MICRON
T 2438 Soldering Station
MICRON
T 2438 Soldering Station
Possible causes of tip not tinning
1 Tip temperature higher than 400°C
2 Working surface is not well tinned during idling periods
3 Lack of flux in soldering.
4 Wiping tip on high sulphur content sponge, dirty or dry sponge and/or rags.
5 Contacting with organics, plastic resins, silicone grease, and other chemicals.
6 Impurities in solder and/or low tin content.
Inspect the tip and clean after every use or at least once a week and remove any loose build up in the
barrel or tip to prevent tip seizing.
The tips supplied are iron clad nickel with chrome plating and if used properly will last a long time.
1 Always keep tip tinned before returning the iron to the holder, prior to switching off or storing for
any period of time.
2 Don't keep iron set at high temperatures for long periods as this will break down the surface plating
of the tip and will shorten the life of the tip.
3 Don't use excessive pressure on a tip or rub the tip on a joint during the making of a joint as it does
not improve heat transfer and damages the tip.
4 Never clean tip with abrasive materials or files.
5 Don't use fluxes containing chloride or acid. Use only rosin or resin activated fluxes.
6 If any oxide film does form, this can be cleaned by carefully rubbing with a "600-800 grit" emery
cloth, or isopropyl alcohol and re-heat. Re-tin the tip using rosin core solder.
7 Clean the tip regularly with a wet cellulose sponge, as oxides and carbides from the solder and flux
can form impurities on the tip. These impurities can result in defective joints or reduce the tip's heat
conductivity. If using the iron continuously, be sure to loosen the tip and remove all oxides at least
once a week.
New tip
Care for the new tip according to the following procedures for longer tip life.
1 Set temperature at 250°C, then turn main power switch "on".
2 Flood the tinned surfaces with rosin core solder after reaching 250°C.
3 Set to desired temperature after warming at 250°C for three minutes.
4 The iron is ready for use after reaching the pre-set desired temperature.
Maintenance
Tip Replacement and Dressing
1 Turn off the iron and disconnect the mains plug from the mains supply.
2 Allow the iron to cool completely before attempting disassembly.
3 Unscrew the knurled nut, and remove the barrel assembly.
Note: the ceramic heating element may be broken by careless handling.
4 Remove the tip, and blow out any accumulated dust. Avoid getting dust in your eyes.
5 Replace the tip and screw back the retaining knurled nut and barrel assembly using only firm hand
pressure to tighten.
Do not use pliers.
General Cleaning
The outer case of iron or station may be cleaned with a damp cloth using small amounts of liquid
detergent. Never douse the unit in liquid or allow any to enter the case of the station. Never use any
solvent to clean the case.
Product Description
The Micron T 2438 Electronic Temperature Controlled Soldering Station has been developed to meet
the present and future needs of the electronic production industry.
It incorporates electronic circuitry which enables the user to change the tip temperature from 200°C
through 500°C without changing the tip or heating element. The
MICRON T 2438
offers excellent
temperature stability (± 2°C) by accurately monitoring the minute changes in element resistance
which occur in proportion to temperature variations.
The electronic opto isolated "zero voltage" switching used protects voltage and current sensitive
components, such as CMOS devices, against transient voltage spikes, which can be caused by
switching the power or heater on or off.
For safety, the ceramic heating element features high insulation resistance (over 100M
Ω
) and the tip is
grounded to ensure leakage is less than 0.4 millivolts.
All housings are moulded of high impact and heat resistant polycarbonate. The soldering iron is
attached to the base using a burn-resistant silicone rubber cord.
Operating instructions
1 Insert the iron holder into the hole on the top of the housing.
2 Plug the iron into the DIN socket on the right side of housing and insert the iron
into the iron holder.
3 Moisten sponge.
4 Plug AC mains lead into the appropriate AC outlet.
5 Switch the mains power switch to the "ON' position, the pilot lamp will come on.
6. The Temperature is set by firstly setting the Temp read/set slide switch to set. Adjust the
temperature control knob to the desired temperature. For normal PCB soldering we recommend the
temperature is set to between 250 and 350°C.
7. Set the temp read/set slide switch to Temp. This is the actual temperature of the tip. Note the pilot
lamp will switch to green when the heater has reached its pre-set temperature.
8. After setting the desired temperature, tighten the hex nut on the control knob using
the supplied hex wrench if required.
9. The unit features a calibration adjustment. With the use of a thermocouple or similar temperature
measuring instrument, the tip temperature can be adjusted to match the temperature displayed.
10. The unit features an earthing point (bottom right of unit). This can be used as an earthing point for
anti static mats or similar equipment to make a safe working area for soldering static sensitive
devices.
Working Temperature
A low tip temperature will slow the flow of solder. A high tip temperature will burn the flux in the
solder, which in turn will emit a heavy white smoke, resulting in a dry joint or damage to the PCB.
When the tip working temperature is within the correct parameters suited to the particular solder
being used, a good joint is assured.
The most common solder alloy used in the electronics industry is 60% tin, 40% lead (60/40). The tip
working temperature of solder is detailed below and can vary slightly from manufacturer to
manufacturer.
Melting point ...........................................................................
215°C
Normal Operation .........................................................
250 - 320°C
Production Line Operation....................................................
380°C
Desoldering Operation for Small Joint ................................
320°C
Desoldering Operation for Larger Joint...............................
400°C
Caution: Temperatures above 400°C should not be used for normal soldering purposes; however
temperatures above 400°C may be used for short periods when required.
