After prolonged use and heavy wear, four of our six 8 Ah smart batteries gradually stopped charging. After a quick search, we discovered that this is a known problem that can fortunately be remedied quickly.

To do this, you need to make two jumper cables, preferably with flat plugs at the ends. Then take a fully charged battery and the “problem battery” and jumper + to + and – to – and leave it like this for one to two minutes.

Then carefully disconnect to avoid causing a short circuit and put the problematic battery into the charger, which should now start charging again and, in some cases, already start with 2 out of 3 bars. The reason for this is that at least one of the cells inside has fallen below the minimum voltage limit accepted by the charger and the battery therefore refuses to be charged. Bridging briefly raises the voltage of all cells inside to exceed the charger’s limit voltage, allowing it to charge again.

Unfortunately, this is only a temporary solution. After repeated use with our four batteries, they ultimately failed completely.

In addition, here is the YouTube video that helped me understand the problem and make the batteries usable again:

Der Beitrag Parkside X20V System – Battery no longer charging? erschien zuerst auf flohs blog.

Batteries

8 Ah (6x)

PAPS 208 A1  ///  Performance

Very good performance

Relatively heavy
I find the Bluetooth to be a gimmick

‎Does not fit in the case when plugged into some devices (!)
Charge status button quickly became defective
4 of 6 batteries were defective after approx. 1.5 years (heavy use) and were replaced under warranty without any problems

4 Ah (8x)

PAPS 204 A1  ///  Performance

Good performance
Best weight/performance ratio

I consider Bluetooth to be a gimmick

Charge status button quickly becomes defective

2 Ah (4x)

PAP 20 B1  ///  Standard

Works perfectly so far
Pleasantly lightweight, recommended for overhead or tiring work

Chargers

Smart

PLGS 2012 A1  ///  Performance

Charges very quickly
Has been running smoothly so far

The fan gets loud quite quickly
Wi-Fi connection only works on 2.4 GHz networks and is annoying to set up

Dual (2x)

PDSLG 20 A1  ///  Standard

Has been running smoothly so far

Fast (4.5 A)

PLG 20 C3  ///  Standard

Has been running smoothly so far

The fan gets loud quite quickly

Standard (2.4 A)

PLG 20 C1  ///  Standard

 Has been running smoothly so far

20V Tools

Drill driver #1

PABSP 20-Li B2  ///  Performance

Drilling and screwdriving performance is very good
Fits comfortably in the hand
Lighting is useful when working in dark areas

The rubber coating wears noticeably over time

The drill chuck broke quickly
This revision has a known problem with cold temperatures

Drill driver #2

PABSP 20-Li C4  ///  Performance

Drilling and screwdriving performance is very good
Fits comfortably in the hand
Lighting is useful when working in dark areas

The rubber coating is wearing noticeably

The drill chuck is already sticking here too
The response speed to speed control changes is really poor, especially from a standstill. So poor, in fact, that we now only use this otherwise good screwdriver for rough work such as mixing plaster (!)

Cross line laser 360°

PKLLP 3360 A1  ///  Performance

Absolutely great device, now indispensable
Intuitive operation

No memory function

Angle grinder (2x)

PWSAP 20-Li D4  ///  Performance

Cutting and roughing performance is very good with standard materials.
Easy to handle.
Speed-controlled.
This revision has a mechanical push-button on/off switch (the successor models no longer have this!).

Slight leaks in the gearbox

Both replaced under warranty as defective – Not durable under prolonged full load (roughing stone) and 8 Ah batteries, no longer functional after smoke developed from the motor

Impact wrench

PASSP 20-Li A3  ///  Performance

Very good impact performance

Heavy
Gradations somewhat illogical
Handle somewhat weak; with high impact performance, you can feel the device warping

Hammer drill

PKHAP 20-Li B2  ///  Performance

Good performance
Quite handy

Slight leaks at the adjustment knob
The lettering on the adjustment knob quickly wore off

Overheats really quickly when chiseling (slitting)
Replaced under warranty; in chiseling mode, the chisel started spinning at some point (internal lock probably defective)

Angle grinder

PWSA 20-Li D4  ///  Standard

When used as a cut-off saw on a stand, it has served its purpose well so far.

Hand-held circular saw

PHKSA 20-Li A2  ///  Standard

Pleasantly light
The auto-stop function on the saw blade is great
Relatively quiet
Laser guide included and useful

Replaced under warranty; at some point, the power cut out while I was sawing and smoke started coming out of the device. After cooling down, the saw didn’t make a sound.

