Identifying counterfeit and substandard chargers

Selection of counterfeit chargers

Cheap counterfeit and substandard mobile phone chargers and other ac adapters are widely sold online via sites like Ebay. This is obviously a concern for those undertaking PAT testing; you could be putting a ‘passed’ label on a potentially dangerous device. However, there are some basic visual checks that will help you identify these fake chargers and ac adapters.



Distance from the L & N pins and outer edge.


9.5mm spacing from pins to outer edge

To comply with UK regulations, there must be a gap of at least 9.5mm between the Line and Neutral pins and the outer edge of the device. Many of these fake chargers do not meet this basic requirement.



Fake charger comparison
insufficient gap


Check the CE Mark


Incorrect CE Mark - too small

Take a close look at the CE mark. This is often incorrect on many fake chargers.

  • 1) Should have a minimum height of 5mm
  • 2) Should be in correct proportions
  • 3) Should be a noticeable space between 'C' & 'E'
  • 4) The thickness of the lines will be in proportion to the overall size
  • 5) The centre line of the 'E' should be noticeable shorter than the top & bottom lines

For further information, check out our article on CE Marks.



No space between c and e
missing ce mark


CE mark - wrong shape, too small
Correct CE Mark


Quality


Poor quality charger

This example was purchased on Ebay for 99p, including delivery from China! The L & N pins are loose, too small, badly pitted with burrs on the edges. The overall quality is very poor. The Electrical Safety Council report that they are often made in China for as little a 3p each.




Fire Risk