Since November 7, the France Production Électronique group has been recalling some of its USB chargers for smartphones due to a risk of electrocution. Be careful if you have one of these accessories!
Be careful with the devices and accessories you buy, because not all of them are of good quality! Consumption reminder, the government site for reporting products presenting risks or malfunctions, alerted this Tuesday, November 7 about a USB charger that could cause electrocutions. Also, the France Production Électronique (FPE) group is recalling the 5 V / 1 A USB model for smartphones and other electronic devices. This charger has been distributed throughout France for two years, between April 2021 and September 15, in Mr Bricolage, Briconautes, Bricorama, Cofaq, Intermarché and Leclerc stores. So you might have one. If this is the case, to find out if you are affected by the recall, look at the reference number of your charger. The references of the batch concerned are as follows: 001625-0121-XXXX, 001625-0421-XXXX, 001625-0521-XXXX, 001625-0822-XXXX, 001625-0222-XXXX, 001625-1222-XXXX, and 001625-0423 -XXXX.
“The conductors of the power plug are not sufficiently secured”indicates the Rappel Conso website. “In the event of detachment, the creepage distance between the active parts of the conductors and the accessible parts is less than the prescribed value of 4.8 mm (3.9 mm measured)”which can cause “electrical shock”. There is therefore a risk of electrocution which should not be taken lightly! And to think that we had to wait more than two years before realizing the problem! If you have this charger at home, you are invited to no longer use it and to return it to the point of sale as quickly as possible. You have until April 30, 2024 to do so and thus benefit from a refund of the product. If you have any questions or need additional information, contact 08 25 05 62 60.
This is not the first time that a USB charger has been declared dangerous. There have already been numerous reports of devices causing problems, particularly due to excessive heating leading to the start of a fire. You should know that these electronic devices which transform 230 V alternating current into 5 V direct current carry powers which can be quite significant, especially when they are of the “rapid charge” type. This can lead to a malfunction if the electronic components they contain are of poor quality, or if they are poorly managed. This is also the reason why it is better not to leave them permanently plugged in, unsupervised, especially at night.
Companies are never safe from a defective product because, unfortunately, to err is human. However, it is better to go with brands whose reliability you are sure of when purchasing electrical and electronic devices. You may pay a little more but, at least, you will be certain that the products comply with the safety standards in force in France and Europe. Still, we advise you to regularly take a look at the Rappel Conso website to be sure that you are not keeping products recognized as dangerous in your home. In just two years, 8,000 products have already been affected by recalls. This mainly concerns food products, but all types of products can be affected: clothing, hygiene, electrical appliances, jewelry, etc. The reasons are more or less serious, ranging from a labeling problem to the presence of prohibited substance or bacteria, including the possible presence of foreign bodies. So, caution is the mother of safety!