Guide · Tips and cartridges
C115 vs C210
JBC's C115 nano cartridges suit the smallest parts under a microscope; C210 covers precision work with more power. How to tell which one your work needs.
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Short answer
C115 is JBC's smallest cartridge family, made for very small components at high precision, even under a microscope.[1] JBC's CDN nano station drives it at 25 W peak.[2] C210 is a precision family with more power, 40 W peak on the T210 handle, and it also handles conventional components.[3] Our advice: start with C210 for phone and laptop board work, and add C115 only when your smallest parts outgrow it.
Side by side
| Feature | C115 | C210 |
|---|---|---|
| JBC tools | NT115 nano iron, plus AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers[1] | T210 precision handle, plus B.100 and B.500 handles[4] |
| Peak power | 25 W on the CDN station[2] | 40 W on the T210 handle[3] |
| JBC's stated use | High-precision micro-soldering and microscope work; the smallest in JBC's range | Precision work with medium power: SMD and conventional components, under a microscope or not |
| Status | Replaces C105, which JBC is discontinuing[1] | Current range |
What nano tips give you, and what they cost
Reach. A C115 cartridge fits between tightly packed parts where a larger tip would touch its neighbors. JBC describes C115 by purpose, very small components, rather than by package size,[1] so there is no official list of parts that need it.
Power. The trade-off is heat. At 25 W peak,[2] against 40 W for the T210,[3] a C115 tool is for tiny joints. Connectors, shields and anything joined to a ground plane are jobs for C210 or C245.
Tweezers. C115 cartridges also fit JBC's AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers,[1] which hold a tiny part between two heated tips.
Old part numbers. JBC says its C105 range will be discontinued and replaced by C115.[1] If a listing still offers C105 cartridges, you are looking at the outgoing range.
Which one for your work
| Your work | Start with |
|---|---|
| Mixed board repair: connectors, passives and some fine pitch | C210 |
| Mostly the smallest passives and fine-pitch parts, under a microscope every day | C115, with C210 or C245 alongside |
| Through-hole parts, wires and ground planes | Neither: see C210 vs C245 |
This is our reading of JBC's positioning, not a JBC rule. If a fine C210 conical tip already reaches every pad you work on, C115 adds little. The tip shape guide covers which shapes reach where.
Signs you have outgrown C210
- Your finest C210 tip keeps touching neighboring parts, even with a bent conical shape and good magnification.
- Most of your joints are the smallest passives on dense phone boards, rather than connectors and larger parts.
- You want hot tweezers for lifting tiny two-terminal parts. JBC's AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers take C115 cartridges.[1]
If none of these apply yet, put the money toward magnification, flux and a good C210 tip set first.
Magnification comes with the job
JBC aims both families at work under magnification, and the CDN nano station especially at microscope work.[2] The microscope needs room under the lens for your tool. That space, the working distance, matters more for soldering than a headline magnification figure. See digital vs stereo microscope.
Compatible stations
Other makers build stations around JBC-style nano and precision handles. These are their products, not JBC's:
- AiXun lists the T3B (96 W, T210 and T115 handles), the portable T380 (T210 and T115) and the dual-channel T420D (T245, T210 and T115).[5] We have not checked their voltage variants.
- YIHUA: a YIHUA-branded site lists the 982-III at 110–240 V with a 30 W C115 handle and a 40 W C210 handle.[6] We could not confirm who runs that site.
JBC's ratings do not transfer to compatible handles or cartridges, and we found no JBC statement on which marketplace sellers are authorized. Treat compatible parts' figures as their makers' claims, and describe them as C115- or C210-compatible, not JBC.
Next
Questions
Is C115 better than C210 for phone repair?
Only for the very smallest parts. JBC rates its C115 nano station at 25 W peak for high-precision micro-soldering, while the C210's T210 handle is rated 40 W peak and also handles conventional components. For mixed phone-board work, we suggest starting with C210.[2][3]
What happened to JBC C105 cartridges?
JBC says its C105 range will be discontinued and replaced by C115, which works with the NT115 nano iron and the AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers.[1]
Do C115 cartridges fit hot tweezers?
In JBC's system, yes: JBC lists C115 cartridges for its AN115 and NP115 nano tweezers as well as the NT115 nano iron. Compatible tweezers from other makers are their own designs, so check their specifications.[1]
Do I need a microscope to use C115 tips?
In practice, yes. JBC describes its CDN nano station as made for high-precision micro-soldering and microscope work. Choose a microscope with enough working distance for the tool; see digital vs stereo microscope.[2]
Which package sizes need C115 rather than C210?
JBC does not say. It describes C115 by purpose, very small components at high precision, rather than by package size. If a fine C210 tip reaches every pad you work on, you do not need C115 yet.[1]