Hi again:

Again, thanks for _all_ the info. I need to sit back and digest all of
it now. I will probably try a new pencil - I'll have to check the
comparative prices for the EC1201A, EC1302A, and the EC1503A units.
The stuff I'm doing nodays, the EC1201A is adequate, but why have an
adjustable unit if I don't have the hi-watt pencil if/when I need the
extra heat.

And again, I agree with your info about the circuit board components.
The RC network on the blue lead is as you describe. I was again
trimming my description to a too-bare minimum in order to talk about
something else. mea culpa.

One other point of curiosity - I thought the PACE pencils used a
different RTD - about 100 ohms at 75F. Do you know where I can check
on that?

Well, if anything particularily interesting develops, I'll post a
follow-up, but at this point, it seems like this has turned into a
"tear it down, fix the broke stuff, put it back together, and use it
for another 25 years".

It is really a pleasure to put out a feeler like this and get back a
prompt, knowledgeable, definitive answer. Thanks again.

MashBrain