Ersa is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of soldering equipment used in PCB production, maintenance departments, and repair and service shops.
Although Ersa products have already been available from the TME catalogue for some time now, they are now formally a part of our distribution. This means we are now able to offer you a complete selection of products from the supplier’s extensive range. Below, you can read an overview of those solutions, detailing their key features and functionalities. The entire Ersa range is known for very high precision and durability, which enable users to easily achieve repeatable and satisfactory results. These products should certainly attract the attention of those responsible for equipping technical workstations in companies such as electronic and electrotechnical device manufacturing plants, as well as electronic device repair and service shops (also those specialising in compact equipment such as mobile phones or hearing aids).
The fact that Ersa soldering equipment is manufactured in Germany is also an important advantage.
In this article, you will read about:
- High-quality compact soldering irons
- Compact 15 W to 150 W devices
- Refillable mini gas soldering irons
- An overview of Ersa soldering stations
- Basic functionalities of the manufacturer's equipment
- Versatility of the i-CON VARIO series and the Tip’n’Turn system
- Complementary products from the supplier
- Soldering iron stands, solder feeders and other accessories
- Selection of the original soldering tips and nozzles for Ersa stations
- Repair and extensions of soldering and desoldering stations
Soldering irons
The first noteworthy group of Ersa products comprises small soldering irons, used primarily by those working in the field or in tight, hard-to-reach spaces. An example of such a situation could be repairing electronic circuits in cars, which can sometimes be done without disassembling the cockpit or removing the entire wiring (thus saving time); the same applies to machine parks.
Soldering irons with heating element
Ersa soldering irons are available with power ratings of 15 W to 150 W, and stand out because of their compact design, light weight and short tip heat-up time. Selected models allow you to adjust the tip temperature, which in turn allows the tool to be tailored to specific works. The most common difference resulting in the need for adjustment will, of course, be working with leaded and lead-free solders. The soldering irons are designed for typical mains voltage, i.e. 230 V AC, and are factory-fitted with European-standard plugs and flexible cords. Selected models come with a stand included. Later in this article, we will also discuss the complementary products, such as soldering tips compatible with these soldering irons.
Pistol grip soldering iron.
Soldering irons with heating element
Gas soldering irons
Ersa gas soldering iron with a set of tips and other accessories.
Gas soldering irons are often the tool of choice for field technicians, especially if their work requires the processing of joints with a relatively large surface area (like in the energy industry). The advantages of this type of tools include high temperature that can be reached at the tip (580°C), small size, and a very short filling time. For example, the Independent 75 model, when refilled with readily available lighter butane, can operate continuously for 1 hour. As ignition is carried out with an integrated piezo igniter, the tool does not require access to a power source or even additional accessories. The power of these soldering irons is equivalent to 75 W or 130 W, depending on the model.
Soldering and desoldering stations
Ersa’s range of soldering stations includes several important product sections covering solutions for a variety of applications ‒ from occasional hobby works, to workshop and precision works, and industrial applications, which require exceptional durability, repeatability and compliance with strict manufacturing procedures.
The first group comprises popular compact devices designed to take up little space at the workstation. Examples of such products include, among other things, the NANO series. The other group consists of universal, high-precision multifunctional instruments ‒ their classification as a “soldering station” or “desoldering station” is largely determined by the type of tool included in the kit, although most of the models on offer can operate with several types of equipment (e.g. a soldering iron, desoldering tweezers and a hot air pencil).
Functionalities
All Ersa stations we offer are, naturally, digitally controlled devices, which allows them to achieve high accuracy of tip temperature control (fast calibration), as well as low energy consumption. It also provides the user with a number of standard facilities, such as the memory of settings, programming of the heating profile over time (more advanced models), and password protection of station operation. The devices are equipped with large, easy-to-read backlit LCDs, and all settings are made via an intuitive interface controlled with a few buttons. The tools connected to the base are detected and identified automatically, further facilitating (and above all improving) the user’s work. Optionally, the base can also control the operation of the fume extractor and heater.
Selected Ersa products meet stringent electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection standards to minimise the risk of damage to even the most delicate components.
Diversity of solutions in the TME catalogue
The Ersa solutions with the broadest range of functionalities include the i-CON VARIO 2 and i-CON VARIO 4 series (the latter is an expanded version of the former, allowing up to four tools to be connected). From the TME catalogue, you can purchase stations for all manual soldering work: making joints, disassembling components with a *desoldering iron or hot tweezers (most commonly used for SMD circuit processing and “lifting” small, passive components). The last type are hot air stations. It is worth noting at this point that Ersa products use very quiet pumps (also vacuum ones), which allow you to stay focused when performing precision work. Another interesting feature is the Tip’n’Turn tip changing system, which is demonstrated in the video below.
Accessories
In addition to the equipment itself, Ersa’s product selection also includes a wide range of complementary products. These are primarily soldering tips and nozzles for soldering irons and soldering stations.
Basic additional equipment
The second group includes stands and feeders. These products come in both compact, economical, easy-to-carry variants, but also in the versions designed specifically to work with other components of the Ersa system, specially shaped for the manufacturer’s irons, with space for cleaners or sponges for tip care. The supplier also offers classic desoldering pumps (in a form of a spring-operated vacuum pump) and pots for, among other things, soldering cable ends, melting of solder obtained during desoldering, etc.
Tips and nozzles
In order to guarantee optimal results, as well as to meet the needs and individual preferences of customers, Ersa manufactures a very wide range of soldering tips, nozzles for hot air stations and desoldering tips. In the TME catalogue, these are paired with compatible devices, allowing you to select a product that works with a specific group of soldering irons. The soldering tips are available in different versions, including:
- conical, considered the most versatile (also pin-shaped, with a very sharp tip, even 0.1 mm);
- chisel – often used for working with SMD components;
- in the shape of a bevelled cone (miniwave, hoof) for evenly applying the solder to a relatively large PCB surface, offering excellent heat transfer to the desoldering braids.
Precision tip with a slightly flattened end.
Most models have their straight and angled counterparts, which are popular especially in repair and service shops, where technicians often need to reach between high-profile components with the tip while working with the microscope. In such cases, the angled tip optimises handling.
Spare parts
The last, but still very important, group of Ersa products that needs to be mentioned here comprises spare parts. It is important to bear in mind that these include not only heating elements, but also soldering irons, micro tweezers and desoldering irons connected to the stations. Consequently, this range of products allows to extend the functionality of the devices, since, as already mentioned, more than one tool can be connected to most of them (i.e. the base has several outputs, not every model offers the possibility of simultaneous operation with two accessories).
