Pinecil

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Pinecil is a portable soldering iron with computer controlled temperature, sleep modes, motion detection, and allows many options for power from AC supplies (USB-C, DC Barrel) to external tool/LiPo batteries. You may already have a power supply that works. It also has the intended use of being a RISC-V development device using a breakout board. The Pinecil has evolved over the years from a 60W device into the latest rendition, the V2, which supports 24V/88W and includes the new Pine64 designed shorter tip.

Note: Other irons only care if they can solder. The Pinecil is held to an additional standard; how well can it meet the needs of the open source community as a RISC-V development tool. It includes hardware features not found on other soldering irons such as BLE Bluetooth in the V2 in order to support FOSS community feature requests for both fun and science.

Pinecil GraphicGreenRISCV.png

Pinecil V2, launched Aug 2, 2022
Pinecil V2, side view

Main features

  • Portability and Temperature control
  • Soldering tips:
  1. Replaceable and low cost
  2. Many styles: currently sold as 4-packs, one fine set, the other larger.
  3. Compatible with other ts100 tips.
  • Multiple power sources will work for more flexibility:
  1. USB-C PD (power delivery), minimum 3 Amps, 12V.
  2. DC 5525 Barrel jack charger, minimum 3 Amps, 12V.
  3. Battery: connect to 18V-21V Lithium-ion tool batteries or 3S/4S/5S LiPo batteries.

Additional features (useful for devkit):

  • Programmable Risc-V BL706 embedded processor
  • V2 model allows BLE Bluetooth control because of the switch to the Bouffalo BL706 MCU.
  • 0.69" Monochrome Display that can render text or graphics
  • Support for Idle detection, sleep mode of tip, automatic shut-down
  • Programmable with tools from Bouffalo Labs, HomeBrew or Linux RISC-V.

Authenticity

There are no PINE64 Pinecils sold on AliExpress. They are not made by PINE64. There are no authorized resellers on AliExpress. Some manufacturer has copied the PINE64 company name, trademark and Pinecone logo and is selling a product made to look like Pinecil through many store fronts, but it is not an authentic. They use a different type of box, i.e., a blue or red box. They are fake copies and do not go through the same quality control as Pine64. It is unclear what type of chips or poor quality cloned chips are used in them. They are not recommended. Genuine Pine64 Pinecil only comes in a black handle color with a silicone thumb grip. The original V1 always came in a black box. This model was discontinued and has not been made or sold by PINE64 or authorized resellers since July 2022.

The current official Pinecil (a.k.a. V2 model) comes in a white box (see Pictures), it has a black color handle with a green silicone thumb grip. If you receive anything that has the PINE64 brand name and Pinecone and does not look like described, it is a fake copy that was not made or authorized by PINE64 or the Pine Store Ltd (see Authenticity Checker below, all real PINE64 Pinecils purchased after Aug. 2, 2022 should pass the checker if they are genuine).

Pinecil V2 Authenticity Checker

Pinecil V2 comes with a unique internal ID/Serial number. This allows people to check if the Pinecil V2 is Authentic. To be more sure, update to the newest stable Ralim's IronOS and check again, see Firmware & Updates.

Pinecil V2 Authenticity Checker here.

Where to buy a Pinecil

PINE64 Official Stores

PINE64 EU

Affiliates

Why buy from a legitimate seller?

The PINE64 Mission is to get hardware into the hands of open source developers and tinkerers. Buying authentic Pinecils supports that mission (see this article).

In July 2022, all final stock sold out of PINE64 Pinecil V1 (GD32VF103 mcu) at the Pine Store & all legit resellers. There are zero new authentic Pinecil V1 sold in the world after July 2022. Pinecil V1 was made in a black color with a light blue finger grip. PINE64 never made an all-blue Pinecil, and never used blue or red color boxes (those are fake copies with fake PINE64 logos and Pinecone).

