11-17-2021, 08:54 AM
I too am having an issue with my new Pinecil randomly resetting. I'm glad it is not just me.
I am using USB-C from a PinePower (UK version) power supply.
I think the issue might be down to grounding.
The PinePower has a 2-pin mains connector (Live & Neutral) and no earth. The USB output is therefore not referenced to mains earth.
When I plug the Pinecil into the PinePower, I get roughly 92Vac on the soldering iron tip (and also the earth screw on the Pinecil).
I presume this is due to the Y-Class capacitors in the SMPS in the PinePower making a virtual earth sitting at half mains voltage!
Touching the Pinecil to anything earthed causes a small spark from the soldering iron tip to the earthed trace. This is obviously not good news for soldering anything that is ESD sensitive ! It also causes the Pinecil to reboot. This also occurs when the pinecil is cool.
I've tried connecting a permanent earth wire from the earth screw on the Pinecil to mains earth. This has eliminated the 92Vac on the soldering iron tip, but it still occasionally reboots at random on its own. I guess the Pinecil doesn't like the leakage current.
I guess my only solution is to take my PinePower apart and convert it to a 3-wire mains cable with earth wire, eliminating the leakage current issue.
I am using USB-C from a PinePower (UK version) power supply.
I think the issue might be down to grounding.
The PinePower has a 2-pin mains connector (Live & Neutral) and no earth. The USB output is therefore not referenced to mains earth.
When I plug the Pinecil into the PinePower, I get roughly 92Vac on the soldering iron tip (and also the earth screw on the Pinecil).
I presume this is due to the Y-Class capacitors in the SMPS in the PinePower making a virtual earth sitting at half mains voltage!
Touching the Pinecil to anything earthed causes a small spark from the soldering iron tip to the earthed trace. This is obviously not good news for soldering anything that is ESD sensitive ! It also causes the Pinecil to reboot. This also occurs when the pinecil is cool.
I've tried connecting a permanent earth wire from the earth screw on the Pinecil to mains earth. This has eliminated the 92Vac on the soldering iron tip, but it still occasionally reboots at random on its own. I guess the Pinecil doesn't like the leakage current.
I guess my only solution is to take my PinePower apart and convert it to a 3-wire mains cable with earth wire, eliminating the leakage current issue.