Compressor and air pump

PAK 20-Li B2 – PALP 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

Works well

Both devices become warm to hot after a few minutes

Paint spray gun

PFSA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Not used yet

Heat gun

PHLGA 20-Li B1  ///  Standard

Works well

Few adjustment options

Hot glue gun

PHPA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Not used yet
With the hot glue stick inserted, this device will no longer fit in the case.

Soldering station (2x)

PLSA 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

Works well in general

High wear on soldering tips due to lack of adjustment options (can be modified)

Jigsaw and sabre saw 2-in-1

PSSSA 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

Works well
The dual function is well designed

Orbital sander

PAEXS 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

Works well

Quite loud

After prolonged use, the dirt collection container holder breaks and no longer holds

Multifunctional tool

PAMFW 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

‎Poor performance
Very loud
Poor handling
‎Replaced under warranty, the battery (4 Ah) is fused inside! Even with the replacement device, the battery contacts usually stick after a few minutes of use!

Stapler

PAT 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Powerful stapling

Staples occasionally get stuck in the device
Heavy

Drywall sander

PWDSA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Not used yet

Drill driver #3

PABS 20-Li E6  ///  Standard

Reasonable price/performance ratio

The rubber coating is becoming noticeably worn

The components in the plastic housing move/are worn out

Drywall screwdriver

PTBSA 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

Does not function properly
The PH2 bit has a special format AND is soft (!), so it wears out very quickly
Absolutely a bad purchase

Bandsaw

PMBA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

 Saws well so far, little use

Battery-Adapter (2x)

PAA 20-Li B2  ///  Standard

Works well

Fan (4x)

PVA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Good performance, two speed settings

All four now have slight but audible bearing damage

Construction site radio

PBRA 20-Li B1  ///  Standard

Excellent features (FM, DAB, USB, Bluetooth, AUX!)
Can be powered by a 20V or 12V battery or even a power supply

The maximum volume could be higher

Small hand lamp

PLHLA 20-Li B1  ///  Standard

Works well

Large hand lamp

PHLA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Works well

Unnecessary SOS function

Spotlight COB

PBSTA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Works well
Very bright

Almost too bright
Gets quite warm
Battery consumption quite high

Spotlight SMD

PLSA 20-Li A1  ///  Standard

Works well
Very bright
Can be operated with optional power supply

The positioning of the buttons under the handle is rather inconvenient

12V Tools

Fine drill grinder set with 12V / 2 Ah battery and 2.4 A charger

PPFBSA 12 A1  ///  Performance

Works well

4V Tools

Cross line laser with tripod

PKLLP 360 B3  ///  Performance

Absolutely great device, now indispensable
Useful functions

No memory function
The included tripod is very low

230V Tools

Workshop vacuum cleaner

PPWD 30 B2  ///  Performance

Very good suction power
Many useful functions
High filter performance
Good accessories

The USB-C port is rather superfluous
Heavy and bulky

Multi-welding device

PMPS 200 A1  ///  Performance

Not used yet

Paint and mortar mixer

PFMR 1600 C3  ///  Standard

Stirs powerfully

The initial speed is quite high and the last setting is not saved

‎After prolonged use, the gearbox fell apart, essentially into the mortar pot. That was quite impressive. Repaired with longer, more stable screws and screw lock

Multifunctional tool

PMFW 310 D2  ///  Standard

Works satisfactorily

Very loud
Strong vibrations
Replaced under warranty, teeth on the tool holder are broken (!)

Cutting and pulling saw

PZKS 2000 B2  ///  Standard

Saws acceptably
The laser is useful

Must be carefully adjusted to produce usable cuts
Noisy

Ash vacuum cleaner

PAS 20  ///  Standard

Absorbs well

Der Beitrag Our Parkside tool collection erschien zuerst auf flohs blog.

After careful consideration, we decided some time ago to use a battery-powered system instead of corded power tools for our home renovation. In terms of quality, I would only have considered brands such as Bosch Professional, Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, etc. – if it weren’t for the really high price, especially for the batteries and chargers.

Milwaukee in particular has undergone several system changes, making newer devices in the same segment incompatible with older batteries. The next step was to discontinue production of the older battery system, and after inevitable defects, the devices gradually became unusable. Absolutely unacceptable. DeWalt did something similar, but some time ago.

What are the advantages of a battery system?

The biggest advantages are mobility and flexibility. In addition, the basic idea of having just a few batteries and chargers that are compatible with many devices is appealing. The convenience is a real bonus when working.

