FREE Energy Saving Plug

Lazarus · Feb 2, 2011

The ES1017 Model of the Lime Energy Saving device is being recalled, according to Martin Lewis's weekly Money Saving Expert missive:

Did you get the free energy saving plug? If you've got the Lime Energy saving plug, it's recalling & replacing all ES1017 plug models due to a fault (call 08448 795 160 or email limeplugrecall@grg.com for help).

Just checked and mine's an ES1016 .............. got it before this Thread was started.

No idea what the alleged fault is.

Channel Hopper · Feb 2, 2011

Tivù said:
Did you get the free energy saving plug? If you've got the Lime Energy saving plug, it's recalling & replacing all ES1017 plug models due to a fault (call 08448 795 160 or email limeplugrecall@grg.com for help).

So much for energy saving. Replacement rather than repair, so the originals are likely to be landfill, or shipped to India for 'environmentally friendly metal recovery'

Plus the cost/resources in collecting/redelivery is going to be huge.

Lazarus · Feb 2, 2011

Yup. For every good idea there are any number of counter-arguments.

But I do find my (working!) one very useful indeed. Saving in costs is possibly less than a pound or two per year, but there is a convenience factor which suits my lifestyle.

Channel Hopper · Feb 2, 2011

Tivù said:
But I do find my (working!) one very useful indeed. Saving in costs is possibly less than a pound or two per year, but there is a convenience factor which suits my lifestyle.

Even though mine may be one that is affected, it too is being used every day.
Anyone know why its being recalled ? I wouldn't want the planet stripped of more resources because the CE marking is upside down or something.

Lazarus · Feb 2, 2011

It seems even the forums associated with the bearer of this news don't know

_http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=40831684

Perhaps it's just baloney.

OTOH, there's no smoke without fire (Which could be an unfortunate allusion, depending upon what comes to light!)

2cvbloke · Feb 3, 2011

Got a letter about it this morning explaining the fault and what they plan to do, so I've snapped it and shall share...

Haven't actually started using mine yet, I have to brave the spaghetti and jusnk that lurks behind the TV, but I need to go find it and check the model...

Lazarus · Feb 3, 2011

Thanks for that - can't believe they have patently been using sub-standard imports: There's little chance of kit currently manufactured in the EU or imported but satisfying the Essential Safety Requirements to justify CE Marking, exhibiting such a potentially dangerous design/manufacture shortcoming.

If I'm wrong, then the latter part of my working life helping apply and enforce all relevant Standards was in vain!

Of course, there is little to prevent the unscrupulous from embossing a CE marking onto their products - very few people ask for the technical file that backs up the CE claim ....................

2cvbloke · Feb 3, 2011

Just found mine (it's an affected one) and there are NO CE marks on it and no BS safety marks, just a "QC Pass" sticker, probably standing for "Questionable Circuitry"...

On cracking it open (4 screws), I can't see anything untoward, but, the two wires on the Live side between the Socket on the plug and the Live pin on the plug are poorly solderd onto the contacts, with stray copper strands all over the place, aside from the mentioned problem on the letter, that shorting out could be another problem, especially if it arcs and overheats (and blows all the Nichicon capacitors in the electronic equipment on the back of it!!!)...

The riveting of the contacts does look a bit flimsy, maybe some have been poorly done and were loose, and again arced and deformed the plastic case, and therefore pulling the plug out would pull the pin out of the plug...

And the soldering is horrendous too, plenty of places which are probably dry joints, or would turn into dry joints...

Lazarus · Feb 3, 2011

Oh dear, and these schemes are backed with Government money. It seems somewhat scandalous that they are financing a dangerous enterprise by financing (in part) the supply of kit that doesn't even comply with our own legislation!

2cvbloke · Feb 3, 2011

Tivù said:
Oh dear, and these schemes are backed with Government money. It seems somewhat scandalous that they are financing a dangerous enterprise by financing (in part) the supply of kit that doesn't even comply with our own legislation!

I blame the free trade with a country that pumps out so many dangerous and unsuitable products to the world and just shrugs their shoulders when we, the end users, complain about it, I think it's about time there was a boycott on chinese goods until they got their damned act together, I'm so sick of dealing with crappy products that they export and sell as "premium" produce... 'O'-red

Analoguesat · Feb 3, 2011

Ive had a letter come through about mine. Apparently the pins have fallen out or remained in the socket on a few units. A new one will be dispatched in the next couple of weeks along with a prepaid envelope for return of the ES1017

2cvbloke · Feb 3, 2011

I'm thinking of being a bit cheeky and keeping mine, and then refitting the components, after repair and alteration, into an electronics project box....

PaulR · Feb 3, 2011

Nothing cheeky about that. They can only request that people return any faulty ones.

2cvbloke · Feb 3, 2011

PaulR said:
Nothing cheeky about that. They can only request that people return any faulty ones.

True, though mine's not technically faulty, yet, cos it's unused, but still, best go dig out my spare project box to see if it'll fit in there...

Zorba · Feb 3, 2011

I received an email from them today. I don't even know if the plug arrived.( I used my mums address in uk. She never mentioned it,I better warn her :-)

2cvbloke · Feb 3, 2011

My god!!! I'm just pulling the thing apart, and I just managed to remove the afore mentioned rivets with hardly any effort!!! Just plugging the thing in would dislodge it, no wonder they failed!!!

Still, mine'll be working properly soon in it's new package....

Zorba · Feb 3, 2011

This is one for Watchdog :-)

pgh13 · Feb 3, 2011

I was thinking more 'Ambulance Chasers 'r' Us' Shocked, traumatised, tripped the RCD and flattened me Yorkshires.

Channel Hopper · Feb 3, 2011

Channel Hopper said:
Mine arrived over the weekend (left outside the front door), and I can confirm it's a quality pice of kit.

OK, I retract that statement, it looks good from the outside.

(Searching for Mr Bates' background though is going to be my main task for the evening)

Channel Hopper · Feb 4, 2011

_http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-bates/7/676/477

controller Comet
Marketing and Advertising industry
1982 – 2006 (24 years)

Tony Bates has joined Grass Roots Group as director of payment services. He was previously general manager of business to business new revenues at Comet.

_http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:SAbz6dzqUx0J:www.grassroots.uk.com/bdr-emp2/gruk...0&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk

_http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Fnb_tpgEtpoJ:www.grassroots.uk.com/bdr-emp2/gruk...4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk

_http://www.grg.com/bdr-emp2/grg/news.xhtml?newsId=401

Grass Roots Group profile - ANTONY BATES - Particulars Changed as director on 25 Mar 2010

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