iPhone chargers. To test or not to test?

[McTadder]

I’ve just spent the day testing about 40 iPhone chargers. Sticking 500v through them and they all pass. Does everybody agree that they have to be tested?

 

[littlespark]

Visual inspection.
Class II test
Bung a sticker on it.

I wonder if you just fried 40 iPhone chargers???

 

[adonis2]

I used to test phone charges in a charity shop, never fried any at 500 volts.
Failed a few on cracked cases damaged wiring and pins.

 

[McTadder]

Visual inspection.
Class II test
Bung a sticker on it.

I wonder if you just fried 40 iPhone chargers???

No they were all good. Up and running when I left.

 

[McTadder]

I used to test phone charges in a charity shop, never fried any at 500 volts.
Failed a few on cracked cases damaged wiring and pins.

So should they just be visual only?

 

[McTadder]

I used to test phone charges in a charity shop, never fried any at 500 volts.
Failed a few on cracked cases damaged wiring and pins.

So should they just be visual only?

 

[timhoward]

Isn't the earth pin plastic?
And the tester is Joining L+N together and sending 500v dc to the pair combined and seeing if there is any trace on the earth pin.
So it would be something of a miracle if one failed the IR test wouldn't it given there's no path back?

 

[loz2754]

Edition 5 of the Code of Practice takes a more risk assessment based approach. In other words, what is the product used for, what environment is it used in, what Class of construction is it, who will be using it etc...
Once that risk assessment has been made for a particular item of equipment, then a decision can be made on how and how often to inspect and/or test the said equipment.

 

[ipf]

Edition 5 of the Code of Practice takes a more risk assessment based approach. In other words, what is the product used for, what environment is it used in, what Class of construction is it, who will be using it etc...
Once that risk assessment has been made for a particular item of equipment, then a decision can be made on how and how often to inspect and/or test the said equipment.

Mmmm! That's their £2.50 per item down the swanny before they've started thinking about whether to test or not. ?

 

[DPG]

As per post #7, the 500V IR test is between earth and live/neutral joined together. You haven't tested anything I'm afraid.

 

[DPG]

Visual inspection.
Class II test
Bung a sticker on it.

I wonder if you just fried 40 iPhone chargers???

Luckily there's no way he could fry them with the IR test.

 

[brianmoooore]

On a par with earth bonding clamps on plastic water pipes.

 

[ipf]

On a par with earth bonding clamps on plastic water pipes.

Any leakage at the nearest joint, eh?

 

[timhoward]

Any leakage at the nearest joint, eh?

The nearest joint will probably be in the mouth of the guy that fitted the clamp...

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Trying to test a Class II charger for differential leakage or insulation via the plastic ISOD is not very sensible. But testing it for insulation or touch leakage to the USB output is a real thing and IMO should be done, given the number of counterfeit chargers in circulation with possibly inadequate insulation between the live side and the output. Plug a USB cable in and use the tester's earth probe to take an earth to the shield. You won't damage a good charger, or put another way, any charger that can't withstand 500V between the mains and user is not a good charger.

If there was some certainty that all the OP's chargers were genuine and have not had a hard life, the risk assessment might realistically limit it to visual inspection. Take any bunch of random chargers instead and while the probability is still low, the hazard associated with insulation failure of a substandard charger is a phone body connected to mains line, possibly even while it is charging happily, so there is measurable risk.