Create accountLogin

Recent searches

No recent searches

Search options

Only available when logged in.
techhub.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
A hub primarily for passionate technologists, but everyone is welcome

Administered by:

Server stats:

4.8K
active users

techhub.social: AboutStatusProfiles directoryPrivacy policy

Mastodon: AboutGet the appKeyboard shortcutsView source codev4.3.8

Hitchin Hackspace

Public Service Announcement:

We bought a Lidl "Parkside" Digital Hot Air Gun PHLGD 2000 B4 on Saturday. Turned it on yesterday and it tripped the circuit breakers at the Hackspace immediately. The main power switch is faulty. Took it back to the store for a replacement, plugged that in, it powers on regardless of the on/off switch position. The main power switch is faulty again! SPC might suggest this is not a good purchase to failure ratio. Is the product fit / safe for sale?
If you have recently bought one of these, they are currently on sale in UK Lidl stores, please do plug it in and check it is safe today! You might want to plug it in to a circuit without any running computers on it in case it trips your breakers! Also make sure there is nothing in front of the nozzle when you power it on at the mains, in case you experience the second failure mode we have seen and it powers on regardless of its power switch position!

Picture of a boxed Lidl Parkside Digital Hot Air Gun PHLGD 2000 B4. On the box there is a picture of the hot air gun, some text describing it's spec, an array of 4 nozzle adaptors and a cutaway image of the controls. The hot airgun looks like a glorified industrial hair drier. It has a rubberised black pistol grip, a green rubberised body casing with the "Parkside" logo along the side and a silver metal nozzle for the hot air to be directed through.
Oct 04, 2023, 09:20 AM·Public·Mastodon for Android
48boosts·30favorites
Public *
Hitchin Hackspace

A follow up. The third Hot Air Gun seems to work fine. When I returned the 2nd one the staff at the till said they had refunded quite a few customers with the same tool.

A point worth noting for anyone else buying one or who has one already. We bought an earlier version a while back. It is the B2 version, the kit came with a paint scraper tool. The new kit doesn't. The new one is a B4 and they have introduced a new safety feature. Auto cool down. When you turn it off it keeps the fan running until it detects the unit is cool enough for itself to turn off. As a result the fan / blower can keep running for quite a long time after you have turned the power switch off. The 2nd one didn't turn off at all and also turned on when it was plugged in. The 3rd tool works correctly. Just be aware it won't turn off until it is cool if you turn it off via its power switch. The display flashes alternate red/green until it switches off.

Public
Wolf_Baginski

@hackhitchin

I have not seen this item listed by Lidl, and that does make me wary of the report.

Lidl does sometimes have odd examples of older items available.

The advice to do a prompt careful check is good. The way many UK houses are wired, it may be hard to find a "safe" circuit where tripping the circuit breaker won't mess up TVs or Computers.

The described fault could be very nasty. This bear is not a formally qualified electrician.

Be careful out there.

Public
Hitchin Hackspace

@Wolf_Baginski
This item is currently in stock in the Letchworth branch of Lidl, along with a non Digital version, I will post in store photos when I take this one back later. It is one of their WIGIG products and has been in store for a week or so.

Given we have had 2 out of 2 failures with power switch related faults we wanted to pass this on to others for their safety.

We have tweeted about this to LidlGB but they have not acknowledged the tweet.

Public
Hitchin Hackspace

Lidl responded on Twitter but now we can't send them the DM they have asked for...

Public
Hitchin Hackspace

DM sent will see what happens next...

Public
Hitchin Hackspace

@Wolf_Baginski photo taken just now in Letchworth Lidl

Photo of stock of Lidl Parkside Digital Hot Air Gun in stock at the Letchworth branch of the retailer
Public
Ret

@hackhitchin Terrifying. Does it carry any certification marks at all? Reminds me of the Yihua rework stations that were catching fire a while back.

Public
Hitchin Hackspace

@ret As there seems to be some doubt over this please find following pictures of the second unit in its box, the label with CE, UKCA and TUV/GS marking and the receipt for the returned item and the purchase of this item with dates and times and stored ID.

Picture of hot air gun product in box
Picture of product data plate with CE, UKCA and TUV /GS markings
Picture of item refund receipt for first failed unit and purchase receipt for second failed unit.
Public
Ret

@hackhitchin I wasn't airing any doubt at all, just curious. First I've seen of this was this post! But wow... that's far more reputable looking than I expected. Crikey...

Public
dick_turpin :essex: :cc:

@hackhitchin Oh, come on, it's exciting. Every time you get it out of the box, you'll never know if you'll be alive to put it back in. ⚡

Public
Billy Smith

@hackhitchin

Another reason for all of the returns of the same product line, might have been the rebox-reshelf-resell of the faulty hot air guns.

This is one of the problems that Blockbuster had before they shut down.

Public
Hitchin Hackspace

@BillySmith All the packs have a tamper evident seal on them and the Lidl staff remove the returned unit with the refund receipt. While that could be an issue in unscrupulous stores I really do not think that this is the case here. It doesn't fit with their business practices or ethos as far as I can see.

Public
Billy Smith

@hackhitchin

NP. :D

Depends upon the quality of the shops you go to. :D

The fact that they have to have those precautions shows that it's been a problem in the past. :D

The woodworking group from the LHS really rates the wood chisels that they stock every year. :D

ExploreLive feeds
About