If you build and repair FPV drones, then you’re probably no stranger to soldering irons. The newly released Miniware TS1C Cordless Soldering Iron is an interesting tool that might be appealing to some people. In this review, I will compare it to the good old TS100, to determine the superior soldering iron for FPV pilots.
Check out the list of soldering irons and related tools I recommend: https://oscarliang.com/soldering-iron-buyers-guide/
New to soldering? Here’s a beginners guide to soldering, tips and tricks: https://oscarliang.com/soldering-guide/
Table of Contents
Where to Buy?
You can get the TS1C cordless soldering iron from AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEEjyXR
Visit Miniware TS1C official product page here: https://oscarliang.com/product-dnhs
Inside the box, you’ll find a manual, base station, a silicon USB-C cable, a sponge holder, and the soldering iron itself.
The TS1C comes with a conical iron tips. The tips are interchangeable with the Miniware TS80/TS80P (3.5mm audio interface tips), you can get your preferred tips here:
- Amazon: https://bit.ly/3NUMJIe
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFLVQlT
Specifications
- USB Interface: USB Type-C
- Power Source: 750F Super Capacitor
- Charging Time: 7 minutes
- Maximum Heating Power: 36W
- Temperature Range: 100-400°C
- Temperature Stability: ±3%
- Soldering Tip: 3.5mm audio interface soldering tips (TS80/80P soldering tip series)
- Bluetooth version: 4.2
- Weight:
- Handle with conical tip: 75g
- Control Station + Handle without tip: 248g
- Size:
- Control Station: 44.5 * 122 * 73 (mm)
- Sponge Slot: 42 * 43 (mm)
- Iron: 23 * 133 (mm)
Precision and Handling
The TS1C soldering iron features a dedicated button for boost mode. When pressed, it instantly brings the temperature to its maximum, providing a quick burst of heat when needed. There’s a charging indicator LED at the top of the handle, which provides visual cues for the device’s power status.
The soldering iron also houses a USB-C port under its removable magnetic end cap. This port is used for firmware upgrades as well as for direct charging or powering the device.
The standout feature of the TS1C is its cordless design, offering freedom from power cords. Having a built-in “battery”, the TS1C facilitates easy manoeuvring and lends itself well to reaching tight spaces comfortably. This proves especially beneficial when precise soldering is required. Plus, the absence of a power cord mitigates the risk of tripping or getting tangled, enhancing safety.
In terms of handling, the iron weighs 75 grams and has a plastic body. Due to the built-in battery, it might appear slightly bulky compared to the likes of the TS-80P or even the TS100, which weighs a mere 31g. However, its ergonomically designed housing makes it feel light and comfortable to hold.
Even though the body is relatively larger and heavier, the size and weight do not pose significant issues. However, the smooth plastic body doesn’t provide as firm a grip as I’d prefer. It would have been a welcome addition to have a non-slip finish for an improved handling experience.
Charging Station
The TS1C soldering iron connects to its control station through Bluetooth. This station is equipped with an color OLED display, a couple of push buttons, and a rotary knob, allowing you to effortlessly modify settings as needed.
It offers adjustable temperature controls, enabling you to change the heat level to different soldering tasks. Additionally, the display provides valuable information, such as the battery level and the iron’s temperature.
The station’s underside has three mounting locations for the sponge holder – left, right and back.
The iron charges through two contact pads when it’s placed in the station. However, I noticed a slight flaw: the front part of the iron holder is made of plastic, which, to my surprise, can melt upon contact with the heated iron. To prevent this potential issue, I suggest dropping the iron vertically into the station before pushing it into its holder.
Power Supply and Battery Life
The TS1C soldering iron isn’t powered directly from an AC wall socket. Instead, you’ll require a Power Delivery (PD) compatible charger or USB port, capable of providing at least 36W, to power the control station. I use this particular one: https://amzn.to/3VE3yro.
Miniware’s compact cordless soldering iron offers a typical run time of approximately 10 to 12 minutes per charge, depending on the intensity of the job. Conveniently, when you’re not soldering, you can place the iron back in the stand, where it charges. In my tests, it generally took a swift 5 to 6 minutes to fully charge the iron from an empty state.
The TS1C comes with a built-in battery housed within the handle. Despite not having a very long life, it’s important to note that it isn’t a typical battery—Miniware has used a supercapacitor inside the soldering iron. This innovative choice ensures longer lifespan, with Miniware quoting up to 100,000 charging cycles, and faster charging times than a traditional Lithium battery.
Should the battery die, you will have to wait for it to recharge before continuing your work. The good news is that you can directly power the soldering iron via the hidden USB-C port. It allows you to work continuously, but do note, you’ll need a second PD charger to power both the station and the iron simultaneously, because when you disconnect the station, the iron will stop working.
