$10ish DIY Variable Temp Soldering Iron Controller

Step 3 Conclusion

You could probably use this for a variable speed controller for a dremel tool as well, although I haven't tested it. Just make sure you don't exceed the 600w rating of your dimmer. Thinking about it now, it would be really nice to have one of those outlet / pilot light outlets so you could see if the controller is on or off. Hope you enjoyed my instructable!

Comments

[HVACRguy]

ALSO you could use an amp meter to see how many amps the iron is using then multiply amps by volts and that will give you watts! you can then mark on your dimmer control box where 15 watts is 20 watts 25 watts 30 watts 35 watts and 40 watts are!!! hope this helps

[222fbj]

How to measure/mark temperatures on the dimmer? An inexpensive hi temp thermometer?

[milsorgen]

 That's what I was thinking, or just assume that half way is half power and hence half the normal operating temp of your iron.

[bruno85]

can you just use a normal off or oon light switch or the one you have

[ScubaSteve]

This is so you can control the temperature of your soldering iorn.

[sydkahn]

No all we need to do is hook up an Arduino and a temp probe on the iron... LOL

[mightywombat]

My multimeter has a temperature gauge.

[titaniumw41]

Might as well get an SSR and write a PID for the arduino while we're at it! Maybe for the next revision. Thanks!

[bben46]

Nicely done. I have several old dimmers in my junk box from when I converted all of my incandescent lights to CFL. I may build one. Normally I use a Weller gun for heavy duty soldering and a 25 watt pencil for light work. This would allow using a 40 watt pencil and setting the temp for the work when I need just a little more than my 25 watt iron allows.

[Wildrat]

Since were being nit picky. I don't think there's going to be any loss by trimming the aluminum,after all it's going to be mounted in a metal box. Aluminum is a better conductor but that metal box can conduct also. If I were building the project, I wouldn't even have wasted any time thinking about something like that. I think I might add this to my project list since I have several dimmers that I removed from my home and I can always use another soldering device like a hole in the head.

[petey_c]

#1 should be, "What is the wattage of the soldering iron you are going to control?" When you trim the "excess aluminum" from the dimmer you have to derate it. That means it is no longer rated for 600w. #2 In the US, the box you're referring to is called a 1900 box, or 4" square box, not handy box. Handy box is for a single electrical device. #3 If you didn't want to trim any excess aluminum from the dimmer, you could use a flat "mud ring" (I'm not sure what the technical term for it is. 1900 boxes are typically used in commercial applications. Metal studs... A mud ring is used to bring the face of the box to the same depth as the sheetrock/wallboard (flat, 1/4", 1/2", etc) before the sheetrock is installed.)Once that's up and your devices are in place, you can use conventional device plates (painted metal, stainless steel, nylon, etc.) #3 You should NOT use an incandescent light dimmer to control the speed of a motorized device. You can damage the motor or the dimmer, or both. If you need to control the speed of a low wattage motor, in a fashion similar to what you have here, you could use a Leviton/Lutron variable speed fan control. The pilot light switch is a good idea. #4 Although not required, you could also wrap the outlet with a couple of turns of electrical tape, in case there's anything rolling around in the box after you're done, or to reduce the odds of an uninsulated ground wire contacting the hot terminals. #5 You could also make it a little safer and use a GFI outlet.

[sdallesasse]

since when does trimming a devices "ears" mean that it gets derated? I've never heard a 4" SQ box referred to as a 1900 box. Most soldering irons are around 40W for the pencil kind that he is referring to. How would a GFCI make this setup any safer? Is he soldering electronics around water?

[Wyle_E]

The warning referred to the dimmer. The aluminum front panel of the device is part of the heatsink. I don't think losing a little heatsink makes a difference when driving a soldering iron with a 600-watt dimmer. The biggest soldering iron I ever used was a 200-watter used for sheet metal work.