Plug hardware failures - Model PG04

Just to let everyone know I had my first V2 failure. However, the ESP chip is fully working and while the "on/off" software and physical switches are responding (and clicking), the 240v output from the plug can not be switched on.

I found the culprit: Athom is using this IC for powering the board:

And then, the voltage from output goes to AMS1117 to be changed to 3.3V.

Unfortunately, the output of KP3210SG was below 3V so poor AMS1117 was stealing another 1V as dropout - finally on ESP it was just about 2V - way too low for the board to work.

I changed the capacitor (470u/10) and on the output I got 5V.

So, either they did not manage properly the IC KP3210SG, or any of the "around it" elements got old (i.e. the inductor or capacitors) or anything else - or maybe even the IC KP3210SG itself is ... poor quality - the biggest problem is: OPENING AND CLOSING the plug - since - unlike Sonoff thingis - you need to almost destroy the plug to open it, once repaired it does not look nice anymore.

I was lucky today with a bit of hot gun (to open) and a bit of glue (to close) but again: it does not look nice anymore.

That is all - I repaired today 2 out of many - I will try to repair all.

Shame on Athom anyway.

today 6 sockets PG04 went down completely

so in total I lost already 22 for last 2y probably

all v1

none v2 yet

I can "hear" the switching power supply in them but I am not yet done with finding the root cause

and the problem is... 240V on open heart ;-(

Second one died today, heard it click (switch) a few times. Restart Reason in Home Assistant was Exception

Can't see anything on the outside which would indicate a hardware failure.

This also was a v1 (the original)

Both of my PG03V2 plugs are useless. One only worked for a couple weeks, the other was DOA.

I bought few months ago 28 pieces. 8 died completely: 1 due to current (washing machine), 7 without ANY visible damage. Since they are without screws, opening them means damaging them. No refund from Athom ;-( I will never buy from them anymore

Yet another PG04 died this week. The v2 sockets are so far fine.

It took me a while to get round to configuring the replacement plug, sadly this one failed after 28hrs of use. It only had a few computer screens and a laptop charger attached, so it was a very low load. Have contacted Athom again to see what comes next.

My V2 plugs arrived today and I'm afraid these devices block the use of the wall socket switch.

I've had two of these fail in a week. I'm very disappointed as I only purchased these recently. In both instances the connected device was powered off at the time.

Got a replacement from athom in the end, was a little sad to see that it was another V1 plug, will see how long this one lasts.

Washing machine is killing mine (2 so far), higher current + inductive load suspected.

The other athom that's driving the condenser dryer is still going fine through all this (though it is buzzing, presumably coil whine). I have a Shelly Plus 1PM preparing to install with ESPHome and the additional snubber (10uF 1/2W 600V capacitor, advice to use it is buried in the install guide).

Ordered one to experiment with in Feb, can't recall when it arrived but I'd guess Mid March, was powering three GU10 smart bulbs so very little load, it hadn't yet made it past testing, was going to install behind a washing machine and was keen to see how good these are before I put it beyond easy reach. To be honest I forgot about and it's been plugged in but with standby load for the smart bulbs only. Had decided to use to monitor some power but after moving it was unresponsive with high pitch electrical noise. bought from AliExpress, getting a response from the 'Athom global store' is proving slow.

I got a email to say their V2 plugs have been released... wonder if it still has the same issue?

Its also interesting to see that they have all gone at the fuse. such heat like that could come from the fuse holder being loose on the fuse. I'm going to inspect one of mine tonight and see how well held in the fuse is.

what did you have running on those? In fairness I've had about a dozen of these over the last 18 months and not one has failed yet. I run an electric fire off one which is perhaps the biggest drain. Interested to know whats caused the melting of the fuse.

Utter junk! The 2 I've bought have now died. No way are they suitable for 16A. The 13A fuse in the appliance would have gone if it had pulled anywhere near that.

My advice is don't buy/use this tat if you value the life of your loved ones or property.

Just checked an i did buy direct from athom. And to correct myself, 5 out of 7 plugs have failed since October. That is pretty bad quality control. At least they didn't cause a fire.... Yet.

I just had another fail on me today. I need to check, as someone earlier posted an athom plug with athon branding. The plugs that failed for me do not have that..... Trying to recall if I ordered direct from the athom site or AliExpress athom store now.

One out of 2 has just burnt out on me after 4 months, was connected to a washing machine drawing peak 6A (according to metrics logged from the device when calibrated).

Happy to send back to Athom for failure analysis.