PCBWay 3D Printing and Fabrication: www.pcbway.com/rapid-prototyping/ Aixun Website: aixuntech.com Aixun T320: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkgnT15 Pico Technology 5000 Series Scope: www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/5000/flexible-resolution-oscilloscope Support the Channel with Patreon: www.patreon.com/sdgelectronics
Does it have problems with temperature spikes when you touch ground with the tip? Aixun was hiding problems with previous models by showing no real temperature... Also voltage about 1 V with ripple was leaking through the tip, in other video it was almost 1.7A.
Can you please check it if your device has similar issues like in tony359 on 11th minute he shows voltage leaks, temperature spikes at the tip of the iron.
honestly the feature for changing temperature with the iron is pretty genius! Never seen anything like it but it makes a lot of sense. On my workbench I have the iron and control unit on the right side which means I either need to reach across with my left hand for change settings, put the iron down and use my right hand or try to change it with my right hand while also holding the iron which is what I often do but isn't really the safest
Sadly, unlike american companys where you can tell when a revision has been done, these chinese companys change the product on the fly and without warning or indication. So whatever caps are on it today, might not be on it tomorrow. And when you shop on aliexpress you could be buying a 2024 model, or it could be a first release, or it could be a chinese company copying a chinese company
@@I_SuperHiro_I maybe a couple amps of heater current flows out of the tip too! When touching the tip to an earthed pad, a parallel return path for the heater current is created through the mains wiring, like a ground loop (because the SMPS output -ve is earthed and JBC C245 thermocouple bridges the tip & heater).
the UI layout and flow is totally fine but would it kill them to change the font on the display? It seems like the easiest part to get right. No serifs, just a clean simple font would look much nicer on a small instrument display, to my eye at least.
It perplexes me why Asian manufacturers often use ugly serif fonts for western languages, both in print and on-screen. The serif on-screen fonts on Chinese gadgets and software are especially annoying.
Great video, Steve. AiXun is an interesting company. This station is one I would have lloked at had I been needing a Soldering Station. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks for the review gave me the confidence to buy one. My first soldiering station.I like its all in one: sponge, steel wool, and cradle. Heats up quick and automatically shuts off or runs in low power mode. My old cheap iron I would ruin the tips because it run 100% and I'd forget it on.
Thank you for the review ! I was waiting for you to check this one out. I've been checking you channel for about 2 weeks. I saw the C210 one for sale with 3 tips for about $100 shipped on A-E. I really like the other AIXUN stations that I have and was really curious about these versions.
Thank you for all your videos, you give very detailed presentations, which is very good, I ordered an Aixun H310D which is now at customs and I am waiting for them to contact me to pay the taxes, after seeing your description I decided to I'm ordering it, I'm going to do the same with the Aixun T320 station which is already on the wish list, now that I've seen it unfolded and with your comment you've convinced me. Thanks again for your presentations.
Hello,for now, the soldering station is on the way, it hasn't arrived yet, so I can't tell you how it works, the hot air station from Aixun H310D works perfectly, I'll write to you after I receive it and try it.@@OG-ChokeMaster
@@CanaleUA-camGeneralista not well so far. Genuin JBC cartridges are not able to boot up the station, unless i heat them up manually before turning the station on. Then the resistance gets high enough for the station to allow the boot and handle to recognize and start. When started, it works really well… it is however very frustraiting, and Aixun is not very open to promis a firmware to help this issue…
@@EmilWilkensRC Thank you for sharing your experience, let's hope they solve it with a new firmware, I was looking for a soldering station with a T12 or C245 linear transformer, I didn't want to spend a lot, can you recommend some soldering stations ?
Just to add: I received a T413 last week, bought it for the same reason (with transformer). It came with the initial firmware v1.01 and I did not update it yet. Having read your post about genuin cartridges earlier, I did a quick test with a new original JBC 907H and a JBC 911H cartridge straight from the packaging. Station and handle still 'cold' as well. The station properly booted with both and started heating both after placing the handle with cartridge in the holder as mentioned on the display. So I can't vouch for other cartridges, but these worked on mine.
For someone trying to get a good decent iron who is not familiar with all the brands and the pro's and cons it's an absolute minefield!. Some are not earthed, some have massive temperature fluctuations, some are not good at some repairs (pinecil for bigger jobs etc). I wish someone would make a video with 5 irons and give beginners more help and info on one video. It's overwhelming :)
That's where I am, as well. I've found myself interesting in soldering, mainly as a sort of hobby (game controllers and such), and can't decide on what to get. I don't want to spend a ton on a pro-grade setup, but I don't want to buy junk either. Other than the biggest names, which come with the biggest price tags, all the others just sound like made up names you'd find on aliexpress or amazon, and I can't make heads or tails of them.
@@CajuNerd As you rightly said the problem is that the big brands like JBC, Pace, Ersa, Weller, Hakko, Metcal, have a high cost, at the beginning I wanted to buy the less expensive models like the hakko fx888d or the Weller WE 1010 but both use the old technology with a separate ceramic heating element that transmits heat to the tip, the soldering stations (of well-known brands) with the new cartridge heating system are generally more expensive, the cheapest basic models I have found are the JBC BT-2BWA and the PACE ADS200, or the i-CON NANO MK2 which does not use cartridge tips, they say it works well anyway even if it only has 80w, and its tips are cheaper, unfortunately these stations are around €300, keep in mind that the original JBC tips are expensive, the rest of the stations are part of the T12 hakko and JBC clones, C115, C210, C245, in my opinion it is better to aim on soldering stations with linear transformer (compatible with original JBC handles) which do not have the problem of grounding and temperature fluctuations, GVM H3 3, Wemon T31, jabe ud-1200, AiXun T420. Otherwise with a very limited budget they recommended me a station that uses T12 tips, the T12 are very cheap, the STM32 stations like the QUICKO 958 and the KSGER v3 are compatible with the DavidAlfa firmware, the custom firmware offers many advantages, in some models the grounding problem must be fixed, even if in the latest models they have fixed the grounding on the case but not on the tip, electrostatic discharges, called ESD, can occur, the topic is a bit long, it is advisable to have a second soldering iron if it is necessary to make some modifications to make the station safe, the power supplies of the QUICKO and KSGER are not great, some recommend replacing it with a double isolation power supply like the Meanwell RPS-120-24, there are also the QUICKO and KSGER mini without a power supply where it is easier to combine a quality 24v 3-5A one. Finally, they also recommended that I purchase a used station like the Metcal MX 500.
