On the subject of soldering small digital elements, TS101-like pen-type soldering irons are the preferred. These compact, light-weight welding instruments resemble a pen in form and are designed for small-scale soldering duties. They typically have quick heat-up instances, permitting you to begin soldering rapidly. Moreover, the MiniWare TS101 gives twin energy enter and exact temperature management, permitting you to regulate the warmth settings in keeping with your particular soldering wants.
A soldering iron is a must have in any RC fanatic’s toolbox, whether or not wish to restore, keep, improve, or construct a customized drone. If they should carry out some discipline work, a soldering station could be fairly difficult to hold round, and it occupies a number of area, don’t point out that they normally require an AC outlet. The MiniWare TS101 could be powered from any 4S or 5S drone LIPO battery with no subject, permitting the substitute of a damaged motor or a broken digicam proper on the flight discipline. Formally doesn’t assist absolutely charged 6S (25.2V) LIPO batteries, however I take advantage of it this fashion with no subject.
For a very long time, the TS100 moveable soldering iron was the preferred and extremely regarded soldering iron amongst hobbyists and professionals alike. Its successor, the TS101, guarantees to be smarter and much more highly effective.
What’s new within the TS101 in comparison with the TS100?: 9 modern upgrades
- Model new look
- Twin DC + PD Sort-C energy enter
- Extensive voltage enter DC 9-24V or PD 9-28V
- Enhance mode
- 50-400°C temperature management
- Wider display
- New settings menu
- Multipurpose anti-slip cap
- Appropriate with TS100 suggestions
TS101 soldering iron evaluation
Disclosure: I acquired this soldering iron from MiniWare to check it and do an in-depth evaluation. Though the product was supplied free of charge, all opinions on this article stay my very own, with no affect from my sponsor.
Guangzhou e-Design Clever Expertise (MiniWare) was established in 2000 in Guangzhou, Southern China, and claims to be a number one technical service enterprise that integrates product design, know-how growth, impartial manufacturing, and gross sales, in the meantime providing custom-made manufacturing service (OEM and ODM). The corporate’s first sensible mini soldering iron was launched in 2015 and had nice success.
MiniWare despatched me a fundamental TS101 equipment with just one soldering tip (TS-B2). The field consists of the stand ring (anti-slip cap) and a silicone USB Sort-C PD cable. A brief instruction leaflet can also be supplied.
At a look
As you may see within the image beneath, there may be not a lot change by way of design and dimension between the TS100 and TS101. Each have two buttons (A and B), two screws (tip-locking and grounding), and a standing display. A small detachable ring with anti-rollback options prevents the soldering iron from rolling throughout the desk. This micro stand is essentially the most noticeable design improve from its predecessor.
The TS101 measures 98 x 16.5 x 16.5mm and weighs 33 grams (and not using a soldering tip put in). The charcoal-black plastic physique has a slight texture designed to supply a greater grip throughout soldering. Each buttons are comfortably positioned, and the bigger 128 x 32-pixel OLED display is straightforward to learn whatever the gentle circumstances. Urgent the “A” button (decrease, near the tip) begins heating up the iron to your preset temperature. By means of button “B” (higher, nearest to the ability inputs), you may entry the primary menu that features customized soldering temperatures, sleep timers, and tweaking the ability settings.
Like its predecessor, the brand new TS101 additionally makes use of direct drive cartridge tip know-how. Really, the TS100 suggestions are 100% appropriate with its successor. In accordance with your wants, you may select from 9 totally different suggestions (Okay, KU, ILS, I, D24, C1, C4, B2, and BC2). The heating component and the temperature sensor are built-in throughout the tip, giving instantaneous heating and lethal correct temperature management. Swapping the tip is straightforward. Use a small flat screwdriver to loosen the screw, slide out the soldering tip, insert a brand new soldering tip, and tighten the screw again. Bear in mind to do that when the iron is chilly!
TS101: Mighty highly effective
Lately, nearly the whole lot is powered or charged by a USB Sort-C port. All my tech units use this sort of energy enter, from my laptop computer, handheld gimbal, and motion cameras, to my DJI drones. PD 3.1 USB chargers can ship as much as 240W on a single output port. Due to the newest TS101 firmware, the ability is elevated from 45w to 90w when the enter is 28V.