Starting Aug. 2, 2022, only the new Pinecil V2 model with the new BL706 BLE bluetooth MCU are made by PINE64 and sold at all authentic resellers. They are black with a green finger grip (see photos in the Picture section). The new model has anti-counterfeiting features. Authentic Pinecil using the newest official Github IronOS firmware, will successfully pass the Authenticiy Checker website. If a new Pinecil (post Aug. 1, 2022) does not have a BL706 chip, then it is a fake copy. If the AliExpress seller tries to show "CE certification" documents as some type of proof, those are all copied public info from this Wiki page in the Certifications section. PINE64 publishes those as they are the CE/FCC certifications for the stamps on the Pinecil. They are not proof of purchase from the Pine Store Ltd.

Shipping & Tracking

See the Shipping and Tracking article, which includes:

  1. Tracking
  2. How does it work?
  3. Courier options
  4. Why doesn't Pine store ship to my country?

Usage

Overview

Prep Tasks

Clean new cartridges/tips with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to remove factory residue before installing. If you have no IPA, use a clean towel, especially clean the white end with the two silver electric contacts (do not use water; it could get into the seam line on the white end). This resolves issues with glitchy temperatures or random no-tip symbol from poor electric contact.

Do not try to bend the two internal contacts, they are made of a thin stiff spring metal and could break (not soft copper), but you could wipe them with IPA (including the small PCB pad below the contacts).

1. Install the tip: The Pinecil comes with a separate heating element, the tip.

  1. Remove the screw from the front top-side of handle. Then, gently push the tip all the way back until the wide collar/guard is touching the front of the plastic (see photo).
  2. Gently tighten or loosen this screw to install or swap the tip. (careful, tiny screws break easy, if tip does not fall out, it's tight enough)
  3. The bottom front screw should not touch the tip, it only holds the handle together (see Fasteners).
  4. Always unplug before swapping tips if you have multiple tips.

2. Supply power: the USB-C port, connected to any supply, is enough power to show the display screen, but not necessarily enough to heat the tip.

  1. USB port at 5 volts (i.e., laptop) shows DC Low, this is enough for firmware updates and to view the menu, but not to run the soldering iron.
  2. See Power section for details on power options. QC 12V phone chargers will not work, too weak

3. Heat the tip: plug Pinecil into an appropriate power supply.

  1. Clicking [+] starts the tip heating.
  2. The detailed display option shows power draw, current temperature, supply voltage, and time until sleep mode starts.
  3. Adjust the target temperature with further clicks of [+] and [-] buttons.
  4. Wait a few seconds for the regular display to return, then hold down [-] for a moment to turn the heat off.
  5. You can observe the temperature measurement go up and down. Certain settings involve holding down both buttons (see Github IronOS for details on firmware settings).

4. Using the Settings Menu:

  1. To check the firmware version, hold down the [-] button. It will display something like "v2.19.A3BBABC 13-07-22". This is the firmware number and release date, the date is July 13, 2022 in the example.
  2. Clicking [-] when heat is off steps through main categories menus to control a variety of settings, see Getting started with menus section.
  3. Clicking [-] also returns to the regular display of temperature and supply voltage (this view varies if you activate detailed idle). At other times it may show power draw.
  4. Click [-] to scroll to the the main menu section desired (i.e., User Interface). Then click [+] button to change various internal settings. Then click [-] again to go to the next item in the sub-menu.

5. Important notes:

  1. The iron will "sleep", switching to a lower temperature, after it has been put down for a short time, and heat up again when it is picked up.
  2. Calibration of the Tip temperature is usually not necessary and should only be done if the tip is off by +/- 5 °C or temperature is behaving oddly. See instructions to calibrate the tip in the firmware on GitHub IronOS.
  3. For Safety, unplug the soldering Iron when not in use or left unattended.
  4. To heat up the tip, we need a power supply that can provide at least 12V 3A to run. This is the bare minimum. Pinecil will heat slowly at only 12V/3A. To maximize performance, higher Volts/Amps/Watts is recommended (see Pinecil Power Supplies).
    1. Option 1: a USB-C supply that can negotiate up to such a voltage. For good performance and soldering experience, a USB-C PD65W, 20V, 3+ A charger is recommended (suitable for most users).
    2. Option 2: a supply with a DC 5525 barrel connector (+ pos center, - neg outside) that supplies anywhere from 12V-21V, 3+ amps (V1 Pinecil) or 12V-24V, 3+ amps (V2 Pinecil).
    3. Option 3: use a battery, i.e., an 18V-21V tool Battery with a Power Wheels adapter, and a cable to plug into the Pinecil DC5525 barrel jack.
    4. You may have a suitable supply already that could be used, (see Pinecil Power Supplies).
    5. While 12V-3A will work, it will not heat the tip as quickly and efficiently as a PD65W-20V USB-C charger or a higher rated DC barrel charger.
    6. See warnings about using random DC barrel chargers, not all of them have the correct polarity or DC 5525 style plug and some may be too high of voltage which could damage the Pinecil.

