Cheap Apple charger cashes it's chips. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 06:39:05 pm
content: This was found in one of the buildings at work, luckily nobody was hurt.It took out a 32A circuit.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 06:59:10 pm
content: Clean the soot off the faceplate and it will work.........Copper plating as a shield for RFI, very inventive, though it probably would have been better to apply it at production rather than during end consumer use.Important, was the fondleslab connected during this incident, and if so did it survive ( brown trousers excepted).

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 07:15:34 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on February 23, 2013, 06:59:10 pmSounds easy doesn't it. I can only imagine the amount of paperwork to be filled in and meetings to take place before this is sorted out.Quote from: SeanB on February 23, 2013, 06:59:10 pmJa, I don't know if the telephone or whatever was connected up to this death trap or not. I doubt it will have survived if it had been charging.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 07:19:41 pm
content: Depends, if it is government it will take at least until next election is over, in a big company at least 3 weeks. In a small place one hour..........

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 07:28:54 pm
content: Was that thing real or fake? There are many "look alike" counterfeits around, as per other threads on this forum.To comply with UK standards it surely should have had a fuse inside it, even if it was a one time non-replaceable fuse. Is there evidence of such, and how did it not prevent the bang?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 07:34:08 pm
content: Genuine Fong Kong one for sure, UK pattern socket which is only used on 240VAC 50Hz countries, yet marked as 100-240VAC 50/60Hz, with all fake safety marks added to it ( put the mark on and it is magically safe) and a genuine fusible lead inside.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 07:59:07 pm
content: One sure fire way of telling a fake is the plastic earth pin. Even double insulated Class II devices must have a metal earth pin. The Woo Hong Fong manufacturing company don't like spending the extra cash on a metal earth pin.A genuine Apple charger has a metal earth pin.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 08:30:27 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on February 23, 2013, 07:34:08 pmThat's very common, actually. It allows operation with a suitable adaptor in other countries.Quote from: Kibi on February 23, 2013, 07:59:07 pmMyth.QuoteWhat fucking imbecile put in a C32 for three sockets, though?

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 10:10:11 pm
content: I suppose it's a ringmain circuit to justify a 32A breaker. You can't put a 16A breaker in if it's wired as a ringmain, can you?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 10:11:49 pm
content: Quote from: Kibi on February 23, 2013, 10:10:11 pmNo. And there's no point in a 32A ringfinalfor three sockets (nor a 32A radial). And absolutely no point in a type C breaker!

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 10:26:38 pm
content: True, and to be fair, the breaker is labelled as "Pattress No. 2", insinuating that each pattress in the cubicle is served from it's own breaker.C curve may not be necessary in the cubicle, but would be a requirement in the studio. The electrician should have been able to discern between the two. Any lighting would have to be connected to a 32A outlet anyway, so I apologise, I get your point.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 10:29:37 pm
content: Quote from: Kibi on February 23, 2013, 10:26:38 pmAnd yet the studio sockets are clearly on B32s.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 10:44:11 pm
content: I didn't look that closely.On closer inspection, it turns out that the apps room's ceiling outlets (the ones that serve broadcast equipment) are on a B curve breker and the dado (where the knobby engineer plugs his laptop into) is on a C breaker.So,Quote from: Monkeh on February 23, 2013, 08:30:27 pmand the rest.

author: justanothercanuck
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 10:50:40 pm
content: Dang, that's creepy. Luckily it didn't catch on fire.Any idea why/how it failed?

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 11:09:03 pm
content: It's what happens when you build something based on components' maximum spec. to save money.The almost immediate sublimation and subsequent condensation of copper on the inside of the casing only added to the problem.I am almost impressed that such an amount of copper is actually condensed on the inside of the case, I'd have thought they'd have gone for far less copper than that in the design.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2013, 11:24:50 pm
content: Quote from: Kibi on February 23, 2013, 11:09:03 pmIt looks like the internal wire gave its "all". We should hold a minute of silence.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2013, 05:32:50 am
content: You need at least 3 strands to solder it quickly. Smaller wires are going to take longer to solder ( more fiddly) and will be more expensive from being less common.