I have a very similar model. My tip is grounded but it's mostly by luck. An (untinned) ground cable is wedged between the tip and the chassis. That said, it's an OK device and I've used it for SMD work.
Having played with such things lately just on my own, the socketed chip might just be there to multiplex the display. The small chip is probably the micro-controller as it's right next to the temperature wires coming back. The display will need at least a pin per segment, as well as the input pins for the (probably serial) signal, clock, ground, power etc to clock in and put on the screen every x clock cycles.
I have the same one with a different name that I use for my 3d prints. I have a better one for soldering. The ceramic caps and optocoupler are the same in an arduino kit. You'd think they'd use real ceramic caps at least. Cool teardown man. You can buy replacements for the heater and fan in the handle some stations come with a spare lol. That's product confidence wha
Great video. I have one this units that doesn't really have a branding on it. Even though its the same model, I have found some differences between yours and the one I own. In my unit there is not an IEC connector (which sucks), it has a North American plug without the ground pin. My unit also does not do the jumping on temperature values in the way that yours does. The plastic cover was also not included on my unit. I will have to check if the heater on my unit is grounded, I have a friend who ended up in a situation where his heater shorted to the metal case and smoke started coming out of it. If he had been less lucky he would have electrocuted himself.
Good video but it's not real test until you actually use it surely? I have this exact same unit except it's branded and simply has "858D" on the front so was hoping to see someone else using for their thoughts
I'd say the wire you soldered for the tip's ground just melted right away as soon as you turned the device on and used it for a time, but I could be wrong.
