EEVblog #1106 - Pace ADS200 Soldering Station Review (JBC Killer?)

A look at the new low cost US$220 Pace ADS200 130W cartridge tip AccuDrive Production Soldering Station
Can it beat the higher priced JBC CD-B station?

7:00 The new 130W TD200 soldering iron pencil
9:34 Teardown
14:18 First Turn On
16:10 Temperature accuracy test
18:06 Setup options
20:58 Burn proof lead test
21:42 Soldering ground plane thermal capacity test vs JBC
25:48 Tip life and iron plating
27:30 General discussion on soldering temperature
30:31 Thermal response test
33:53 Power consumption
35:29 Heater waveform measurement
37:08 Conclusion

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[rossmanngroup]

What's wrong with leaving flux on the board? Besides the fact that they did not leave enough?

[mikesradiorepair]

I purchased and did a video review of one of the first units. I had problems with the original tips as I reported in the video. Pace had a representative at my door 2 days later to collect the faulty tips and replace them. Can't ask for much better customer service than that. Have been using it daily since then and have not encountered any other problems. A great unit that doesn't disappoint.

As for the "no strain relief", Pace has never used them. I have Pace irons that are decades old and are still fine. They use really good quality cords. And FYI, they will be releasing a mini tweezer that works with this unit eventually.

[xhausted]

I did control work for many years. It looks like they are probably doing a closed PID loop control and are displaying the instantaneous temperature they driving to instead of the temperature of the tip. The drive will overshoot for a few moments of and on to try to reach the target temperature quickly.

[StreuB]

Regarding the buttons maintaining their molding link. Reduction on BOM need to manage (1) part vs (3) parts. Actually a very smart detail from someone at Pace.

[zvpunry]

Don't delay, buy today...
oh, wrong channel, never mind.

[albinekb]

8:01 "tight as a nuns nasty" casually thrown in there

[CliveChamberlain]

I've had firmware 1.4 for a month, nice update. Display's not jumpy and ISB can be set for zero-delay, although I prefer less up-down heat cycling, since when finishing joints, I often test for strength and elect a reflow. Also, temperature set points are now 1 degree apart, not 5 as shown here (so I guess you can do science melt experiments with this too..).
I'm also impressed by the realistic pricing on replacement parts. Example: The silicon o-ring near the front end of the handle costs just $3 USD for a pack of 5 (that's like a ten-year supply!), and I don't need to change mine yet, after almost 100-hour's of solid use.

[rossmanngroup]

I would be curious what the actual tip temperature of the JBC is.

I had a WHA900 that when set to 450c, went to 445c. My JBC JT-A hot air station when set to 450c was shooting out 517c air!

I wonder if they are actually better, or just calibrated very hot out of the box. This is hot air, not the iron, but I am wondering if it follows the rest of their products.

[illustriouschin]

I've been astral-projecting myself into your bedroom at night for the past several weeks, whispering suggestions while you sleep for you to review the new Pace ADS200 and you have delivered.

[Petertronic]

The clunky extra cable for the stand sensor is a big fail for me. Should be done through the iron cable.

[KuntalGhosh]

Marco Reps said "i know a certain australian who wont like that" for that 7805 and capacitor !! and it turns out to be true! xd!!

[volkhen]

I have some very similar older model which works with no issues for last 13 years - and I'm still using original tips! I would say we soldered about 1h per week.

[BigDaddy_MRI]

A LED indicator of Fahrenheit/Celsius would be a good design change. Just light up a decimal point if you’re in Celsius mode. I’d recommend that change for sure.

[naikrovek]

I bought that JBC years ago now and I haven't even powered on any of my other irons since. the JBC is just too good, and worth every penny of the $450 I paid.

[czibbell]

I saw this video around the time it came out, and decided to order this station to replace an old style 70 watt Weller at work, and I've been very happy with it so far. Thanks for making this video, even though there are a few gripes listed, I haven't any issues of note. Though, in all fairness, I am used to old style tips, even on the old Pace stations where I used to work. This iron heats up faster, works better, and the cartridge tips are much easier to change when the iron is hot.

[CPD-KD-.]

I actually upgraded from an fx888d and the Pace is a really great station. Great video by the way, to the point and no bullshit. Keep it up Dave!

[pirateman]

Hats off to the industrial designer. Simple and elegant.
PACE needs to ditch the engineer who did the PCB. He will make a better clown in a circus, than an engineer.
Ass soon as I saw the PCB, one word jumped out! "wtf"?

[ZoniaTV]

Glad the video is back. Really was looking forward to this review.

[masondaub]

I almost solder exclusively below 370 C unless I'm dealing with a large thermal mass, and even then a bigger tip does the business better than increasing the temperature

[flymypg]

Maybe I'm old-school, but I see no need for high-power (100W+) soldering stations that get used 99% for low-power soldering.

What I own is a 60 year-old 300W Weller soldering gun (now called the D650) for the heavy stuff, and a varying number of 30W-60W soldering pencils for everything else.

The Weller has a copper alloy tip: When it gets pitted or gunked up, I can take a file to it and quickly get to fresh metal with a sharp chisel edge, ready for tinning. No need to carry multiple tips around, just a small flat file.

I also like my soldering tools to easily go from the bench to the tool bag. Presently, I bring my Weller gun and a TS100 pencil. Life is good!