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\documentclass[11pt]{article}
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%Gummi|065|=)
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\usepackage{graphicx}
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\usepackage{caption}
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\title{\textbf{Weller WSD51 Repair}}
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\author{Steak Electronics}
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\date{}
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\begin{document}
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\textbf{Weller WSD51 Repair}
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%\maketitle
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%\tableofcontents
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\section{Overview}
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I purchased a Weller WSD51 from Newark, and after about 8-9 months, it started displaying a temperature from 888-902 on its screen. It would not heat up. I contacted Newark whom said to contact weller. I contacted Weller via phone on the Apex tools webpage (I tried the web contact form on the weller site but never received a response)\footnote{EDIT: Eventually I did receive a response, but it was faster to call in.} The secretary was kind and sent me a UPS shipping label since the device was under warranty. I shipped the iron, with all original items, and a receipt from Newark in the box, and waited for the response.
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\section{Work Log}
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Before shipping, I read online (Guido, creator of Arduino ENC28J60 TCP/IP library and gnulinux user) that an 888 flashing error was solvable by adding another capacitor to the inside of the board. I tried this without success. In retrospect, his error was different than mine. I didn't have flashing, and my temperature changed between 888 and 902. I also checked the resistance on the iron and didn't get the values I expected, but didn't pursue further. It's under warranty – they should fix it.
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\begin{center}
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\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN0517.JPG}
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\captionof{figure}{The board is a large power transistor with a Pic to control it. Here I added a capacitor per some online guides, but no dice. It turned out to be a failed iron.}
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\end{center}
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\section{Conclusion}
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Weller has replaced and repaired the iron. I'm out of Warranty as of Dec. so I will avoid twirling the Iron like I used to when changing tips (spinning it to unscrew). I'm not sure if this is the cause, but just to be safe.
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The temperature sensor on the end of irons is just a wire, and susceptible to breaking if not handled carefully. You can see it when changing tips.
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They did end up getting back to me per my email, though took a few weeks. Contact by phone was faster. By the time they emailed me, they were able to confirm it was being sent to me via post.
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It's a new iron, but I haven't checked to see if they replaced the base model. The small tip on the iron seems to move more than before (slight movement when pressing onto components, which I don't recall from before), I wonder if these were reject models. Anyhow, I've recently learned how to do SMD soldering with a toaster, so I don't see much of a need for the small tip, as it were. A new tip may also fix this.
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Overall, pleased but if the iron breaks again...
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One other note, When you are changing tips, you can see that there is a wire at the end of the iron. This wire is likely to be fragile when hot, so changing tips should not be done until the iron has cooled a reasonable amount. If you accidentally hit the wire enough, you could likely bend or break it...
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\begin{center}
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\includegraphics[scale=0.3]{../pics/DSCN0518.JPG}
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%\captionof{figure}{Front of the base station.}
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\end{center}
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\end{document}
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