Mobile phones, mp3 players, laptops, tablets, e-readers. The variety and number of mobile electronic devices in a household that need charging is increasing all the time. While original charger replacements are much more expensive than their cheaper cheap knockoffs found in almost every store this holiday season, saving money from buying cheap counterfeit chargers may be a serious mistake that could mean risking your life.
Just in the news Investigators have issued a warning to consumers who look to save money this holiday season by purchasing non-official Apple chargers. Based on recent research by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute they revealed that 99% of the counterfeit Apple chargers they tested failed their most basic of safety tests, putting those who choose to use them as well as other people and properties nearby at risk. In one investigation this institute discovered that out of 400 of these chargers tested, only three were found to actually be produced with enough insulation that would actually protect the user against any electrical shocks and potential fire hazards. Specialist testing engineers purchased a number of these chargers from different countries including US, China and Australia and Canada, and then applied a high voltage to the equipment in order to test for sufficient insulation, with the conclusion being that a high percentage of those purchased were simply dangerous and not safe at all. Furthermore, when warning against the use of these counterfeit and electrical chargers, the agency said that these type of products were entirely an “unknown entity”, alluding to the fact that consumers literally have no idea if the manufacturers have tested the product thoroughly, or if the electrical item conforms to any kind of safety protocols.
Earlier this year, Apple actually took the opportunity to update its own support website to try and educate consumers on how to spot fake charging accessory vs the real one in the hope of ensuring that iPhone and iPad owners weren’t inadvertently duped into purchasing potentially dangerous charging equipment that they believed to be official Apple ones. So, if you go to http://support.apple.com/ht204566 you can find that document with pictures and photos to further explain.
It looks like official goods from Apple may cost a little more, with counterfeit items offering a price appeal, but in the long run saving on money can cause physical damage to people or property. It may not seem important right now, but when you generally have an iPhone or iPad plugged in during the night to charge while asleep, it’s vitally important to ensure and have trust in your charging equipment so it don’t end up causing harm to you or your family.
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