Miniware TS101

Yesterday I wrote about replacing a fuse soldered on the mainboard.

When I got into home automation, it was clear that I needed to be able to do some small soldering jobs. So I bought some materials and learned the basics, but it was always difficult. One of the reasons, I realized, was the soldering station: it was OK-ish, but just not good enough for most stuff.

So, when it came the need to replace a fuse on a mainboard, it was immediately clear to be that my old soldering station was not good enough, also because removing components from a motherboard is already considered very challenging, especially without a hot gun.

So I took the chance to buy one of those fancy smart irons with microprocessor; truth to be told, I always wanted one, but never found the justification :).
I went directly for the Miniware TS101, even if it’s a bit more expensive than alternatives, also because I thought it could help me in improving my soldering skills.

When it was time to use it, I discovered that the PD from my Mac power supply was not good, because for some reason I always got the message “Low Voltage”; fortunately, I could still use the one for my old Lenovo, so I could still use it without any additional purchase.

At its first usage, the Miniware TS101 did a wonderful job: I was easily able to push it to 400 degrees Celsius (which it reached in few seconds!), as recommended on the tutorial, and remove/solder the new part.
A totally different experience from the previous station, where I had to wait for several minutes before starting to work, and the temperature was never enough and never stable, to do a decent job!

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this kit (or any similar smart soldering iron) to anyone who wants to do some soldering.