Please understand this does not apply just to vaping devices, it can happen with cell phone chargers, etc. too.
I always plug my stuff into a heavy duty 3-prong surge protection unit/power strip that sits between my wall sockets and any charger I am using.
I was in a hurry, and also using a charger I have never used before that I had just gotten, and this is what happened as soon as I plugged it in---big flash/spark:
It blew up the moment I plugged it in, thankfully my hand is okay and the circuit breakers in my house are working properly since this incident tripped them. But please understand, a spark that is strong enough to "soot"/blacken a wall receptacle can also start a house fire. It is an ignition source.
Electrician was out here, I wanted him to test the box where the socket is located, since obviously I didn't want to use a wall socket that was blackened and possibly shorted out. Thankfully, there are no shorts and no faulty wiring in my house. I also had him check all my other outlets w/a ground fault outlet tester, etc.
It was the charger itself that had a short.
Please know that the brand was top notch, so is the vendor, and so is the ECF member I got it from, so I'm not entertaining any questions about those things. These items looked, for all practical purposes, like new. The "tines" of the A/C plug were a little loose, but I didn't check those til AFTER the blow-up.....again, I learned something and will do that next time.
Electrician said there are millions of chargers and power cords going out for cell phones, computers, ecigs, PDAs, etc. that sometimes stuff just wears out from being taken in and out of outlets, or just fails inherently at some point. He sees it all the time.
So, moral to story: practice battery safety but also practice charger safety. Always always plug your stuff into a separate receptacle and not into your actual wall socket. Make sure your surge protector / strip units are not old and keep them updated and tested. Also make sure you have updated, modern circuit breakers in your home. If you do not (I've been in a few places where people still have fuses, etc.) then plug stuff in outside and keep an eye on it.
Never plug anything into a loose-fitting wall receptacle and don't plug loose-fitting stuff into your receptacles. Always check your plugs and cords and if they feel unusually hot to the touch (not just slightly warm) there is a problem and it needs to be checked out. Make sure everything makes a nice tight connection.
Also, keep in mind that surge protectors don't last forever....once they take an actual hit (lightning etc.) they are not protecting anything anymore and need to be replaced. Sometimes the LED still shows protecting, but unless you can test this I wouldn't use it to protect anything I own. (spikes and surges are not the same as an actual hit.)
Also--- do not plug ANY USB chargers directly into your computer---- if you value your computer. (This goes without saying, but I will say it here anyway.) USB "powered" hubs are very cheap, I use them for my camera, cell phone, etc. (don't use the kind of usb hub that is powered by your computer port....get a usb hub that actually plugs into the wall and does not rely on your computer to draw it's power).
And finally, if a charger or battery isn't working as it should (not taking a charge as well, anything loose or jumpy, gettting too hot, etc.) please toss them. It is not worth saving a few bucks.
Any kind of corrosion etc. means humidity / water damage and time to buy new stuff. Keep your electronics well-maintained, whether that be an iPhone or a vaping device and accessories.
NEVER charge anything and then go to sleep. Don't even take a nap. Be in the area so you can keep an eye on your stuff. Do not fall asleep with your laptop in your lap, you ecig in your lap, your cell phone in your lap, or any kind of power supply box touching your person. Even if not charging. Stuff happens.
So----I just dropped a load of $$ for a licensed electrician to come out for damage caused by a $10 item LOL Not to mention a safety risk to my home and self. Just be careful, and if you experience what I did, spend the money to get a licensed professional out to check everything out. No excuses, this cuts into my gasoline budget, but I want to be safe.
I always plug my stuff into a heavy duty 3-prong surge protection unit/power strip that sits between my wall sockets and any charger I am using.
I was in a hurry, and also using a charger I have never used before that I had just gotten, and this is what happened as soon as I plugged it in---big flash/spark:
It blew up the moment I plugged it in, thankfully my hand is okay and the circuit breakers in my house are working properly since this incident tripped them. But please understand, a spark that is strong enough to "soot"/blacken a wall receptacle can also start a house fire. It is an ignition source.
Electrician was out here, I wanted him to test the box where the socket is located, since obviously I didn't want to use a wall socket that was blackened and possibly shorted out. Thankfully, there are no shorts and no faulty wiring in my house. I also had him check all my other outlets w/a ground fault outlet tester, etc.
It was the charger itself that had a short.
Please know that the brand was top notch, so is the vendor, and so is the ECF member I got it from, so I'm not entertaining any questions about those things. These items looked, for all practical purposes, like new. The "tines" of the A/C plug were a little loose, but I didn't check those til AFTER the blow-up.....again, I learned something and will do that next time.Electrician said there are millions of chargers and power cords going out for cell phones, computers, ecigs, PDAs, etc. that sometimes stuff just wears out from being taken in and out of outlets, or just fails inherently at some point. He sees it all the time.
So, moral to story: practice battery safety but also practice charger safety. Always always plug your stuff into a separate receptacle and not into your actual wall socket. Make sure your surge protector / strip units are not old and keep them updated and tested. Also make sure you have updated, modern circuit breakers in your home. If you do not (I've been in a few places where people still have fuses, etc.) then plug stuff in outside and keep an eye on it.
Never plug anything into a loose-fitting wall receptacle and don't plug loose-fitting stuff into your receptacles. Always check your plugs and cords and if they feel unusually hot to the touch (not just slightly warm) there is a problem and it needs to be checked out. Make sure everything makes a nice tight connection.
Also, keep in mind that surge protectors don't last forever....once they take an actual hit (lightning etc.) they are not protecting anything anymore and need to be replaced. Sometimes the LED still shows protecting, but unless you can test this I wouldn't use it to protect anything I own. (spikes and surges are not the same as an actual hit.)
Also--- do not plug ANY USB chargers directly into your computer---- if you value your computer.
(This goes without saying, but I will say it here anyway.) USB "powered" hubs are very cheap, I use them for my camera, cell phone, etc. (don't use the kind of usb hub that is powered by your computer port....get a usb hub that actually plugs into the wall and does not rely on your computer to draw it's power).And finally, if a charger or battery isn't working as it should (not taking a charge as well, anything loose or jumpy, gettting too hot, etc.) please toss them. It is not worth saving a few bucks.
Any kind of corrosion etc. means humidity / water damage and time to buy new stuff. Keep your electronics well-maintained, whether that be an iPhone or a vaping device and accessories.
NEVER charge anything and then go to sleep. Don't even take a nap. Be in the area so you can keep an eye on your stuff. Do not fall asleep with your laptop in your lap, you ecig in your lap, your cell phone in your lap, or any kind of power supply box touching your person. Even if not charging. Stuff happens.
So----I just dropped a load of $$ for a licensed electrician to come out for damage caused by a $10 item LOL Not to mention a safety risk to my home and self. Just be careful, and if you experience what I did, spend the money to get a licensed professional out to check everything out. No excuses, this cuts into my gasoline budget, but I want to be safe.
Well yeah, plugging into hating your space can lead to all sorts of bad mojo.
