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In response to recent incidents involving external chargers, the Government has urged the public to take the following precautions when purchasing and using such products:
1) Purchase external chargers manufactured by reputable brands and equipped with short-circuit protection devices, including overcharging, overcurrent and battery temperature protection devices, and choose charger cables produced by original manufacturers;
2) External chargers in use should be placed within sight. Stop using the charger immediately if the battery shows signs of deforming, swelling and overheating or emits an abnormal odour because these are all signs of battery failure;
3) If the external charger always fails to get fully charged or if its battery drains quickly, it means the battery is getting old and needs to be replaced;
4) External chargers in use should be placed in an environment with good ventilation so as not to obstruct heat dissipation from the batteries and to minimise the risk of short circuit. Devices being charged should not be placed near inflammable substances such as clothes;
5) Avoid prolonged charging and unplug the external charger immediately after it is fully charged;
6) When charging the external charger, do not use it to charge mobile phones or other devices to avoid overload or risk of fire;
7) Prevent the external charger from being hit or damaged since loose or displaced parts may cause a short circuit or fire; and
8) Use external power transformers that meet safety requirements for charging external chargers.
Smoke or fire incidents caused by external chargers are attributable to three causes: improper use, poor design and poor quality. Examples of improper use include overcharging, overheating of the battery due to simultaneous use of a mobile phone while charging the external charger; using an external charger that is being charged to also charge a mobile phone; a mismatch between the supply voltage of the power transformers and the input voltage of the external chargers; the battery subjected to forceful impact resulting in displacement of internal parts, and placing the battery with metal objects, causing a short circuit. Design and quality issues include a lack of protection devices in the product and its accessories, poor insulation performance, poor quality materials and inferior craftsmanship.
At present, the external chargers available in the market are mainly equipped with three types of protection devices. They are for temperature protection; battery overcharging and over-discharging protection; and short circuit and overcurrent protection. Some brands of external chargers, however, may not be equipped with these protection devices, thus posing a danger.
Lithium batteries of external chargers are vulnerable to spontaneous combustion when they are exposed to heat under specific conditions. The International Civil Aviation Organization requires that lithium batteries be carried on board as cabin baggage. If a lithium battery is put directly into checked-in baggage, which is then placed in the baggage compartment where the space is relatively small, it will be vulnerable to collision or extrusion, resulting in deformation or damage to its protection mechanism and subsequently causing high-temperature heat, rupture and fire.
External chargers are subject to regulation under the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance. If any aspect of the products are found to be unsafe, please call the Hong Kong Customs' hotline (2545 6182). As for external power transformers, they must comply with the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation. For enquiries about transformers, please contact the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department's hotline (2333 3762).
Ends/Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:18
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