphering them?

[mnementh]

   He did, in the OP.

Oh yea don't worry I will get my money back one way or the other. I'll give them a last chance to send me the Secret Cal Code video. 

Yeah, send the tips back too. Since it did this, none of the tips you have used are trustworthy, especially the one that tried to glow like ET. They have a thermocouple in series with the heating element; overheating can make both the element and the thermocouple shift value.

You TRIED to RTFM , it effed your unit up. Do the smart thing and walk away.

mnem
Press the [EASY] button.

[xrunner]

Why not take a good photo of the instructions and post them here so we can have a go at deciphering them?

Yea take a look at the first post and I'd be pleased if you could "decipher" the cal instructions.

[xrunner]

Yeah, send the tips back too. Since it did this, none of the tips you have used are trustworthy, especially the one that tried to glow like ET. They have a thermocouple in series with the heating element; overheating can make both the element and the thermocouple shift value.

You TRIED to RTFM , it effed your unit up. Do the smart thing and walk away.

At the price I paid I paid they might just tell me to keep it and refund the money. In that case I'll keep it and see if later someone shows how to do the cal on the internet.

Might have to send it back though, we'll see.

[mnementh]

Why not take a good photo of the instructions and post them here so we can have a go at deciphering them?

Yea take a look at the first post and I'd be pleased if you could "decipher" the cal instructions.

Having ANOTHER go at deciphering these destructions...

Okay... It looks like once you enter CAL Mode, the DOWN button selects the digit: [Hundreds][Tens][Ones] while the UP button sets the number in that digit slot. I'd guess that once you've set all the numbers, it either exits CAL mode by itself or you have to press UP/DOWN together, or maybe the PRESET Button on the side is used for CONFIRM.

I STILL wouldn't trust those tips, though. 

mnem
 

[xrunner]

Having ANOTHER go at deciphering these destructions...

Okay... It looks like once you enter CAL Mode, the DOWN button selects the digit: [Hundreds][Tens][Ones] while the UP button sets the number in that digit slot. I'd guess that once you've set all the numbers, it either exits CAL mode by itself or you have to press UP/DOWN together, or maybe the PRESET Button on the side is used for CONFIRM.

There is no preset button on the side. You may be seeing a rubber stopper that hides a pot. It isn't mentioned in the instructions at all! 

I only read somewhere that it is a "fine tune" for the tip temp. But it will not help this issue at the present time LOL.

Good eye though. 

Bad, bad instructions!

[TERRA Operative]

FWIW, scintillation in this context means flashing, the digit you have selected to adjust will flash.

It seems you just trial-and-error it to get it right.

Or just throw it in the bin and buy a Hakko FX-888

[Specmaster]

Ok then, SORRY mnem I missed that post 

My take on the cal mode is here.
1.   Briefly press either up or down key to move on the desired preset temperature P1 to P5 etc.
2.   Set 380 oC, select P4 profile 400oC press down key for 3 seconds to enter temp adjust mode, then press down button again till display reads 380oC. To increase current temp use the up button till required temp is displayed. This is a temporary adjustment only.
3.   To cal the tip, do the following, let’s say that P2  (pre-set at 300) reads on your calibrator as 280oC, select P2 and press both up and down keys together and digits will flash. Press the up key till the display reads 20 and then press both keys together to save the setting which should add 20oC to the stored setting of 300 but in reality is 280 as displayed on your tester.
4.   Check the temp again on your calibrator and see if it matches the displayed setting of 300oC.
5.   If not repeat the step 3 and use either the up or down key to add or subtract to the stored preset.
6.   Check again and repeat until it is correct. Repeat process for other pre-sets if required.

This may or may not off is be right but its my educated guess that it is. Steps 1 and 2 is a temporary temp change only and once switched off is not saved.

A copy of the instructions is below (downloaded pdf file.)