Getting Started with the Menu

  1. Getting Started Guide in GitHub/IronOS
  2. Main Settings Menu: updated list is found in the firmware repository Settings Menu
    • Power settings: settings related to power, battery cells, input voltage.
    • Soldering settings: settings for soldering such as, boost temps, increments for temperature change
    • Sleep mode: power & tip saving, such as sleep mode, sleep temperature, and shutdown modes, motion sensitivity
    • User interface: settings such as, units C/F, display orientation, button reversal, animation speed, brightness, boot logo duration
    • Advanced settings: assorted catchall for settings that don't fit elsewhere or settings that require some thought before use. Restore default/factory settings is here. It will not change the firmware version, but rather resets the menu back to IronOS defaults. This is good to do after a major firmware update as settings may have been altered and need to be re-selected/customized again to work as expected.
  3. Hidden Debug Menus: also available, see GitHub/IronOS

Optional Advanced Modifications

  1. Hall Effect Sensor: add a sensor that activates with a magnet to put the pinecil to sleep when it enters a holder or stand.
  2. Thumb Screws: switch tiny tip holder screw to an easy to use thumb screw.
  3. LED light ring install: add a PCB light ring to Pinecil. Video of the process
  4. LED light install: add two LEDs to Pinecil.
  5. RGB internal LED - pink and blue LEDs.

Live Community Chat

  • Need troubleshooting advice for the PINE64 Pinecil soldering iron? Join through one of the community chat links below.
  • Note: the live chat is bridged to Discord, Telegram, Matrix and IRC. Those bridges will not have all the features available within all platforms, but the chat is relayed between all four.
  • Live chat has volunteer members that are not paid PINE64 employees, but occasionally get official information.
  • The Pinecil channel is the most popular for questions and troubleshooting such as help installing Firmware or use of Tips (and where most people discuss Pinecil/soldering). The pinecil-dev channel is a more limited chat for developers working on software/firmware such as IronOS or the new BLE Bluetooth apps.
  1. Discord
  2. Telegram
  3. Matrix

Firmware & Updates

Pinecil is designed to use only 1 power port at any time. Only the USB-C cable should be plugged in during firmware updates. Never attempt to use both rear ports at the same time or the PC and Pinecil will be damaged.

See the Pinecil Firmware article for instructions on how to update Pinecil, this includes:

  1. Overview
  2. Flash Mode
  3. Update V2: Windows
  4. Update V2: Linux and Mac
  5. Troubleshoot V2 Flashing
  6. Build the Blisp Flasher from Code
  7. Update V1
  8. General Firmware Details
  9. Problems with IronOS firmware? Read documents here. If the answer is not found, open a ticket here or join the live pinecil community chat.

Development Projects

Author Project Homepage Description Supported
Ben Brown (ralimtek) Ralim's IronOS Official Pinecil firmware BL706, GD32VF103TB, Stm32f103
Marek Kraus (gamiee) Blisp V2 Flasher CLI Updater for Pinecil V2, BL70x MCU Windows, Linux, Mac
Marek Kraus (gamiee) Pinecil V1 Flasher Pinecil V1 GUI Updater Windows, Mac
Arkaitz Goni Hedger (spagett) PineFlash Pinecil V1 GUI Updater Linux, Mac
Robert (builder555) BLE PineSAM Pinecil V2 Settings and Menus BLE Any browser, cross-platform, runs on local script. Control Pinecil from PC or phone.
Joric (iamjoric) BLE browser API for V2 Github dev page Windows, Linux, Android browsers that support BLE GATT
Tom AU (Tom#7765) & @ithinkido V2 + ESP32 + HA PinecilV2 data ==> ESP32 w/BLE ==> Home Assist display Cross Platform
Bouffalo Lab B-Lab Dev Cube MCU vendor GUI for Dev/flashing BL70x, BL60x, others
Alvin Wong Rust code on GD32VF103 Rust code demos for Pinecil V1 GD32VF103TB

