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I will say that I felt a slight buzz one time while urging my iPhone 5 in. The cord was plugged into the cube, which was plugged into the wall. I tried to recreate the shock, but I wasn't able to. This was on a couple days old naked iPhone 5.
 
Because of "cheap" plastic cases this probably could not happen to Samsung phone. By the mood of some posters in this thread it looks like they think that one dead woman is small price to pay for "premium" feel of the iPhone.

Years and Years of aluminum casing by Apple, and only now this happens. I think that's pretty unlikely. There was obviously something else at play here, wasn't just the iphone's fault. Also why you bring up Samsung, and not other manufacturers is beyond me, so I would just have to conclude ur a samsung fanboy trying to bash the iphone (HTC One also uses metal btw, but no must've slipped your mind).

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Just Apple users? So is CNN accusing Apple of faulty iPhones? I use my iPhone and iPad while plugged in to power all the time. Never had any issues, never received a shock of any kind.
Yup maybe I should avoid using my macbook while it's plugged in too..... Maybe I shouldn't be near any metal devices with a power outlet. Where does it end folks?
 
Because of "cheap" plastic cases this probably could not happen to Samsung phone. By the mood of some posters in this thread it looks like they think that one dead woman is small price to pay for "premium" feel of the iPhone.

Chances of it actually being the phone are slim to none. Chances of it being plugin in the bathroom, in wet conditions causing the power to short is much more likely, and thus could happen to ANY phone.
 
Isn't the electricity going into an iPhone (or anything for that matter) from these things low-voltage and low-current? 5V DC over USB, right?

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Electrocuted is right there in the headline. That means death.

Electrocution does not necessarily mean death.
 
A few problems with this:

1. The output of the charger should be low voltage

2. If the charger was malfunctioning and China's mains 240VAC was somehow "bleeding through" to the iPhone, the iPhone would not operate. The article states that she was using the phone, so that would mean that this would have to happen while she was using the phone somehow. 240VAC would be sufficiently high enough to electrocute someone in a variety of configurations. If this were the USA at the 120VAC level we have our mains at, it would be highly unlikely. You would have to be standing in a puddle of water with a good connection to earth in order to get electrocuted from 120VAC.

It's the current that kills you and the amount of current is determined by resistance. You short the power supply circuit, your resistance goes to 0, your current skyrockets until either something burns up or your mains breaker trips.

And 120VAC from the mains can definitely kill you, esp if the breakers fail. Be careful
 
Isn't the electricity going into an iPhone (or anything for that matter) from these things low-voltage and low-current? 5V DC over USB, right?

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Electrocution does not necessarily mean death.

Rolls eyes first line from wikipedia and I quote: "Electrocution is death caused by electric shock, either accidental or deliberate."
 
First, this is a tragic story to read and sickening that someone has lost their life whilst going through their normal day...

So, I can empathise with this woman and don't automatically think Apple are infallible just because I like their products.

1) If you are implying that I don't think loss of innocent life isn't tragic, let me set the record straight: I do. It goes without saying I would think. I don't doubt anyone here doesn't feel the same, even if some can't be mature about it. I don't see the need to stand on the pulpit and raise the "I care more" flag. You don't.

2) If you are implying that I believe Apple is infalible because its Apple, again, you are far off course. I don't see how make that inference from my post. All I said was where are the other cases. In the science, in law, this is called evidence. Evidence is what is use to prove or at least explain a theory or causation.

Surely, if this were a common occurrence -- we are talking about loss of life -- it would be well publicized. This is the first instance I've heard of it. I'm asking where all the other incidents are. I don't dismiss the possibility that Apple's manufacturer wasn't lax in quality control one day, or excuse Apple. However, after nearly a year of iPhone 5 production, the design itself it not likely the cause or the issue would have come to light much sooner. It's more likely than not, from what we now know, that this is a freak accident. That is all I'm saying.
 
Because of "cheap" plastic cases this probably could not happen to Samsung phone. By the mood of some posters in this thread it looks like they think that one dead woman is small price to pay for "premium" feel of the iPhone.

Is it worth even responding to your nonsense?....:rolleyes:

Yeah, because plastic cell phones and tech products don't have electronics in them that could transfer to the end user. It wasn't the phone that electrocuted the person it was due to the power cord.

Isn't the Apple power cord receptacle shown in the article made of plastic? ;)
 
It isn't really Voltage that Kills. It is Amperage, and not much at that. 0.1 amp across the heart can be enough to kill. The iPhone charger spits out 2.1 amps so yes, with the right environmental circumstances it could be lethal... so can an electric shaver.
Considering that skin resistance is normally around 20-25K Ohm, you wouldn't draw anywhere near that.

You have to work hard to get killed by 12 VDC.
 
It isn't really Voltage that Kills. It is Amperage, and not much at that. 0.1 amp across the heart can be enough to kill. The iPhone charger spits out 2.1 amps so yes, with the right environmental circumstances it could be lethal... so can an electric shaver.

Amperage kills, but you need sufficient voltage, too.

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Is it worth even responding to your nonsense?....:rolleyes:

Answer is no. The guy you are replying to seems to troll 100% of the time here. I think he's been in time-out a few times as well.

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Rolls eyes first line from wikipedia and I quote: "Electrocution is death caused by electric shock, either accidental or deliberate."

The Oxford dictionary disagrees, oddly. I always thought it didn't mean death as well.

electrocute |iˈlektrəˌkyoōt|
verb [ trans. ] (often be electrocuted)
injure or kill someone by electric shock : a man was electrocuted when he switched on the Christmas tree lights.
 
