The name/type for this soldering iron tip

Voltage at soldering iron tip, should I be worried?

Summary:

• Don't be worried, unless the voltage is more than say 10 millivolts. In that case, just consider it to be unsuitable for use with electronics, put it to some other use or discard it, and get a "real" one.

• It is common enough for low quality soldering irons to have voltage on their tips due to leakage. This is unacceptable and can and does do damage when soldering suitably delicate equipment.

• Reputable soldering iron makers take care that their products do not have this problem.

Here is a useful document that discusses tip leakage and other soldering iron factors. Note that where they MAY APPEAR to have written "MV" the original was "mV" (snall m) for milliVolts and the font is rendered incorrectly by your system if you see a large M (as I do). They note -

• Tip-to-ground potential: Sometimes called ‘millivolt leakage’. The voltage existing between the soldering iron tip and the workstation common point ground. It should not exceed 2mV per DOD-STD-2000; not specified in J-STD- 001B.

• Tip-to-ground resistance: The resistance existing between the tip of the soldering iron and the workstation common point ground. It should not exceed 5 Ohms per J-STD-001B, appendix A, and 2 Ohms per DOD-STD-2000.

• Insulation resistance: The resistance between the soldering iron tip and its heating element (applies to Hakko soldering irons, series 900, 903, 907, 908). Properly termed ‘isolation resistance', it is a measurement of the isolation of the tip from the transformer secondary winding.

The last point implies a transformer in the system but an equivalent rating applies to 'direct connection to mains' irons.

ESD association soldering iron test methods

Hakko soldering iron tester one of these you will not be buying. BUT it gives you some good ideas.

leakage voltage testing

tip to ground testing

Hakko maintenance inspection

Note that whereas paper above quoted 2V as acceptable level !!! :-( - Hakko so Mil Std is 2 mV. More likely. Hakko say -

• How much leak voltage is normal?: The lower the leak voltage, the better. The MIL standard which has been abolished at present specifies that the leak voltage is designated to be lower than 2mV; therefore, all HAKKO station-type soldering irons have been delivered with the leak voltage set to 2mV or less in conformance to the MIL standard.

• The MIL standard is a US military-based standard and the standard MIL-STD 2000A regarding soldering irons has been abolished.

  Measure leak voltage after adjusting the temperature setting to the maximum.
  When the leak voltage is measured at the highest temperature, the highest leak voltage will be recorded. If normal results are obtained even in unfavorable conditions such as at the highest temperature, it is judged that normal results will be obtained at other temperature settings. (This method is based on the MIL standard.)

Solder not wetting the surface of the tip indicates an incompatibility between the solder and the tip material. This can happen when the external plating on the tip wears away or is contaminated.

You don't mention what you are soldering, so how many Watts you need can't be determined.

I have not used Antex irons but after a quick search it seems they are at the lower-end of the quality spectrum. If you are doing a lot of soldering then a better iron with replaceable tips will serve you well.

For surface mount work I use Weller, Metcal and Hako at work and all are good. Weller is the most affordable of these but, again, the tips oxidize/wear out most quickly of the three. All of these have replaceable tips ranging from $10 to $75 per tip. The Metcal is ten years old, the Wellers are eight years and the Hako is two. We keep a small variety of favorite tips and replace them as needed.

Tip tips:

• Make sure your solder has a rosin core; without rosin in the solder even leaded solder is difficult.
• Make sure your solder does not have an acid core; this stuff is only for plumbers with torches.
• Clean the tip only with a slightly damp cellulose (not metal) sponge. I never use anything else. A quick wipe is enough to remove the excess solder and contaminants from the last soldering operation. Note that a very wet sponge will cool the tip quickly which could contribute to a shorter life.
• If a tip cleaner/tinner compound improves the tip performance it really means that the tip is worn out and needs replacement.
• The tip may be too hot and oxidizing the plating. If it is adjustable, try turning it down.
• The tip may be too cold and requiring too much time to heat the work, resulting in extra wear and tear.
• If the iron is inexpensive, the tips may not be built to last. Try a more expensive iron. There is a lot of technology in making a tip plating that will last and the quality vendors don't give it away cheap.
• Return the iron to the holder with a drop of solder on the tip. The solder will help protect the tip from oxidation. Wipe the excess solder off of the tip just before use.
• Turn the iron off when not in use for more than 20 minutes or so.
• Use the tip against the work with care. Rubbing, scratching or scraping the tip against the surface being soldered will wear it out. If you always hold the iron the same way, you'll wear out one spot quickly. That worn out spot quickly oxidizes and undermines the plating on the remaining parts of the tip.
• Make sure that only solder touches the tip. I've used irons to make holes in plastic and other such unorthodox uses, but the tip suffers.