Portability
While the TS1C is a cordless soldering iron, it isn’t necessarily designed for portability, especially when compared to models like the TS80P, TS100, or TS101.
The first issue to consider is battery life—it’s quite short. If you’re planning to work for an extended period, you’ll either need to frequently place the iron back in its charging station or keep the USB-C cable plugged in at all times.
Secondly, you can only adjust temperature and other settings using the station. The soldering iron will stop working as soon as it’s disconnected from the station or if the station is turned off.
With that said, the Bluetooth connection distance is quite impressive. Within a range of 10 to 15 meters, it performs reliably. But do note, once the connection is lost, the soldering iron handle will stop working until it’s reconnected. So, while you need to stay close to the station while working, some might find the lack of dangling wires during soldering a useful feature.
On the other hand, Miniware’s TS100 and TS101 are truly portable but require an external battery for outdoor use. Yet, their ability to function with a variety of power sources, such as a laptop power supply or even a drone battery, provides flexibility.
Versatility and User Experience
Unlike traditional corded irons, there is the possibility of running out of charge during a job, and having downtime while the iron recharges.
During my longest continuous soldering job with this iron, I got a low power warning on the screen after about 7 minutes, and the total run time was over 10 minutes before I saw a no power warning and the iron stopped heating. From there, it took about 5 to 6 minutes to recharge fully on the station.
However, when it comes to building or repairing FPV drones, it’s unlikely you’ll run out of charge. It’s rare to find tasks that require more than 10 continuous minutes of soldering. So, battery life isn’t really a concern in this context.
Keep in mind that soldering large gauge wire or big chunks of copper pad in ESC will deplete power more quickly. That said, the iron is impressively powerful for its size and handles these tasks better than I expected. However, it’s somewhat disappointing that the iron only offers maximum 400°C temperature setting. On the bright side, the temperature control knob is user-friendly, and changing settings on the station is much simpler than navigating the press buttons on the TS100 and TS101.
When you place the handle down in the soldering station, the temperature automatically drops to a user-programmed “sleep temperature” to preserve the tip’s lifespan and conserve power. When you lift the handle, it will heat up again, a feature you’ll find in many modern smart soldering stations.
Performance
Starting from room temperature (25°C), it takes the TS1C roughly 17 seconds to reach 400°C. Going from the sleep temperature (100°C) to 400°C takes about 12 seconds. While it might not be as fast as popular choices like the TS100 and SI012, it’s certainly not that slow.
When soldering large gauge wires and copper pads, the TS1C peaked at around 40W when powered via USB-C (with a 65W power supply). This is consistent with the 36W power rating specified in the product specs.
To be honest, I didn’t notice a significant difference between the TS1C and the TS100 when using similar tips. They perform comparably when soldering signal wires and motor wires. However, the TS100 might have a slight advantage when soldering XT60 and large gauge wires, given its ability to reach 450 degrees (after updating the firmware to Ralim/IronOS). Even so, the difference is subtle. The tip used appears to have a more significant impact. For those planning on doing heavy soldering, I’d recommend investing in a wide knife tip.
Conclusion
In my view, the TS1C occupies a specific niche, but it’s always nice to have options.
The TS1C is not the typical cordless soldering iron I had anticipated as it’s stuck with its base. However, the cordless feature could prove quite useful for those who frequently perform quick and straightforward soldering tasks on hobbyist or consumer-level parts, minus the hassle of wires. However its high price point might deter some potential users.
You can get the TS1C cordless soldering iron from AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEEjyXR
Get a PD charger to power the TS1C: https://amzn.to/3VE3yro.
The TS1C comes with a conical iron tips. The tips are interchangeable with the Miniware TS80/TS80P (3.5mm audio interface tips), you can get your preferred tips here:
- Amazon: https://bit.ly/3NUMJIe
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFLVQlT
For those who already own the TS100, I wouldn’t necessarily consider the TS1C as an upgrade. If you’re a beginner venturing into soldering, my current favorite is the HGLRC RC2 (also known as SI012) due to its cost-effectiveness. It’s powerful (reaching a maximum of 68W) and can be powered by both XT60 and USB-C. If you’re seeking the best soldering experience on the bench without a hefty price tag, I would recommend the AiXun T3A Soldering Station, which is priced similarly to the TS1C but offers much higher performance.
In summary, the Miniware TS1C Cordless Soldering Iron, despite a few drawbacks, presents an innovative, powerful, and easy-to-use solution for your soldering needs. However, it might not be the most versatile or cost-effective soldering iron for FPV pilots.