Cheap chargers claimed to put gadget fans at risk
Buyer beware!
Buying an unbranded power adaptor may save you a few quid, but it could end up costing you dear, Trading Standards officers claimed today.
Trading Standards has recalled all unbranded console chargers, including this one marked only 'DE62347066'
The Buckinghamshire division of the government-backed consumer protection body has issued a recall notice for non-branded chargers and adaptors for games consoles, MP3 players, phones and other mobile gadgets, following fears that dangerous cheap Chinese imports have flooded the market. Some, it’s claimed, could overheat - with a risk of fire - or cause electric shocks.
Trading Standards is searching for all AC/DC chargers “supplied as accessories for charging Nintendo DS and DS Lite machines”. Some are also thought to have been sold as GameBoy accessories. Many are thought to have been sold to UK punters online.
The organisation said it is particularly worried about one charger carrying the product code 'DE62347066'. The power unit is sold as a travel charger.
Anyone worried that they may have bought dodgy charger should contact Buckinghamshire Trading Standards here.
COMMENTS
I blog these charger fires
Blogged a ton of charger fires on my website, SmokeShutoff.com
Haven't found a manufacturer to build my power strip with smoke detecting shutoff, which would be ideal for protecting against these kinds of charger fires. Just mount the strip above the recharger and if any smoldering starts, it shuts off the charger and sounds an alarm. I don't have any patent protection in UK, so contact me if you want design files and want that market -- I just want to see the product built.
Take it seriously - it may cost your life
I can tell you from experience that you really can't muck around with cheap plug packs. I had one supplied with a brand name product that nearly killed me...
I was 1mm from touching the live pins on the inside of a cheap plugpack. The casing had fallen loose, which meant it felt normal as I grabbed it, but fell to bits in my hand. At the time, I was leaning on the metal rack it was installed in, so one arm on grounded metal and the other 1mm from live 240V pins (helpfully with my thumb next to one and my finger next to the other).
Not worried.
I bought this power-brick for my ADSL router from the local market for two quid three months ago, saving twenty quid over the OEM price and I've had no pro^%$$.Error: Carrier Lost.
USB charging
I rarely ever bother usng the official charger that comes with the device when it needs 5v, opting for USB charging either with a homebrew or pre-made lead.
The great thing about USB charging is that you don't have to carry around a lump of plastic often bigger & heaver than the device it charges. Retractable cables being the easiest to carry around.
It's very easy to make your own USB charging lead for mobile phones (and other 5v requirement devices that don't need more than 500mA) especially when there aren't any official or 3rd party ones available - just buy the cheapest car adaptor you can find, snip off the cigarette lighter plug and and solder on a USB plug.
Misleading headline?
Either they're looking for chargers sold for Nintendo handhelds, or they're looking for chargers sold for a significant range of gadgets and portable devices. You can't have both, nor can you reasonably suggest that "gadget fans==Nintendo handheld console owner". Could we have an internally consistent article please?
