Phone chargers supplied with Smart Phones never seem to last as long as the Phone, it’s very annoying when one has to wiggle a lead and get it in the exact position for the Phone to Charge and even more annoying when you move it slightly, and your Phone stops charging.
Time for a new charger
Official charger’s for most phones cost around £20, a bit pricey you might think?
Have a look around you’ll soon find you can get chargers advertised as ‘genuine’ elsewhere for £2.99
A big difference and a big saving
Chances are there’s a big difference in quality
The ‘genuine’ charger for £2.99 could be a fake
Not all cheaper chargers found online are fake’s, but unfortunately, there’s a lot of fakes on the UK market
Fake phone chargers are manufactured in the far east without proper regulations and testing. You will pay more money for an official charger, but you have peace of mind that it’s been meticulously tested and complies with UK/EU safety regulations.
The Risks Of A Fake Charger
- Excess Current
- Overheating
- Electrocution
- Explosion
Excess Current
Official Chargers contain fuses so won’t overload your phone. Many fake chargers don’t have fuses, so your phones unprotected from excessive current. The excessive current could permanently damage your phone rendering it unusable forcing you to buy a new phone. Way more expensive than buying the correct charger in the first place.
Overheating & Fire
Next, your phone can (and probably will to an extent) overheat. Even worse the charger can catch fire. Official chargers have fuses so don’t overheat and are constructed from safe flame retardant plastic. Manufacturers of fake phone chargers don’t consider fire risk and will often use the cheapest of plastics that are more likely to catch fire.
Electrocution and Explosion
Electrocution and Explosions are other possibilities with fake chargers. Sadly phone related Electrocutions and Explosions have caused a few deaths over the years.
How To Spot A Fake Charger
- Try and compare to your original charger if possible
- Fake chargers often feel lighter than real ones
- Fake chargers look cheaper often with slightly discoloured and glossier finishes
- Look for the CE mark. All products sold in the European Economic Area should have one to show they conform with required health, safety and environmental standards. (Beware some fake chargers have fake CE marks)
- Plug pins should be solid, tap the pins if they sound hollow or like tapping plastic then the chargers probably a fake
- Check the packaging and documentation both should look genuine
- Take note of the charging time if your phones taking longer to charge than usual you could have a fake charger
Despite all the risks many people do get away with using fake chargers without an accident but is it worth the risk? No, and anyway most experience slow charging times (twice as long in most cases) and reduced energy efficiency. The few pounds you save in buying the charger will soon disappear in your electricity bill.
Always buy a genuine charger from your phone manufacturer or direct from a reputable third-party manufacturer (such as Anker)