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FreeState

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32. UPDATE: 'Fake' iPhone charger cited in electrocution death probe

Fri Jul 19, 2013, 02:57 AM

Jul 2013

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electrocuted-while-answering-iphone-may-have-been-using-fake

A woman killed by an electric shock while using her iPhone may have been using a non-Apple-made battery charger at the time of her death, Chinese state media reported.

The victim, 23-year-old Ma Ailun, had been using what appeared to be an unauthorised iPhone 4 charger, CCTV reported on Tuesday. According to Xiang Ligang, a telecommunications expert interviewed by CCTV, the charger Ma had been using may have been a "knockoff"' - a fake.

“Knockoff chargers sometimes cut corners,” Xiang said. “The quality of the capacitor and circuit protector may not be good, and this may lead to the capacitor breaking down and sending 220 volts of electricity directly into the cell phone battery.”

Ma, a flight attendant with China Southern Airlines, had been charging her iPhone 4 on July 11 in her home in Xinjiang. She had been electrocuted after picking it up to answer a call. Earlier reports had said she had been using an iPhone 5 at the time, but CCTV investigations confirmed that the exterior of the device was a stainless steel iPhone 4 - not the aluminum iPhone 5.

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Apple launches probe after Chinese woman, 23, dies 'from massive electric shock while answering her [View all] dipsydoodle Jul 2013 OP

As much as I despise Apple, this can't be true... tridim Jul 2013 #1

It was plugged into the wall charger at the time DaveJ Jul 2013 #4

I've been shocked by 110v many times and it doesn't kill. tridim Jul 2013 #5

Me too, I'm big though. DaveJ Jul 2013 #7

Volts/Amps, AC/DC Itchinjim Jul 2013 #9

China is on 22ov / 50 cycle ac dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #12

volts aren's what kills, jonthebru Jul 2013 #21

I'm an electrical engineer and while your first statement is correct, truthisfreedom Jul 2013 #33

Underwriters Laboratories help protect the US consumer One_Life_To_Give Jul 2013 #18

Apple's answer to the Droid -- the iDrone n/t KurtNYC Jul 2013 #2

Very strange... Puzzler Jul 2013 #3

The thing was plugged in to their electrical outlet.... I'm betting it all there was a problem with hlthe2b Jul 2013 #6

I put my money on aftermarket cable/ac adaptor seltzerwater Jul 2013 #8

Apple will use this that their advantage either way DaveJ Jul 2013 #11

"...all the 3rd party accessories available." greiner3 Jul 2013 #23

"Sister says Ma bought hers from Apple store, was using original charger" nt bananas Jul 2013 #14

I'm not a fan of Apple products at all NewJeffCT Jul 2013 #10

Apple, like most modern phones charge on USB voltage 5v intaglio Jul 2013 #13

As far as I'm aware dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #16

Difficult intaglio Jul 2013 #29

All of my chargers bought in the UK work just fine in the US dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #30

more info at cnn bananas Jul 2013 #15

well, dripping wet from the bath would certainly be a factor. uncle ray Jul 2013 #17

The cord coming from the charger only carries 5 volts bhikkhu Jul 2013 #20

I am an electronics tech ...done my share of design engineering. I'm calling bullshit! L0oniX Jul 2013 #19

Speaking as a product design engineer... turbo_satan Jul 2013 #22

It does say everything came from the Apple shop. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #26

me too olddots Jul 2013 #24

I have used my share of sync cables to the point where they are falling apart Lee-Lee Jul 2013 #25

I think she had previously dropped it and it suffered a crack that allowed a short. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #27

tragic. It depends on where the shock travels in the body. It can stop the heart. Sunlei Jul 2013 #28

charger had an 'isolation transformer'? quadrature Jul 2013 #31

UPDATE: 'Fake' iPhone charger cited in electrocution death probe FreeState Jul 2013 #32