Chinese phone charger

Takedap

I've just received a phone direct from China. It has a micro USB charger which is rated at Input 100 - 240V, 50 - 60Hz, 0.15A and Output, DC 5V, 1000 mA.

Having read some horror stories about Chinese chargers, I would like to use one that I know to be safe.

I have UK sourced one which I have used for a couple of years which is rated Input 100 - 240V, 50 - 60Hz, 0.3A max and Output 5V (DC), 1.5A.

Is this a safe alternative?

bengalknights

Yes it will be fine to use, although should really state most chargers are "made in china"

agrinnall

I'd be a little less confident than bengalknights, having had a replacement laptop charger go bang on me, fortunately with no damage other than to the charger itself.

AndyPix

As far as i understand it - the cheap chinese ones have very little plastic shielding between the low and high voltage parts of the internals.
And if those parts come into contact then everything goes bang or catches fire


There was a good post on this site a while ago - with pictures showing what i was just describing


I'll try to find it

AndyPix

Something like this ...

forgotmyname

Not just the gap between the high/low voltage sides but the quality of the windings on the transformer also.

Does the phone limit the charge rate now you havd the potential of sticking 1.5amps into the battery?

Unless its a well known branded charger, chuck it and get a poundland one. Seems they are not bad for the money, Maybe £2 or £3 not £1 though.

toshi

I am using Good quality "Chinese" Brand USB chargers, not a no branded cheap crap "Chinese" charger.

The below is the great USB charger review site.
http://lygte-info.dk/info/ChargerIndex%20UK.html

As AndyPix said, cheap and nasty would be really nasty, because of bad quality and deadly dangerous!

I personally use the below:

Orico 4-Port Wall USB charger DCA-4U
UGreen Dual USB Power Adapter CD104
Choetech usb 5V 2.4A SMT0008

I love Choetech SMT0008, fast charging (5V, up to 2.4A) with longer cables.

I have started to buy small stuff (USB cables, chargers, repair tools, parts etc) from Aliexpress, I have found many honest good quality brands there (as well as cheap and nasty no brand rubbish lol)
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/buy-from-china-aliexpress

Through my own personal experience, I can recommend cheap honest good quality brands; Choetech, Ugreen, Orico, Tronsmart etc. (Avoid Voxlink which sells fake low quality USB cables, I tested it by myself. )

You don't have to buy cheap and nasty stuff as Aliexpress often have some sales discounts. I actually bought the above Choetech charger around 3 USD. Believe me, this is the best fast charger (5V 2.4A) I have ever used.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/CHOETECH-USB-Phone-Charger-EU-Plug-5V-2-4A-Universal-Fast-Charger-for-iPhone-Samsung-Xiaomi/32742790687.html

Takedap

Thanks Guys. The charger I intend to use is still Chinese but was bought from a reputable "named" dealer & also has a CE mark.

agrinnall

Takedap wrote: »

Thanks Guys. The charger I intend to use is still Chinese but was bought from a reputable "named" dealer & also has a CE mark.

There seems to be very little enforcement of legitimate use of the CE mark, so I wouldn't assume that having it means it has passed any test.

stator

Indeed, I would never use a power adapter shipped directly to me from China.
They are so cheap that I always buy from a UK based seller.
Most of them are made in China, but that doesn't matter. I always check for the CE mark, but it doesn't mean much as anyone can print it on anything. The main factor is the reputation of the person selling it to you. Any UK firm will have to check goods they import are CE compliant, rather than just having the logo printed on it. So buying from a supermarket or Argos is usually best.
And if there is a problem, they will issue a product recall and you might hopefully see it.

steviebuk

Takedap wrote: »

I've just received a phone direct from China. It has a micro USB charger which is rated at Input 100 - 240V, 50 - 60Hz, 0.15A and Output, DC 5V, 1000 mA.

Having read some horror stories about Chinese chargers, I would like to use one that I know to be safe.

I have UK sourced one which I have used for a couple of years which is rated Input 100 - 240V, 50 - 60Hz, 0.3A max and Output 5V (DC), 1.5A.

Is this a safe alternative?

Check out Mikes Electric Stuff on YouTube. He did a piece on Chinese chargers. Took them apart to explain why the generic no brand ones are danagerous. But also showed a branded safe Chinese one.