[sdiy] Weller WTCPT Question

[Ken Stone]

Check the voltage coming out of the transformer. If you have continuity like
you describe, the iron should be getting hot. The three wires to the pencil
are ground (connected to the metal work of the pencil), and the other two
for the heater current.

Ken

Ken

>Thanks for all the tips, everyone.
>
>I gently banged the iron a bit on the table, but nothing changed.
>
>I checked the cable, and I have what I imagine is normal continuity.  
>The three prongs on the cable that hook up to the base station,  
>oriented so with the prongs are facing you, and are in a right-side  
>up "U" shape, connect as follows:
>Upper Left - connects to a white wire that is deeper inside the  
>pencil (there are two white wires there, the prong connects to the  
>right one (oriented looking into the pencil from the tip, so these  
>wires are at the top of the pencil casing)).
>Lower Middle - connects to another white wire, nearer to the tip of  
>the pencil (once again there are two white wires here, the one it  
>connects to is the left one (oriented looking into the pencil from  
>the tip, so these wires are at the bottom of the pencil casing)).
>Upper Right - connects to a green wire on the other side of the  
>pencil from the white wires described in the Lower Middle connection  
>above.
>
>Additionally, the two left-over white wire have continuity with one  
>another. So it seems like all the wires are accounted for (I have no  
>idea if these connections are correct, but at least they're all  
>accounted for).
>
>I'll order another tip today and see what happens when it arrives...
>
>I'm not sure what vintage this iron is, it was used when I got it, in  
>pretty good shape, but the coloring of the plastic seems to be  
>somewhat faded. For what it's worth it says it was "Made in the USA"...
>
>Thanks again for all the help,
>Chris
>
>On Feb 13, 2006, at 3:13 AM, Ken Stone wrote:
>
>>> New tip, $7 at www.alliedelec.com
>>
>> I've never had the magnetics go on a tip, though I have had the  
>> magnetics go
>> on the switch once.
>> Frequent failure is due to corrosion in the heater. Tugging gently  
>> on the
>> wires to it will pop one right out, where it has rusted through.
>> Also never wack it to get excess solder off the tip.
>> As mentioned already, the switch contacts need fixing once in a while.
>> Also, the cables "frequently" break near the station connector due  
>> to all
>> the flexing.
>>
>> Ken
>>
>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "xamboldt" <xamboldt at earthlink.net>
>>> To: "synth-diy List" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:40 PM
>>> Subject: [sdiy] Weller WTCPT Question
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hey everyone,
>>>>
>>>> I bought a Weller WTCPT from ebay a week or so ago, and it stopped
>>>> working tonight. The base station switch still lights up, and the
>>>> fuse is still fine. It's just the iron doesn't get hot anymore.
>>>> Before it stopped working, I could hear and feel it "kicking on"  
>>>> from
>>>> time to time, and I assumed this was the temperature  
>>>> compensation. It
>>>> doesn't do that now. Any ideas what's wrong with it? Do I need a new
>>>> pencil? (I sure hope not)
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any advice you can give,
>>>> Chris
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________________ 
>> _
>> Ken Stone   sasami at hotkey.net.au or sasami at cgs.synth.net
>> Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
>> Australian Miniature Horses & Ponies <http://www.blaze.net.au/ 
>> ~sasami/>
>>
>
>
_______________________________________________________________________
Ken Stone   sasami at hotkey.net.au or sasami at cgs.synth.net
Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
Australian Miniature Horses & Ponies <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>