"For someone trying to get a good decent iron who is not familiar with all the brands and the pro's and cons it's an absolute minefield!" In a way that's true, but in a way you could also just buy from Hakko, Ersa, Metcal etc and know you are getting a quality product from a reputable manufacturer without needing to think too much about it. Some still swear by Weller too, though the internal constructions of some of their products seem a little shoddy nowadays.
I was hoping you would test this station. An interesting soldering station that I will probably get myself. Thank you for the great review. What I like about your videos, is that you also look inside to see if they are safe.
on some scenarios it's impossible to make the PCB "fully disconnected" from earth. I've been trying to use my T3A to de-solder SMD capacitors, using a second traditional iron. It's impossible, the temperature reading gets unreliable and the tip reaches 500C with 360C as set point. I am so unhappy with my T3A, I would not buy it again. I feel that this earthing issue is a major one. This seems to behave a little better but still I don't want to see 410C when I set 310C on the unit. I would also check the actual tip temperature when that happens: with the T3A they tried to hide the overshoot with FW 1.34 so who's telling us that this is not doing the same and they are also covering the power spike on the display? :) Thanks for testing the earthing issue I discovered on my T3A video review.
@@Scrogan I am not 100% sure the supply earthing is the issue here. Even if it was, does that mean the tip is going to be unearthed? It also means opening it up, probably break the front panel in doing so and losing whatever warranty it comes with :) Anything is possible of course.
This video couldn't have come at a better time. I was on the fence with a T3A / Mechanic C211 and Sugon T21. Just bit the bullet with the T320. £101 delivered to the UK within 7 days with 3 tips is an absolute steal. The one confusing thing is that I thought T210 and T245 are wired differently? I know the T3A uses GX style connector with T245 whereas the T245 on the T320 is 6 pin and is the same style as the T210 on the T3B
On the T420D the irons both use the same connector. Some of that circuitry around the driver transistors may be to adjust the drive for the two different irons
I got this station and unfortunately it is buzzing, both the handle and the station itself. I have no idea if it is normal, the station otherwise works like expected.
So I just purchased one of these right before learning about the T413. I am seriously considering returning the T320 when it arrives, or maybe re selling because I am not confident that attempting a return through ali express is wise. Would you go through the trouble to get the T413 over this? Seems like they are a little hard to come by in a 110v configuration. *edit, canceled the order and bought a T420d with 2 handpieces.
I have a T320 and when i use JBC tips i can hear buzzing coming from the handle when it is heating,but no buzzing when using Aixun tips,any idea why that is?
i have a question for you. so i am fairly new into understanding these soldering stations and i am a hobbyist mainly in rc car building but also make custom flashlights. i had a weller we1010na that i just returned because it struggled to solder the bigger stuff. i just bought a aixun t3a but havent recieved it yet. i solder some very big things 6 awg wire and big bullet connectors on rc car esc speed controllers. what would be the best soldering station you would recommend for plenty of power for someone doing big soldering stuff but also small pcb on flashlights if i want? is the t3a i bought going to cut it?
Wow. It seems to be a much better improvement to the T3A. There's something I'd like to know that I haven't found a solid answer yet and I hope you don't mind me asking for your help. Is it possible to use ANY original JBC 245 and 210 cartridge from their entire cartridge range with these T245 and T210 AiXun handles? Would original handles work with this station? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve.
@@sdgelectronics From what I've heard the T3A had some issues with overshoot, but also power supply buzzing issues. Maybe those are fixed on the T3AS, or is it the same as the T3A? The T3A just takes up less space with the separate stand.
Hi, could you recommend me a simple and sturdy soldering station with the traditional linear power supply inside, that doesn't cost too much, around 100€ maybe, with easily available tips, which model do you recommend ?
aixun t413 seems to have a a transformer, which may seem to fix this problem aswell as the voltage leak problem which i personally had experience with this station which was the reason why i got rid of it
@@3ijnweu3oq3I think Aixun stopped making the 420 single channel model. It sold for about €100 to 130 less than the 420D (dual channel) model which they continue to sell. It was a very good soldering machine in its price range. I really regret not getting one. And I can't justify the cost of 420D.
I have the Yihua 982 C210/245 station , some good soldering units coming out of china , mine does the job only thing that bugged me was the handle conection at the back i coverted mine to front socket gained about 6'' of lead also got a 90deg power socket lead the unit now stands about 2'' from the back of the bench ..................
I used to work in the electronics industry for a long time, and our soldering stations were JBC. You mentioned this unit being very light, does that make it move across the table when you put the iron back in the holder?
When you try to change tips the whole station is moving. You need to hold it with one hand and then remove tips. Quality of this plastic housings is poor. My unit has uneven base so it wobbles even when you press buttons. Feels more like cheap plastic toy than a soldering station.
@@sdgelectronicsfoot friction does nothing to help when you pull a hot tip out using the included stand. The whole station gets lifted up if it’s light, no?
Great review. As a starting in looking to upgrade from the very basic cheap soldering iron, what would you recommend for SMD soldering? I saw the review on the Sequre and looking at the SQ-D60B but also the Aixun T320. Would you recommend anything else over these?
hi thank you for the review, can you help me out please, when you opened it , it looked like the was enough room one you had removed the psi for me to fit 8 x Sony VTC6A 21700 4000mAh 30A 3.6V Batterys in there to make it battery powered . do you thing they would fit?
Nice video 👍 We also recorded a video about this soldering station. Interestingly, we received some of the first pieces produced from the manufacturer. - with software v1.0. The graph showing temperature and power was only available after updating to version 1.03
Nice review as always! One question remains, whats the Wifi for? And is it really OFF when you set it OFF.Will the station stil work if you hardware disable Wifi?
T413 uses a proprietary handpiece I believe. I wound up with the T420d so I can use the 115,220, and 245 jbc handpieces. It also does a larger handpiece ill probably never use.
@@tokin420nchokin i have an ancient weller that can barely heat up anything, but I've recently started just using my hot air to preheat my boards to 100c-120c before working.. it's annoying but gets the job done for a casual user.