Power Supplies and Watts

Generally, higher watts is better and a 20V power supply will give better performance than a 15V charger. The Pinecil needs a minimum of 3 amps and will work with higher amps charger. However, do not exceed the volts rating for V1 and V2 models or damage to components could occur (see the side of the pinecil handle for the maximum volts).

Power Chart

Type Volts / Tip Ω = Amps * Volts = Watts
USB-C PD3.0 20V / 8.0 Ω = 2.5A * 20V = 50W
USB-C PD3.0 20V / 6.2 Ω = 3.2A * 20V = 64W
DC Barrel 24V / 8.0 Ω = 3.0A * 24V = 72W
DC Barrel 24V / 6.2 Ω = 3.8A * 24V = 92W
*EPR PD3.1 28V / 8.0 Ω = 3.5A * 28V = 98W
*EPR PD3.1 28V / 6.2 Ω = 4.5A * 28V = 126W

Power Notes

  • PINE64 officially states the Pinecil V2 will support up to 24V-88W. Tentatively, the V2 also unofficially supports 28V-140W EPR/PD3.1 Usb-C chargers with certified EPR 240W USB-C cables.
  • DC barrel power is 24V-5A maximum on V2. This allows headroom for higher spikes that happen in DC bricks or off-brand bench supplies. It is not a smart charger like a USB-C charger which uses chips to negotiate with devices like pinecil.
  • Ralim's IronOS firmware works with the PD3.1 protocol (EPR 28V-140W chargers) on Pinecil V2.
  • EPR USB-C is new to the market in 2022. The first wave of these smart chargers are 28V/140W, are more expensive, and require a PD 3.1/240W cable to fully allow the 28V power to V2.
  • EPR is backwards compatible for all USB-C devices. EPR chargers/cables can be used for everything else USB-C as well.
  • Pinecil is not a USB-C tester: when the detailed screen is enabled on Pinecil, note it shows estimates and are at best +-10%. The watts shown on detailed mode are a big picture number for convenience and debugging various chargers used. It is not going to be as accurate as an external tester. Use external metering for comparisons or testing (external testers also cause a small reduction in Watts).

QC Chargers

Many Quick Charge or QC3 phone chargers are not recommended as Pinecil V2 is rated for a minimum of 3 Amps or more to work properly (see Pine Store Official rating on power ports). Most QC 12V phone chargers are only 1.5 Amps, this will lead to Thermal Runaway or Undervoltage messages because of weak power (older QC2 type is not supported in the IronOS firmware at all).

Compatible Power Supplies

Go to the Pinecil Power Supplies article for detailed instructions on how to set up a variety of power choices and a list of compatible power supplies and cables.

Checklist

Prep tasks:

  1. Clean new cartridges/tips with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to remove factory residue before installing (avoid strange behavior from poor electric contact). If you have none, try to wipe it down with a clean towel especially the 2 contacts at the rear white end (do not use water, as it could get into the small white seam line).
  2. Do not bend the two tiny internal contacts, they are thin spring metal and may break.
  3. Only use one port, USB-C or the DC barrel, but Never both at the same time. Damage will occur to PC/ Laptop/ Pinecil!
  4. If using a DC barrel brick for power, do not use more than 24V for Pinecil V2 and not more than 21V for Pinecil V1 (a special end-user modification is possible for V1 which allows it to use up to 24V safely.

