This is only a preview of the August 2011 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 33 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments. For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues. Items relevant to "An Electronic Stethoscope":
Items relevant to "Build A Digital Spirit Level":
Items relevant to "Ultra-LD Mk.3 200W Amplifier Module, Pt.2":
Items relevant to "Rudder Position Indicator For Power Boats, Pt.2":
Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00. |
Safely Removing
Solder Fumes
...and other pollutants
We review the Hakko FA-430 fume extractor:
what a clever little sucker!
T
hese days, with OHS regulations backing up the natural
desire for a safe workplace,
removal of the fumes from soldering
and other operations is not just desirable, it’s essential.
Fume extractors have been around
for quite a while – but the ones we
usually see are not much more than
toys. The Hakko FA-430 is most certainly no toy!
For a start, it’s big. No, let’s rephrase
that. It’s BIG! At 330 x 366 x 343mm
and weighing in at a hefty 7.5kg, it
puts to shame those little desk-bound
sniffers.
But size means nothing if it isn’t
backed by performance. We’ll look at
this in a bit more detail shortly but the
FA-430 is capable of drawing more
than four cubic metres of air (and
their particulates) through its filters
each minute.
32 Silicon Chip
But it does it quietly. You’d expect
this amount of suction to have noise
not too far short of an A-380 at takeoff – but the FA-430 has a maximum
noise level of just 53dB(A) – that’s just
3dB more than the “yardstick” quiet
office measurement of 50dB(A).
In fact, the FA-430 has three levels
of suction – on the lowest setting it
measures just 44dB(A) while moving
2.8m3 per minute.
On medium, that increases to
50dB(A) and 3.7m3 while the high setting, as mentioned above, is 43dB(A)
and 4.7m3.
But all that doesn’t mean much if it
lacked in the filtration stakes. Needless
to say, it doesn’t! Have a look at the
graph shown on the opposite page. As
you can see, with an amazing 99.97%
by Ross Tester
minimum efficiency, the FA-430 filters
particles down to just 0.3m. That
takes in just about all solder smoke
and oily smoke, most cigarette smoke,
pollens, cloud/mist, airborne dust and
significant other airborne pollutants.
It will even filter out bacteria from
the airflow – though unfortunately not
viruses, which are very much smaller.
Powerful brushless motor
It does all this with a very quiet
120W brushless motor powering the
fan which pulls the fumes through a
two-stage filter.
The motor provides 1500Pa of static
pressure which is basically stable under all conditions.
The filters have automatic notification when they need changing.
This is actually a very clever part of
the story in itself: the sensors count
the number of fan revolutions to detersiliconchip.com.au
The Hakko FA-430 air-purifying fume extractor, shown here with
its two-stage filter removed. There are two inlet ducts on the top of
the unit; you can use both or one depending on your requirements.
mine how long the extractor has been
in use – but also senses the airflow
through the filters in case they’ve been
prematurely clogged.
The first stage filter eliminates 65%
of particles 0.3m or larger while the
main filter eliminates 99.97%.
We said there’s a two-stage filter. In
a way, it’s actually a three-stage because if you look carefully at the photo
opposite, you’ll see a very fine “hair
net” over the duct inlet which stops
the FA-430 “vacuuming” anything off
you workbench!
Ducting
The FA-430 is sold without the
ducting shown opposite because every
work situation is different; therefore
every customer will want to make up
their own minds about the ducting to
be fitted.
Ducts can be lengthened, bent into
different shapes (and will maintain
that length or shape) to allow them
to be placed exactly where they are
required.
Hakko recommend the duct end be
placed on the work bench alongside
the work for maximum efficiency and
siliconchip.com.au
Another option is the use of a benchtop hood which stops smoke escaping
upwards.
In use
minimum chance of the air conditioning interfering with the airflow.
As you can see on the top of the unit
in the photo above, there are two inlet
“ports” – you can choose to have one
or both of these in use.
Maximum airflow is achieved when
both ports are used. A cap is provided
to block one port off should it not be
required.
A single duct reduces the maximum capacity slightly – to 4.1m3 per
minute.
It doesn’t take any time at all to set
up and even less time to get going. And
it is quiet! You’ll barely notice it over
background noise from more than a
few metres away.
We never got to the stage of requiring filter replacement but we were
assured that it was also very easy and
very quick.
If you’re at all worried about solder
fumes (leaded or not!) or any of the
other fumes that you might experience
in the workshop (whether business or
advanced hobbyist), or you’d simply
like to keep the air as clean as possible
around you, the Hakko FA-430 would
be a very good investment.
SC
Where from, how much?
Please contact HK Wentworth Pty Ltd for further information
Tel [02] 9938 1566, email sales<at>hkwentworth.com.au
The FA-430 has a recommended retail price of $1280.00 Hakko soldering
equipment is available through distributors in Australia and New Zealand.
August 2011 33
|