Maybe add a discussion on AiXun and their firmware support. Having a T3B, they seem to have trouble in that department. Having some publicity might help to keep updates coming.
Most viewers do not necessarily understand a solder iron power ratings nor the ohms law. It would be best if you mention the JBC cartridges are 2.5 ohms rated unlike others that are 3.5, 4, or 5.6 ohms, and thus consumes more power and are suited for stations that deliver the required power for the cartridge.
I have the T3A and quickly burned out all of the Chinese tips both from Aixun and a "high quality"3rd party. Now using genuine JBC tips but locally they are rather expensive and a very limited number of suppliers and rediculous freight charges. Has anyone found a supply of decent Chinese tips that don't burn out after a few hours?
I have noticed that a lot of listings for C245 tips on AliExpress explicitly mention that the advertised tips are not suitable for Aixun soldering stations.
I ordered the T3A about a year ago, but would have happily waited for this as an upgrade. Do you think its worth the upgrade from the T3A to this? Looks about £10 in total if you include the stand.
I currently have the T3A and also thought the same initially, but I would say that for me, having the movable stand is more comfortable, so I will keep it)
Shame you didn’t double check the temperature calibration/compensation function, and the units behaviour with cheap tips. But regardless, a fantastic review, thanks!
It works as you'd expect, when I change the value to -7, the readings are spot on. It's different per cartridge though as they all behave slightly differently, so if you swap out regularly there's little point in changing the value.
I wonder what happens with the graph display if you have it running for hours? You can see later in the video it has trouble rendering 3-digit X-axis labels (some overlap), so what happens when it gets to 4 or 5 digits? 😄 Personally I think it's pointless showing an actual seconds value, should probably just have tick marks and avoid complicated rendering issues.
Will you be doing a review of the gvm h3 possibly? I ordered one but it never came and was returned to China and I'd really love to hear your feedback on it before Reordering another one especially compared to this unit the 320. That unit is very very similar and uses an actual transformer instead of the PCB which is why I was so interested in it compared to the 320. It would definitely be worth a good review. There's a lot of people asking about it and it appears to be at least from the specifications and info a really nice unit (personally, I prefer a real transformer, although I know it's not the end of the world if it uses a PCB). I own all of the aixun units and they're all great but I'm much prefer units with a transformer and build wise similar to an actual JBC. Just curious. Great review!
@@sdgelectronics I'm not sure why but I can't see my second comment, but I wanted to let you know that the USB port on the back is basically useless. The company will not give out the software nor the updates for the unit. I've tried getting them. A friend of mine that ordered one tried to get them and there is a UA-cam review where they're saying they can't get them either. If this duplicates my other message, I apologize. It seems to have disappeared though. I spent a couple of weeks trying to get software from GVM/ sunshine and basically was told every time they don't give it out
I was really disappointed how he glossed over the issue at the end with the temperature spiking. He says it looks like they made it better using firmware but it bloody doesn’t! I saw 412*C flash up when the set point was 310*C. That’s relying on the readout being truthful which on some stations it isn’t. It would have been good to double check the actual tip temperature.
@@davadoffWhile I don’t disagree with your objections to the video: Just as an FYI, the display flashing 412C doesn’t necessarily mean it actually reached that temperature. Stray voltages can easily produce massive measurement errors in thermocouples. Even more so when using a switch-mode power supply like this one. Depending on the circuit design, it may well be possible to fix that in firmware, by making sure you only measure with the heater off. And if not, filtering multiple measurements may be able to produce realistic numbers. The Pace station I have at work shows similar high temperature blips while heating up from cold, and that’s a top brand. On the other hand, if a tip thermometer actually showed 100C of overshoot, that’d be a serious problem!
@@tookitogo good point. It wasn’t clear to me the tip wasn’t overshooting for real. In fact I got the impression from this vid or previous one that it was actually overshooting for real.
I have a similar JBC clone and it is excellent! Like the AiXum, mine too has a nice color TFT display, but it is much more compact and has a separate high quality iron holder. I've used it almost every day for 2+ years and I love it! It works so much better than my old ersa RDS 80, which is also quite good but uses the old technology. The JBC design is so good it makes any soldering job a pleasure, and these cheap clones do seem to duplicate the essential performance features of the genuine JBC.
Why don't they just isolate the tip and then allow the user to decide how they want it done. On the Weller stations I bought for work there is a jack socket on the rear panel, the tip and earth connections are on this, so it allows you to decide if you want to short the tip to earth or as i always did was fit a 10K resistor to provide a bit of protection and stop the tip charging up with static etc. Also means if you want to work on live PCB's you can remove the jack plug and have a completely isolated tip. My home made Weller soldering pencil power supply has the tip earthed via an internal 10K. Not sure why they need all that information on the screen, I just want a soldering iron that does the job. I'm never looking at the display while the iron is in my hand. The number of un-review soldering irons must be dropping fast.
I still have about 6 stations sitting here still to be reviewed, but some are a bit less relevant these days. You forget we're living in an era of USB soldering irons with 64-bit processors in them!
I think on most pro systems, the tip is tied directly to mains earth. It seems to be on the Metcal, JBC, Pace and Ersa irons from what I remember. But they either have floating power supplies or don't use a thermocouple in the same configuration as JBC cartridges, so no issue on those.
And here I am, happily soldering away with an old Weller Magnastat with absolutely no electronics, the only "display" being the light on the power switch. Never realized I need a real time graphic display showing the power and temperature curve of the iron to get good solder joints. 🤣
Kupiłem niby fajna. Ale zainstalowałem aplikacje na PC podłączyłem stację przewodem USB C i pokazała się aktualizacja ;). I tak już zostało, stacja przez 5h nie reagowała na aktualizację ciagle 0%. Po wyłączeniu stacji i włączeniu stacja na wyświetlaczu pokazuje updateding... i nic się nie dzieje. Musze odesłać do Chin. A byłem taki szczęśliwy gdy ja dostałem i włączyłem. Niestety uważam że to jednak za duży bajer a Chinczyk nie dba o soft dobrze. I teraz mam trupa nie stację :D
That's true, but only IF you planning to use these chinese knockoffs for a hobby. If you need a soldering station for a serious work, go with the original! I had t420d and did a comparison test with the original compact JBC - the difference is HUGE! Even if you use the original JBC tips!
