A soldering station can be called one of the main tools of any craftsman working in the field of repair and maintenance of any kind of electronics. With it, you can simplify the task of soldering small elements, such as resistors and capacitors in SMD packages. A hair dryer allows you to replace chips of almost any size, planted using BGA-mounting. However, in order to carry out these works comfortably, the station should be simple, convenient to use and of high quality. This is how one can characterize the rather well-known Lukey 702. The scheme of this station is simple, therefore many masters modify it almost immediately after purchase. Having figured out what exactly can be improved in this tool, each master can expand his capabilities and speed up his own work.
What is in the box
The station is delivered in a universal company box, which is used by the manufacturer to package several different models at once. That is why it shows various options, as well as marking which model is inside the package. Opening it, you can find that some elements have yet to be mounted on the station itself.
Various components are tightly packed inside the package. These include a stand for the soldering iron, a special mount for the hairdryer, which has yet to be screwed to the side wall of the station, the soldering iron itself and the sponge designed to clean it. It should be noted right away that the hair dryer does not disconnect from the Lukey 702 digital soldering station, unlike a soldering iron. It is this nuance that is primarily corrected by many masters. In order to change the air flow, three nozzles with different nozzle diameters and a key for replacing them are provided.
Among other things, the box contains accompanying documentation, including a warranty card and instruction manual. It briefly describes the main points regarding the basic settings, as well as the calibration of temperature sensors after receiving the station.
Main characteristics
One of the key indicators related to soldering is the maximum power of the soldering iron. It depends on it with what particular details it will be possible to work. In this model, it is 75 watts, which is quite sufficient not only for soldering small elements, but also for replacing large capacitors in the main power circuits, and similar elements. The maximum temperature to which the soldering iron can warm up is equal to 480 degrees.
Depending on the modification, both a nichrome and a ceramic heater can be used in a soldering iron. A little later, we will consider their main differences, as well as the possibilities of modernization and the Lukey 702 soldering iron diagram. Thanks to a simple clamp on the end of the soldering iron, the tips can be easily replaced right in the process, which allows you not to be distracted if you need to change the profile or shape of the tip.
The hair dryer is made in the form of a separate tube, in which both the heating element and the turbine supplying air pressure are located. This arrangement has several advantages over the option with a compressor located in the case of the station itself. So, the wire is much more flexible than the hose, which facilitates the work with the hairdryer and its positioning during the heating of the part. In addition, the air flow from the turbine is more uniform, which also facilitates the work.
The turbine is able to distill up to 120 liters of air per minute. Thanks to the simple control circuit of the Lukey 702 hair dryer, the operating temperature of the heating element can range from 100 to 480 degrees, depending on the selected mode.
Controls
The front panel of the station deserves special attention. No wonder the Lukey 702 station is digital. There are two displays with buttons on it, with which you can set the desired temperature for both the soldering iron and the hairdryer. Electronic control allows you to set accurate values up to 1 degree, which makes it easier to work with those elements that are afraid of overheating. The only analogue regulator is designed to set the power of the air flow. Since in most cases, when setting this parameter, accuracy is not required, the manufacturer decided that analog control would be sufficient.
Displays work in two modes. When you press any of the buttons, they display the set temperature value, which allows you to make settings. However, a couple of seconds after the last press, they enter the display mode of the current temperature. Thanks to this, you can determine whether the soldering iron or hairdryer managed to warm up to the desired value before starting work. In addition, if the Lukey 702 soldering iron does not work due to the fact that it is not connected to the station, a corresponding notification will be displayed. It is very comfortable.
Soldering Iron Connection
In order to read information about the current temperature, it is necessary to install a temperature sensor directly near the tip of the soldering iron. That is why when connecting it, it was not possible to get by with two wires. However, the manufacturer chose not the best version of the socket. So, it is well known to everyone involved in the repair and maintenance of computer equipment - this is the so-called PS \ 2 connector. And if it is quite suitable for connecting mice and keyboards, then the soldering iron constantly strives to fall out of it during operation.
To prevent this from happening, many craftsmen prefer to make it either clamping, or even solder it directly to the board, according to the scheme of the Lukey 702 soldering station, making the design non-separable. Another modification option is to install a pair of a connector and a plug of the type "Europe". This type of contactors is more massive and holds steady, despite periodically occurring loads.
Removable hair dryer
Another detail that is missing from the factory version of the soldering station is the ability to turn off the hairdryer at a time when it is not required to work. As mentioned above, in this model a turbine version is installed, which allows you to easily select the connector that is suitable for the number of contacts and the transmitted power, which will ensure the disconnection of the hairdryer. This can be useful when most of the work involves just soldering. The hair dryer at the same time takes up space on the desktop, and, frankly, it interferes. Having disconnected it and having removed, it is possible to free the necessary working area. In addition, if you wish, you can prepare an additional soldering iron and hairdryer for Lukey 702 soldering station, so that in case of unexpected failure of the main one during operation, it can be replaced in a few seconds.
