Powerful soldering irons that heat up to 1110ºF. The HAKKO 455 and 456 soldering irons incorporate a ceramic heater. They heat up to 1110ºF, proving the wattage of a soldering iron is NOT indicative of its thermal ability.

With a ceramic heater, wattage has nothing to do with the soldering irons heating capacity. View the Tech Notes for a thorough understanding of a ceramic heating element.

The wattage of a soldering iron is the measurement of the "Power Rating" of the soldering iron. Watts is NOT indicative of the soldering iron's temperature capacity nor its performance.

• WATTS = Energy the soldering iron pulls from the electrical outlet
• HEATING ELEMENT = The mechanism that converts the Energy into Heat
• HEATING ELEMENT TECHNOLOGY = Two types: (1) wire-wound (2) ceramic

(1) Wire-wound heating element technology works like your kitchen toaster - electrical resistance heats up the wire. This type of heating element is very inefficient (wastes energy) and to add insult to injury, it REQUIRES A LOT OF ENERGY (example, 100W) to heat up the whole heating element, which in turn heats up the soldering iron tip. Wire-wound heating elements are less expensive to manufacture, thus the soldering iron's performance is equal to its price.

(2) Ceramic heating element technology sends electricity to just the area where the heat is needed (at the soldering iron tip.) This type of heating element is VERY EFFICIENT and REQUIRES LESS ENERGY (example, 63W), produces MORE HEAT, maintains its heat longer, and its thermal recovery (the tip's ability to come back up to soldering temperature when soldering heavy loads) is FASTER than a wire-wound heating element. Ceramic heating elements are more complex heating mechanisms that cost more to manufacture, thus the soldering iron's performance is equal to its price.

The Hakko 455 (45W) and 456 (63W) soldering irons are more efficient and heat up to more or equal to a 100W soldering iron that use a wire-wound heating element. Therefore, you should NOT equate a soldering iron's temperature and performance with its wattage without understanding the soldering iron's heating technology.

Users Beware: An inexpensive soldering iron is probably using the inferior (wire-wound) heating element technology.