To not allow phone chargers to be on overnight?

[RamblingRita]

Massive issues with adult and teen DC over this. Not only phones but ipads as well.

I have told them I do not want them to be charged overnight as the plugs heat up and they are a fire risk.

They are arguing as they never let devices charge enough in the day as they're always on them.

Sick of same old bullshit argument every night when I just want to get into bed.

So AIBU?

Just to add I am the type to unplug everything but the fridge overnight after a relatives house was burned down due something being left plugged in and fire officer said always unplug everything it's possible to at night.

[ReflectentMonatomism]

My chargers are on a smart plug schedule

And the Smart Plugs are a lower fire risk than the chargers plugged into them because why? Small switch mode power supply, some control electronics, big relay. And only protected by a 13A fuse, too.

[BertieBotts]

I don't think people are talking about countries without clean running water.

The SchuKo plug is used in much of Europe, is easily as safe as a BS1363 plug yet sockets do not have switches.

Arguably a switch in a plug is less reliable than physically breaking the circuit ie unplugging.

Cheapness of a charger e.g. Poundland is not as much of an issue as regulation - Chinese imports for example.

[133jkc]

Because of seeing this post today I am choosing to have a family fire safety meeting, and also this tragedy has happened in Youngstown, Ohio. We surely cannot be too careful when it comes to our family’s protection.

[Poster65]

YANBU im with you OP

[ReflectentMonatomism]

The SchuKo plug is used in much of Europe, is easily as safe as a BS1363 plug yet sockets do not have switches.

BS1363 didn't have switches originally. They were added in the late 1950s. My BSI subscription appears to not include the withdrawn stuff, so I can't get an old copy of BS2814 to see if there's any explanation of why.

The attraction of 1363 is that the plug is fused, which protects the flex directly. European stuff has lower current wiring in the house (star, rather than ring) and applicances are protected by breakers on consumer unit, of which there are usually rather more and of lower current capacity. Properly used 1363 is better, because the fuse on the plug is suitable for the flex and appliance, whereas on European wiring it's all 15A (hence those weird 5A sockets for lighting). The move to moulded plugs means more applicances have the correctly rated fuse, too.

But this is all at the risk edge-cases, as all sensible wiring is safe. American wiring, now...that's some scary shit.

[MarthasGinYard]

Was just pointing out the differences with the re ignition of lithium fires which many are oblivious to.

They don't go out

As thread digressed thought would just comment

Not 'paranoia'

[BertieBotts]

My guess is simply that UK plugs can be hard to take in and out of sockets, which is not the case for SchuKo. But some of the ShuKo rated sockets in my German house feel extremely loose when used with a non earthed EU plug. That doesn't feel very safe. The wiring is probably old.

[oblada]

I wasn't making some random comment! In France we don't have power switches and I've never heard of anyone unplugging anything at night (like oven/microwave/washer etc) so hence my question...

[ReflectentMonatomism]

But some of the ShuKo rated sockets in my German house feel extremely loose when used with a non earthed EU plug

Yeah. The decision to have all UK sockets earthed and shuttered, so that everything has to have an earth pin, was very sensible. That in Europe you have interchangeable two- and three-pin stuff, so that earthing is optional, is not great. At least there are now starting to be three-pin plugs which have to be plugged into an earthed socket: in too many places the earth pin is on the socket and the earth contact on the device is a receptacle, so you can plug it into a two pin socket as well.

The most terrifying sockets are the ones you find in south east asian hotels, and I believe in the middle east, where the local electricity is BS1363 230V (because ex-empire!) but regulation is weak and there are a lot of US, Japanese and European visitors. These hotel mains sockets will take anything, but whatever it is you get 230V, including up flimsy US connectors. I gingerly plug an IEC lead in when I arrive, keeping one hand in my pocket and making sure my feet are not damp, and then use that to power chargers. If I were even a fraction more nervous I would take a UK extension lead, so I could plug in once and then just use proper 1363 sockets. The universal sockets are crazily unsafe.

