BBC: Unsafe charging devices 'flooding' UK

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 23rd 2008 at 2:00AM }

As if worrying about Daleks, Slitheen and Cybermen wasn't enough, now the UK has the added threat of dangerous third-party device chargers flooding in from China. The BBC reports a specific warning was issued about the chargers for Nintendo DS, DS Lite and Gameboy machines, but the chargers can also be used on mobile phones and music devices.

Identifying the third-party chargers apparently isn't easy, as one version has the code DE62347066 (seen above), while others are just marked "Travel Charger." The units have been shown to overheat or cause electrocution. The easiest way for UK folk to make sure they don't get one of the "hundreds of thousands or even millions" of faulty chargers is to buy first-party devices. The "bad ones" retail for about £6 or less, while the good ones are £15.

Tags: bbc, chargers, ds-chargers

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lone Starr @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:07AM

Luckily the nanny state that is the UK will have no trouble coming to the rescue!

x20mar @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:49AM

Nanny State? Care to give an example to someone who actually lives in the UK?

smackphat @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:54AM

How many cameras does the UK have? 4.2 million? Yeah. 1 camera for every 14 people.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23390407-details/UK+has+1%25+of+world%27s+population+but+20%25+of+its+CCTV+cameras/article.do

Haggard @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:38AM

We also have the world's longest detention without trial, and our government is trying to lengthen it.

Yay, go Britain...

Huey2k2 @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:11AM

AC-DC CHARGER

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK WE SALUTE YOU

\m/

Solid Chief @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:04AM

You'll be, THUNDERSTRUCK!

Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:26AM

...and when you die, you're going down the HIGHWAY TO HELL!

[.sm0ke.] @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:14AM

Conspiracy theory: Nintendo paid the BBC to run the story so they'd sell more of their own chargers.

Lone Starr @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:20AM

Common sense: Nintendo doesn't need a conspiracy to sell another "peripheral." All they need to do is show it off in a zany E3 presentation, brand it with "Nintendo," and it will sell millions.

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:19AM

I really wanted to laugh Lone Starr, then I remembered Joystiq has a rule against feeding the trolls

Geist @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:11PM

Smug Fact: It's only a matter of time before we robots take over, meatbags.

Tiptup300 @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:55AM

Nice, feeding the trolls!

I can see it now,

"FU45645666 is SOOOOOO much better than that exploding DE62347066, u stupid DE-bot!"

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:12AM

WARNING: UNSAFE AC/DC CHARGERS MAY LEAVE YOU THUNDER STRUCK

Ethan @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:33AM

I actually agree. I bought a charger for my phone and the pins broke off in the socket. No way of tellin though, is there.

SonicRift @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:47AM

It's pretty obvious this is another Sontaran plan gone wrong.

Corbo @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:01AM

It'd be just their luck if, after going to all that trouble to weaponise DS chargers, the Rutans turned out to be Sony fanboys who all had PSPs.

FSK405K @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:16AM

You pays your money and you takes your chances. Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft hardware more reliable than generic stuff, really? Okay, maybe not that last company.

Infidel @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:14AM

Ill take my chances and save myself a tenner thank you very much.

WorMzy @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:19AM

1. Buy cheap, potentially faulty, electrical goods.
2. Ignore all advice regarding potentially faulty electrical goods.
3. Watch house slowly burn to the ground in an uncontrollable electrical fire.
4. ?
...
...
...
...
5. Profit!

Infidel @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:34AM

Probably only a very small percentage are actually faulty and it most likely takes extended use to cause them to break. It is even more unlikely that one of them breaking will cause it to catch fire and even more unlikely still that it will burn your house to the ground.

It's just nanny state scare mongering and i'd personally rather take the incredibly small risk and not buy overpriced official accessories and save myself a tenner.

If you don't want to then fine, i really couldn't care less.