DIY Compact White Light Soldering Iron Guide

If you're into DIY and lightweight white light soldering irons, this article might be just what you're looking for.

So how can we turn a 616 budget white light controller board—known for burning out MOSFETs when shorted—into a compact and portable white light soldering iron using the TPC8107? Keep reading to find out!

Quick tip: when the 8107 burns out, it usually takes the nearby J3Y-marked SMD transistor (8050) with it. While the TPC8107 and 8103 are similarly priced, the 8107 has better specs according to the datasheet—so it's a better choice.

If you've reused the board in different setups and the vias are damaged, you can skip using a potentiometer altogether. Instead, use four 103 SMD resistors—two on each side—to simulate a 10k potentiometer at mid-range.

Next, find a power supply that works and is compact enough to stay portable. The one shown below uses a 5.5x2.1mm DC output jack.

Since the power input uses a figure-8 (C7/C8) socket, you'll also need a compatible power cable—slightly more troublesome but manageable.

If that setup still feels inconvenient, here's another hack:

You can solder the removed plug blades directly onto the pins of the figure-8 input socket. 

Then secure everything with some AB epoxy. Want it to look cleaner? Use a marker to color the epoxy after it sets. Here's what it looks like after sealing—pretty solid and very sturdy.

Now let's talk about the T12 D1 tip. Pair it with a 20AWG (0.5mm²) power cable and an empty M&G ballpoint pen shell—it fits just right as a casing.

Here's what it looks like while powered on and in use:

If you've ever felt that your soldering iron is too bulky to fit in your multimeter pouch, worry no more—this setup fits in there perfectly!

Done.