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How to Use a 60 Cycle Soldering Iron With a 400 Cycle

Using an alternating current supply that delivers 115 volts at 400 cycles per second, or hertz, has significant advantages in applications that include aerospace and military equipment. High-frequency power supplies and motors are smaller and lighter than those designed for residential use on 50- or 60-hertz AC mains. Consequently, modern aircraft power systems are standardized around a 115-volt, 400-hertz supply. Using a 60-hertz appliance on a 400-hertz supply is problematic if its operation is frequency-dependent. But purely resistive loads including filament light bulbs and heaters usually work correctly.

Things You'll Need

Instruction manual
Frequency-converting power supply

Instructions

- 1
  Read the instruction manual for your soldering iron. If it is a low-voltage iron with a voltage-reducing transformer or has an electronic temperature-control feature, check the specification for the mains supply (household power). Although it is unlikely that a temperature-control circuit is frequency-dependent, contact the manufacturer if you have any doubts.
- 2
  Confirm that the supply voltage is correct for your soldering iron. Connect the iron directly to the 400-hertz supply, if it has no electronic features or the manufacturer does not specify a 60-hertz supply. Many soldering irons present a purely resistive load and will function correctly when connected to a high-frequency supply.
- 3
  Connect a frequency-converting power supply to the 400-hertz source, if your iron requires a 60-hertz supply or the voltage of the 400-hertz supply is incorrect. Check the manufacturer̵7;s instructions and set the input voltage and frequency, if the power supply does not have an auto-ranging input. Turn on the power supply.
- 4
  Set the output frequency to 60 hertz and the output voltage to the correct voltage for your soldering iron, consulting the manufacturer̵7;s instructions for guidance. Connect the soldering iron to the output power socket of the power supply, and switch on the power to the socket.
- 5
  Check that the soldering iron heats up within a few minutes. If it has electronic features, check that they function correctly.

Aviation