ITTSB.EU Blog Forum
Soldering tools | Miscellaneous hand tools | Bench top tools => Soldering station, Rework station, relative accessories => Topic started by: Kiriakos GR on October 18, 2013, 10:05:04 PM
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18 of October made my mind about getting this truly fresh AT90DH soldering station.
While emotionally I do not have positive vibes in favor of ATTEN, this specific product it does look promising.
Technically speaking it has tremendously advanced specifications.
http://www.attenelectronics.com/Products/Soldering_Tools/Soldering_stations/2013/0402/246.html (http://www.attenelectronics.com/Products/Soldering_Tools/Soldering_stations/2013/0402/246.html)
Comes close to challenge the latest JBC CD-2BC regarding speed, and regarding exterior design it is more than obvious that ATTEN is fan of Weller.
In this first post of my about it I will post a picture with all the small secrets ( details ) of the soldering iron.
And I am doing it because this model is so new that the internet is totally empty for those information's.
I am expecting my AT90DH from Germany, and in about 10 days I will post some pictures from it.
Pricing : 129,00 EUR including VAT + 9 EUR DHL .
Additionally one new friend of my (Sky Hu ) from Ali Express.com
he will send me additional tips and golden sponges. 8)
Today because of me ATTEN updated their product picture again.
It looks than in the beginning the AT90DH were planed to have one power on switch with illumination and the Iron holder to be a luxury looking item.
And suddenly the company changed their mind and they offer the basic iron holder and a simple power switch.
Plus the front buttons from light blue now they look silver, and they replaced the LCD with white digits and blue back light.
I am crossing my fingers to get the first revision, with all the first planed stylish enhancements.
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ATTEN AT-90DH Unboxing pictures.
I got this station from Germany for 129,00 EUR + 9,00 EUR DHL
http://www.exp-tech.de/product_info.php?language=en&gm_boosted_product=Atten-90W-Loetstation-AT-90DH&Loetstation=Atten-90W-Loetstation-AT-90DH.html&products_id=2476& (http://www.exp-tech.de/product_info.php?language=en&gm_boosted_product=Atten-90W-Loetstation-AT-90DH&Loetstation=Atten-90W-Loetstation-AT-90DH.html&products_id=2476&)
I have no complains from the seller but I have plenty regarding ATTEN and their poor quality control and also because they are cutting corners that easy.
ATTEN should make their minds if they are going to compete in the market by following high quality standards like every one else ? ( Hot Iron & Iron holder ).
It supposed that I am going to live with it for many years ahead, and yes I lost my smile due their poor quality control.
The main station looks well made, and even after a good burn-in at 500C on screen (or all most there by measuring by a thermocouple) the station it self stayed cool in my quick test.
There is not going to be any full product review, I never do that when paying for buying a tool.
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ATTEN AT-90DH Unboxing pictures.
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ATTEN AT-90DH Unboxing pictures.
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ATTEN AT-90DH Unboxing pictures.
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Soldering iron base improvements. ;)
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Congratulations for your new tool. Im sure that you will find it very helpfull for your work.
Also the improvement you have done, with the extra weight on the stand, was very smart and usefull too.
The light weight is a common problem especially in cheap stands, which make the solder stand unstable.
As I see the tips looks like the same with weller for WSP80 , do you have the dimensions (diameter)? If it is same with weller tips, it would be an interesting alternative choice for replacement, because im sure that their cost will smaller than weller's is.
At last i would like to have your opinion about brass( I think) sponges instead classic type. I see that many manufacturers like ERSA, WELLER, have started to use this type of sponges on their solder stands.
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Regarding the tip, I did not measure the diameter so to check compatibility with Weller.
Prior getting this station from Germany, I made one arrangement and ordered two spare ATTEN tip AT-800-0.4S and two copper sponges.
The base that was not identical as pictured, it did made me mad, and ordered again one dry tip cleaning kit so to get the tiny holder for the sponge. (3.40 EUR)
I would never expect that my first experience with one ATTEN product would destroy my enthusiasm about getting it.
At list it does have the expected power which makes the removal of bad capacitors from a motherboard a matter of seconds.
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As you mentioned capacitor removal from motherboard, I have to report that it needs full attention, because the vias on their holes ,are connecting with tracks of internal (invisible) layers of motherboard pcb, so if we try to remove capacitor, we have to take care to dont remove the vias too.
Obviously a good soldering iron with suitable temperature is important if we do jobs like this.
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I did some testing (training session) with a dead motherboard.
Capacitors and Mos-Fet they just lift and run in seconds. ;D
What I am looking to get as last accessory is some tin tinner, I never did use any, but this iron when it gets above the 400C the tip gets dry, solder is unable to stay on it.
Therefore I think that I will possibly need one tip tinner for maintenance ?
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We are not living in a perfect world, therefore when something gets spotted as issue in a new product it should be mentioned publically by a note.
In this case the note is regarding the AT90DH in which I have verified an issue caused by the transformer inside.
