How to check the device charger is safe to use? Buying products approved by the manufacturer is a way to ensure safety. However, high prices for a simple thing like USB Lightning cable can make you frustrated.
But the fake charger may be dangerous; even threatening life. Poor quality chargers can cause you to be electric shock or fire. So what can you do to minimize this risk?
Note: The following steps are just instructions. The article cannot guarantee that any charger you buy is genuine and even the real charger may be broken.
1. Use genuine chargers
You don't have to buy genuine chargers directly from your smartphone manufacturer. However, it is essential that you have to buy the right charger for the right device. Even if you are tempted by the cheap charger, you must make sure your device is listed as compatible with that charger and power cable.
If you are not sure, see the product description. This will tell you which device can support. Using a charger with too high voltage or too low can harm your smartphone.
You may not realize that the damage has occurred – using inappropriate chargers can cause immediate performance or significantly shortening the life of the device.
2. See packaging and instructions
If you order online, the product is delivered to packaging and instructions. However, many people ignore these.
You can ignore this because you do not really need to see the instructions to know how to turn on the device. But genuine packaging is a sign that you have purchased from a reputable company.
Even when packaging, pay attention to the strange points in the design. You will not see the text that is printed super crooked and the logo is broken on genuine items.
3. Do not rely on quality control
Why is the instructions and packaging important? Because it is where you often see quality control. These are signs that the product has been tested according to safety regulations. They completely depend on your territory and where the manufacturer is headquartered. For example, in the US, you will see the trademark of the Federal Communications Committee (FCC). Canadians should note the symbol of the Canadian Standard Association (CSA). And anyone in Europe should look for CE brand.
But you cannot rely on these things. They can easily be fake. You can find examples of high resolution by searching on Google.
Instead, make sure the product comes with additional safety instructions on how to use, power source and final exhaust. Some scammers ignore the additional warnings because they know that customers are more likely to find quality control icons.
4. Check the pins
This may seem too much, but it is better to take the time to check your charger thoroughly, to avoid causing a fire.
Fortunately, you do not need to use a ruler to measure the length of the pins: just plug the charger! Do not plug the cable or the device you want to charge quickly.
If the pins are too long, there will be a gap between the charger and the wall. If the pins are too far or too close to each other, the charger will not match properly. The other possibility is that the plug of the charger is too short, harder to distinguish. However, you can compare them with the pins on the product that you know is genuine and works well.
5. Feel the weight of the charger
The fake charger is produced at a cheap price to maximize profits. Of course, such poor quality work means that you do not receive all the necessary components in the genuine charger. Some faulty chargers do not even have a fuse inside.
The genuine charger will be heavier than the fake charger. You can check this just by holding a charger and compare with another charger you know is genuine. The charger usually weighs from 56 to 113g. The minimum weight is about 40g. If not sure, use the scale.
6. Make sure the cable is not frayed
Cable can also be fake. They may also be damaged by excessive use. Should be alert to the frayed cable – ie open wire. You need to know when to throw away the broken cable. If you can see the conductor under the plastic shell, be careful and buy a new cable as soon as possible.
How can you know that the cable is a fake? Some types shorter average: Apple's Lightning cable is 1m long, but some other types, such as Samsung USB-C cable, are about 1.5m long.
Poor quality cable will have loose or non -aligned components in the USB connector. Like the charger, the cable must be accompanied by genuine packaging.
7. Check if the charger is wet
This final point applies to the charger, corresponding cable and your devices. Liquids can be harmful to electrical equipment, so let them stay away from water. Even the accumulated sweat can affect the phone. Fortunately, you can save your mobile phone wet. Many of them are also effective for the charger, but it is important to be gentle.
You will need to be patient to dry out the charger and even then, you can not be sure that it is completely fine to use. Therefore, it is advisable to apply safer options: buy a new charger. It is better to buy a new charger instead of the risk of electric shock (or worse).
Of course, the ideal answer is to prevent your charger from getting wet from the beginning.