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1) If you are implying that I don't think loss of innocent life isn't tragic, let me set the record straight: I do. It goes without saying I would think. I don't doubt anyone here doesn't feel the same, even if some can't be mature about it. I don't see the need to stand on the pulpit and raise the "I care more" flag. You don't.

2) If you are implying that I believe Apple is infalible because its Apple, again, you are far off course. I don't see how make that inference from my post. All I said was where are the other cases. In the science, in law, this is called evidence. Evidence is what is use to prove or at least explain a theory or causation.

Surely, if this were a common occurrence -- we are talking about loss of life -- it would be well publicized. This is the first instance I've heard of it. I'm asking where all the other incidents are. I don't dismiss the possibility that Apple's manufacturer wasn't lax in quality control one day, or excuse Apple. However, after nearly a year of iPhone 5 production, the design itself it not likely the cause or the issue would have come to light much sooner. It's more likely than not, from what we now know, that this is a freak accident. That is all I'm saying.

Hold up there! I wasn't inferring either. I invite you to re-read my posts and you'll see I made no such inference.

I simply stated that I wouldn't (wrongly) assume that because I haven't heard of other cases, that this couldn't possibly have happened, and then reinforced this with my own Apple power adapter issues (albeit for a different product).
 
Considering that skin resistance is normally around 20-25K Ohm, you wouldn't draw anywhere near that.

You have to work hard to get killed by 12 VDC.

Yes, I find it hard to believe that a USB power adaptor killed someone on the DC end. I've been shocked by 12V batteries before, and my brother got hit with 120V AC...

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I will say that I felt a slight buzz one time while urging my iPhone 5 in. The cord was plugged into the cube, which was plugged into the wall. I tried to recreate the shock, but I wasn't able to. This was on a couple days old naked iPhone 5.

You sure it wasn't the vibration? Not that I don't believe you... I guess you could feel it if it was electricity.
 
Ha people are questioning the facts because this happend in China? Racist much?

Racist? China is known for knock off half assed counterfeit products that pretend to be official - this isn't about Chinese the race but Chinese the citizenship. In fact, China just released a warning about counterfeit chargers that can turn your phone into a hand grenade. Those racists!!
 
i usually laughed at samsung when their phones caught fire but this is really different and more dangerous. apple, please fix this.
 
Someone in China using Apple's "official" charger.

Ha! I don't believe that for a fleeting second!

They forgot to mention that she was taking a bath and holding the phone while she was charging it... If this turns out to be real, which seems unlikely then it is a tragedy that probably could have been easily avoided.
 
mild shocks common

I'v had mild shocks when touching an iPhone charging via a USB cable plugged into a lap top and/or lap top bay. This is using an iPhone and charger bought from an Apple store in Canada.
 
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This is sad & tragic.

It's also a reminder about user safety, something that's all too easy to overlook in this modern era of nearly perfect consumer electronics of all types.

Tempted by low prices and seemingly safe 3rd party components, it's a very wise move to take ones time and chose carefully.

Anything is possible in this case and the variables are many. As the old saying goes "buyer beware".
 
Very sketchy indeed, while not impossible, unless this was caused by a lighting strike or a huge power surge, or defective (or aftermarket) charger.
Also, if she got electrocuted by the phone, then the phone components should have fried internally.
 
I will say that I felt a slight buzz one time while urging my iPhone 5 in. The cord was plugged into the cube, which was plugged into the wall. I tried to recreate the shock, but I wasn't able to. This was on a couple days old naked iPhone 5.

This is real - and not many people are able to detect it, or notice for what it really is. You can easily re-create the conditions yourself and test this.

If you take an iPad, or an iPhone with a metal body - put it on top of an electrical insulator - like a dry towel folded up.

Do the same with your own body - stand on an insulator dry wood, cardboard, folded towels, and do not lean against any walls / metal furniture, appliances, ect...

Plug in the OEM charger and cable to a wall outlet, plug in your iPad. Gently wipe your finger tips across the metal part of the device - moving back and fourth. Just enough pressure to feel the texture of the surface, and do not otherwise hold / touch the iPad while you do this.

Now - you need to ground your own body to earth - if you have a heating pipe, water pipe, "tower" PC with a metal chassis plugged in - touch it with your other hand while you move along the surface of the iPad. You will feel the "vibration" stop, and commence, as you bind your body to earth ground, and then remove it. Conversely - you will have the same effect once you unplug your charger, and/or "ground out" the iDevice by holding it firmly with your other hand, or placing it on a conductive surface.

It's real, I've had seasoned Electrical Engineers flat out call me an idiot / liar - until I had them perform this test - only a couple could not detect it and/or "chose" not to detect it - based on their prior convictions. However for those guys, I usually show them measurements using their test equipment. :)

That said - if all is working properly - it should not be dangerous - but should isolation devices fail, as I suspect happened to that Chinese girl, it can be. It's also a HUGE problem in complex electronic equipment - cross-talk between switching supplies can cause errors galore, and even destroy equipment. This is a large part of the reason why Ethernet is specified to provide electrical isolation - because computers use these same kinds of supplies. Without that isolation - that "vibration" you feel, will inject errors into the lines of communication.

Finally - you do not see this effect as much with tower PCs, as they have a 3rd wire, tying the chassis to "earth ground". Plastic devices are less likely to expose you to their "floating ground". While laptops may have a 3 prong wall plug - it's common for this to be dropped on the secondary (output) side of the power supply. You can Google, or even search MR, as there have been people with unibody mac laptops who notice the same thing.
 
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