I just bought this, and you what did you buy ?

[sqkybeaver]

If you don't follow the instructions on the package (only applicable if you're assembling via reflow) then you risk blowing the package of the device. Plastic cased IC's absorb the humidity from the air, when the entire package is heated, the moisture can boil and cause damage to the IC package (known as the popcorn effect). This is less of an issue if you're hand assembling with a soldering iron since you're not heating the entire package, but mainly the leads.

this is often why you may see a warning about baking them if moisture is above 10-20% per the blue dots

[hak8or]

Oh wow, thanks for the information guys! I personally never had an ic go like a popcorn when de soldering them with a hot air station, though the humidity where I live seems to be low for the most part. By blue dots you are referring to the little slips of paper with colored dots on them inside some chip packaging?

[sqkybeaver]

By blue dots you are referring to the little slips of paper with colored dots on them inside some chip packaging?

yes

[Sleepwalker3]

Presumably the dots change in some way with humidity?

[Sjaak]

Presumably the dots change in some way with humidity?

Yes. they are chemicals which react with water from the air.

[matseng]

Got delivery from Seeedstudio with the first of the PAW (Project A Week) boards today. I also had a SOB Bus Pirate case and 10 pcs of A23-battery (miniature 12 volt) -holders.

[JuKu]

I went to IKEA to look at work tables, as I need a new table for a new project, and my cellar lab had room for one. I went at lunch time, and ate lunch first. While eating, I paid attention to the table I was sitting at. Turned out it was the sturdiest of what they had, and they had an offer on it, too. :)

Ikea Norden, 229€.

[matseng]

I was at Ikea as well today. Got myself a frame to mount the PAW 4 (Retrotime) on. It was "slightly" less expensive than JuKu's table at 1.98 € :-)

[systemstech]

Got this last week and it's a nice little toy to go along with the FX-951 that I bought a while back. Great little buy for $14 new, free shipping from China on ebay, probably Chinese version. The label on the back does say made in Japan.


IMG_4713 by systems tech, on Flickr

[neslekkim]

Does it give you correct temperatures?, I bought the previous model, 191, seems to give correct temperature-reading, but my fx951 (which obviously is an clone, again) does not give me correct temperature.. set it to 300 and I get 310-320, if I set it to 340 I get 380-400, which is way off..

[systemstech]

@neslekkim,
My FX-951 is with in +- 5% at or above 380deg that is checking with the FG-100. I bought the FX-951 from a US distributor, so I would think that it is the real thing. I hope. I seem to remember seeing a calibration certificate in the box, I'll try and look for it.

[neslekkim]

I took mine apart, and took some pictures: https://plus.google.com/u/0/10756138476 ... WnQzZyvj2t
I even have an transformer for 110 and 220volt.. and I bought it from an US distributor myself, and paid $240 for it.
The first one was worse, sent it back, and seller could "confirm" that it probably was not original, and ordered new ones, got this one.

This is pictures from the first one https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1075 ... 2726804833

[JuKu]

The project I mentioned needs its own computer, too. I got some oldish hardware for free, but I needed to buy:

[Sleepwalker3]

Presumably the dots change in some way with humidity?

Yes. they are chemicals which react with water from the air.

Sorry, I should have asked the question better - Does it change the colour and if so, from what colour to what colour?
I've probably seen this on dozens of shipments and never noticed it.

[Sleepwalker3]

Nice Paw board Mats :)