Upon receipt, or buying a used Pinecil, one may want to check the following:

  1. The display turns on when 5-21V is supplied (V2 models can do 24V).
    • Use a USB type C cable or a DC 5525 center positive barrel (how to check polarity)
    • Use the video linked to make sure the DC barrel charger is Center Positive before plugging it into Pinecil. Several users have accidentally plugged incorrect center-negative chargers into Pinecil which immediately breaks it because it is the wrong type of charger (this is sometimes repairable, see live community chat).
    • Caution: do not plug in both USB-C and DC5525 at the same time. This will destroy devices, possibly your laptop/PC and Pinecil.
    • The two ports are are used independently and not at the same time.
    • Note that 5v shows DC low and is not high enough to run Pinecil. 5V is only enough for firmware update and to see the menu.
  2. It gets full power.
    • 20V from a 20V capable USB-C PD charger or power from DC barrel charger that is the appropriate specifications. The screen displays the voltage from the charger.
    • Check both orientations of the USB-C cable (try to flip it if one way doesn't work).
  3. Check for new firmware updates, see the Firmware section.
    • Note: do not connect the DC barrel at the same time as a USB-C cable. Pinecil was designed to only have one cable plugged in at a time. You could damage the PC or Pinecil doing this.
    • V1 and V2 used different flasher apps to load firmware onto the Pinecil, see the Firmware section.
    • Updating firmware requires a data capable USB cable connected to a PC/laptop.
  4. Check that both buttons work
    • [-] to enter menu or decrease temperature, long press [-] to get the software version info or to turn off heating
    • [+] to turn on heating or select a menu item
  5. The displayed text rotates according to gravity when orientation is set to Automatic
  6. Check that all 3 external screws are present
    1. One near the back of the screen (ground screw for optional ground wire)
    2. One at the front on top (to hold the tip in)
    3. One at the front on the bottom (to hold the case together, does not touch the tip)
  7. Check that the tip is clean & wipe it down with a dry towel or IPA (uniformly silver at the front, with no pitting or texture).
    • Some tips come pre-dipped in solder for protection and may look odd. Heat them up then wipe clean on a soldering sponge or brass wool and inspect.
    • Heat up the tips a few times to 350°C for a couple minutes to check that they are working and melting solder.
    • See Pinecil Tips and Guides to Soldering & Maintenance for soldering advice.
    • Re-tin the tip before storing is advised to prevent oxidation.
  8. Check that it heats up with an installed tip, and stops increasing when it reaches the set point.
    • This may draw up to ~3A, make sure the power supply can provide a minimum of 3amps or more.
    • Minor overshoot may occur, but, disconnect power if the temperature keeps going up higher without user input and check with the live volunteer pinecil channel.
  9. Do a simple test is to see if the iron will melt solder at approximately the expected temperature for the alloy of solder being tested.
    • If no direct measurement is possible, set it to ~230°C and see if it just about melts SAC (lead-free) solder (~190°C for leaded). This may be more if the room is cold.
  10. If there are multiple tips, wipe all of them with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or a dry clean towel and check that they all heat up.
  11. If the tip moves a little while using it, try to hold Pinecil with the screen facing the side or screen downwards. Members found that if the screen is up and the screw loosens during use, then the tip wobbles a little. Changing holding angles helps the tip press against the solid barrel instead of wobbling on the stub of the small screw.

