Hyderabad: Faulty mobile chargers and loose electric contact points are the main reasons why people suffer electric shocks while charging mobile phones.
Talking on the phone while it is still plugged in for charging may also lead to shocks, say experts. In most incidents the victims were using cheap chargers and mobiles. Most of the electric shocks in 2015 were reported from rural areas where power fluctuations are common and people have a habit of talking on phones while it is charging.
Experts say using good quality chargers and ensuring proper electrical wiring can prevent such incidents. Electricity is converted from AC to DC in the charger. A maximum of 6.5 volt to 10 volt is passed by the charger to the phone. This is much less than the 230 volt supply that electricity cables carry, and is not harmful to humans.
Technicians who service mobiles say that careless handling of chargers also lead to mishaps. If chargers are used carelessly or if the cable is stretched beyond its limit while charging, the connections in the charger may fail, resulting in it failing to convert AC to DC.
“If this happens, AC directly passes to the mobile and that leads to shock,” said Mr M. Shiva Kumar, a technician.
“A battery should not be charged for more than two hours. One should not charge it till the mobile shows ‘low battery’ or it reaches at least 15 per cent battery level,” he added.
He said that duplicate chargers, which also come with warranty like original ones, use cheap material, making them vulnerable.
Officials from the electricity department say loose connections in wiring, low quality switches and power cables can also lead to electrical accidents.
In many places wiring is done by electricians who have learnt on the job and are not trained properly. For completing works fast at low budgets they use low quality material and do not take precautions.
"Use of fireproof cables in the wiring will minimise such incidents. Abnormal fluctuations can also be balanced by proper earthing. This will prevent other electronic equipment from getting damaged," said a senior official of TSSPDCL.
