Re:Teenage schoolgirl 'electrocuted after rolling on to iPho...
by klodolph on Wednesday November 15, 2017 @01:29PM
(#15706343)
This isn't an iPhone we're talking about, this is the charger which is connected to 220V AC power. The chargers are build very small, and cheap off-brand chargers have insufficient clearance between the LV and the HV side. This is dangerous, and can cause the 220V mains to go through to the USB port. This is also a very well-known property of cheap phone chargers, and you can find many teardowns online that show what I'm talking about.
I have also seen a few videos of teardowns of actual faulty chargers. For example, there was one where some of the insulation in the transformer windings were damaged, and you would get a continuous shock just by touching the LV side of any devices that are plugged in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-b9k-0KfE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfJ3Ui8IS04
http://www.epanorama.net/newepa/2016/10/25/cheap-usb-charger...
I have also seen a few videos of teardowns of actual faulty chargers. For example, there was one where some of the insulation in the transformer windings were damaged, and you would get a continuous shock just by touching the LV side of any devices that are plugged in.