Dodgy USB chargers in the news

[king9017]

If you've read the news today, you will have heard about the NSW women who died from electrocution due to a dodgy USB charger. The person who sold her the charger face 2 years jail and $800K fine. I've noticed that the chargers pictured in the news today are currently available on eBay and many have been sold. Fair Trading has advised everyone not to buy or use these, and to dispose of them if you have them in your possession. I wonder what eBay will do about this?

Story:

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/News_and_events/Media_releases/2014_media_releases/20...

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/faulty-usb-phone-charger-blamed-for-sheryl-aldeguers-death-20140627-zsoc8....

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/woman-found-dead-holding-laptop-in-apparent-electrocution-...

[peppers-tree]

Hi  j*oono... Thanks for the input... I own my home and live SA ....

[davewil1964]

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@cq_tech wrote:

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@davewil1964 wrote:

I don't have an ELCB in my meter box.

But all my powerboards,that all my electronics are plugged into, do.

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That's a good start Dave, but do you also use any powertools? Or a toaster? These items are responsible for more electrocutions in Australia than any other cause. And what about a bedside clock radio (which happen to be one of the biggest causes of house fires in the country)? An ELCB in your meter box would prevent the possibility of electrocution or fire for not just you, but every member of your household, and costs no more than a couple of ELCB powerboards.

I'm aware that I probably come across as being somewhat overzealous, but having seen a good friend electrocuted right in front of me about 40 years ago, while using an electric drill which was plugged into an incorrectly-wired extension cord, electrical safety is an issue about which I tend to be extremely passionate.

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I used to be a sparkie, so I have a rough idea of the dangers of electricity. And I'm the only member of my household.

[harley_babes_hoard]

CQ Didn't you just buy a cheap chinese phone they complain because you haven't received it? hmmm

How do you know it's not potentially deadly? should you be importing that?

[cq_tech]

What I choose to import into the country is my business but it's good of you to be so concerned about my welfare.

When the replacement phone I've ordered through Alibaba arrives, I really don't give a toss if the supplied charger is potentially dangerous or not because I'll be throwing it in the bin and using my own safe and legal Australia-compliant charger instead.

[cq_tech]

Well that makes two of us then Dave. In both respects. At least I don't have to worry about you then.

I'm a sparkie as well as a technician (who said men can't multitask?). 🙂

[ambridgebuckskins]

Just had a look at my power board and yes, Clipsil is the white and blue thing that is there.

But l go one step further - l turn the safety switch off at night. Every night. I drive everyone here nuts because each night l turn off all the switches of anything electrical. Then l unplug them. Then l flick the safety switch off.

During the day l refuse to have any plug in a socket of an item that isn't being used by someone standing beside it.

l have removed all the light globes from bedrooms that no one uses and had all bedroom power points removed years ago.

Paranoid big time, is this black duck. l've recently found solar lights so have been merrily removing light globes from sockets all over the place where l can sit a solar light.

If l could run a power free house, l would.

[harley_babes_hoard]

exactly, it is your choice the same as it is someone who imports cheap leads from overseas. Yet you want to ban them all. Isn't that just a tad hypocritical

[cq_tech]

Not at all. I just happen to be qualified to make that decision. Are you?

[cq_tech]

Because you have an ELCB in your meter box, such extreme measures are completely unnecessary as your electrical safety is already assured.

[harley_babes_hoard]

You might be qualified but you certainly can't judge what a cord is like from the other side of the world and I suspect not every officer in customs is an expert either. People import and use these things because they are cheap, just the same as you are buying a cheap phone from overseas. You are not going to stop fakes from entering the country. As always buyer beware.