Thai Man Reportedly Electrocuted After Using a Charging iPhone 4S

[9000]

Always in eastern Asia.

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"Buy our overpriced chargers or risk death, the choice is yours."

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Or use any other USB charger. I can't believe anyone thinks that Apple is the only company that makes these! I can't think of a tech company that DOESN'T make or brand some kind of AC to 5V DC USB adaptor. Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, Nokia, Google, Verizon, Belkin, ....... And please nobody say that Apple invented it.

 

[furi0usbee]

Not only the fake charger, but also the cable seems like a fake one with a paper label thingy on the 30pin side.

If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say the charger, the cable, and the PHONE are all fake.

Not to turn this into a political thread, but this is why we should be thankful we have regulations here in the US. I know a certain political party that is all about de-regulation. If companies can get away with selling cheap, unsafe crap, they often will. Reminds me of the paper doors I saw in use in China.

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Don't people get it by now? Buy Apple's chargers. Its not worth your life to save a couple of bucks!

Not to make light of the death or anything, but he "bricked" himself by using those unsupported devices. Jailbreakers beware!

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The feel-good kit that will let you harm yourself in plains, trains, and automobiles.

http://www.dhgate.com/product/kingf...-e-cigarette/175553514.html#s1-4-1|1041880712

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Who cares really! not everybody lives, but everybody dies. So we will end up in a hole no matter what. It is a matter of time.

This make it right when we say you get for what you pay for.

Customer: Over my dead body will I pay more for genuine Apple products.
Coroner: Precisely good sir.

 

[Rogifan]

Do authorized third party chargers not exist in Asia?

 

[furi0usbee]

Anti-Theft device? If you combine TouchID with the fake adapter, your first touch may be your last.

 

[sshambles]

Change the title.

New charger…. or death…. that's a stumper.
If everyone knew about these cases, the cheap chargers wouldn't sell.
I can see this occurring further in the future because, well, the above just won't happen.

 

[HiRez]

Or use any other USB charger. I can't believe anyone thinks that Apple is the only company that makes these! I can't think of a tech company that DOESN'T make or brand some kind of AC to 5V DC USB adaptor. Samsung, HTC, Microsoft, Nokia, Google, Verizon, Belkin, ....... And please nobody say that Apple invented it.

Nobody says they invented it, but it is not accurate to say all chargers are created equal. You might find these interesting:

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/05/21/apple-power-adapter-teardown/
http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html

 

[9000]

Nobody says they invented it, but it is not accurate to say all chargers are created equal. You might find these interesting:

http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/05/21/apple-power-adapter-teardown/

The bit about the switching mechanism is interesting. I always thought it was just an ordinary converter. But anything from a legitimate company should work safely.

 

[dec.]

almost makes you think that the prices they charge for original chargers aren't THAT bad...

 

[9000]

As long as knockoff chargers are 1/10 the price of Apples on a shelf, people will continue to buy knockoffs.

It's in Apples best business interests to expect and accept the minor death toll, merely admonish cheap knockoffs, but otherwise take no action that would eliminate these deaths but cost the company profits.

Money > Lives

What do you suggest Apple does?

 

[ChrisA]

Funny how none of these "claims" come from the U.S., where a majority of the devices are located and used.

In the US we have 120 volt AC power. Some other places use 240 volt power. In the US the building codes requires GFCI outlets in places where there might be water, lie kitchens, baths and outdoors. GFCI makes it safe even to stick a fork in the outlet. It is safer in the US.

That said I don't know the voltage or if GFCIs are required in Thailand.

 

[coolfactor]

This is very tragic. ... To put things into perspective, I wonder how many tragic stories with other devices don't get reported?

One difference from the common plastic phones... iPhones have a metal ring that is in direct contact with the skin (if not using a case). This would allow an electrical short to be transferred directly to the body. With a plastic phone, this hazard would be lessened.

 

[HiRez]

What do you suggest Apple does?

Well, since Apple has gated access to the charging/data port, they could, theoretically, detect whether the charger on the other end is authentic (Apple, or from a company that Apple authorizes), and block access to its use if not. Not sure if they could detect counterfeit Lightning cables from the charger to the device though.

Of course people would be outraged over that too, so they can't win either way.

 

[ChrisA]

Let's get this straight. He wasn't electrocuted by the iPhone. He was electrocuted by the charger. The story is false.

Yes but the news outlets want page-views and "iPhone" in the headline is like a magnet. "charger" is not.

It is not hard, nor expensive to design a safe charger, that means one that remains safe even if it catches fire. A "split bobbin" transformer and some insulation that does not melt and yo have it.

 

[ChrisA]

Apple could design in a "crow bar" safety device. All they would have to do is place a Zener diode across the power input pins so that if the incoming voltage is about some threshold (say, maybe 15 volts) the zener conducts and draws a LOT of current and blows a micro-sized fuse that is directly connected to the power input pin. This would work if the cable had a working ground.

Next idea, use a GFCI type circuit inside the iPhone.

Apple can't detect a cheap knock-off charger but they CAN detect an out of spec voltage on the cable.

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Well, since Apple has gated access to the charging/data port, they could, theoretically, detect whether the charger on the other end is authentic....

As I just wrote. There is no need to do this. All Apple really needs to detect is if the charger is supplying a voltage that is much above the expected 5 volts.