Specifications

Pinecil V2

  • Package: 15cm x 9cm x 2.2cm, white box (released Aug 2, 2022)
  • Dimensions: 155mm with solder tip or 103mm without solder tip x 12.8mm x 16.2mm
  • Weight: 28g with solder tip, 18g without solder tip
  • Soldering Tip: includes type ST-B2 (short tip), Length 86mm, weight 8.2g
  • Platform: Ralim's IronOS build
  • Display: OLED White Color Monochrome Display 0.69" 96x16 pixels
  • Chipset: Bouffalo BL-706
  • CPU: 32-bit RV32IMAFC RISC-V “SiFive E24 Core” @ 144 MHz
  • Memory:
    • 192KB Internal Flash
    • 132KB SRAM System
  • Power Ports (12V-24V, 88 Watts):
    • Only use one power port at a time (usb or DC barrel)
    • USB type C: PD 12V-20V 3A and QC 3.0 12V-20V 3A (magnetic tip USB-C cables are not recommended, and not USB compliant)
    • Barrel Jack: DC5525, 12V-24V, minimum 3amps.
    • Trying to use an incorrect barrel jack, i.e., DC5521 will BREAK the connector (if it doesn't go in easy, it doesn't fit).
    • Recommend operating voltage 12-24V, but a 12V USB-C charger will not perform as well or heat as fast as a USB-C PD65W/20V/3amp charger.
    • Tentative support: EPR 140W/28V PD3.1 chargers + EPR cables are theoretically supported in hardware and IronOS firmware.
      • EPR is new technology in 2022. Theoretically Pinecil could get a max of 28V and 126W using EPR chargers & EPR cables (natural loss of 140W to 126W due to Tip ohms).
      • Bleeding edge users are using/testing this.
      • EPR is potentially the fastest/highest performance possible for V2; officially Pine Store states 12V-24V, 88W.

Pinecil V1

  • Package: 16.8cm x 11.8cm x 2.3cm, black box with clear plastic front (sold before Aug 2, 2022)
  • Dimensions: 170mm with solder tip or 98mm without solder tip x 12.8mm x 16.2mm
  • Weight: 30g with solder tip, 20g without solder tip
  • Display: 0.67" QUG 9616TSWCG02 96x16 Monochrome Matrix display
  • CPU: GD32VF103TB 32-bit RV32IMAC RISC-V “Bumblebee Core” @ 108 MHz
  • Memory:
    • 128KB Flash
    • 32KB SRAM
  • Power supply (12V -21V, 65W):
    • Only use one power port at a time (USB or DC barrel)
    • DC 12V-21V 5525 Barrel Jack. Do not try to use a larger 5521 (which requires excessive force). It will BREAK the connector.
    • USB-C 12-20V PD or QC3.0 (magnetic tip USB-C cables are not recommended, and not USB compliant)
    • Recommend operating voltage 12-21V, some components can tolerate higher voltages at "absolute maximum" but it's very ill-advised

Fasteners/Screws

Thumb Screws
  • Originals screws are Phillips (source): two M2x3mm at the front, and one M2x4mm is the ground screw near the [-] minus button.
  • The bottom-front screw only holds the handle together and does not touch the tip, hence is a shorter m2x 3mm.
  • Thumb screws are popular upgrades: an M2 x 4mm thumb screw could replace both the front screen-side Tip holder screw and the ground screw in the rear of the handle.
  • It was found that an M2x3mm thumb screw for the tip is a hair too short, and just grazes the Tip and the longer m2 x 4mm is better on top.
  • Stainless Steel, smaller thumb screw, get M2x4mm
  • Black, smaller thumb screw get M2x4mm
  • Wider head (1) Thumb screw, (2) Thumb screw
  • Many Assorted M2x4mm screw Options
Note: If the screw is too long (i.e., 5mm) a metal file can be used lightly to shorten it a small amount. Stainless steel is recommended as the softer aluminum screws could mushroom as you tighten down the tip screw too much or over time.

Manuals

Pictures

Pre-release:

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    Pinecil renders

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    Pinecil prototype

Production:

Tips:

PCB:

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    Pinecil PCB screen side, V2 on top, V1 on bottom

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    Pinecil PCB bottom side, V2 on top, V1 on bottom

Accessories:

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    Thumb screws on V1 & V2

Pinecil Breakout board

The Pinecil Break out board has these features:

Photos:

  • Store photo

  • Top view

  • Bottom view

Pinecil Tips

See the Pinecil Tips article which includes these topics:

  1. What kind of tips work?
  2. How to increase tip life?
  3. How to check new tips?
  4. How does the tip work?
  5. Pine64 Short tips
  6. Pine64 Normal tips

Guides to Soldering & Maintenance

The guides can be found in this link to Pinecil Guides to Soldering article and includes the following topics:

  1. General soldering guides
  2. Does solder type and flux matter?
  3. How to keep the tip clean?
  4. What temperature should I use?

