Miniware MHP30 PD Mini Hot Plate Preheater

We live in such a fantastic world in modern times, in which we can decide to start a project with absolutely no knowledge required, and simply find all of the details and insights we need online with our DIY Communities to help us figure out the many often-complex challenges that each different project typically imposes. However, in order to enjoy a wide range of different projects, we need tools to heat up components for soldering and modifying circuits. That’s why we highly appreciate Miniware’s niche products that have created an electronic eco-system primed for the DIY Maker in mind. With affordable advanced tools like the TS100 and TS80 soldering irons, you can build your Electronics boards with ease, and now this Miniware Mini Hot Plate Preheater adds another level of convenience.

The Miniware Mini Hot Plate Preheater may be tiny, but it packs a real punch, reaching a max of 300°C in 150 seconds on its 30x30mm heated surface. Memory recall functions lets you customise the temperature settings you love best. Additionally, its clever LED light under-glow changes colour based on the temperature of the hot plate, effectively telling you when the hot plate is safe to touch. That simple show of thoughtfulness reveals how geared this small tool is towards convenience. However, a problem arises when working with PCB’s or Modules bigger than the hot plate it’s meant to balance on. To solve this problem, we recommend cutting a small block of wood or an equivalent flat object to be the same height as the hot plate. Place it a bit away so that the longer section of your PCB can rest on top of it. As if anticipating we’d need to do some balancing, the Miniware Mini Hot Plate Preheater has a pair of support feet that swing out for better stability.

Some may be confused about what effectiveness this small hot plate really has for soldering your projects of many various sizes. But DIY Tinkerers will know that a lot of the time, you wouldn’t want to heat up an entire PCB board. The small area on the Miniware Hot Plate Preheater is perfect for repair work where you only want to de-solder one bad component and replace it. By localising the heat to the area you are working on, you minimalize the chance of accidental mishaps and the messy situations that come with them. Also, for the inevitable mess you do make, the Miniware Hot Plate Preheater is ceramic coated which makes cleanup easy. Once cool, any hardened solder left on the hot plate can be brushed away. Unfortunately, flux does still stick to the hot plate, but can be cleaned off with appropriate solvent. Overall, the Miniware Hot Plate Preheater is a great all-round tool for PCB work, whether assembling brand new circuit boards, doing repairs or reflow work.

Additional Resources

For a more visual look at the MHP30 Mini Hot Plate Preheater’s functionalities, Miniware released this handy Unboxing and Review Video that demonstrates how to use its unique features:

Guangzhou e-Design Intelligent Technology, or more affectionately known as Miniware to us electronics enthusiasts, is the brand that created the awesome TS100 Soldering Iron, and this single item is what helped them rapidly grow in popularity, due to the impressive quality coupled with fancy features – all in a beautifully portable design that can even be powered by LiPo Cell Packs!

Although Miniware remained somewhat unknown before the launch of the TS100, they have actually been involved in electronics design since as far back as 2000, and they hold the title of being the first in the world to design a portable handheld oscilloscope in 2009. Since then, however, Miniware has been rapidly gaining popularity due to the impressive level of quality and sophistication of each their awesome products, and how they manage to fit even more features and functionality into their handheld devices than many of the popular desktop devices within the same price range.

With almost every single one of their awesome products being a truly valuable addition to almost any workshop space, Miniware are one of our favourite brands. And while they certainly don’t release new products often, we simply love to get new goodies in from the moment they are prototyped, so that we can enjoy the awesome new features (both novel and functional) that they have chosen to integrate.