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USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

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Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#91

If you are wondering "How could an isolation transformer ever get past QC with abraded or nicked insulation?", you might find this video interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEJn74Z3wHk

I've had a portable Bluetooth speaker blow up in my bedroom a couple of years ago while charging. Something malfunctioned in the battery section. The only reason that didn't set the building on fire was that I was right next to the speaker when it burst into flames. My immediate reaction was to assume my SO playing a really unfortunate firecracker prank on me, but half a second later it was obvious it was the speaker…

>for them to study

For them to study, or for them to destroy the evidence so that you absolutely could not take them to court.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I play Ingress a lot (a GPS based mobile game where you run around a lot in the real world so most players use external batteries) and at least 60-70% of the whole community uses Anker products. I personally know at a dozen people who use Anker wall plugs and all of them (including me, 1 wallplug and 2 battery packs) are very happy.

Does anyone know if the RAVPower products are any good? I have a few (4-port USB charger, 6-port USB charger, and a battery pack) and have been impressed with their performance (they are the only chargers I have found that my Vita will recognise, for example), but can't find any teardowns etc. discussing build quality.

I'm happy with the one product of theirs I have. They have multiple products on Amazon with several thousand positive reviews each. I don't know if that means they will be reliable in the long term, but they seem to have one of the best names on Amazon to me.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#93

If you are wondering "How could an isolation transformer ever get past QC with abraded or nicked insulation?", you might find this video interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEJn74Z3wHk

I don't get it. They made transformers like that for about 80 years in America, but if a Chinese person does it, it's crazy and dangerous? It looked like she was doing a pretty good job.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#94

As a reminder, if you're buying a USB charger or battery, or MicroUSB, Type C, or Lightning cable please buy Anker products. They are not expensive, but they are the best products you can get your hands on. I own multiple Anker products, and have never discovered anything better than these. The only non-Anker charger I currently use is the Google Nexus branded Qi charger (plugged into an Anker multiport brick), and t…

I bought an Anker 5 port USB charger and one of the port died after just 1 month of infrequent use. Their products are very well polished but their QC is bad as you can find so many similar reviews in Amazon. They refused to replace my unit as it was sold by: Amazon Export Sales LLC, according to them which is not official reseller.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#95
post #77

How do I know what I'm buying is safe? I've sworn by the Nexus chargers in their various incarnations and http://www.amazon.com/Charge-Charging-Station-Micro-USB-Sams... (I have a Tronsmart and an Aukey vertsion)

I can answer from an Australian perspective. Here's how it's supposed to work: Suppliers register and prove that their products comply with Australian standards, and are awarded a compliance number. That number is the consumer's indicator that a product is safe. Any interested party can check that the certification is genuine by looking up the compliance number in an online database. Here's how it works in practise:…

https://equipment.erac.gov.au/Registration/EquipmentSearch.a... isn't the database you're referring to?

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#96
post #93

If you are wondering "How could an isolation transformer ever get past QC with abraded or nicked insulation?", you might find this video interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEJn74Z3wHk

I don't get it. They made transformers like that for about 80 years in America, but if a Chinese person does it, it's crazy and dangerous? It looked like she was doing a pretty good job.

Nobody said anything about America or China. The listed uploader on the video even suggests it's from India. So quit yer trolling.

The transformers made 80 years ago were indeed dangerous. Generally they used paper insulation soaked in fire retardant chemicals.

There are a couple of observations I make about this video:

1. She's working amazingly fast and clearly with great skill. However, there's very very little time being spent inspecting the result at each stage.

2. Observe that she is holding sharp wire cutting scissors in her hand as she performs many operations on the insulating tape and wire. It would be extremely easy to accidentally nick the insulation when working at that speed. This insulation is the only barrier between your charging iPhone and the 120/240 mains voltage (or higher in a switching supply).

3. This transformer design is not the safer more modern "split bobbin" type as suggested in the original video. Instead of having a plastic barrier between two separate windings, it relies entirely on the enamel insulation of the transformer wire and a few layers of insulating tape between concentric windings. The precise number of insulating tape layers is essential to achieve the necessary safety insulation. The white tape wound along the sides is important too. Watch the video again closely. How careful is she being to count the number of layers of insulating tape? It's possible her winding machine is counting them, but this step flies by so quickly it's a bit worrying. Edit: This may be extrapolating a bit because it may be we're seeing the outer, rather than an interposing, layer of tape being wrapped in the video.

4. The transformers are piled haphazardly as they are being constructed. They are heavy and the bottom pins can have get a pretty sharp point on them. I bet some of those transformers at the bottom of those piles are getting their insulation punctured.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had a portable Bluetooth speaker blow up in my bedroom a couple of years ago while charging. Something malfunctioned in the battery section. The only reason that didn't set the building on fire was that I was right next to the speaker when it burst into flames. My immediate reaction was to assume my SO playing a really unfortunate firecracker prank on me, but half a second later it was obvious it was the speaker…

>for them to study For them to study, or for them to destroy the evidence so that you absolutely could not take them to court.

> so that you absolutely could not take them to court.

Did he miss an opportunity or an opportunity cost?

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#98
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are into machining then check out Clickspring, oxtoolco, Abom79, Keith Rucker, Keith Fenner, Shadow HKW, ... If this is not enough then go and visit this list: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtisanVideos/comments/3v264a/meta_... (But be careful, this is the ultimate rabbit hole)

Keith Fenner is astounding. Years ago my girlfriend said "enough Keith Fenner videos, You have to take a welding class", I did and it was amazing. As a side note, I'm starting a blog where I interview heavy equipment operators and write about heavy equipment. Anyone here interested in that?

Heavy equipment operator and computing science student here. Let me know if you'd like to talk.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>for them to study For them to study, or for them to destroy the evidence so that you absolutely could not take them to court.

> so that you absolutely could not take them to court. Did he miss an opportunity or an opportunity cost?

He's the poster child for a potential class action lawsuit. He witnessed their product explode with his own eyes.

And yes I would imagine that there could have been some cost associated with cleaning up the smoke smell left in the room and possibly any burned areas.

Re: USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack

#100
post #15

That's scary. Not enough isolation between the line side and the output side. Classic cause of electrocution and fires. The standard for this is UL 1310, Class 2 Power Supplies. Not sure if this design complies. There's a lot to be said for split-bobbin transformers, where there's a solid plastic barrier between the two windings. This just has wire insulation and some tape.

> Not enough isolation between the line side and the > output side. Classic cause of electrocution and fires.

I'd doubt that any significant amount of fires are caused by loss of isolation between line and output side. While it might be very unpleasant to touch any device that came into contact with the live wires, there's not really much current you can have flowing. And if any significant current flows, a GFI should catch this, and shut down the power.

Regarding the amont of deaths by electrocution: How much people are actually electrocuted by badly designed house appliances? As far as I see there's only very little injury related to electrical shock outside of actual electrical or construction work, where people might naturally be more easily exposed to live wiring carrying higher currents, possibly higher voltages and, most importantly much lighter standards in terms of circuit breakers.

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