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Store fined after a mother was killed by a faulty USB charger
October 2016
A mobile phone business in Sydney has been fined after it sold a faulty $4.95 USB charger to Sheryl Anne Aldeguer, a young nurse that was later electrocuted.
This was reported by Test & Tag Training back in July 2014 and highlighted the dangers of buying cheap USB chargers and adaptors.
It was believed the charger sent a high-voltage electrical pulse from the charger and into her phone. As she was wearing earphones at the time and using a laptop, the electricity went through her earphones, back to the laptop and into the power point.
The Supreme Court fined the business $6000 after a civil action was initiated by NSW Fair Trading, although the fine is quite lenient considering the maximum penalty is $550,000.
This case has however created more awareness around the risks of purchasing cheap and non-approved phone chargers, power boards and travel adaptors with thousands being seized.
It’s important to remember although USB chargers are considered a low voltage item, it’s still vital that they be visually inspected and electrically tested on the AC side of the transformer (the side that plugs into the wall), as this side carries 240V AC current. If you require help doing this, read our guide on testing and tagging a USB charger.
By remaining vigilant and doing the proper tests, non-approved USB’s and adaptors can easily be discovered and taken out of service.
A mobile phone business in Sydney has been fined after it sold a faulty $4.95 USB charger to Sheryl Anne Aldeguer, a young nurse that was later electrocuted.
This was reported by Test & Tag Training back in July 2014 and highlighted the dangers of buying cheap USB chargers and adaptors.
It was believed the charger sent a high-voltage electrical pulse from the charger and into her phone. As she was wearing earphones at the time and using a laptop, the electricity went through her earphones, back to the laptop and into the power point.
The Supreme Court fined the business $6000 after a civil action was initiated by NSW Fair Trading, although the fine is quite lenient considering the maximum penalty is $550,000.
This case has however created more awareness around the risks of purchasing cheap and non-approved phone chargers, power boards and travel adaptors with thousands being seized.
It’s important to remember although USB chargers are considered a low voltage item, it’s still vital that they be visually inspected and electrically tested on the AC side of the transformer (the side that plugs into the wall), as this side carries 240V AC current. If you require help doing this, read our guide on testing and tagging a USB charger.
By remaining vigilant and doing the proper tests, non-approved USB’s and adaptors can easily be discovered and taken out of service.