Solder pencil

[timmy]

Got a 60 watt solder pencil but it’s just way to hot for small work so does anyone know how to modify it down to around 25 watts with a resistor?

[Kevin Kuehn]

You could try a diode in series so it only heats on half the AC cycle. Otherwise a light dimmer may work.

[old_coot88]

Get one of these from your local hardware or electrical supply store.

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-RNL06...9684784&sr=8-6

[Electronic M]

If you have a variac or dim bulb tester (with a variety of bulb wattages) for testing tube sets you can use it on a soldering iron.

My variac was being used as a temp control for a wood burning iron before I got it, and still has oak, and another wood penciled in it along with CTC-4 and some other sets I've worked on....

[timmy]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

You could try a diode in series so it only heats on half the AC cycle. Otherwise a light dimmer may work.

Ok So how would this lower the voltage

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by timmy

Ok So how would this lower the voltage

With AC it's the average time on versus the time off of the AC cycle. That's how a triac light bulb dimmer works. And there's no wasted head being dropped across a resistor. Using a single diode it half wave rectifies the AC sine wave.

[timmy]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

With AC it's the average time on versus the time off of the AC cycle. That's how a triac light bulb dimmer works. And there's no wasted head being dropped across a resistor. Using a single diode it half wave rectifies the AC sine wave.

Ok it works like a charm , thanks

[Kevin Kuehn]

You could even mount the diode in a metal utility box with a bypass switch and outlet. Then you'll have a dual heat iron or standby position to save the tip from oxidizing from excess heat.

[timmy]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

You could even mount the diode in a metal utility box with a bypass switch and outlet. Then you'll have a dual heat iron or standby position to save the tip from oxidizing from excess heat.

Yes I could but this iron is only for small solid state parts and low heat is good and the diode I used don’t even get warm.