Cases, Stands, 3D models, Supplies

See the article on Pinecil Cases, Stands, Supplies which includes:

  1. Cases and bags
  2. Holders and stands
  3. 3D models
  4. Soldering supplies

How to Test & Repair

Most Pinecils work fine for years, but sometimes things happen and a little help is needed.

  • Just want to open it to change to a shiny new clear handle?
  • Have an issue?
  • See this Pinecil: How to Repair article which includes:
  1. Cautions
  2. Tools you need
  3. Easy trick to open Pinecil, see Video here].
  4. Disassembly steps
  5. Assembly steps
  6. Diagnosis & Testing
  7. Pinecil V1, 24V mod

Schematics and Board Data

Go to the section on Schematics and Board Data here.

Datasheets for Components

Go to the Datasheets section here which includes:

  1. Pinecil V2 datasheets.
  2. Pinecil V1 datasheets.

Pinecil Certifications

Pinecil V2 Certifications:

Pinecil V1 Certifications:

History of Pinecil Changes

Pinecil V2

  • On Aug. 2, 2022, Pinecil V2 was released with improved hardware & accessories. It retains the same ergonomics and design as the original Pinecil, and will work with any accessories you already have including existing handles, cases, and tips. It comes with a green color silicone grip versus the light blue finger grip from Pinecil V1. It also includes one of Pine64's newly designed shorter 6.2 ohm tips. By reducing the tip length and resistance from 8 to 6.2 ohms, it allows greater performance and and faster heating (short tips are potentially 64W @ 20V compared to 8ohm normal tips which allow a max of 50W to Pinecil). Pinecil V2 is officially rated for 12V-24V.
  • Key changes in V2: new processor (BL706), higher maximum input voltage (24V versus V1's 21V rating), support for measuring tip resistance, allows automatic detection of 6.2 vs 8 ohm tips. A notable improvement is the new BL706 RISC-V processor from Bouffalo. It is similar to the BL602 in the Pinenut. The BL706 features Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE / Zigbee); future IronOS firmware releases will expose features over BLE. This is not trivial work, but as people contribute to the opensource code of GitHub/IronOS, BLE options will expand. There is also tentative support for USB-PD3.1 EPR (28V, 140W chargers), Ralim's IronOS supports V2 running with Usb-C EPR-28V. EPR/PD3.1 is not officially acknowledged yet by the Pine Store. Many brands of EPR usb-C chargers are confirmed by members to work on Pinecil V2 at 28V and this results in faster heating performance over PD 20V chargers see short test here.
  • Things staying the same in V2: it still uses a RISC-V processor, but adds noticeable upgrades to the hardware. GPIO is broken out on USB-C for creating your own projects, same pinout as Pinecil V1, same great feel, including the rubber grip, works with all existing tips, same DC input + USB-C input connections, and compatibility with existing clear or black handles.
  • In the V2 handle's side label, the 88W figure comes from a 6.5ohm tip calculation. The reason for using 6.5 instead of 6.2 for the new short tips calculation is due to tolerance during manufacturing, and leaving a conservative margin of error (actual tips appear to be 6.2 ohms). V2 set max voltage is listed as 24V because this was the value used during design and component selection.

Pinecil V1

  • For the first manufacture batch (October 2020, order number 158xxx) of the Pinecil, the copper ring connecting the earth screw to the tip was omitted as the engineering team found the TS100 design lacking. For the second round onward, an improved design copper ring has been included as standard, and is also included with the replacement clear and black handles. For normal operation of the iron, omission of the ring does not impact it's operation. If you are working with ESD components, you will need it in order to ground the iron tip via the earth screw at the back of the iron.
  • Programmable with tools from Gigadevice
  • The first batch of Pinecils were rated 12-24v @ 65W. After some heated discussion on the discussion group, it was decided that it would be downgraded to 12-21V @ 60W, due to concern over the connection of the DC jack to the USB-PD chip, which has a recommended maximum of 21v, and absolute maximum of 28v.

Pinecil in the Media

Humor

  • Science-pinecil-v2-01.png

Videos

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