ATTEN ST-2065D 65W Soldering Iron, PID, T900 Tips
ATTEN ST-2065D 65 W soldering iron: PID control and LCD built into the handle, 250-480 °C, ±1 °C, earthed lead, auto sleep, standard T900 tips
The station is
inside the handle.
The ATTEN ST-2065D is a mains soldering iron that carries its own controller. The PID circuit, the LCD and the buttons all sit in the grip, so there is no base unit, no umbilical to a box and nothing to find space for. It plugs into the wall and works — and it still holds its set temperature to ±1 °C, which is the part most irons at this size do not do.
Both the heating wire and the sensor are PTC, so it reaches temperature quickly and the controller reads the tip accurately rather than estimating it. Frequently used temperatures are stored on the buttons, and the iron sleeps and then switches itself off when it is left alone — the single behaviour that decides how long a tip survives.
Two details make it the sensible choice for electronics rather than general work. The mains lead is a three-wire earthed type, so the tip is grounded near static-sensitive parts. And it takes ordinary T900 tips — the same 900M standard as the ATTEN stations, so one tip drawer serves every iron on the bench.
What it does
PID control in the handle
A closed control loop, the same principle a bench station uses, built into the grip. It holds the set temperature rather than simply switching a heater on and off.
Earthed three-wire cord
The tip is referenced to earth, which is what makes an iron safe to put near static-sensitive parts. Not every iron at this price is wired that way.
±1 °C stability
Published, not implied. It is the figure that decides whether the second joint of the day behaves like the first.
PTC heater and sensor
The heating wire and the sensor are both PTC, so the iron comes up to temperature quickly and the controller reads it accurately.
LCD plus a status LED
The set temperature reads on the LCD; a blue LED shows at a glance whether the iron is heating, holding or asleep.
Stored temperatures
Frequently used settings are stored and recalled from the buttons, so switching between alloys does not mean holding a button down.
Auto sleep and auto power off
The iron backs off when it is left alone and eventually stops heating — the behaviour that decides how long a tip lasts.
Standard T900 tips
The same 900M tips as the ATTEN stations, in sixteen shapes. One tip drawer serves the whole bench.
Why this one, and not the cheaper one
There are three mains irons in the range and this is not the cheapest or the most powerful. Two things separate it, and both are worth understanding before you choose.
The lead is earthed
ATTEN specifies a three-wire mains lead for the ST-2065D, which grounds the tip. On static-sensitive assemblies that is not a refinement, it is the difference between an iron you can use and one you cannot.
ATTEN states nothing either way about earthing for the ST-2080D or ST-2150D, so we do not claim they lack it — only that it is not specified.
The tips are the standard ones
This iron takes T900 tips — the 900M standard used by the AT and ST stations, the ST-8802 and the MS300. Sixteen shapes, and whatever is already in your tip drawer fits.
The ST-2080D and ST-2150D each need their own series instead (T2080 and T2150). Those tips are cheaper per piece, but they are another line to stock and they fit nothing else you own.
The four irons compared
All four control their own temperature and need no base unit. They differ in power, in what they are earthed for, and — most importantly for the long run — in which tips they take.
If you want more heat for the money, the ST-2080D and ST-2150D are the value options. If you want an iron that belongs on an electronics bench alongside your other ATTEN kit, this is the one.
