USB Charger Fail...and then what?

[calnorth]

Got one of these with a new iStick 30W a month back. Didn't think eleaf provided them..dunno? Anyway, it worked for 4 weeks and without any flame show it stopped supplying 5 volts @1000ma (1A will do!). It charged the ileaf ok till I noticed I had to plug into my Laptop/PC. Never did measure its o/p during operation...why would you?

This has the usual CE joke markings (+ others) and no manufacturer name or type ID. So the temptation now for a lot of folk is to grab the nearest charger with a USB socket on it I suspect? Thats 240v AC to 5V DC with a few bits of silicon. Whether its fused adequately, I've yet to get to surgery.

[calnorth]

Surgery performed. A toy mains transformer exists which now has an open primary. So this toy trafo appears to be the fuse...non replaceable. Various failure modes, but can't be bothered with it.

[nanotm]

a lot of those generic wall chargers are rated for 0.5amps output for older generation phones, some of the newer generation of devices are rated for 2.5amp output, my personal preference is to only charge from a pc since I know the output is always regulated at 0.5amps on usb2 and will allow no more than that to be drawn, it also has a short circuit protection, right now I have a twin usb charger on a power bar that's rated for both 1.5amp and 0.5amp outputs, it will charge at the lower rate for Lumia or android devices but at the higher rate for ipads or iphones, both of which will charge at the lower rate but take twice as long .... my original Lumia charger lasted 6 weeks before it started to make warbling tones, I found out afterwards some relative had used it for their iPhone (swapped leads on the usb port) and it had been damaged by it.

of ocurse it probably doesn't help that i'm rather paranoid about batteries on charge and prefer dedicated lower amp outputs that might take a bit longer to deliver the ful charge than to use "should be fine" outputs with any form of lithium batteries, afterall they cant go bang if the excitation current isn't high enough

[DiscoDes]

These things are so variable in quality, yours looks like a Apple charger clone.

They are cheap enough to replace but are definitely a weak link in the chain when it comes to electronics.

If you like to fiddle around with electrical stuff check out Bigclive on YouTube

Here's one that looks like yours subjected to a teardown :

[calnorth]

Feb 10, 2016 12:04:41 GMT DiscoDes said:

These things are so variable in quality, yours looks like a Apple charger clone.

They are cheap enough to replace but are definitely a weak link in the chain when it comes to electronics.

If you like to fiddle around with electrical stuff check out Bigclive on YouTube

Here's one that looks like yours subjected to a teardown :

Vid was here

Thanks DiscoDes. I wouldn't have found that and it is identical. Its coupling the mains in very close and as he said:

Transformer - isolation?
Capacitor(s) - pffft!
PCB gap - isolation?
Generic components - pffft!

I'll add:
USB socket is better than his....at the moment
Plastic flammable...dunno?
Board has not been conformally coated to prevent moisture effects.
CE is self certification....useless really.

The design ultimately hopes that something goes open circuit thats in series with mains. The next safety barrier before that is the house skts fuse/trip. So this device fails primarily on not having a standard safety device fitted...a fuse. And that might not be fast enough, but is part of a risk mitigation.

BIN!

I prefer the PC/Laptop PU's...no other choice really.







 

[yahoo2u2]

We have had an argument for a long time with the EU and China over the CE markings. (Conformité Européenne), BTW has been CE has been "adopted" by China and they claim it means China Export Almost impossible to tell the difference on most electronics.

Just a little input

[mart166]

I can only talk from experiance not electronic expertise.

I have had 3 six port 4A USB chargers from FT, I know chinese stuff dodgy, but these have served me well with no problems, litterally has charged 100's of everything you can sling a USB plug into, one feeds my charging staion in passage, one is for travel as has multi plugs on it, and other one only failure as I left it in hotel in Berlin, some lucky german still using it now I bet. None ever get hot, none given any problems. Only 1 problem, bloody blue LEDS anyoying in a hotel room at night when only plug beside your bed lol. I know this does not add to this thread, just thought would add as comment.

MP

[yahoo2u2]

So true, we can of course bash all Chinese products as most originates from China, if not the whole thing, certainly many components.

[calnorth]

The other thing I should mention (my pic above) is that the body of the charger is not built as a compliant UK plug. Its a bastardisation of our safe plug type. And, along with most mobile phone companies they have placed power conversion circuitry directly into our hands...effectively. No fuse in them...again!

I wouldn't have the first idea what the EU directives related to CE compliance might be, but this stuff sure does breach earlier safety design.

[phatfil]

The real risk is if you buy a far east dodgy electric product that ends up burning down your insured home, your insurer can refuse any payment as you are the importer of said product and are therefore responsible for ensuring its compliant to standards before use.. while if the same article is bought in good faith from a uk seller that particular 'buck' stops with them..

Some things its worth paying full retail price for before hindsight kicks in..

[nanotm]

Feb 10, 2016 15:44:15 GMT phatfil said:

The real risk is if you buy a far east dodgy electric product that ends up burning down your insured home, your insurer can refuse any payment as you are the importer of said product and are therefore responsible for ensuring its compliant to standards before use.. while if the same article is bought in good faith from a uk seller that particular 'buck' stops with them..

Some things its worth paying full retail price for before hindsight kicks in..

theres a large number of former "hover board" owners who found that out the hard way .......

[joeten]

For anyone who can be bothered reading through www.ce-marking.org/what-is-ce-marking.html
www.gov.uk/guidance/ce-marking

[300]

Feb 10, 2016 10:38:49 GMT calnorth said:

Got one of these with a new iStick 30W a month back. Didn't think eleaf provided them..dunno? Anyway, it worked for 4 weeks and without any flame show it stopped supplying 5 volts @1000ma (1A will do!). It charged the ileaf ok till I noticed I had to plug into my Laptop/PC. Never did measure its o/p during operation...why would you?

This has the usual CE joke markings (+ others) and no manufacturer name or type ID. So the temptation now for a lot of folk is to grab the nearest charger with a USB socket on it I suspect? Thats 240v AC to 5V DC with a few bits of silicon. Whether its fused adequately, I've yet to get to surgery.

Got one of those with the Wife's first I-Stick.... burning smell & too hot to touch after first charge, didn't cool down even when not under load, straight in the bin.

Use one of these now, 1amp max from either USB port & still get to use the socket if need be.

[djs]

Feb 10, 2016 22:13:07 GMT 300 said:

Use one of these now, 1amp max from either USB port & still get to use the socket if need be.

Good man!

Local company to me, I know people who work there.

I have two. (Actually, I have 3 but someone stole it for their bedroom...)

[Greg]

Feb 10, 2016 22:34:53 GMT djs said:

Feb 10, 2016 22:13:07 GMT 300 said:

Use one of these now, 1amp max from either USB port & still get to use the socket if need be.

Good man!

Local company to me, I know people who work there.

I have two. (Actually, I have 3 but someone stole it for their bedroom...)

Your Mistress ?