We have two original JBCs, 4 different Chinese ones(Sugon and Aixun). No much of a difference if any. Even the tips, if you use C245 ones go with the original. If you use C210, since the originals are expensive and easy to break just get Chinese ones too. They are 90% there, last about the same but cost 1/5 or 1/8.
@@johnyang799 I used the same original tip with T245 on the same 6 layers pad, both stations calibrated to the same temp with the same solder wire. T420D runs the tip more aggressive, peaking to 200W,(shortening the tip life of course), but the response was always worse than the original, which has limiting to 180W peak. The temperature compensating algorithm in the chinese station simply fails to do the job properly. And yes, I tried all t420 firmware's available. I'm glad that I got rid of this station and I'm not planning to buy a chinese soldering station at my life... As a hardware built quality, it was very good, I must admit though... The software is a no go!
I haven't really noticed any significant difference in use between the JBC DDE and T420D. But for professional use, it'd always be sensible to use the premium brands.
Even though the conclusion is that this one is better than the T3A/T3B, I can't move myself to buying this one purely because of the horrible aesthetics. I'm not even a form over function guy usually but man, the menu buttons and the horrible font, I just can't :( also I believe the T3A has full metal housing rather than so much plastic as this one
You may want to add the steps of using a power consumption meter and validate advertised power ratings by dipping the iron in water and monitor its recovery to the set temps. Such as this one - ua-cam.com/video/RHwS9CDEISM/v-deo.html
Same spikes like the other model. people trust your reviews so please give honest advise.. Its not an improvment. its another casing with same shit inside..
PCBWay 3D Printing and Fabrication: www.pcbway.com/rapid-prototyping/
Aixun Website: aixuntech.com
Aixun T320: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkgnT15
Pico Technology 5000 Series Scope:
www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/5000/flexible-resolution-oscilloscope
Support the Channel with Patreon: www.patreon.com/sdgelectronics
Does it have problems with temperature spikes when you touch ground with the tip? Aixun was hiding problems with previous models by showing no real temperature... Also voltage about 1 V with ripple was leaking through the tip, in other video it was almost 1.7A.
Can you please check it if your device has similar issues like in tony359 on 11th minute he shows voltage leaks, temperature spikes at the tip of the iron.
Does it leak to grounded surfaces like the other auxin ? 😊
honestly the feature for changing temperature with the iron is pretty genius! Never seen anything like it but it makes a lot of sense. On my workbench I have the iron and control unit on the right side which means I either need to reach across with my left hand for change settings, put the iron down and use my right hand or try to change it with my right hand while also holding the iron which is what I often do but isn't really the safest
If you want to replace the no-name capacitors.
X2 400V 120UF 30x18mm Pitch: 8mm
X4 35V 1000UF 20x10mm Pitch: 5mm
X1 50V 22UF 11x5mm Pitch: 2mm
Sadly, unlike american companys where you can tell when a revision has been done, these chinese companys change the product on the fly and without warning or indication.
So whatever caps are on it today, might not be on it tomorrow. And when you shop on aliexpress you could be buying a 2024 model, or it could be a first release, or it could be a chinese company copying a chinese company
@@andrewa8569 A chinese company copying a chinese company, lol thats funny!
@@smjerbetsk Happening all the time
Did they correct the un wanted voltage at the tip that the older units had?
and the temperature jumps and lying temperature display
Doubtful. It’s the thermocouple circuit design that’s the issue.
@@I_SuperHiro_I maybe a couple amps of heater current flows out of the tip too!
When touching the tip to an earthed pad, a parallel return path for the heater current is created through the mains wiring, like a ground loop (because the SMPS output -ve is earthed and JBC C245 thermocouple bridges the tip & heater).
the UI layout and flow is totally fine but would it kill them to change the font on the display? It seems like the easiest part to get right.
No serifs, just a clean simple font would look much nicer on a small instrument display, to my eye at least.
This.... The screen of the T3A looks much much much better.
It perplexes me why Asian manufacturers often use ugly serif fonts for western languages, both in print and on-screen. The serif on-screen fonts on Chinese gadgets and software are especially annoying.
maybe they just don't perceive them as ugly like we do due to their use of different writing systems @@tookitogo
@@AndreaAustoni Yeah, I’ve wondered that myself.
@@tookitogo They are the Latin characters within the Chinese font!
Great video, Steve. AiXun is an interesting company. This station is one I would have lloked at had I been needing a Soldering Station. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks for the review gave me the confidence to buy one. My first soldiering station.I like its all in one: sponge, steel wool, and cradle. Heats up quick and automatically shuts off or runs in low power mode. My old cheap iron I would ruin the tips because it run 100% and I'd forget it on.
Thank you for the review ! I was waiting for you to check this one out. I've been checking you channel for about 2 weeks. I saw the C210 one for sale with 3 tips for about $100 shipped on A-E. I really like the other AIXUN stations that I have and was really curious about these versions.
Thank you for all your videos, you give very detailed presentations, which is very good, I ordered an Aixun H310D which is now at customs and I am waiting for them to contact me to pay the taxes, after seeing your description I decided to I'm ordering it, I'm going to do the same with the Aixun T320 station which is already on the wish list, now that I've seen it unfolded and with your comment you've convinced me.
Thanks again for your presentations.
How does this soldering station works?
Hello,for now, the soldering station is on the way, it hasn't arrived yet, so I can't tell you how it works, the hot air station from Aixun H310D works perfectly, I'll write to you after I receive it and try it.@@OG-ChokeMaster
@@andreipop2431 thanks appreciate it.
@@andreipop2431hi did you like the iron.Did you have any issues with that?
@@LandiKd Hi the station work great i not have issues with him, the temperature is good and the soldering is OK!
Thank you so much for this review. I just ordered the Aixun T413, which looks to be the same, just with a traditional frequency transformer.
Does it work well ? How do you like it ? Has the grounding problem been solved ?
