Soldering iron station that suddenly does not heat anymore

Usually its the heating element that fails

Could well be the heating element - to make sure you could check the resistance of the element via the connector if you can find out which pins are used for what.

Otherwise you will need to take the iron apart to check the element.

Nothing much to lose by taking it apart.

Might be worth checking if you can get spares before doing any work on it.

MK

Well, spares for a station that is 20 years old, that's gonna be tough, it seems I'll have to open it then...

20 years! That will have some burnt skin on it. Time to Christmas shop for a new one.

Yeah, I started that and I'm at the early stage of "hey, there are all sort prices for this, let's create yet another spreadsheet".

I mean, a quick glance gave me this:

185€ -> https://fr.farnell.com/multicomp-pro/mp740907/station-reparation-2-ch-800w-230v/dp/4034894

80€ -> https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B09PH7NSX1?smid=A3FU3DFR5FRAPP&tag=egcdealabs2-21&ascsubtag=ppr-fr-1904557071&th=1

25€ -> https://www.lidl.fr/p/parkside-station-a-air-chaud-et-fer-a-souder-phlls-745-b1/p100395263

Next move: power, functionalities and so on...

Hope you're up-and-running again with a soldering iron soon! I really like the soldering irons with the tips that have an integrated heater. 

Have you seen TA305? I have not used it, but there seems a lot going for it (but check reviews just in case). The base has a transformer inside instead of switch-mode (transformer is important, to reduce voltage on the tip), plus it uses standard JBC compatible tips, and price seems reasonable for the unit. There are bundles with model 225 or 245 handles, the 245 is a good all-rounder. 

Well, I already have a spare one, more like the "stylus" format for soldering work that cannot be done on the bench, like repairing a LED strip on site, so I could use it for now, but it's not as convenient as a base station.

I looked at the TA305 and it's in the same price range as the MP740907 but without the hot air side. Now, to be honest, the hot air side is more of a "thing to discover" for me, as I'm not sure I would actually use it regularly. This would open me to SMD with solder paste where I only do them with fine tip for now, and I don't do that many of them anyway.

Ah the choices, too many choices!

I received a Welder for a RoadTest that heats up in less than 20 sec. I don't think I can go back to the 3-5min wait. 

I will short my missus Christmas gift purse if I need to replace it:)

If this has had a lot of use i would check the cable Especilly where it has a bend comming out of the hand piece

Looking around for the handle pinout, I stumbled across a picture of of it brand new: 

The cord has a 5 pin DIN connector but I'm not sure which pin is which.
And to open then handle, I should have needed a "prong" screwdriver but luckily the screw heads were accessible and moved with simple flat pliers.
But even if I could figure out the pinout, I don't think I even could replace the heating element, it looks like it's potted:

However, and that's the good news, taking it apart and putting it back together brought it back to life!
It's now heating up again and not lying about it either.

This gives me more time to better document myself on current technology, especially with respect to tips.

So far, I believe my station and the three candidates that I presented below are using "passive" tips in that the temperature sensor is inside the body, not near the extremity of the tip.

And it seems there are newer technologies named T12 and JBC, the latter being the most recent one, and so the recommended these days.

As I've never used any of those new techs, what could I expect from upgrading in terms of usage feeling?