iFixit Launches FixHub Portable USB-C Soldering System To Encourage Repair Projects (macrumors.com)
- Reference: 0174991525
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/09/13/214200/ifixit-launches-fixhub-portable-usb-c-soldering-system-to-encourage-repair-projects
- Source link: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/12/ifixit-fixhub-soldering-system/
> The Portable Power Station serves as the command and power center for FixHub, including a 55-watt-hour battery to support over eight hours of continuous soldering on a single charge. The power supply delivers up to 100 watts to a pair of USB-C ports, allowing it to run two soldering irons simultaneously, and the fact that it's simply a USB-C power output device means you can also use it to power or recharge an array of devices like phones.
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> The solidly built power station includes a handy display to show the status of your soldering iron, along with a convenient dial for adjusting the power being delivered to the iron, supporting temperatures up to 400C (750F). A flip-up bracket raises the front of the power station a bit to make the display easier to see while in use, while attachment points on the left and right side allow you to clip on the soldering iron's cap for convenient access as a stand. A USB-C port on the rear of the power station allows for up to 45 watts of input to recharge the station, and iFixit says it is safe to leave continuously connected to power so it's ready whenever you need it. [...]
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> iFixit is of course known for more than just hardware, and it has hundreds of free soldering guides on its website, ranging from the basics of soldering to specific repair projects. It also wouldn't be an iFixit product without repairability being front of mind, so the FixHub system is designed to allow for easy repairs and iFixit will be releasing a number of guides to help users replace batteries, repair parts, and more. Supplementing the FixHub is an optional [3]Portable Soldering Toolkit , which provides an extensive set of tools and consumables to get you going on soldering projects.
The USB Smart Soldering Iron and Portable Soldering Station are priced at $79.95 and $249.95, respectively.
[1] https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-power-series-portable-soldering-station
[2] https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub
[3] https://www.ifixit.com/products/fixhub-soldering-toolkit
It's about time (Score:3, Funny)
If there's one thing that you never see anymore it's an AC outlet at a technician's shop
I just got one from AliExpress (Score:3)
Just the iron. A lot cheaper and I already have a 100W capable power-bank.
The hippy dippy solder man. (Score:2)
I learned electronics and circuits and soldering with discrete components and DIP chips. This new system doesn't seem like it will help me solder surface mount devices, which I have yet to become good at. Wake me up when it can do that.
Re:The hippy dippy solder man. (Score:4, Funny)
I bought a flashlight, but it can't do laser engraving. Who should I complain to?
Re: (Score:2)
> This new system doesn't seem like it will help me solder surface mount devices, which I have yet to become good at. Wake me up when it can do that.
With a bit of practice and technique, you should be able to solder resistors and caps as small as 0603 with that iron. You can probably solder SOIC and some QFP devices as well, if the lead pitch isn't too fine - look up "drag soldering" if you're not familiar with it. But realistically, if you're doing much of that kind of work you really want a hot air setup. And even at that, de-soldering braid is sometimes your best friend, so be prepared to break out the iron anyway.
Re: (Score:2)
Thank you, a good answer.
I am quite familiar with drag soldering, and I suck at it - thank you very much.
I know a guy who works at one of the big tech companies around here, Raytheon if I recall correctly. His biggest value to the company he says is that he can de-solder anything. He loves his braid. I guess even among the pros, whether due to design updates or "oh shits", custom and one-off devices need unplanned fixes now and then.
Catch USB 22 (Score:2)
One drawback: You can never solder the USB jack you're using.
Re: (Score:2)
Funny you said that (clever indeed), because when I first read the title, I thought they had invented a device to solder USB ports, to put them on a board or fix broken ones. Yossarian!
And how long until. (Score:1)
You need a subscription to use it? Will it need firmware updates? They brick it when it becomes obsolete?
Re: (Score:2)
> You need a subscription to use it? Will it need firmware updates? They brick it when it becomes obsolete?
If you were familiar with [1]iFixit's origins and history [wikipedia.org] you'd realize just just how unlikely it is that the things you suggested will ever happen.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IFixit
Re: (Score:2)
Very highly doubtful given iFixit's ethos, but I think they missed the mark on pricing for this iron. I can't imagine too many of them selling at this price point. Now I'm sure iFixit will counter the price with, "It's repairable so it will last longer", but the thing is that means it's easier to open which translates to easier (and cheaper?) to build.
If I'm gonna spend those bucks (Score:2)
I'm gonna buy me a better rework station.
Crazy price. (Score:2)
Or you could buy a Pinecil USB-C powered soldering iron for $40. a 65W USB-C PD power bank for about $40, and I'm sure you can find a cable and stand for less than the remaining $170.
Sure, the Pinecil only goes up to 400C and not 420C like the iFixIt, but outside of special cases, if you need temperatures above 400C to solder (or even close), you're probably doing electronics wrong. I'm sure there are other brands of USB-C soldering iron that are similar, Pinecil is just the one I have.
$250 ?? (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow, that's quite pricey. I get that it's portable but still. I can get a really nice Weller or Hakko bench unit for much less.
Re: $250 ?? (Score:1)
About the only thing that I could think this MIGHT be useful for would be a HAM trying to make repairs during a power outage / disaster situation.
But then I remember that the HAM would need power to run their radio, so would need to have some sort of backup power anyway. ... and you can get a butane soldering iron for 1/3 the price
Maybe this would be useful in countries with regular blackouts, so Ukrainian drone assemblers could continue their work, then recharge when they have power again?
Re: (Score:2)
I bought a TS101 and a 145W powerbank for $80 each. Granted, because the powerbank is "only" 65W, the soldering iron takes 20 seconds to heat up instead of 10, but I think I can live with that.
And I have a 110v adapter that will put out the full 90W.
Re: (Score:1)
is it still diy? I thought Eric "Do Some Evil" Schmidt's company White Stork was going to have off-the-shelf AI-enabled flying murderbots for ~$500 a pop or whatever.
I wonder if they will respect the "right to repair"? ;-)
Re: (Score:2)
> About the only thing that I could think this MIGHT be useful for would be a HAM trying to make repairs during a power outage / disaster situation.
Cordless tools of all sorts are convenient anytime the thing you're working on happens to not be in close proximity to an outlet. Thing is though, at some point it just makes more sense to get one of those Jackery-style portable power stations and just use inexpensive corded tools plugged into it.
I have some really cheap soldering iron that I got from Amazon and it works just fine plugged into this inverter I have, which uses the same 40v batteries as my yard tools. It will power the soldering iron for fa
Re: (Score:2)
I think the idea behind this product is to allow soldering when an AC plug isn't available. Think of i.e. having to fix your drone during outdoor filming.
It's a niche product for niche use cases, but i don't think we need more AC soldering irons, there's literally hundreds available.
Re: (Score:2)
e.g.