@@CanaleUA-camGeneralista not well so far. Genuin JBC cartridges are not able to boot up the station, unless i heat them up manually before turning the station on. Then the resistance gets high enough for the station to allow the boot and handle to recognize and start. When started, it works really well… it is however very frustraiting, and Aixun is not very open to promis a firmware to help this issue…
@@EmilWilkensRC Thank you for sharing your experience, let's hope they solve it with a new firmware, I was looking for a soldering station with a T12 or C245 linear transformer, I didn't want to spend a lot, can you recommend some soldering stations ?
Just to add: I received a T413 last week, bought it for the same reason (with transformer). It came with the initial firmware v1.01 and I did not update it yet. Having read your post about genuin cartridges earlier, I did a quick test with a new original JBC 907H and a JBC 911H cartridge straight from the packaging. Station and handle still 'cold' as well. The station properly booted with both and started heating both after placing the handle with cartridge in the holder as mentioned on the display. So I can't vouch for other cartridges, but these worked on mine.
I have Aixun t3as for few months and I am happy with it. I would like bigger sponge though.
For someone trying to get a good decent iron who is not familiar with all the brands and the pro's and cons it's an absolute minefield!. Some are not earthed, some have massive temperature fluctuations, some are not good at some repairs (pinecil for bigger jobs etc). I wish someone would make a video with 5 irons and give beginners more help and info on one video. It's overwhelming :)
Hi, I'm in the same situation, after your research which soldering station do you recommend buying ?
That's where I am, as well. I've found myself interesting in soldering, mainly as a sort of hobby (game controllers and such), and can't decide on what to get. I don't want to spend a ton on a pro-grade setup, but I don't want to buy junk either. Other than the biggest names, which come with the biggest price tags, all the others just sound like made up names you'd find on aliexpress or amazon, and I can't make heads or tails of them.
@@CajuNerd As you rightly said the problem is that the big brands like JBC, Pace, Ersa, Weller, Hakko, Metcal, have a high cost, at the beginning I wanted to buy the less expensive models like the hakko fx888d or the Weller WE 1010 but both use the old technology with a separate ceramic heating element that transmits heat to the tip, the soldering stations (of well-known brands) with the new cartridge heating system are generally more expensive, the cheapest basic models I have found are the JBC BT-2BWA and the PACE ADS200, or the i-CON NANO MK2 which does not use cartridge tips, they say it works well anyway even if it only has 80w, and its tips are cheaper, unfortunately these stations are around €300, keep in mind that the original JBC tips are expensive, the rest of the stations are part of the T12 hakko and JBC clones, C115, C210, C245, in my opinion it is better to aim on soldering stations with linear transformer (compatible with original JBC handles) which do not have the problem of grounding and temperature fluctuations, GVM H3 3, Wemon T31, jabe ud-1200, AiXun T420. Otherwise with a very limited budget they recommended me a station that uses T12 tips, the T12 are very cheap, the STM32 stations like the QUICKO 958 and the KSGER v3 are compatible with the DavidAlfa firmware, the custom firmware offers many advantages, in some models the grounding problem must be fixed, even if in the latest models they have fixed the grounding on the case but not on the tip, electrostatic discharges, called ESD, can occur, the topic is a bit long, it is advisable to have a second soldering iron if it is necessary to make some modifications to make the station safe, the power supplies of the QUICKO and KSGER are not great, some recommend replacing it with a double isolation power supply like the Meanwell RPS-120-24, there are also the QUICKO and KSGER mini without a power supply where it is easier to combine a quality 24v 3-5A one. Finally, they also recommended that I purchase a used station like the Metcal MX 500.
Totally agree. I spent last 3 days deciding what to buy. The more i read, more i am confused.
"For someone trying to get a good decent iron who is not familiar with all the brands and the pro's and cons it's an absolute minefield!" In a way that's true, but in a way you could also just buy from Hakko, Ersa, Metcal etc and know you are getting a quality product from a reputable manufacturer without needing to think too much about it.
Some still swear by Weller too, though the internal constructions of some of their products seem a little shoddy nowadays.
I was hoping you would test this station. An interesting soldering station that I will probably get myself. Thank you for the great review. What I like about your videos, is that you also look inside to see if they are safe.
on some scenarios it's impossible to make the PCB "fully disconnected" from earth. I've been trying to use my T3A to de-solder SMD capacitors, using a second traditional iron. It's impossible, the temperature reading gets unreliable and the tip reaches 500C with 360C as set point. I am so unhappy with my T3A, I would not buy it again. I feel that this earthing issue is a major one.
This seems to behave a little better but still I don't want to see 410C when I set 310C on the unit. I would also check the actual tip temperature when that happens: with the T3A they tried to hide the overshoot with FW 1.34 so who's telling us that this is not doing the same and they are also covering the power spike on the display? :)
Thanks for testing the earthing issue I discovered on my T3A video review.
Isn’t it trivial to add a switch (or just an anti-ESD 1-10MΩ resistor) between the mains earth and the 0V rail?
Maybe buy the linear psu one
@@Scrogan I am not 100% sure the supply earthing is the issue here. Even if it was, does that mean the tip is going to be unearthed? It also means opening it up, probably break the front panel in doing so and losing whatever warranty it comes with :) Anything is possible of course.
@ndarjotech Maybe buy a JBC? :)
@@tony359 i will wait for the review in eevblog 😂
This video couldn't have come at a better time. I was on the fence with a T3A / Mechanic C211 and Sugon T21. Just bit the bullet with the T320. £101 delivered to the UK within 7 days with 3 tips is an absolute steal.
The one confusing thing is that I thought T210 and T245 are wired differently?
I know the T3A uses GX style connector with T245 whereas the T245 on the T320 is 6 pin and is the same style as the T210 on the T3B
On the T420D the irons both use the same connector. Some of that circuitry around the driver transistors may be to adjust the drive for the two different irons
Any buzzing sound coming from the handle when it is heating up?
I got this station and unfortunately it is buzzing, both the handle and the station itself. I have no idea if it is normal, the station otherwise works like expected.
Nothing coming from mine at all.
@@sdgelectronicshow do you know you don’t get sent a hand picked, special review unit?
Mine has a buzzing from the handle when using jbc tips,when using aixun tips no buzzing
So I just purchased one of these right before learning about the T413. I am seriously considering returning the T320 when it arrives, or maybe re selling because I am not confident that attempting a return through ali express is wise. Would you go through the trouble to get the T413 over this? Seems like they are a little hard to come by in a 110v configuration. *edit, canceled the order and bought a T420d with 2 handpieces.
