Pinecil: Test, Repair, Issues

This is a stub for future possible content W.I.P (work in progress).

Overview

Pinecil V1 and V2 have slightly different schematics and the MCU in both is different. Doing repairs calls for referencing the correct schematics. The datasheets are also important to review information about the chips, and to order replacement parts.

Tools you need

1. All Schematics, Datasheets for known common parts, and links to where to buy some replacement parts are all in the main Pinecil Wiki here. Refer to the correct section for V1 and V2 parts.
2. A Multimeter, and optional but nice for electronic work are better leads with needle size probes.
3. Possibly another soldering iron, some flux, solder, and IPA for cleaning the PCB.
4. Good Magnyfying lamp or [https://a.co/7Ua8chx Jeweler's glasses and good room light.

Symptoms

Tip is Glowing Red HOT

1. Grats! you have a Glowcil. Unplug immediately, you have most likely a blown mosfet.

How to repair a mosfet

Temperature is flickering wildly

1. Most likely the tip is not making good contact. Usually this issue goes away after a few days of use as the tip rubs against the contacts more. New tips could have factory residue on them from handling.
2. To fix this issue quicker, wipe all new tips or old tips with a dry towel or 90-99% IPA (isopropyl alchohol) especially the two silver contacts at the white plastic end (do not use water to wipe it which could get into the seam line on the white end).
3. With the pinecil unplugged, remove and reinsert the tip a couple times and spin it a little inside against the contacts. Then plug it in and heat it up to 350C a few times for a couple minutes.
4. Always unplug pinecil before swapping tips. Hot swapping is not a good idea, and for the V2 this could cause strange behavior as the V2 auto-detects tip resistance only on power-up or reboot.