Full horror show here (not for the electrically nervous):

www.universalsocket.org.uk

[BertieBotts]

They aren't interchangeable. Earthed sockets can take non earthed plugs but that's the case in the UK too - it's just UK plugs have a plastic top pin in this case. Unearthed sockets are smaller (all sockets are recessed) and only take the flat two pin plugs, so you can never plug a device which is designed to be earthed into a non-earthed socket. You might be confused about the two types though, the French type has a pin in the socket whereas German type have metal clips on the sides, but these aren't compatible with older types of the other. Modern plugs will usually connect to both German and French systems (to simplify things for manufacturers) so are safe in either.

Unless you're talking about somewhere like Russia anyway where the sockets are often flat.

[ReflectentMonatomism]

Ah, I'd forgotten about the clips. Thanks for the clarification.

I still think the 1363 way: one socket, one plug, fuses in the plug, earthing available at all points, is the right way. But all European wiring is safe, and the differences are mostly about "how easy is it to abuse" and "how tempting is it to make up dangerous extension leads with weird combinations of connectors".

[bubblegumunicorn]

If you used to work for a major phone manufacturer you should know full well that you cannot categorically state what you have said above.

Thing is that is the case it's obviously personal choice but most fires happened when things weren't even plugged in...it's often something either external heat eg it's been wrapped in a blanket with a game running for really hot and caught fire or something else caught fire in the vicinity of the phone causing the phone to catch fire and the battery to blow if a genuine charger did blow there would be a tiny hole and it's still scary but it goes out so fast! Most of the time it happens to already damaged chargers it happened to my laptop one about 6 months ago I was awake and turned it off and unplugged it! Apple were great they exchanged it even though the laptop/charger was 6 years old and not their responsibility anymore! That cable was really badly damaged where it was smoking and wasn't really safe to use! I knew that though! But if anyone wants to ban electricity over night that's not a bad thing for one it helps the environment to turn off plugs so I say go for it! But I also say there is not much to worry about if things are kept in the correct places and conditions!

[easyandy101]

Loving the "well its never happened to me" mentality that's strong itt

I don't wear seatbelts and I've always been fine

/derp

[curlilox]

My Mum always used to pull all the plugs out before she went to bed. She unplugged our fridge freezer when she was at our house.

[PookieDo]

I turn all phone chargers off. I don’t unplug the fridge freezer though. DC charge their phones before bed, I charge mine at work during the day. Everything is fine

[Shriek]

@curlilox blimey I wouldn't have her stay again she has zero respect for you.

I think charging phones in the evening whilst watching TV before bed will be the way to go here, and then switching off everything else - definitely not fridge/freezer cos that's just a different way to die! From food poisoning.

[PigletJohn]

The chargers provided by manufacturers of phones, tablets etc are very safe, because they are properly designed and tested, appropriate to the appliance, and there is a very clear route to report any defects, or prosecute if necessary. In the EU, the manufacturer or importer has to take responsibility for their products. You may recall seeing, usually on the last page of the instruction booklet, a certificate signed by the Chief Engineer of the manufacturer.

There is a particular problem with non-compliant chargers sold in such untrustworthy channels such as Amazon, Ebay and street traders.

They are usually made in China, there is usually no branding to track the maker, or it may be counterfeit, and they are not imported to the EU by an importer who will take responsibility for them. Sometimes they are posted direct to the consumer from China. Since they are bought on price, there is every incentive to have the cheapest possible components, manufacture and quality control.

[Severide08]

Assuming your house isn't Victorian the fire risk is close enough to zero to be forgettable.
We have a Victorian house when we brought it years ago no one stated it is a higher fire risk and it certainly doesn't say that on the the house insurance, so i am genuinely curious on that .We have a number of friends who work in the local fire service and they have never said that either.
I do charge my phone overnight but wont use things like tumble dryer or washing machine while we are asleep. Turn off cooker to .I am very parnoid about making sure fire alarms are working as i had the awful situation when i was younger of being the first on discovering a house on fire ,no an experience i ever wish to repeat .

[italiancortado]

well if the wiring is also victorian........