Title: The transformer inside cause’s electromagnetic effect when the soldering station is placed at the top of a metallic cabinet.
Side effects: Sound of hum which deviates according the electrical load of the transformer.
Work around: Avoid placing the soldering station over metallic cabinets made by iron.
I did inform ATTEN about this issue since November 25 with a video, in the beginning they took this subject very lightly, after some extra pressure they started mentioning that they are investigating it, after of three weeks of fake promises that I would be contacted back for getting a replacement, they came back to me today by saying that this issue possibly it will be resolved in the future.
This problem made me to further investigate of what solutions are used by others far more premium manufacturers (with even more experience in this field).
And I discovered pictures which are clearly demonstrating one far wiser transformer placement in their soldering stations (that came also with a plastic housing), or alternatively they use a toroid transformer.
The technical issue of the AT90DH it could possibly get solved if the inner transformer were shielded by a metallic cage, by the same way that is shielded similar transformers’ designed to coexist close to other parts which they are prone to electromagnetic effect.
Up to date I have not verify that something like that is possible as design correction, this transformer is mounted on a plastic cage at the bottom of the soldering station base, and the dimensions of it were designed to host the transformer as is.
This all story it did made feel Mad because it did damaged my own Feng shui of how my working bench should be organized at it best.
Regarding ATTEN, other than getting back promptly to redesign this AT90DH, they will have their chance to win back the positive impressions, only when they will prove them self’s as worthy.
Regarding the feeling of hard critique, I am tremendously hard to my own self first.
As about me, I did come up with an alternative Feng shui idea, which does not turn upside-down completely my own original planning.
Even so it is an reconciliation which I have to live with.
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First of all ,I would like to send ,my best wishes for the new year, to all members of ITTSB forum.
Regarding the topic, I think that a solution could be, by installing rubber/plastic feet like these
http://www.takachi-enclosure.com/data/c1213/c_en_p225.pdf in the bottom of soldering station.
They could ensure primarly a space between soldering station and any metal surface, and secondly the rubber matterial of them absorbs any vibrations caused by electromagnetic effect.
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Unfortunatly for ATTEN, the problem is still there even if the station elevates 15mm from the below metalic iron based surface.
This plastic orange case in which I store inside the Hot-Air station nonsless it is 30mm, which helps bypassing the problem.
By the way .. An very happy 2014 to you too mate :)
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Hi Kiriakos,
Nice soldering station. i hope it is good quality (with exception the problems you mention) because i ordered one for my self too. :D
Im having a hard time to find tips. So i will try to order a weller tips (LT series) and give it a try as i read that it is compatible.
If you test the tips you ordered from Ali Express please let me know about the quality.
Thanks and happy new year.
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My luck with Ali Express was not good, the seller send my order with tips and sponges that were totally wrong.
I got Hakko tips instead which I did made them a gift to a friend.
The actual compatibility between the Weller tips is something than even me I look forward to discover too.
Regarding ATTEN tips in Greece there is availability, but I have erase from my head the name of the Greek re-seller, because he charges for the station double price than Germany.
About the station, I have use it for 30 hours up to date, in Greece we use to say that if something does not collapse in 24 hours then it is healthy. ;D
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Hi Kiriakos,
Finally i got this station also and i did similar modification you did as well.
Atten Europe replied to my email and informed that tips cost about 5 Euros each. There are also just a couple of tips in ebw.gr website.
Anyway i'm happy that the Station is very quick on heating up and removing elements. However the tip that accompanies the station is useless at most cases.
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I hope you to enjoy your new tool, and also to find it useful to your job.
It would be interesting to check your station for electromagnetic issue that Kyriakos mentioned, to see if the failure is only at unit that Kyriakos owns.
If your station has the same problem, then we will be rather sure that is a general design failure.
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However the tip that accompanies the station is useless at most cases.
I did found the default tip as useful for SMD, and even small parts (soldered over flexible ribbon).
Therefore in my book, it is useful for micro surgery. :)
For soldering wires and general use, I am still using my 20 Years old station.
I did not buy this ATTEN tool by the thought that it will replace my other four soldering tools.
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This ebay listing made me smille. ;)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-Soldering-Solder-Iron-Tip-For-Weller-LTI-LF-0-25mm-/290943397902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bd93f00e (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-Soldering-Solder-Iron-Tip-For-Weller-LTI-LF-0-25mm-/290943397902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bd93f00e)
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Since today I can verify 100% compatibility with soldering tips made by Weller.
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It is good to have your own forum even about keeping a log of your own purchases.
Gentlemen the back-light of my AT-90DH screen is now dead, the white digits it is somewhat visible, but the blue back-light is no more, and this thing in all that time it did not worked more that 200 Hours. :o
Definably I am out of warranty according the calendar, and therefore I forced to do my own attempt so to troubleshoot the problem.
Details of my story will follow soon.
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Im sorry for your trouble. If your lcd display is like the one in attached picture, I have a spare one to send you (free) to replace it.