Power off
You can turn off the hairdryer and soldering iron using two large buttons located on the front panel of the station. However, even after that, the electronics and power supply continue to work, waiting for new commands. This may be superfluous, especially if at night the workshop is not completely de-energized. In order to solve this problem, it is enough to install an interrupt switch, for example, in the back of the case, which will open one of the power wires. So that when the button is turned on and off, there is no impulse with interference reaching the Lukey 702 soldering station circuits, a filter capacitor is installed.
Additionally, the issue of station compactness and transportation can be alleviated by installing a computer or television jack for the power cable at the back. In this case, it can be unfastened at any time. If before this work was done to install a hairdryer connector, the station will become completely mobile and compact, since all cables can be disconnected from it.
Refinement of the soldering iron
Sometimes an ordered soldering station comes with a nichrome, rather than a ceramic soldering iron. In this case, it is noticeably felt that it warms up longer, this complicates the work with it. In order to solve this problem, it is recommended to replace the Lukey 702 nichrome heater with a ceramic one. Of course, you can buy a whole new soldering iron separately, but this does not make sense, since the replacement will take only a few minutes and will cost much less.
Even if the soldering iron came originally with a ceramic heater, it can also be improved. If you pay attention to how the heater is located in relation to the sting, you can notice a fairly large space that remains to its tip. To fix this and speed up the heating of the tip, it is recommended that the heater be pulled out of the housing a little. Sometimes this distance can reach 5 millimeters. As a result, the heater will be deeper immersed in the sting. That will make the work more comfortable, since the soldering iron will heat up faster and better deal with the soldering of large elements.
Positive feedback about the station
To deal with the advantages and disadvantages of a particular tool, it is best to turn to verified reviews that were left by experts who had already experienced it in practice. Among the positive aspects of the station under consideration, the following are most often emphasized:
Low cost. Compared to professional equipment of similar quality, this station has a pretty good price. Therefore, even a novice master or student can afford it.
Compactness. Due to the lack of a compressor in the casing, the station received a very modest size. If you modify it in order to remove elements that are currently unnecessary, according to the scheme described in the article, Lukey 702 will occupy a minimum of space on the desktop.
High reliability. The station is able to withstand the loads associated with daily work for quite a long time. It will only be necessary to replace consumables.
Common parts. In case of failure of the soldering iron or hair dryer, it will be easy to replace it. You can buy suitable parts in almost any specialized store. In addition, often there are also simple repair kits that will allow you not to change the entire part, but to make repairs, guided by the Lukey 702 scheme.
Electronic control. The ability to set accurate values allows you to select the optimal soldering modes based on your experience, which improves the quality of work and allows you to less encounter defects or errors during soldering.
Possibility of refinement. The station is very simple, therefore, almost every amateur radio operator can modify not only individual elements, but also the design of the board, starting from their own preferences, relying on the Lukey 702 circuit diagram. Using such manipulations, the station's functionality can be significantly expanded.
Low noise. Compressor stations usually emit a rather unpleasant sound during operation. In the case of the turbine version, there is practically no negative noise, it only rustles quietly under load. Its sound can be compared with the work of a computer cooler at higher speeds.
As can be seen from this list, many masters like the station. And far from all the merits fell into it, because some of them relate to a strictly certain sphere of work and may not be relevant for other professionals. However, she also has a number of some disadvantages that should also be considered before buying.
Cons of the presented model
Of course, there is no point in listing those disadvantages that can be eliminated using the methods described above in this article. Of the key disadvantages, many users note that the station shows the temperature from the factory not exactly. Sometimes the error reaches a couple of tens of degrees, which can be critical. In order to solve this problem, it should be calibrated using a reference thermometer. The manufacturer made sure that the Lukey 702 circuitry, which was included with the station, indicated what elements were used to configure. However, most masters simply get used to their station, remembering the values required to perform certain tasks.
Another disadvantage is that the station uses conventional cables, and not heat-resistant. As a result, one inaccurate movement with a soldering iron may suffice to damage the insulation. Such damage accumulates over time, as a result, the wire is completely “bandaged”. To prevent this from happening, you can either protect the wires with special heat-resistant covers, or immediately replace them with heat-resistant ones. The same goes for the station building.
Conclusion
The soldering station presented in the review is one of the best options designed to work with different types of soldering. It can be used both for home use and for use in large workshops, as it has high wear resistance and is able to work for a long time without damage, and the characteristics of the Lukey 702 put it on a par with a professional tool.
The possibilities of improvements allow us to improve the station exactly as much as is required to perform specific tasks. Each master can decide for himself whether or not to perform this or that modification. Thanks to the presence of simple schemes, the station can be easily repaired in the event of a breakdown.