General Terms
IronOS
Open source flexible firmware for soldering hardware. Originally developed for the TS100, it now supports multiple soldering irons and reflow devices.Firmware
Software that runs directly on the soldering iron hardware, controlling temperature, power management, and user interface.DFU (Device Firmware Update)
A USB standard for updating firmware on embedded devices. Some IronOS devices use DFU mode for firmware updates.Flash / Flashing
The process of installing or updating firmware on a device.Bootloader
Small program that runs when the device powers on, responsible for loading the main firmware or entering update mode.Hardware Terms
Tip
The replaceable heating element that transfers heat to your soldering work. Different devices use different tip types.Tip Resistance
The electrical resistance of the soldering tip, measured in ohms (Ω). Used by firmware for power calculations and tip detection.Tip Sense
Hardware feature that allows the device to detect tip resistance and automatically configure settings. Available on Pinecil V2, TS101, and MHP30.Handle Temperature
Temperature of the internal PCB/handle, measured by a temperature sensor. Used for Cold Junction Compensation.OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)
The display technology used in IronOS devices. Typically 96x16 pixels on most irons, with some newer devices using higher resolutions.Accelerometer
Motion sensor inside the device that detects movement for automatic sleep/wake functionality.Hall Effect Sensor
Optional magnetic field sensor (Pinecil only) that can detect when the iron is placed on a magnetic stand to trigger sleep mode.MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor)
Electronic switch used to control power to the soldering tip.Op-Amp (Operational Amplifier)
Electronic component used to amplify the small voltage signals from the tip temperature sensor.MCU (Microcontroller Unit)
The main processor chip that runs IronOS firmware. Common MCUs include STM32 and RISC-V chips.Power Terms
DC (Direct Current)
Power supplied at a constant voltage, typically from a barrel jack connector or battery pack.USB-PD (USB Power Delivery)
USB standard for negotiating higher power levels (up to 100W+). Allows dynamic voltage and current negotiation.EPR (Extended Power Range)
USB-PD extension that allows voltages up to 28V for higher power delivery (up to 240W). Supported on Pinecil V2 and TS101.PPS (Programmable Power Supply)
USB-PD feature allowing fine-grained voltage adjustment in small increments.QC (Quick Charge)
Qualcomm’s fast charging standard. QC 3.0 is commonly used with TS80 and TS80P devices.Cutoff Voltage
Minimum voltage at which the iron will shut off heating to protect battery packs from over-discharge.Power Pulse
Feature that briefly activates the heater to draw current and prevent power banks from auto-shutting off.Wattage / Power
Rate of energy transfer, measured in watts (W). Higher wattage = faster heating and ability to maintain temperature on larger joints.Voltage
Electrical potential, measured in volts (V). Higher voltage generally allows more power delivery to the tip.Current
Flow of electricity, measured in amperes (A). Current × Voltage = Power (Watts).Temperature Terms
Set Point / Target Temperature
The desired temperature you’ve configured the iron to maintain during soldering.Boost Temperature
Higher temperature setting that can be temporarily activated by holding the front button during soldering.Sleep Temperature
Lower temperature (default 150°C) that the iron drops to during sleep mode to reduce oxidation and extend tip life.CJC (Cold Junction Compensation)
Technique to accurately measure tip temperature by compensating for the handle temperature. Uses the handle temperature sensor as a reference.Thermal Runaway
Dangerous condition where temperature sensor has failed and temperature cannot be controlled. IronOS detects this and shuts down heating.PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative)
Control algorithm used to maintain precise tip temperature by adjusting heating power based on temperature error.RTip
Raw tip temperature reading in microvolts (μV), visible in the Debug menu.CHan
Handle/cold junction temperature reading in Debug menu, displayed as °C × 10.Operation Modes
Idle Mode / Standby Mode
Default state showing the home screen. Iron is not heating.Soldering Mode
Active heating mode where the iron maintains your set temperature.Sleep Mode
Power-saving mode entered after period of no movement. Temperature drops to sleep temp (default 150°C).Boost Mode
Temporary temperature override activated by holding front button during soldering.Locked Mode
Mode where buttons are disabled to prevent accidental presses. Activated by holding both buttons during soldering.Profile Mode
Special mode (MHP30 only) that executes a predefined heating profile for reflow soldering.Debug Menu
Hidden menu (accessed by long-holding back button on home screen) showing internal measurements and diagnostics.Settings Terms
Motion Sensitivity
How sensitive the accelerometer is to movement for sleep/wake detection. Range: 0 (off) to 9 (most sensitive).Sleep Timeout
Time period of inactivity before entering sleep mode. Configurable in seconds or minutes.Shutdown Timeout
Time period in sleep mode before completely shutting off and returning to home screen. Configurable in minutes.Temperature Increment
Amount the temperature changes with each button press (short press or long press).Start-up Behavior
What the iron does when powered on:- S (Soldering): Immediately heat to soldering temp
- Z (Sleep): Standby at sleep temp until moved
- R (Room): Standby without heating until moved