Re: Weller WTCPT tip not hot enough

George Orwell <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

I have a Weller WTCPT soldering station with the stock TC201T handle and
PTA7 700 degrees F. tip. It's 15 years old and hasn't seen much action. I
was using it a lot 3 years ago but for the past 2 years it's been sitting
cold in the garage.

The past couple times I've used it lately the tip just didn't seem to get
as hot as I remember. You know how it is with equipment you use for a long
time, you get to know the behavior and what's normal. When I put the
heated tip against the sponge, I barely get much of a sizzle. Solder barely
melts but does melt, just barely though.

I've gone through the troubleshooting guide Weller provides for this
station, all appears normal. I have 27.3VAC from the power unit. Heater
element reads 12.9 ohms. The "magnastat" opens and closes when the tip is
inserted and removed. Unfortunately the guide doesn't cover a warm tip,
only one that's stone cold or too hot. I don't know what else to check.

I can hear the tip cycling when I turn on the base. It just seems that the
heater doesn't stay on long enough like it used to. Do the tips somehow
lose their temperature calibration? Is it time for a new soldering
station? Any opinions on the WESD51?

You say you "can hear the tip cycling". If that's the case, it would seem
that there can't be anything wrong with the electrical parts. The tip
cycles based on reaching the curie temperature of the magnet.

Have you tried a new tip?

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