The heater got me really hot under the collar ! (lol)
I now have to eat at least a little humble pie (I'm used to it.. 25
years of marriage !)
This relates to the original hater supplied with the kit
marked "BOYU aquarium heater"
I was so annoyed with the heater, I just took the original to bits
and It CAN be altered to get the temperature range.. so the problem
may not be as bad as I thought..
If anyone else buys one.. here is what to do !
gently prize the plastic top off along the centre line of the
heater, it is a push fit.
turn the temperature adjustment up to full eg with the legend "32"
visible.
remove the screw that holds the thumbwheel onto the shaft
cut off the stop on the back of the thumbwheel with a knife !
refit the thumbwheel onto the shaft in the same position as it came
off !
press the cover back into position !
You now have a heater that will go up to 40 degrees or more.. just
have to guess the position f the wheel..
I used a pyrometer to check the temperature and the scale seems
pretty linear..
Chris (-=Spiyda=-)
--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Richard" <Richard@T...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Chris
>
> Thanks for useful info, especially interesting to know that the
> manufacturer of these units is Velleman.
>
> I've read about these arriving with broken heaters elswehere, one
> individual having to return it 4 times, until he got one that
wasn't
> smashed...
>
> As for the temperature, the website here :
> http://computronics.com.au/kinsten/et/ (Australian), claims a
heater
> temperature for both the ET10 & ET20 models of 60C - way higher
than
> your measured 33C ! - might be worth checking out what Velleman
> themselves have to say about this - spec sheet etc...
>
> Maplin : yeah, they are pretty good, but still pack everything
> possible into 'jiffy' bags, (if they can find one big enough)..
> Packing is certainly NOT their strong point, forgive the pun ;)
> As for refusing to post your comments, I'm not at all suprised.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Horne" <chris@s...>
> wrote:
> >
> > The problem with this tank is not just the price... :-(
> >
> > I bought one a few weeks ago and was very disappointed..
> >
> > I ordered online and first off the heater was broken..
> > the packaging was whlly inadequate.
> >
> > I returned it and was still disappointed when the replacement
came.
> >
> > The tank itself is fine, the air pump is fine, but the heater
was
> > obviously substituted with a unit designed for aquariums ...
> > although it is adjustable, it will not adjust to the 40 degrees
> > celsius needed for efficient etching. In fact 33 was the maximum!
> >
> > Anyone who has etched boards in quantity will tell you that it
will
> > be considerably slower.
> >
> > The manufacturer of the tank is Velleman and I checked their
site
> > for this product and the original heater IS supposed to be a 40
> > degree type.
> >
> > In the end I rooked around in my shed and came up with a heater
for
> > beer that can be adjusted to 40.
> >
> > I phoned Maplin and spoke to customer servives and their reply
was
> > to the effect that nowhere on the advertisement does it state
that
> > the tank heats the fluid to 40 degrees.
> >
> > I tried to enter a review of the item on their website but for
sme
> > reason, it seems to have been censored out !
> >
> > I wonder why !
> >
> > Dont get me wrong, I generally applaud Maplin for their service
and
> > range, they are a useful supplier when the normal suppliers
haven't
> > got stock etc. but in this case, they are just plain wrong.
> >
> > If you want to etch boards in any sensible time, you will have
to
> > buy a different heater...
> >
> > Chris (-=Spiyda=-) (and here ends the rant for the day !)
>