The soldering iron can be powered by a typical 5.5mm x 2.5mm dimension enter interface utilizing a 9V to 24V (65W) energy supply. So, you don’t must order one other charger if in case you have one out of your outdated laptop computer or different digital equipment. Utilizing an XT60 To DC DC5525 cable, you may energy the TS101 from a 4-5S LIPO battery on the sector operation.
TS101: Firmware improve and Config file
Flashing new firmware on the TS101 is a straightforward job. All it requires is a DFU file from the Miniware discussion board. Plug the TS101 into your PC through the USB C connector, and it’ll seem as a detachable drive. Copy the DFU file, and in a couple of seconds, your soldering iron is working the newest firmware. Sadly, the TS101 just isn’t supported by the favored IronOS – Versatile Soldering iron management Firmware. Customizing the TS101 can be achieved by the config file saved on the basis of its inner flash drive.
Default config.txt
T1_Temp=400 #(C:50~400 F:122~752)
T2_Temp=330 #(C:50~400 F:122~752)
T3_Temp=350 #(C:50~400 F:122~752)
SlpTemp=250 #(C:50~400 F:122~752)
BoostTemp=380 #(C:50~400 F:122~752)
SlpTime=180 #(Sec:60~999)
IdleTime=240 #(Sec:60~999)
Backlight=3 #(1~10)
TempUnit=0 #(0:C 1:F)
DisplayDir=1 #(1:Proper 2:Left)
TempStep=10 #(1~25)
PowerSrc=0 #(0:DC 3~6:3~6S)
MinVolt=3500 #(mV:3300~4000)
LowCurrent=0 #(0:OFF 1: ON)
PDPwMax=0 #(0:OFF 18~45:18~45W)
MsenUnit=3 #(1~5)
Person expertise
After unboxing and verifying on my pc that it comes with the newest firmware, I inserted the tip into the central unit, related a 4S battery, and powered it on. Then, after urgent the decrease button, the temperature acquired up. I set the specified temperature and will begin soldering. It will probably attain as much as 400℃ and works like a appeal.
Soldering is about extra than simply fusing metals. It offers you an understanding of electronics, enabling you to see how drone elements and components work collectively to make flying doable.
I used the MiniWare TS101 Sensible soldering iron for my final three FPV drone builds. Welding the battery cable to the ESC board is essentially the most difficult half. Regardless of the massive gauge wires and the massive floor airplane sucking up the warmth, the TS101 did a phenomenal job. Setting the temperature to 400℃ and utilizing a lot of flux on the soldered joint is crucial. Additionally, do not forget that a clear, freshly tinned soldering tip helps with higher warmth switch and offers you clear joints. Solely provide warmth for the minimal required time. Extended heating and pulling on solder joints earlier than molting tin can result in pulling pads off the PCB. Upon getting soldered the whole lot, meticulously evaluation all of the solder joints to make sure there are not any shorts, particularly between the battery pads. It’s also possible to do continuity assessments between the motor pads; there ought to be no continuity.
The TS101 can also be nice for delicate and small drone elements. Utilizing the proper soldering tip (TS-I or TS-ILS ) is delicate with the flight controller’s tiny pads. It has a “enhance” function that may enhance the temperature to 400 levels Celsius in a couple of seconds. Press and maintain button A for so long as you want the upper temperature.
Value, availability, and choices
The TS101 could be discovered on Aliexpress and lots of hobbyist on-line shops with many bundle choices. The bottom equipment proven on this evaluation has a beginning worth of $70. Combo kits, together with six kinds of welding heads, a 65W energy adapter, a mini stand, a floor clip, and a tin tube, could be ordered for $130. The TS101 is offered below varied manufacturers reminiscent of GoBuying, YANHUNING, TOOLSAVING, NovelLife, CROSS MARS, JUJNE, YUMIN, Dfhellla, and lots of extra. In fact, all declare to be the “unique” one 🙂
Technical parameters
- Materials: metallic and plastic
- 128x32px OLED show
- Enter energy ports:
- DC 5525 Jack
- USB-C (PD3.1)
- Enter voltage vary and energy:
- DC Jack 9-24V, as much as 65W;
- USB-C (PD3.0) 9V-28V, most 90W with the newest firmware
- Temperature management ranges: 50-400℃ (stability +/-2%)
- Soldering bit to floor resistance: <2Ω
- Dimension: 98 x 16.5 x 16.5mm
- Weight: 33grams