 

[wikiverse]

I hate how MR is still reporting these stories like its the phone thats at fault and a risk. It's cheap 3rd party cables that are the issue.

I got through a good half dozen last yeAr, they would literally fall apart and stop working. An official one cost me £15 but is flawless. Never again will I buy a cheap charging cable.

We don't know it was the charger. That's just speculation.

I have two of apples au$25 lighting cables and both have had the insulation split and the cables fray at the lightning connector end.

I've seen dozens of other people with the same problem. I've also had a similar problem on my MBP chargers which have been replaced 3 times.

In my experience, Apples cables are equally crap.

 

[H2SO4]

Money > Lives

Sometimes that's how things are seen unfortunately.
A few years back whilst in the Standby Power industry I went to a job, (won't say who for).
I was carrying out a preventative maintenance check on their building data UPS. Once finished I noticed that the emergency lighting UPS battery had not only exceeded its desgin life but that some blocks were visibly in need of replacement due to splitting/leaking.

I mentioned it and he said that they couldn't afford to do both and as it was cheaper if somebody died rather than if their comms room went down that they'd deal with the lighting later!!

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We don't know it was the charger. That's just speculation.

I have two of apples au$25 lighting cables and both have had the insulation split and the cables fray at the lightning connector end.

I've seen dozens of other people with the same problem. I've also had a similar problem on my MBP chargers which have been replaced 3 times.

In my experience, Apples cables are equally crap.

When I hear stuff like this I wonder if it's me mollycoddling my cables or if others are being careless with their equipment.
I started with the 3G, went to the 3GS and 4 and now have a 5S - all cables fine. In all that time my partners cable for her iP4 just started to fray after two years.

 

[9000]

Well, since Apple has gated access to the charging/data port, they could, theoretically, detect whether the charger on the other end is authentic (Apple, or from a company that Apple authorizes), and block access to its use if not. Not sure if they could detect counterfeit Lightning cables from the charger to the device though.

Of course people would be outraged over that too, so they can't win either way.

Yeah, it also might end up like DRM systems that falsely accuse the user of breaking the rules. I sometimes get that "charging is not supported" error with an older iPod charging cable with my iPhone 4. And the Apple TV AND FiOS cable box refuse to work with my TV even though it's HDCP-compliant.

 

[smirking]

Funny how none of these "claims" come from the U.S., where a majority of the devices are located and used.

I'd imagine that you're a lot less likely to get your hands on a dangerously faulty charger in the US regardless of who made it. Even people who are crazy about owning only authentic items will usually have at least a car charger. Apple doesn't make any of those last I checked.

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I started with the 3G, went to the 3GS and 4 and now have a 5S - all cables fine. In all that time my partners cable for her iP4 just started to fray after two years.

My cables are usually fine, but someone gave me a cable that his disaster of a teenage daughter had used and it was discolored and stained. The plastic coating started coming off in no time and after the coating came off the ends, it started fraying. The inner bundle of wires eventually poked through, but they were still shielded so it wasn't yet a major hazard.

I'm going to guess that the bad cable I got either had been cleaned by some solvent that broke down the coating. Once that coating gets a break in it, the rest of it goes pretty quickly.

 

[rols]

Fry's Electronics sells them for $5.

What an unfortunate name for an electronics store.

 

[smirking]

I've seen dozens of other people with the same problem. I've also had a similar problem on my MBP chargers which have been replaced 3 times.

Apple chargers from the Powerbook days were notorious for fraying. I've generally had good luck with any cable I've ever owned regardless of manufacturer. The exception was that one Powerbook's charger. It was covered under Applecare so I got a new one and was extra careful with it the second time around. It lasted this time, but I could tell it couldn't take much punishment.

 

[I'm.with.stupid]

Everyone would agree in this case he was definitely overcharged

I didn't know that the iPhone 4S came with a lightning connector!.

In all serious though how is this Apple's fault?
It is the manufacturer of the shoddy charger.

 

[Nimrad]

It's so attractive that you're willing to trade your life with it!

I'm guessing you're probably more likely dying by taking your car to work than using a fake charger.

 

[Chuck-Norris]

Who cares really! not everybody lives, but everybody dies. So we will end up in a hole no matter what. It is a matter of time.

This make it right when we say you get for what you pay for.

i doubt u would be saying that if ur dam mother died from a iphone charger

 

[orbital~debris]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of humanity or compassion around these parts lately… this poor man died from using his iPhone. It's extremely sad glib comments about how this kind of thing doesn't happen in the USA are very introspective.

It's too easy to say "oh, should have bought an official charger" / "official chargers are x £ - worth it to not die" etc. in retrospect… but you've got to use a little imagination; picture a scenario where buying a third-party charger might seem the norm in a country outside Europe/USA, perhaps there are less stringent checks/restrictions on electronic sales. Shops are not necessarily going to be regulated in what they can sell. For consumers on certain parts of the planet, the distinction between 'official' and 'fake' (coloured plastic notwithstanding) is a lot less obvious, especially if Apple Stores are not prevalent.
Probably, this man didn't think that he was doing anything unwise.

 

[Giuly]

OK, so 110V straight to you head doesn't seem to be the most pleasant experience. Duly noted.

Look around. Every house should have 5V DC power lines to begin with. Instead of a USB charger on every firkin' wall outlet, just put a beefier version in the switchboards. What is this, 1995?