Power Supply Cycles On And Off Or Will Not Turn On; Extending Tip Life - Metcal MX-500 Manuel D'utilisation

1. Is the green light on? If not, the MX-500P time-out feature may shut the power
supply off. To reset, turn the power supply off and back on. To reset, turn the
power supply off and back on. If this does not help, check to see if the power
supply is plugged into the wall.
2. The power supply unit contains an over-temperature cutoff feature. A system
operated at a high duty cycle and/or in a high ambient temperature may reach a
temperature that will trip the resettable thermal switch. After cutoff and
shutdown, the power supply unit will remain off until it cools to an acceptable
operating temperature, at which time it will return to normal operation.
1. Each day, remove, inspect, and clean the cartridge shaft and handle using
denatured alcohol and a clean cloth. Stubborn flux deposits on the shaft (and on
the entire SMTC or TATC tip) can be removed using a brass brush. Do not use a
brass brush on the tip itself for STTC tips as it will damage the plating and
shorten tip life.
2. After you turn on the system, and each time you return the tip to the holder,
apply rosin core solder to the tinned surfaces of the tip. The solder protects the tip
from oxidation and prolongs the life of the tip.
3. Use the lowest tip temperature that will do the job. Lower temperatures decrease
tip oxidation and are easier on the components being joined.
4. Use fine point tips only when necessary. The plating on fine precision tips is less
durable than the plating on blunter tips.
5. Do not use the tip as a prying tool. Bending the tip can cause the plating to crack,
shortening tip life.
6. Use the minimum activation flux necessary to do the job. Higher activation flux is
more corrosive to the tip plating.
7. When making a solder connection, apply fresh solder to the members being
joined, not to the hot soldering tip.
8. Switch the system off when not in use.
9. Don't apply pressure to the tip. More pressure does not equal more heat. To
improve heat transfer, use solder to form a thermal bridge between the tip and the
solder joint.
10. Clean the tip on a clean, wet sponge -- not on a rag or dirty, dry sponge.
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Copyright © 1998, Metcal, Inc. All Rights Reserved 7027-0400 Rev A
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

POWER SUPPLY CYCLES ON AND OFF OR WILL NOT TURN ON

EXTENDING TIP LIFE