No-name e-cig adaptor fried my iPhone!

[aphlaque_duck]

Not sure where I got this thing but it was a car->USB adaptor that came with one of my ecig starter kits. Worked fine for eGo charging but today I plugged my iPhone into it and it instantly killed the phone!

I tested the adaptor and it was putting out 5.3V (open circuit) which seems nothing to be alarmed about. I did not look on a scope so there may be more to the story than that.

I say all this with my foot firmly in-mouth as I recently advised another ecig memeber that these USB supplies are interchangeable (that's the whole reason for using standard plugs!).

So, that's the last time I'll plug my expensive phone into a no-name adaptor. Although I do assign some blame to Apple - over-voltage protection is easy and cheap to do and I'm astonished that it fried so easily. At least they were cool about it and just handed me a new one.

 

[geeker]

I'm almost surprised they gave you a new one!

 

[zoiDman]

You plugged your iPhone into some no-name charger made for an e-Cig and you "assign some blame to Apple" ???

 

[CaminoDiablo]

Wonder if I should try that with my Blackberry, lol, want a new one.

 

[aphlaque_duck]

You plugged your iPhone into some no-name charger made for an e-Cig and you "assign some blame to Apple" ???

Yes, and I said why. I won't bore you with the details but there is a well known circuit that for a couple cents would have protected the phone.

Also Apple does not even make their own car adaptor, otherwise I certainly would have used it! In their own retail stores they sell a few Chinese 5v USB adaptors from brands you have never heard of, which look almost identical to the one in question. They aren't licensed, certified or anything.

I got a new phone and tossed that adaptor, so all's well that ends well. I only posted as a warning to others and to recant my previous advice.

 

[geeker]

*heeds warning* even though iPhone has never been available here in BFE

 

[Xanax]

I won't ever plug my iPhone into a car adapter NO NAME OR BRAND NAME if the adapter is not made for iPhones. Rather be safe (and smart) than sorry...

 

[aphlaque_duck]

Agreed, I'm sooooooo stupid for thinking a USB cable should work in a USB adaptor!

In software we have a saying "be liberal with input, strict with output"... both devices failed.

 

[Xanax]

Agreed, I'm sooooooo stupid for thinking a USB cable should work in a USB adaptor!

In software we have a saying "be liberal with input, strict with output"... both devices failed.

That's a good saying to go by.
I like your avatar by the way, LOL

 

[zoiDman]

Wonder if I should try that with my Blackberry, lol, want a new one.

I have a friend who has an electric car and doesn't like it. Wonder if they would give him a new one if he plugged it into the 240v?

 

[Nyxie]

Well I have had my iphone plug fry 2 pass throughs , but not the other way around. I keep my iphone things for my iphone now .
I am glad they gave you a new one though. I would freak if my iphone died an untimely death and I couldn't get a new one.

 

[Taegost]

If the voltage and current ratings are within the scope of both devices, they should be safe to use for either... But yeah, I definitely agree that the iPhone should have built-in protection... What do they expect to happen in a power surge?

 

[Nora83]

How great that they gave you a new phone!

 

[Xanax]

If the voltage and current ratings are within the scope of both devices, they should be safe to use for either... But yeah, I definitely agree that the iPhone should have built-in protection... What do they expect to happen in a power surge?

Haha they expect your phone to turn to a brick and pay for a new one of course!

 

[Taegost]

Haha they expect your phone to turn to a brick and pay for a new one of course!

Good point... Glad I got a Droid, I don't need to get a Trojan for protection

 

[bert1983]

Is there an app for that?

If it was an android based phone you most likely could have just got a new battery.

 

[checkflag]

You plugged your iPhone into some no-name charger made for an e-Cig and you "assign some blame to Apple" ???

absolutely, Like the OP said, the iphone should have some sort of internal
surge protection or something.

 

[CaptJay]

I just fried another eGo charger (and the ego itself this time as well) so I feel your pain - I think its my 2amp USB/AC wall charger that's the culprit though and not a surge as I had thought the last time I fried a charger. I gotta get a new one lol (I think Ill get a kit from cignot it comes with an adapter included - live n learn eh lol)

 

[Burn3d]

I just fried another eGo charger (and the ego itself this time as well) so I feel your pain - I think its my 2amp USB/AC wall charger that's the culprit though and not a surge as I had thought the last time I fried a charger. I gotta get a new one lol (I think Ill get a kit from cignot it comes with an adapter included - live n learn eh lol)

2amp? I would think 500mA--1A @ ~5V would be max..or am I wrong..I'm new and haven't modded anything YET

 

[JWebb]

Maybe time for the HTC inspire!