Istick30 almost caught fire!

[Kieferz]

Not sure if this is the right forum or not so please move it if it is not in the right place.

I was charging my istick30 when all of a sudden me and my boyfriend smelt this awful smell similar to fingernail polish remover. We looked everywhere and couldn't locate where the smell was coming from. I eventually gave up trying to locate it and went to grab my istick. It was so hot I immediately dropped it on my couch and it left a burn mark (thank goodness I just ordered a new couch that is scheduled to be delivered soon). I immediately unplugged it and realized the smell was coming from the istick. It was completely melted on the inside! I called the store I bought it from and was told to bring it in. They said they were not sure if it was the istick or the fact I was charging it using an old phone charger (which I was told when I bought the istick was fine to charge it with). They replaced the unit and gave me a free istick charger which was very kind considering I didn't have my receipt. I am really shook up over this. This could have been really bad and ended very badly. Just wanted to put the word out there and see if anyone else had had or heard of any similar issues.

 

[dbrandt01]

I've heard this before happening, I worry about this with m iStick 50w or my dads.

We were told the eGrip charger would work fine and it does charge my dads, but it does get warm, as well as the charger that's plugged in at the wall.
I just got my Wednesday so I haven't had to charge it yet, I'm not even at half yet. I was going to charge it for the first time with my computer I think to see how that does.

Glad nothing really bad happened though such as charging it over night and not being able to catch it as fast

 

[Kieferz]

I haven't had any problems with it until this. Now I'm a bit nervous with it.

 

[Jacolu3]

I just charged mine 50w for the first time yesterday with the charger that came from the 20w. When I unplugged the charger the plug was pretty warm and the charger smelt burnt. The istick still seems fine. So I guess I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[r77r7r]

Swap your nervousness out for knowledge and you'll rest a little easier.

ECF is full of ways to charge and maintain your batteries safely.

 

[Kieferz]

Mine wasn't warm like it usually got, it was HOT this time.

 

[roxynoodle]

According to Busardo, the 50W charges at about 0.8A. That seems to be set by the device, not the charger. I do have my wall wort plugged into a very good surge protector.

 

[Kieferz]

ECF is full of ways to charge and maintain your batteries safely.

Definitely going to read up on this now. Thank you.

 

[daviedog]

Dear Kieferz, do you have modern house wiring? GFI should have caught a faulty charger. In the future charge your devices in a metal box.
I'm a mech engineer & the majority of loss due to electronics failure is due to wiring, not the device..
Glad you suffered no injury or loss..

 

[beckdg]

Not sure how a 15 amp, 110/120 volt ground fault interrupter is going to alleviate the issue of a 0.5 amp @ 5 volt capable adapter trying to charge a device that demands 0.8 amp @ 5 volt current.

Use quality, name brand, 2.1 amp USB wall warts and car adapters, people. The $15 is well worth your home, vehicle or heaven forbid, your life.

Find genuine, OEM Samsung or iPhone tablet/phone charge adapters or get belkin aftermarkets.

Spread the word...

Tapatyped

 

[Kieferz]

What is a wall wart?

 

[daviedog]

If there is a 15 milliamperes difference between neutral & signal in a device, the GFI shuts down the circuit and all recepticals 'lined' to it..

 

[beckdg]

What is a wall wart?

Plugs into wall.
Has square block somewhere.
Outputs voltage for your device.
Used to power or charge many consumer devices.

In this case it will be a small brick with prongs sticking out to plug into the wall with a USB output on the other side.

Like this....

Tapatyped

 

[daviedog]

A wall wort is slang for a step down transformer..

 

[Kieferz]

I had a Kodak square plug thing I was using with a Motorola cord thing.

 

[Iffy]

... or the fact I was charging it using an old phone charger (which I was told when I bought the istick was fine to charge it with).

Prime suspect!!!

 

[beckdg]

If there is a 15 milliamperes difference between neutral & signal in a device, the GFI shuts down the circuit and all recepticals 'lined' to it..

Which is not necessarily a symptom of the likely problem at hand.

Plus .015A @ 120V = 1.8W

A differential of roughly 40% to 60% of the charging circuit power output in question.

In terms of this specific circuit, that would be a massive fault.

Tapatyped

 

[beckdg]

The numbers/specs... let us take a look...

Tapatyped

 

[Kieferz]

What does all that mean though? It's a bit over my head.

 

[beckdg]

It means, I realize this is a bit over your head and I'd like to see a picture of the specs on the unit you used.

Tapatyped