Don’t take any chances…
The Dublin Fire Brigade has warned that only official chargers for phones should be used when charging your phones, otherwise you could be putting yourself and others at risk.
They shared an image on Monday of a charred charger with the message: “The user of this spurious charger had a lucky escape. Found the cable in this state after charging a phone over night. Only genuine cables.”
The user of this spurious charger had a lucky escape. Found the cable in this state after charging a phone over night. Only genuine cables. pic.twitter.com/8xWeyf089e
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) May 15, 2017
Counterfeit and fake phone chargers, Apple ones in particular, have become prevalent over the last number of years, and people need to be aware of the risks associated with using such products.
A study by UL, found that 99% of these non-genuine chargers failed a basic safety test.
Of 400 counterfeit chargers tested, only three were found to have enough insulation to protect against electric shocks.
Here’s how to spot a dangerous fake charger, according to Trading Standards.
- Plug pins – Plug the charger into a socket, but don’t switch it on or connect to a device. If the charger does not fit easily, the pins may be the wrong size. There should be at least 9.5mm (0.3in) between the edge of the pins and the edge of the charger.
- Markings – Look for a manufacturers’ brand name or logo, model and batch number. Check for the “CE” safety mark, but be aware it can be easily forged.
- Warnings and instructions – User instructions should include conditions and limitations of use, how to operate the charger safely, basic electric safety guidance and details of safe disposal.
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