Despite such powerful microprocessor no way to store temp compensation for each cartridge?
just ordered one today - thanks for the video it was really helpful!
I have a T320 and when i use JBC tips i can hear buzzing coming from the handle when it is heating,but no buzzing when using Aixun tips,any idea why that is?
Huh what's that wireless looking logo on the top tho, reminds me of wireelss chargers lol
A very professional review I would say, and I think I need one of these
i have a question for you. so i am fairly new into understanding these soldering stations and i am a hobbyist mainly in rc car building but also make custom flashlights. i had a weller we1010na that i just returned because it struggled to solder the bigger stuff. i just bought a aixun t3a but havent recieved it yet. i solder some very big things 6 awg wire and big bullet connectors on rc car esc speed controllers. what would be the best soldering station you would recommend for plenty of power for someone doing big soldering stuff but also small pcb on flashlights if i want? is the t3a i bought going to cut it?
Блок питания 8.5 А. Это мало для работы с оригинальными жалами JBC. Я заказал жала Aixun, но у них сопротивление 3.3-3.5 Ом.
Wow. It seems to be a much better improvement to the T3A. There's something I'd like to know that I haven't found a solid answer yet and I hope you don't mind me asking for your help. Is it possible to use ANY original JBC 245 and 210 cartridge from their entire cartridge range with these T245 and T210 AiXun handles? Would original handles work with this station? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve.
Yes the cartridges all work. If you buy a JBC handle, you'll need to swap the connector though.
does it have the grounding problems?
Wonder which one would be a better buy. The T3A (or the newer T3AS) or the T320
I think this one is probably better overall.
@@sdgelectronics From what I've heard the T3A had some issues with overshoot, but also power supply buzzing issues. Maybe those are fixed on the T3AS, or is it the same as the T3A? The T3A just takes up less space with the separate stand.
@@PiratCarribean Pretty sure The T3A and T3AS have the same issues with buzzing.
@@PiratCarribean those are software issues
Fantastic review, yes I did enjoy watching this, thank you. Going to look on Ali, really tempted now, great machine.
That growing sponge (bob) after wetting is always satisfying to watch 🧽
WiFi, Bluetooth and USB-C for firmware update?
what is your opinion on Aixun cartridges?
Hi, could you recommend me a simple and sturdy soldering station with the traditional linear power supply inside, that doesn't cost too much, around 100€ maybe, with easily available tips, which model do you recommend ?
What if you insert a 1Mohm resistor in the ESD line ? Does the temperature spike still occurs ?
It's an issue with the AC to DC converter. The output is tied to mains earth for EMC reasons
Hi. What tip were you using when soldering the PCBway PCB (20min mark). Thanks
aixun t413 seems to have a a transformer, which may seem to fix this problem aswell as the voltage leak problem which i personally had experience with this station which was the reason why i got rid of it
Hi, which soldering station do you use now ? Which model do you recommend buying ?
@@CanaleUA-camGeneralista aixun t405 but t420 very nice
@@3ijnweu3oq3I think Aixun stopped making the 420 single channel model. It sold for about €100 to 130 less than the 420D (dual channel) model which they continue to sell. It was a very good soldering machine in its price range. I really regret not getting one. And I can't justify the cost of 420D.
I have the Yihua 982 C210/245 station , some good soldering units coming out of china , mine does the job only thing that bugged me was the handle conection at the back i coverted mine to front socket gained about 6'' of lead also got a 90deg power socket lead the unit now stands about 2'' from the back of the bench ..................
I used to work in the electronics industry for a long time, and our soldering stations were JBC. You mentioned this unit being very light, does that make it move across the table when you put the iron back in the holder?
The feet have good friction, so no issues like that
When you try to change tips the whole station is moving. You need to hold it with one hand and then remove tips. Quality of this plastic housings is poor. My unit has uneven base so it wobbles even when you press buttons. Feels more like cheap plastic toy than a soldering station.
@@sdgelectronicsfoot friction does nothing to help when you pull a hot tip out using the included stand. The whole station gets lifted up if it’s light, no?
Do you ever use the pointed tips? I have a couple and can never get them to solder anything!
No one likes conical tips in the west. Maybe the Chinese use them, although I can’t understand how they can like them.
Great review. As a starting in looking to upgrade from the very basic cheap soldering iron, what would you recommend for SMD soldering? I saw the review on the Sequre and looking at the SQ-D60B but also the Aixun T320. Would you recommend anything else over these?
I don't suppose if anyone has tested this station for voltage leaking? the aixun T3A has voltage leak amongst other issues
There is no voltage leak that I can see. The tip is earthed to the ground lug of the IEC which is earthed to the rear ground socket.
Hi, can it drive T115 Tips and handle?
Those are definitely qi charging/nfc looking markings.
What made them think it's a good symbol for wifi/bt?
Do they not have google images in china?
Normally Google is completely banned in China, without a VPN.
does this work with OEM JBC tips? might be worth it to get this vastly cheaper unit and just spring for the OEM tips
Yes, I used JBC tips for the soldering
@@sdgelectronics thanks for the reply good to know
How would you compare it to the T3B if I had to decide between those two?
hi thank you for the review, can you help me out please, when you opened it , it looked like the was enough room one you had removed the psi for me to fit 8 x Sony VTC6A 21700 4000mAh 30A 3.6V Batterys in there to make it battery powered . do you thing they would fit?
Can it driver T/C 115 handle and Bits
Nice video 👍
We also recorded a video about this soldering station. Interestingly, we received some of the first pieces produced from the manufacturer. - with software v1.0.
The graph showing temperature and power was only available after updating to version 1.03
Nice review as always! One question remains, whats the Wifi for? And is it really OFF when you set it OFF.Will the station stil work if you hardware disable Wifi?
have you thought of trying the T413? it sounds like an excellent budget option, the same isolated transformer as the T420 but at half the price!
T413 uses a proprietary handpiece I believe. I wound up with the T420d so I can use the 115,220, and 245 jbc handpieces. It also does a larger handpiece ill probably never use.
@@tokin420nchokin I'd love the t420D but 480CAD is a lot of money to me I can't justify it :c
@@tokin420nchokin i have an ancient weller that can barely heat up anything, but I've recently started just using my hot air to preheat my boards to 100c-120c before working.. it's annoying but gets the job done for a casual user.