What’s wrong with that?

Actually two things – batteries are basically wear parts, and you also become dependent on the compatible system and thus on the manufacturer. So everything depends on the behavior of the manufacturer of the respective system. In addition, very useful functions such as a vacuum cleaner that switches on automatically on hand-held circular saws, etc., cannot be used.

The starting point

The only cordless tool we already had was a 14.4-volt Makita cordless screwdriver (Newer model*), which is well over 10 years old. It was purchased as a set together with two 2 Ah batteries and a charger in a case. Both batteries have been defective for some time and have been replaced by two replicas from the Far East*. The cordless screwdriver itself still works very well, but has always been a bit weak.

After I was able to purchase a Parkside 20-volt performance cordless screwdriver (brushless!) with a 2 Ah battery and 4.5 Ah charger for a really low price of €66.99 including shipping during a special Black Friday promotion at Lidl at the end of 2022, I quickly made my decision – I would go with Parkside for battery-powered tools.

The reasons were and are obvious:

• Really very inexpensive in relation to quality.
• Green standard devices come with a 3-year warranty, while the black performance versions come with a 5-year warranty.
• Almost all devices come in cases.
• Many items can be ordered online at any time or with short delivery times, and at that time shipping was free for orders over €59 (today €79 with an app coupon).
• There are several different chargers and batteries to suit every budget and application
• The first impression of the performance cordless screwdriver, at least, was “surprisingly good”

However, I still use (additional) 230-volt versions of tools that require continuous power, such as a Bosch Professional SDS-Plus hammer drill*, a Makita 125 mm angle grinder* and a hot air gun.

What is the conclusion after almost 3 years of using Parkside cordless tools?

First of all, it should be noted that we are private individuals; in the commercial sector, I would also recommend equipment developed for commercial use. In that case, the price is also reasonable and the quality is far superior. Our approach was: “If the equipment survives our home renovation, it was a good deal; if not, there is at least a 3 or 5-year warranty, and that should be sufficient.” Renovating is expensive, and if the tools do the job for less than half the cost, then the goal has been achieved.

I regularly checked the Lidl website for offers from the end of 2022 onwards. At that time, there was no explicit advertising for Parkside as there is now, two to three years later. This is also reflected in the price of many items. At first, I wanted to limit myself exclusively to the 20-volt system, but a really good deal on a fine drill grinder, which unfortunately is part of the 12-volt system, persuaded me to go down both paths – even though this is still the only 12-volt device I have.

As expected, our experience has been very mixed—some devices are really good for the price, while others are really poor and unreliable. We also have some 230-volt devices from Parkside, if the offer was good or the intended use is stationary.

We have had bad experiences with the smart batteries, especially with the 8 Ah version. First, the charge status buttons stopped working reliably (even with the 4 Ah smart batteries), then soon stopped working altogether. After about 1.5 years of use, 4 of the 6 batteries could no longer be charged, except with the “jump start trick” . After a few weeks, even that no longer helped; one of the cells inside was defective and could no longer be charged manually. At this point, however, praise for the service department: the complaint was handled professionally and smoothly, and after a week we had four brand-new replacement batteries in use. These are still running well today.

Would I go down this path again?

Yes, but not with every device purchased. Unfortunately, you only realize this after the fact, and as we all know, hindsight is always 20/20. The savings enabled us to purchase significantly more devices than would have been possible with Makita or Bosch Professional, for example. Doubts always remain—something of commercial quality will certainly last a few years longer. On the other hand, Parkside products are not designed for such heavy-duty use, and you can’t expect that of them.

One could argue that you should focus on quality when it comes to the most important tools, which would mean having several parallel systems in terms of battery-powered tools. It has become clear that these devices are indispensable and heavily used:

• Drill driver
• Angle grinder
• Hand-held circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Hammer drill

All in all, Lidl’s long warranty period and service make up for many negative points—but if you want to buy something “for life” or for heavy-duty use, Parkside is not the right choice. Even in expensive systems, batteries are always consumables, which should never be overlooked. Nevertheless, mobility is a real gain in convenience compared to corded devices, especially on a construction site with few working power outlets.

It should be noted that I would only purchase the system as new with a warranty, or as used only if it were practically free. There is a definite risk of irreplaceable failure.

Next, I have created a commented list of the devices we purchased, which makes our experiences much clearer.

Der Beitrag General thoughts on power tools, especially battery systems erschien zuerst auf flohs blog.