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#usbcharger#teardown#electricalsafety

Horrific USB power supply fault. (Electrocution risk.)

bigclivedotcom

1.1M subscribers • 9 videos on Hallway

YouTube
  • Recommended by 2 people: 2 on Hacker News.
  • Presented by Big Clive

Intermediate. Assumes working knowledge.

1.2M views10 years ago2 recommendations

HardwareElectronicsEmbedded systems

Big Clive tears down a cheap USB power supply to reveal a manufacturing defect that puts mains voltage on the USB output.

Although I've come across some really dodgy power supplies with poor insulation between the mains and low voltage sides, this is the first one where the USB ports have carried full mains current. (via a rectifier) It's a Swees QY08-05010 with this model and style carrying various other branding as well. Oddly it does appear to be relatively sensibly designed inside, but this one has a serious manufacturing fault that suggests others from the same run may also pose a risk of serious electric shock. Sadly, this just reinforces my doubts about the poor separation in many of these small transformers. I'd rather have split bobbin transformers even if it meant efficiency taking a slight hit. If you enjoy this channel you can help support it with a dollar for cookies, coffee and dangerous power supplies at patreon.com/bigclive

Why it's here

2 people recommend this

What people say. Recommended as an eye-opening demonstration of why cheap, unbranded USB chargers pose a serious risk of electrocution.

bigtrakzapzapon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Inside a Poundland computer mouse [video]”

Big clive on HN. Hurray! He earned my respect from a video on a USB charger with an electrocution risk and why you should never buy cheap USB chargers. link to this video
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BrailleHuntingon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Man dies charging iPhone while in the bath”

TL;DR: spend the $19 to buy a real, big brand USB charger because they have more to lose than grey market no brand. Tragic. Probably cheap USB without mains isolation or maybe enough water dripped down length of cable and socket to create a circuit, because USB is supposed to be 5V DC. Watch these USB charger teardown horror-shows to further understand why it's rational to pay for proper, authentic CE+UL, high-low isolation and quality components (ie insulated tape in transformers): link to this video link link link link link
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oxploton Hacker News • Mentions

On “USB power supply puts 220 Mains power out on USB jack”

Finally a possible explanation 1 as to why Apple chargers (USB and laptop) give you tingles when touching the metal casing of the device they're plugged into. Would love to know if the mentioned capacitor is indeed the reason and whether it leads to enough efficiency to justify the scare it causes with first time customers. 1: link to this video
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mrobon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Searching for USB Power Supplies That Won't Explode”

Sometimes even a well designed and assembled power supply can be dangerous because of defective components. Big Clive on Youtube does many teardowns of cheap electronics, and here's one of a USB power supply that's dangerous because of internal damage to the transformer: link to this video Because this is an intermittent fault it's possible that non-destructive testing would not find it.
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airhead969on Hacker News • Mentions

On “California appeals court finds Amazon responsible for 3rd party sellers products”

It stands to reason that selling arbitrary offshore products without liability insurance will come to an end. Almost every offshore brand and reseller has a throwaway name so they can just fold up and start over should anything happen. No more cheap/counterfeit USB deathdapters link to this video Also, I think electrical, li-ion, and RF products will have to prove their safety and compliance certification paperwork.
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failwhalesharkon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Amazon Fake Reviews Scam Exposed in Data Breach”

Computer killing powered USB hub. (Mac murderer) link Horrific USB power supply fault. (Electrocution risk.) link to this video
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1letterunixnameon Hacker News • Mentions

On “We made a hot dog talk with RF [video]”

Related classics: (2019) BigClive overclocks a 120v Presto hot dogger to 250v link (2019) Veratasium grape microwave plasma link (2022) BigClive The dangers of microwave transformers link (2016) BigClive Electrocution risk of cheap USB chargers link to this video (2020) ElectroBOOM proves 5G isn't going to give you cancer or eat your children link
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bankcust08385on Hacker News • Mentions

On “Amazon forced to recall 400K products that could kill, electrocute people”

So I guess there will be more Bigclivedotcom deathdapter teardowns. This has been a common occurrence since 2016: link to this video There need to be more class-action lawsuits against Amazon, and the FTC and CPSC need to surveil Amazon's products and take regular enforcement action.
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