After my video showing the circuitry of the Lidl Parkside soldering iron, and how a physical component change could allow the default ferocious 500 Celsius tip temperature to be customised, a few viewers got in touch and described a calibration mode that you can access via the single button on the front. Here's how it seems to work:-
Allow the iron to come up to temperature so the LED lights green.
To lower the tip temperature, press and hold the button until the LED turns red.
Press the button repeatedly with roughly one press per 4 degrees Celsius.
During the pressing the LED will light solid green to show that it is registering the presses.
When finished, wait for the LED to go red again and then press and hold the button until it goes back to normal mode with the static green LED.
To increase the tip temperature, press and hold the button until the LED first turns red and then starts flashing green.
Press the button repeatedly with roughly one press per 4 degrees Celsius.
During the pressing the LED will light solid green to show that it is registering the presses.
When finished, wait for the LED to start flashing green again and then press and hold the button until it goes back to normal mode with the static green LED.
Some experimentation may be required, as I got variable results suggesting that button press timing may be critical. (fast presses seem to work best.)
I'm not sure if this adjustment is documented somewhere or if someone worked it out by using the "press and hold to see if something happens" trick. Kudos to the person who discovered this.
Using this technique can bring the tip temperature down from the default 480/500C to a more suitable tin/lead soldering temperature with about 26 presses in "red" mode. If your iron is "smoking" the solder and making it dark and crusty very quickly, then doing this will extend the life of the bits greatly, and also result in a much faster warm-up time of just 30 seconds.
If you go too far and the solder isn't melting correctly (lead free?) you can nudge it up again by entering "green flashing" mode and doing three clicks to nudge it up about 12C at a time as needed.
If you have a soldering iron temperature tester, then the unit does seem to respond in real time when in the calibration mode, allowing for the irons thermal inertia. So you can theoretically leave it in calibration mode while nudging the temperature up or down one click at a time before exiting calibration.
Let me know if this works for you, noting that later models may change the software or default temperature over time. This version has model number PLSA 20-Li A1
Supporting the channel with a dollar or two on Patreon helps keep it independent of YouTube's quirks, avoids intrusive mid-video adverts, gives early access, bonus footage and regular quiet Patreon live streams.
https://www.patreon.com/bigclive
#ElectronicsCreators
Allow the iron to come up to temperature so the LED lights green.
To lower the tip temperature, press and hold the button until the LED turns red.
Press the button repeatedly with roughly one press per 4 degrees Celsius.
During the pressing the LED will light solid green to show that it is registering the presses.
When finished, wait for the LED to go red again and then press and hold the button until it goes back to normal mode with the static green LED.
To increase the tip temperature, press and hold the button until the LED first turns red and then starts flashing green.
Press the button repeatedly with roughly one press per 4 degrees Celsius.
During the pressing the LED will light solid green to show that it is registering the presses.
When finished, wait for the LED to start flashing green again and then press and hold the button until it goes back to normal mode with the static green LED.
Some experimentation may be required, as I got variable results suggesting that button press timing may be critical. (fast presses seem to work best.)
I'm not sure if this adjustment is documented somewhere or if someone worked it out by using the "press and hold to see if something happens" trick. Kudos to the person who discovered this.
Using this technique can bring the tip temperature down from the default 480/500C to a more suitable tin/lead soldering temperature with about 26 presses in "red" mode. If your iron is "smoking" the solder and making it dark and crusty very quickly, then doing this will extend the life of the bits greatly, and also result in a much faster warm-up time of just 30 seconds.
If you go too far and the solder isn't melting correctly (lead free?) you can nudge it up again by entering "green flashing" mode and doing three clicks to nudge it up about 12C at a time as needed.
If you have a soldering iron temperature tester, then the unit does seem to respond in real time when in the calibration mode, allowing for the irons thermal inertia. So you can theoretically leave it in calibration mode while nudging the temperature up or down one click at a time before exiting calibration.
Let me know if this works for you, noting that later models may change the software or default temperature over time. This version has model number PLSA 20-Li A1
Supporting the channel with a dollar or two on Patreon helps keep it independent of YouTube's quirks, avoids intrusive mid-video adverts, gives early access, bonus footage and regular quiet Patreon live streams.
https://www.patreon.com/bigclive
#ElectronicsCreators
Thanks Clive 👍🇮🇪 this is looking better and better. If it comes to my local aldis il be getting one. In fact our local lidels dose a lot of Parkside stuff and aldis dose something else. Can't think what brand they normally sell in their store in my town. But lidels always did Parkside products. And a lot more mens toys in general than our local aldi. I'll be keeping both eyes out for this iron. I'm liking it with every video you do on it Clive. So THANKS AGAIN MY FRIEND 👍👍👍👍👍🇮🇪💚👌
Seems to me that this is one of those items that could fairly easily have been improved for not much extra cost. Just needs a temperature display and dedicated buttons for adjusting the temperature.
It's almost like Clive hasn't caught the trend of abrupt jump cuts. Its charming how he asks for permission before he cuts like we have a choice lol. I've been watching recent videos and ones from 5 years will pop up. I've gotta say Big Clive has the same if not better consistency than McDonald's .
i used one those for awhile the tips was horrid.
Who knows the secret of the Black Magic box?
Gaz North Yorkshire coast.
Try it with one click to see what the increase is, instead of trying to extrapolate over many clicks.
It seems like the unit is has some heft to it which makes it less likely to skate around the table when in use. The 936 unit I have it very light combined with a stiff power cord and when used slides around aimlessly.
This is not calibration, but adjustment. Just call me Mr Pedantic.
Probably one of the hottest videos of BigWarming party 🙂
Perhaps that's why they left out the potentiometer, they found they could save a couple of cents by implementing it in software instead…
I just turn the knob on the bench iron. It seems like a wierd way to make adjustments on the rechargable, but it's better to have the chance to change it. Good luck! 👍
totally woulda liked to see the upper and lower limits of the temp, just curious.
420 blaze it
hey there, hope all is well, Clive!
I wasn't overly enthused about this thinking it was set at a fixed temp. But knowing this, I'll have to nab one if I happen to see it in the Aldi's over on this side of the pond. Would be nice to have a portable soldering iron without the usual compromises that inevitably come with them. Very cool.
Where can we buy one at?