Third party chargers and exploding iPads

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Third party chargers and exploding iPads - help clarify?

Batman

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#143880 30-Apr-2014 12:09

I am going on a trip. Thinking about how many chargers I would need - 2 for Canon SLR, USB cable for Galaxy S2, iPhone 5S, iPad 2, Laptop ... probably a few more ...

This thing replaces a few cables and head unit http://www.1-day.co.nz/products/AAMCVN335

My mother exploded my dad's ipad 4 (fireball smoke and sparks) by plugging it into a third party charger. I think (not sure) it is a "quick" charger (I think quick = iPad anyway, I did check the ratings very similar to Ipad charger, coz iPhone chargers are lower amperage)

So - is that thing on 1-day safe? Not safe?

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#1033911 30-Apr-2014 12:17

Higher amps don't matter, a device will only draw what it needs.

There is no reason that device won't do the job except that 2.1 amps probably simply isn't enough. I'm pretty sure ipads want 2 amps on their own, so anything else connected at the same time will probably overload it.

dacraka

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#1033912 30-Apr-2014 12:18

Looks very similar to this on Deal Extreme, right?

andrewNZ

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#1033918 30-Apr-2014 12:21

My mother exploded my dad's ipad 4 (fireball smoke and sparks) by plugging it into a third party charger. I think (not sure) it is a "quick" charger (I think quick = iPad anyway, I did check the ratings very similar to Ipad charger, coz iPhone chargers are lower amperage)

There are three ways I can see this happening.

A faulty charger
A faulty iPad
Using a 110v device (charger) in a 230v supply

skewt

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#1033920 30-Apr-2014 12:22

The only charger I have had fail was an official Apple charger 12w
Heated up so much I felt my hand was burning removing it from the wall

Watch out for some chargers that report higher amps, My work Samsung S3 Mini wont charge from a USB Charger that reports it will do upto 2.1amps

timmmay

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#1033946 30-Apr-2014 12:55

Why do you need so many devices and chargers, are you going on assignment to the Olympics or something?

I have a two port Belkin charger that works well for everything except my old Asus tablet. The charger for that is 15V, though it steps down to standard USB voltages if you use a standard cable.

That product looks pretty good to me, could come in very handy. Unless someone says there's a problem with it I'll probably get one.

jaidevp

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#1033971 30-Apr-2014 13:27

I bought one of these for my iPad worked for 10mins, then started noticing a burning smell, quickly unplugged it. Luckily the iPad was ok but the charger was dead. Then I heard about the Apple replacement program and used it to get an official one for cheaper.
After hearing of the stories of cheap no name after-market chargers I avoid them. I do have a Belkin one that has been working fine. So as long as it's a reputable brand should be ok.

gzt

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#1034000 30-Apr-2014 13:56

I use Apple chargers with other devices but never the other way around. Apple do put a fair bit of engineering thought into these things. On a gross level, my theory is the Apple chargers are slightly heavier for a reason ; ).

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PhantomNVD

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#1034006 30-Apr-2014 14:14

I also use a Belkin charger at times, though also prefer to use Apple chargers for everything else.
Things to think of though...
Will you really need to charge them all at once (the charger looks fine for any ONE at a time)
And
Has anyone used one of these on an apple device, as I have had various chargers declined since ios7 (including my Logitech bedside iPod player :(

I believe Apple have some chip imbedded in their 'official' chargers specifically to prevent 'dodgy' 3rd party ones being used?

Batman

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#1034018 30-Apr-2014 14:28

timmmay: Why do you need so many devices and chargers, are you going on assignment to the Olympics or something?

I have a two port Belkin charger that works well for everything except my old Asus tablet. The charger for that is 15V, though it steps down to standard USB voltages if you use a standard cable.

That product looks pretty good to me, could come in very handy. Unless someone says there's a problem with it I'll probably get one.

Let's say I have a very large family. 5 people in mine, and 2 sets of in laws' family.

Niel

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#1034320 30-Apr-2014 22:00

I don't know about the latest Apple power adapters, but it used to be that they had an unusual combination of pull-up/down resistors on the data lines to identify the adapter. This could be copied by anyone, but I suspect they had it protected by a patent so you have to be on the MFI program to implement it. Other companies did a similar but very basic version of this until the USB charging port standard became popular (and EU pushed for a single universal charging standard) where the data lines are simply shorted together. This is the key difference between Apple power adapters and other (current) mobile phones.

There is no fancy engineering thought in the Apple power adapters, but the MFI program means there is control over (most) 3rd party power adapters. They still design for the exact same electrical and EMC compliance as everyone else (is supposed to). Power adapters that blow up are ones that have design faults, assembly fault, or simply never met electrical compliance. Buy from a reputable store as they (are supposed to) have electrical compliance support documents. Some of the requirements are that if a mains wire inside the unit comes loose it must not be able to touch anything on the low voltage side, and solder is not considered constraint as it can melt from a fault. You need cable ties and/or goup, but on cheap rubbish those are the first things to go to save cost. Next is pirate parts.

The other day at Supercheap Auto for $12 I've found a 2-port charger built into a unit that looks similar in shape to digital mains timer, i.e. it also has a mains socket which is handy. It does something like 3A or 3.5A, can't remember now, but sufficient to charge a 7" Galaxy Tab 2 and a 10.1" Galaxy Note 2014 at the same time. However it is not listed on their website so sorry no link. It was the brand.

The one linked in the OP is essentially just for charging 4 smaller smart phones at the same time, or fitting 4 different style cables but use only one or two at a time.

You can never have enough Volvos!

Batman

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#1034325 30-Apr-2014 22:06

Thanks.

Very helpful!

blakamin

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#1034329 30-Apr-2014 22:10

Niel:

The other day at Supercheap Auto for $12 I've found a 2-port charger built into a unit that looks similar in shape to digital mains timer, i.e. it also has a mains socket which is handy. It does something like 3A or 3.5A, can't remember now, but sufficient to charge a 7" Galaxy Tab 2 and a 10.1" Galaxy Note 2014 at the same time. However it is not listed on their website so sorry no link. It was the brand.

I bought a "Narva Power Cup" a few years ago... Melted in the cup holder with 2 phones plugged in. This was before phones had 2A chargers.