| ST-2065D | ST-2080D | ST-2150D | SA-50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 65 W | 80 W | 150 W | 50 W |
| Temperature | 250 – 480 °C | 250 – 480 °C | 250 – 480 °C | 200 – 500 °C |
| Stability | ±1 °C | ±1 °C | ±1 °C | ±2 °C |
| Tips | T900 · 16 | T2080 · 13 | T2150 · 9 | T900 · 16 |
| Earthed lead | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes, ESD safe |
| Stand included | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Technical data
Performance
| Power | 65 W |
| Temperature range | 250 – 480 °C |
| Temperature stability | ±1 °C |
| Heater | PTC heating wire and PTC sensor |
| Control | Built-in PID circuit, push-button adjustment |
Handling & features
| Display | LCD, with a blue LED status indicator |
| Presets | Frequently used temperatures stored and recalled |
| Idle behaviour | Automatic sleep, then automatic power off |
| Mains cord | Three-wire (earthed) |
| Weight | 255 g |
Consumables
| Tips | T900 — 900M standard, 16 shapes in stock |
| Tip price | Around €4 each |
| Shared with | AT937 / AT938D / AT980E, ST-60, ST-80, ST-965, ST-2090D, SA-50, ST-8802, MS300 |
Not published by ATTEN
| Supply voltage | Not stated for this model |
| Temperature offset range | Not stated for this model |
| Packing list | Not stated — see “In the box” below |
What you receive
- ST-2065D soldering iron with a fitted T900 tip and captive mains lead
- User manual
This iron reaches 480 °C and there is no base unit to rest it on, so it needs somewhere safe to sit between joints. We recommend the ATTEN S11 universal solder handle stand — it takes this handle and any other 900M-type iron, and it is the cheapest insurance on the bench.
ATTEN S11 solder handle stand — €3,95 →
Iron or station?
Tell us what you solder and whether the bench is permanent or packed away between jobs. If an iron will do, we will say so rather than sell you a station. One-year warranty on soldering irons and handles.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a soldering station?
No — that is the point of it. The temperature controller, the display and the buttons are all in the handle, so the iron plugs straight into the mains and works. What a bench station such as the ST-965 adds is a wider range (from 80 °C rather than 250 °C), a calibration offset, a password lock and a proper stand. For occasional work, a portable bench or a second position, this iron does the job on its own.
Which tips does it take?
T900, the 900M standard — sixteen shapes, around €4 each. This matters more than it sounds: the ST-2080D and ST-2150D each use their own tip series, so they need their own tip stock, while the ST-2065D shares tips with almost every other ATTEN soldering product we sell.
The ST-2080D is 80 W and costs less. Why choose this one?
A fair question, and there are two honest answers. First, the cord: ATTEN specifies a three-wire earthed lead for the ST-2065D, and states nothing either way about earthing for the ST-2080D or ST-2150D — if you work on static-sensitive assemblies, that is the deciding difference. Second, the tips: the ST-2065D takes standard T900 tips, while the ST-2080D needs its own T2080 series. If neither matters to you and you want raw power for the money, the ST-2080D is the better buy and we will happily sell you one.
Why does it start at 250 °C?
Because it is an iron rather than a station — the range covers soldering and nothing else. Leaded solder works around 320 °C and lead-free around 350 °C, so 250 °C to 480 °C covers the work comfortably. If you need to sit a tip below soldering temperature, or to work on heat-sensitive assemblies, that is a reason to move up to a station.
Is 65 W enough?
For boards, components, connectors and general electronics, comfortably. Where 65 W runs out is thermal mass — ground planes, shield cans, thick wire and terminals pull heat away faster than the iron can replace it, and the tip temperature sags. That is what the 150 W ST-2150D exists for.
Does it come with a stand?
ATTEN publishes no packing list for this model, and the product photograph shows only the iron and the manual, so please do not count on one. Add the ATTEN S11 universal solder handle stand at €3,95 — it fits this handle and any other 900M-type iron. An iron that reaches 480 °C with no base unit to sit on needs somewhere safe to rest, and at that price there is no reason to work without one.
Is it ESD safe?
The mains lead is a three-wire earthed type, which grounds the tip. ATTEN does not print a tip-to-ground resistance figure for this model, so if your work is governed by a formal ESD procedure that requires a measured value, tell us and we will get it from ATTEN before you commit.
What warranty applies?
One year, as with the soldering handles — this is an iron rather than a base station. Tips and heating elements are wear parts and sit outside the warranty; we keep them as spare parts.
Specifications are taken from ATTEN's product documentation and are provided for guidance only. They are subject to change without notice, and errors and omissions may occur. Where ATTEN publishes no figure for this model we say so rather than infer one from a related product. The manufacturer's official datasheet is the definitive reference; if a particular figure is critical to your application, please confirm it with us before ordering.