If it is a different type , please upload a photo to see how i can help you, as I have some experience with this kind of displays.
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Hi Giorgos,
According to blow-out I am going to deal with something different.
I am going to take it apart in the next 48 hours, because I have an active project over my bench this moment.
If I discover that the problem shown up due bad soldering (cold join) over this PCB I will freak out. :)
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There is a new development or finding in my story.
By pressing with some force the plastic window inwards, back-light becomes active.
I going to open it right away.
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So fortunately the most possible case, is to be a bad soldering.
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It seems that I fall in a rabbit hole with significant length.
My first word will be that with out hot-air rework there is no chance to disassemble this thing.
In my attempt to remove the metal cage that holds the display , I got scared and stop.
The contact between PCB and display screen is made by some sort of double side sticky paper.
So far there is no evidence that this problem came due soldering issues, but I am suspecting that something has to do with the pressure which the metallic cage bonds the screen with the PCB.
I will take a break and have a look of it when I will be relaxed later on.
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Made it to walk in and out with out getting wet. :)
Some things are made just to be assembled once and that's it, unfortunately even this product is one of those.
While there is some simplicity in the circuitry what ATTEN did totally wrong is the dimensions of the holes of regular parts as for example the capacitors.
Parts removal is a pain in the ass.
Electrolytic capacitors are made by an unknown brands called as JWCO and after some research over internet I just find some comments that is just a bit better than totally cheapest ones.
I did ESR measurements one 47uF 35V seemed degraded and I did replace it by a better Nichicon.
The true problem about the back-light was the hand soldered LED, which took me long time to isolate as problem because it did seemed as soldered.
What really happened is that PCB holes does not match with the specific LED system that gets behind the display.
So eventually ATTEN used a person to patch the problem, but the next problem is that LED leads are sort, so to travel around the PCB and be soldered as it should be, the only way to do that is to bent the leads with tremendous accuracy, which it did not happen here.
Generally speaking I am kinda disappointed about finding inside such budget capacitors, and fragile push buttons, which if you are not careful when using hot-air rework station these could melt.
Even so this adventure reminded me how crap was my older soldering station, which I had to use in this repair.
My opinion today is that I will never trust ATTEN about buying the supposed more expensive with more features soldering station.
By such build quality inside they definably do not respect their customers.
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Thanks to this topic, this working as log, I am now aware that my heater + sensor part this lasted for three years and 10 months.
Yesterday and suddenly my soldering station display this reads Error code S-5.
I am currently seeking replacement part CBB024441 (AT90DH), and I am making international inquiry about it.
Mostly because price this vary extremely, and you can easily be cheated and pay over 50 Euro for a part with production cost of 4 USD.
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Best settlement finding this part in Greece this is found.
While prices change by the day, I did order two spare parts, better prepared than sorry. ;)
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This soldering station its now EOL END OF LIFE and from my own end.
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I did kept this product that long despite all issues caused due ATTEN poor manufacturing, and or the problematic spare parts availability in EU.
But I am not willing to consider my self as ATTEN customer any more.
They Discontinued AT-90DH, then presented it again as ST-100, nowadays they selling all it spare-parts at double/triple the price than before.
Beginning of the year 2024 the Tip fastening sleeve of my AT-90DH this where damaged at the point of not retaining the soldering tip anymore.
The theoretical spare part which never sold or shipped anywhere in this planet is the CBG023410 .
The true background story, is that ATTEN copied 25 years old Weller technology, including T800 soldering tip system.
Welder abandon T800 soldering tip system long ago.
But for some time welder tips they could replace ATTEN T800, and even old welder stock this does not last for ever.
Today February of 2024, we can not find anymore, neither ATTEN spare parts at reasonable price, and neither old stock of Welder tips T800.
About me its now time, to move forwards, and to discover and hand over my money at one more reliable brand of soldering tools.
My Golden advice, do not buy soldering station from ATTEN if you are a professional.
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It might be some hope after all, if you are a friend of adventure.
There is no explanation of why, but there is one source in UK this selling the heating element HS3100 at reasonable price.
This web-shop it is fully prepared to deal with EU orders, automatic VAT clearance, and somewhat reasonable shipping of 15 Euro for 76 Gram of goods.
First of March placed my order for a qty of three heating elements.
Eight of March (Friday) order arrived at my town mail center.
Eleven of March I will have them.
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Regarding the other major issue, a spare tip sleeve barrel.
I did start a new quest of my own, about getting a similar product (sleeve barrel from another factory) so to modify it.
Here is the link of the new topic.
https://www.ittsb.eu/forum/index.php?topic=1862.0 (https://www.ittsb.eu/forum/index.php?topic=1862.0)
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You are a proven fighter, the entire Blog this is loaded with hundreds of proofs.
Again you did find a new workaround. 8)
I am happy for you, simple as that.
12€ per piece !!
Unbelievable ;)
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Delivery completed ...