Quite happy with my T3A so idk if its worth upgrading. Perfomance looks to be the same?
Performance is about the same, though some people found with genuine cartridges the T3A could brown-out occasionally.
Why dont you use the tips that come with the station??????????????
I thought he did.
But there are no Chinese JBC style tips worth buying, AFAIK.
@@davadoff No look at the video its a genuine JBC no chinese tip
Maybe add a discussion on AiXun and their firmware support. Having a T3B, they seem to have trouble in that department. Having some publicity might help to keep updates coming.
Justo for better understanding, both T245 handle for T3A and T210 handle for T3B are compatible?
Do they need any mod?
Most viewers do not necessarily understand a solder iron power ratings nor the ohms law. It would be best if you mention the JBC cartridges are 2.5 ohms rated unlike others that are 3.5, 4, or 5.6 ohms, and thus consumes more power and are suited for stations that deliver the required power for the cartridge.
I have the T3A and quickly burned out all of the Chinese tips both from Aixun and a "high quality"3rd party. Now using genuine JBC tips but locally they are rather expensive and a very limited number of suppliers and rediculous freight charges. Has anyone found a supply of decent Chinese tips that don't burn out after a few hours?
I have noticed that a lot of listings for C245 tips on AliExpress explicitly mention that the advertised tips are not suitable for Aixun soldering stations.
Nice unit ! what is that machine you touch to check calibration of the tips?
Wondering if anyone can tell me which other stations he recommends as I’m looking to replace my xtronic that I got back in 2020
i think this one is perfect looking at performance
Used water or liquid alcohol
Hello.Fnirsi DWS-200 if you can to test it.
Looks a nice bit of kit , what’s the purpose of WiFi on these ?? Just incase a software update for a bug in the system ??
I could only find reference to firmware update. Didn't seem to do anything else
Out of curiosity can t320 use the t12 handle from t3a?
no. The connector is different on the T320 handle and the T3A handle.
uff. this looks great. wish i didnt buy the t3a to get this on instead, the setup looks so much cleaner
Can't it use c115 cartridges
Quick question, what solder were you using, lovely clean shiny joints.
It's a 0.5mm 63/37 Multicore solder. Any 63/37 should give the same results
Wonder if it is compatible with C115 handle ?
with this firmware i think not Support T210 and T245 handles
Can we compare with orignal JBC ?
Thanks for the review. What solder are you using? Lead or Lead-Free?
as i remember always Lead
I ordered the T3A about a year ago, but would have happily waited for this as an upgrade. Do you think its worth the upgrade from the T3A to this?
Looks about £10 in total if you include the stand.
I currently have the T3A and also thought the same initially, but I would say that for me, having the movable stand is more comfortable, so I will keep it)
Does handpiece get the power through the flex?
How else would it be powered?
Thank you boss learning alot from you boss
Please review i2C PDK1200
damn all these chinese brand are elevating the competition, JBC will have to make some innovations to stay in the top and justify the price
Shame you didn’t double check the temperature calibration/compensation function, and the units behaviour with cheap tips. But regardless, a fantastic review, thanks!
It works as you'd expect, when I change the value to -7, the readings are spot on. It's different per cartridge though as they all behave slightly differently, so if you swap out regularly there's little point in changing the value.
@@sdgelectronics Great to know! Your reviews on kit are always the reference standard.
Would be cool if they open sourced the firmware
I wonder what happens with the graph display if you have it running for hours? You can see later in the video it has trouble rendering 3-digit X-axis labels (some overlap), so what happens when it gets to 4 or 5 digits? 😄
Personally I think it's pointless showing an actual seconds value, should probably just have tick marks and avoid complicated rendering issues.
Agreed, yes as expected it just fills up with numbers. Markers would be sufficient
I've you could compare it with Aifen A9 it would be appreciated. Similiar class of JBC clone
I'll see if I can get it
Will you be doing a review of the gvm h3 possibly? I ordered one but it never came and was returned to China and I'd really love to hear your feedback on it before Reordering another one especially compared to this unit the 320. That unit is very very similar and uses an actual transformer instead of the PCB which is why I was so interested in it compared to the 320. It would definitely be worth a good review. There's a lot of people asking about it and it appears to be at least from the specifications and info a really nice unit (personally, I prefer a real transformer, although I know it's not the end of the world if it uses a PCB). I own all of the aixun units and they're all great but I'm much prefer units with a transformer and build wise similar to an actual JBC. Just curious. Great review!
Gvm is on order
@@sdgelectronics I'm not sure why but I can't see my second comment, but I wanted to let you know that the USB port on the back is basically useless. The company will not give out the software nor the updates for the unit. I've tried getting them. A friend of mine that ordered one tried to get them and there is a UA-cam review where they're saying they can't get them either. If this duplicates my other message, I apologize. It seems to have disappeared though. I spent a couple of weeks trying to get software from GVM/ sunshine and basically was told every time they don't give it out
Do you still recommend this soldering station?
Yes it seems to work well. The T420D is better if you can though
@@sdgelectronics T420D is also about double of the price!
Seems nice. Do you have any idea why it's much cheaper at aliexpress than on ebay?
tax import fee ebay fee shipping fee , and others ;)
Today’s video is also sponsored by AiXun. Free gear is still payment.
I was really disappointed how he glossed over the issue at the end with the temperature spiking.
He says it looks like they made it better using firmware but it bloody doesn’t! I saw 412*C flash up when the set point was 310*C.
That’s relying on the readout being truthful which on some stations it isn’t. It would have been good to double check the actual tip temperature.
@@davadoffWhile I don’t disagree with your objections to the video: Just as an FYI, the display flashing 412C doesn’t necessarily mean it actually reached that temperature. Stray voltages can easily produce massive measurement errors in thermocouples. Even more so when using a switch-mode power supply like this one.
Depending on the circuit design, it may well be possible to fix that in firmware, by making sure you only measure with the heater off. And if not, filtering multiple measurements may be able to produce realistic numbers.
The Pace station I have at work shows similar high temperature blips while heating up from cold, and that’s a top brand.
On the other hand, if a tip thermometer actually showed 100C of overshoot, that’d be a serious problem!
