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The Charger 3 Point Safety Check

The Charger 3 Point Safety Check

The Charger 3 Point Safety Check

Approximately 1.8 million chargers are bought online each year by consumers in search of a bargain. It is often cheaper to buy imported, unofficial chargers rather than branded ones, however the cost of buying these inferior products can be much greater in the long run. Sub-standard and counterfeit electrical chargers can be extremely dangerous, the guide below will show you which indicators to look out for when making your purchase.

There has been an increase in the number of incidents being reported about faulty electrical goods, particularly fake, cheap and unbranded chargers. Many of these items fail to meet UK safety regulations and can lead to electric shocks, injuries and can even initiate fires.

When buying a plug-in charger, being fully aware of the risks is very important. To help you understand which factors to keep an out for, Meteor Electrical have listed the following safety points:

 

3-Point Safety Check

 

1.    Plug pins

 

 

  • Check that there is at least 9.5 mm between the edge of the pins and the edge of the charger (9.5 mm is about the width of a ballpoint pen). If the distance between the edge of the pins and the edge of the charger is less than 9.5 mm, there is a risk of electric shock when plugging in and unplugging the charger from a socket.

 

  • Plug the charger into a socket but don’t switch it on or connect it to your appliance. 

 

  • If the charger does not easily plug into a socket, the pins may be the wrong size or length, or the distance between the pins may be wrong. If pins do not fit properly into the socket, overheating, arcing and mechanical damage can occur to both the socket and the charger, which can be dangerous.

 

2.    Markings

 

  • Look for a manufacturer’s brand name or logo, model and batch number. Check for a CE mark

 

  • Check that the output voltage and current ratings marked on the charger and your electrical device are the same.

 

  • Do not rely on a CE mark alone as a guarantee of safety – it’s simply a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets all the safety requirements of European law, but they can be easily forged.

 

3.    Warnings and instructions

 

 

  • Adequate warnings and instructions must be provided. As a minimum, user instructions should provide information on conditions and limitations of use, how to operate the charger safely, basic electrical safety guidance and details of how to safely dispose of the charger when it is no longer required.