[sdiy] Weller WTCPT Question

[xamboldt]

The new tips I ordered came (I got a 600 deg and 700 deg tip) - it  
doesn't heat up with either one. :(

I checked the base station pins - they're numbered as follows  
(looking at the front of the base)
O #2
     O #1
O #3

With the unit off, there is continuity between 2 and 1, and none  
between any others.

With the unit on, I read these voltages:
1 to 2 = 27.7 VAC
2 to 3 = .65 VAC
1 to 3 = a fluctuating DC of around 300 mV - the weird thing is this  
DC read as positive even if I switched the probes around on my  
multimeter.

Are these readings normal? strange? Seems strange to me that I'd read  
continuity between 1 and 2 while it's off, and 27.7 VAC when it's on...

Any ideas what I should try next?

Thanks for any help any of you can offer...

-Chris



On Feb 13, 2006, at 5:14 PM, Ken Stone wrote:

> 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/>
>