@@tookitogo good point. It wasn’t clear to me the tip wasn’t overshooting for real. In fact I got the impression from this vid or previous one that it was actually overshooting for real.
@@davadoffThe PID tune has been fixed! Works very great right now and doesnt really go over the set temp
I have a similar JBC clone and it is excellent! Like the AiXum, mine too has a nice color TFT display, but it is much more compact and has a separate high quality iron holder. I've used it almost every day for 2+ years and I love it! It works so much better than my old ersa RDS 80, which is also quite good but uses the old technology. The JBC design is so good it makes any soldering job a pleasure, and these cheap clones do seem to duplicate the essential performance features of the genuine JBC.
Very nice indeed. A little pricey, but worth it for a reliable soldering experience.
Keep up the great videos,
Joe
How do you have steadyhands like that, mine shake like a grandma!
Do you drink coffee? Mine are shaking because of the coffee.
@@alexandros1173 I drink two cups a day and I love coffee! But I feel like it helps me be calmer
@@ameliabuns4058deja de tomar café.
You always have to drink tea before soldering, its in the instruction manual.
Why don't they just isolate the tip and then allow the user to decide how they want it done.
On the Weller stations I bought for work there is a jack socket on the rear panel, the tip and earth connections are on this, so it allows you to decide if you want to short the tip to earth or as i always did was fit a 10K resistor to provide a bit of protection and stop the tip charging up with static etc. Also means if you want to work on live PCB's you can remove the jack plug and have a completely isolated tip.
My home made Weller soldering pencil power supply has the tip earthed via an internal 10K.
Not sure why they need all that information on the screen, I just want a soldering iron that does the job. I'm never looking at the display while the iron is in my hand.
The number of un-review soldering irons must be dropping fast.
I still have about 6 stations sitting here still to be reviewed, but some are a bit less relevant these days. You forget we're living in an era of USB soldering irons with 64-bit processors in them!
I think on most pro systems, the tip is tied directly to mains earth. It seems to be on the Metcal, JBC, Pace and Ersa irons from what I remember. But they either have floating power supplies or don't use a thermocouple in the same configuration as JBC cartridges, so no issue on those.
@@sdgelectronics must be a Weller thing. but I still like the tip to act like an extension to the ESD mat.
@@sdgelectronics Once you have a tip that get hot, and the right temperature. i suppose you have to add bells and whistles to try and stand out.
10k resistor will work for ESD but will not work for induced voltages, shorted heater coil, etc.
11:30 Thermocouple? As I looked inside, I thought it was an electrical connection and a 2,4GHz foil antenna...
The temperature spikes from these aixuns can kill your PCBs, this should probably be stressed a bit more
And here I am, happily soldering away with an old Weller Magnastat with absolutely no electronics, the only "display" being the light on the power switch. Never realized I need a real time graphic display showing the power and temperature curve of the iron to get good solder joints. 🤣
Kupiłem niby fajna. Ale zainstalowałem aplikacje na PC podłączyłem stację przewodem USB C i pokazała się aktualizacja ;). I tak już zostało, stacja przez 5h nie reagowała na aktualizację ciagle 0%. Po wyłączeniu stacji i włączeniu stacja na wyświetlaczu pokazuje updateding... i nic się nie dzieje. Musze odesłać do Chin. A byłem taki szczęśliwy gdy ja dostałem i włączyłem. Niestety uważam że to jednak za duży bajer a Chinczyk nie dba o soft dobrze. I teraz mam trupa nie stację :D
The shop is sold out…
Daaammmmmm this boieee can solder !!! lol Excellent review sir !
Very cool station. Makes it really hard to justify purchasing the original jbc
I mean realistically original is less easy to use. Takes longer to start, cant change temp when the handle is on the stand.
That's true, but only IF you planning to use these chinese knockoffs for a hobby. If you need a soldering station for a serious work, go with the original! I had t420d and did a comparison test with the original compact JBC - the difference is HUGE! Even if you use the original JBC tips!
We have two original JBCs, 4 different Chinese ones(Sugon and Aixun). No much of a difference if any.
Even the tips, if you use C245 ones go with the original. If you use C210, since the originals are expensive and easy to break just get Chinese ones too. They are 90% there, last about the same but cost 1/5 or 1/8.
@@johnyang799 I used the same original tip with T245 on the same 6 layers pad, both stations calibrated to the same temp with the same solder wire. T420D runs the tip more aggressive, peaking to 200W,(shortening the tip life of course), but the response was always worse than the original, which has limiting to 180W peak. The temperature compensating algorithm in the chinese station simply fails to do the job properly. And yes, I tried all t420 firmware's available. I'm glad that I got rid of this station and I'm not planning to buy a chinese soldering station at my life... As a hardware built quality, it was very good, I must admit though... The software is a no go!
I haven't really noticed any significant difference in use between the JBC DDE and T420D. But for professional use, it'd always be sensible to use the premium brands.
thanks for the review, wonder how it will perform over longer period, do you reckon caps need replacing same as with Aixun T3 model?
Even though the conclusion is that this one is better than the T3A/T3B, I can't move myself to buying this one purely because of the horrible aesthetics. I'm not even a form over function guy usually but man, the menu buttons and the horrible font, I just can't :( also I believe the T3A has full metal housing rather than so much plastic as this one
👍👍👌👌
The area where tip travels should be metal
I love the coin test. But why you didnt do test in that thermocouple you designed used in c211 video. Hmmm. Inconsistent.
Btw. Did this station overshooting? i mean have high delta T around set temperature
I couldn't do it on this occasion as the Picoscope is doing some datalogging.
If I power up the station with the tip placed on the temperature calibrator, it does not seem to overshoot.
@@sdgelectronics thank you so much. I thought you will never reply my comment. Lol
You may want to add the steps of using a power consumption meter and validate advertised power ratings by dipping the iron in water and monitor its recovery to the set temps. Such as this one - ua-cam.com/video/RHwS9CDEISM/v-deo.html
sugon t60 😊
me normal themperature 230, 250, 280C 😊
Same spikes like the other model. people trust your reviews so please give honest advise.. Its not an improvment. its another casing with same shit inside..
Apologies if I missed something - I thought I had covered the shortcomings of this device. Which spikes have you seen?