SAFETY WARNING: Eon Energy Monitor

davehills

Just a quick safety warning for anyone that has received an Eon energy monitor.

I received mine yesterday and tried to install it tonight. I plugged the "wallwart" power supply into the mains and switched on and BANG, a huge shower of sparks, a shock, horrible smell, slightly burnt fingers and a blown ring main fuse.

The case of the unit hasn't been damaged but I suspect that there's an internal fuse which has blown too.

The power supply is faulty, judging by the bang the thing is a dead short and can't have been tested.

Obviously I'll be on to Eon and also trading standards tomorrow morning to raise this issue.

What I don't know is whether I'm the unlucky one in a million or whether there's a problem with a batch of these items. I'll be checking tomorrow whether this PSU complies with all the current safety regulations too.

For anyone interested the brand of the PSU is HSK and the date code is 1022 (Stamped into the body in small letters on the pinned side, 1022=Week 22, 2010)

Obviously, I'd suggest that anyone with one of these units exercises extreme caution, especially when plugging in for the first time, until Eon confirm that this is a one-off problem.

(Before anyone asks I'm an electronic engineer and yes, I do know how to plug a power supply...)

Hopefully this is a one off but thought it wise to warn everyone just in case..

Cardew

I got this email today; wonder if it is connected to your problem!!!

Important information about your Energy Fit Starter Pack

Thank you for registering for your Energy Fit Starter pack. We're delighted that you've joined thousands of others, all with the intention of saving energy and money.

The overwhelming response we've had from customers signing up to Energy Fit has taken us somewhat by surprise and we've run out of monitors. More are on their way and the factory is stepping up production for us, however you may have to wait up to 12 weeks to get yours.

Our suppliers are doing all they can to meet our demand.We're really pleased that so many of our customers want to save energy, but sorry that we can't send you your pack straight away. As soon as we're ready to send your monitor, we'll text you to let you know it's on the way.In the meantime, there's lots you can do to start saving energy. Go to eonenergyfit.com for some inspiration.

davehills

Not been able to speak to Eon yet, got to call them at 11am!

The monitor has a very cheap feel to it so I suspect these things are built down to a price.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi,

I apologise for the distress this matter will have caused and thank you for bringing this incident to our attention.

Our energy monitors have successfully passed all safety checking procedures and this is the first time we have heard about a fault.

We are taking this matter very seriously and have started a full investigation. The email sent to customers about the anticipated delay in dispatching energy monitors is not related to this incident and is simply down to overwhelming demand.

Brian

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi davehills,

Further to my previous post, I would be grateful if you could email me on my personal email address [EMAIL="WebForumAdvisors@eonenergy.com"]WebForumAdvisors@eonenergy.com[/EMAIL].

I have a return postal address and a specific contact for you so we can investigate the fault and deal with this case appropriately.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Brian

davehills

Hi

Thanks for the quick response, Brian!

I spoke to someone at Eon a short while ago and she confirmed that this is the only incident of this type out of 1.2 million energy monitors dispatched so far, so I'm satisfied that this was a one-off incident. She also confirmed that all units comply to current UK safety regulations.

The upshot is that I'll be sending the whole unit back for further investigation.

I'd like to thank Eon for being so responsive to what could have been a far more widespread safety issue.

Dave

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi Dave,

I’m glad you’re happy with the response you’ve had and the actions we’re taking. Give me a shout if you need me.

Brian

davehills

Can't complain at all about how eon have responded so far!

Problems happen, everyone knows that but what makes all the difference is how a company responds to those problems. That's what matters.

Anyway, energy monitor packed up and it'll be winging it's way back tomorrow.

Jon_Tiffany

Thanks for the warning, I ordered one of these monitors a while back so it should be arriving soon. I'll make sure the kids dont go plugging it in. Lets hope its just a one off and not a bad batch.

davehills

Just an update...haven't heard a dicky bird from Eon since sending the thing back, despite requesting a written response stating the product is safe. (No replacement monitor either, as of yet.)

Maybe Eon would care to respond here?:

Q1: Are all the products in the field 100% safe?

Q2: What caused the one I had to go "bang"?

Q3: Do they comply to all the relevant UK/EU safety standards?

Mankysteve

Doesnt take an genus to answer those questions

1 no they cant the same way you guaranty anything to 100% safe
2 properly an electrolytic capacitor only thing in a transformer that would produce major amount of gasses but without being physic and not being to see the item it would be impossible to tell, same applies to eon until you have they the item they wont know.
3. Yes they will be, there no way a big company such a eon is going to risk being prosecuted for not complying.