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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not allow phone chargers to be on overnight?

244 replies

RamblingRita · 09/12/2018 01:19

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 bedAngry.

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.

OP posts:
WereYouHareWhenIWasFox · 09/12/2018 02:36

You’d be surprised how easy it is to not smell when your house is on fire. I wouldn’t count on that.

Topseyt · 09/12/2018 02:39

Ours charge up on our bedside tables overnight and will continue to do so. We all use them as alarm clocks. They don't overcharge. When the phone reaches full charge the charging stops.

RangerLady · 09/12/2018 02:57

When we did a fire safety course at work the ex fireman who ran it told us that phones left on charge were a leading fire risk

I have also had my mobile phone start to catch on fire whilst using an official charger. Luckily I was standing in the same room and could stop it actually bursting into flames
So no ynbu as this is a real thing

Blueblueyellow · 09/12/2018 03:00

I'm the same Op! Completely understand you, why take the risk? I know a fireman and he told me some of the main fires are caused by things like hairstraightners and home electronics. You are not BU.

Shriek · 09/12/2018 03:00

Scarey shit!!

Maybe those calling OP controlling g and obsessive, or have decided they will continue regardless would reconsider.

I wish this were widely known, as just from this thread its clearly not.

kateandme · 09/12/2018 03:05

does anyone know about batteries.is it true that if you keep them charge for more than they need(as in constantly) this actually makes the battery run down quicker if you ever have it off then?
does no one else put there dishwashers on cycle overnight?
or washing?

PatricksRum · 09/12/2018 03:11

Fire risk? I never unplug my chargers and leave turn charging overnight otherwise they'd never have battery, especially the iPad.
YABU in this day and age.

RCohle · 09/12/2018 03:31

Lots of things are a "risk". We all weigh up how large that risk is versus inconvenience of mitigating that risk. It's why any of us get behind the wheel of the car.

Personally unplugging every electrical item in my house every night seems wholly disproportionate to the fire risk they present. Get a working smoke alarm and relax.

Shriek · 09/12/2018 03:35

Regardless of that being counter to advice of the fire service, who say these are the leasing risk of house fires?

I'd rather listen to them tbh

Shriek · 09/12/2018 03:36

Much better than to be woken by the sound of a smoke detector.

Who would even do that, now that's stoopid

M4J4 · 09/12/2018 03:42

I do chargever night (but will use a timer in future), however, I do make sure phone/tablet is on bedside table and not on the carpet or under pillow as that increases the risk of fire.

Mrsjohnmurphy · 09/12/2018 03:44

Maybe fire chief officers and people ensconced in such matters may be just a tiny bit biased.

Nonameslob · 09/12/2018 05:00

YANBU We recently had our annual fire training at work and the fireman said phone chargers, hair appliances along with white goods are the 4th biggest cause of house fires. He said they don't have to be in use, just a source of energy running to it from the socket. The comment above get a smoke alarm and relax is ridiculous. Fires that start during the night have more of a chance of taking hold before you are able to take action. Why not reduce the risk of a fire in the first place. From www.london-fire.gov.uk Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete – it's best not to leave your phone plugged in overnight for example

Madein1995 · 09/12/2018 05:12

Yabu. Ive been doing it for years, no issue. Plus if you are on them , out or busy during the day you don't have chance. More importantly, you shouldn't charge them until they're low so doing it during the day would be counter productive

Surprised how many people agree with your irrational, controlling train of thought. I mean, you seriously, you turn ALL electrics off overnight? Including TV, cooker, lamps, microwave, radio, printer ... That isn't rational or normal behaviour. You need help

Philomensapie · 09/12/2018 05:13

I'm the same as your DC, my phone charges all night as the battery's usually quite low, and I need the alarm to go off. Otherwise no one would get to school.

CoughLaughFart · 09/12/2018 05:47

TVs, sky box, games consoles, computer, printer and fairy lights obvs.

Doesn’t that mean you have to reset things like series record every day? That would drive me nuts.

user8905 · 09/12/2018 05:53

The chargers can get a little warm during the charging process but after an hour or so (depends on device) this stops and the charger should cool down. I've always left mine on overnight and switch off in the morning.

FrostyMoanyWind · 09/12/2018 06:01

I never leave mine charging overnight nor if I go out, the chargers get hot, the phone gets hot. The screen on my phone popped out- a known issue due to the battery expanding as it gets warm.

I think the safety sheet that comes with the phone warns you not to leave charging overnight or for an extended period. And then the automatic software updates will only download at night, if the phone is plugged in Hmm

MarthasGinYard · 09/12/2018 06:13

After watching several scenes of lithium battery fires

I never charge overnight.

Yura · 09/12/2018 06:21

Yes, there is a -very small - risk of any appliance bursting into flames (fridges are quite high on the list btw).
there is a significantly higher risk to have a car accident, yet people get into cars for unnecessary journeys all the time.

DroningOn · 09/12/2018 06:26

Do you go round the house and unplug everything before bed? Tv, microwave, radio, Alexa are all powered overnight presumably with no issue. this isnt any different. YABU

LaurieMarlow · 09/12/2018 06:26

YANBU op. We never have phones charging overnight.

I'm surprised at the dismissive and defensive comments on this thread. You'd think people would listen to the fire services advice but nooooo. They pour scorn on that too. Hmm

Poodles1980 · 09/12/2018 06:32

Why unplug a sky box which is on stand by or an oven which is off? I would have to reset all my clocks every morning or go crazy. The only thing I would never leave running at night or when I was out is the tumble dryer.

beepbeep321 · 09/12/2018 06:49

Another one here for no charging overnight.
We also turn off everything in living room...bar the sky box.
Kitchen - everything except the fridge, freezer, cooker.
No high anxiety about fires but safety first, if I can minimise risk then why not 

drquin · 09/12/2018 06:52

It's about the "risk" of fire.
What folk don't tend to understand is that "risk" is not a stand-alone word. It is the culmination of the words "likelihood" of something happening, and the "severity" of the something.

It's obvious that the chance or likelihood of an electrical fire is reduced if you don't have the electrical item switched on** in the first place.

So it's not obsessive or controlling to switch off said electrical item. It's a risk reduction (or removal) action.
Whether someone else is happy with their level of risk, or does something different to mitigate risks, has different circumstances, is something that happens daily.

I am massively fire-safety conscious. I do unplug the TV (no sky box to reset) and the Christmas lights and the side lights etc ...... but I do charge the phone & iPad overnight (and there's only mine, so exposure rate to risk is different from a family charging six phones & iPads).

So I've reduced my chances of there being an electrical fire absolutely...... But i haven't eliminated the risk entirely. To do so, I'd have to live off-grid. But then I might introduce different risks, by using open fires or petroleum lamps!

To OP, if you genuinely feel this is a risk for your household to manage, then you need to manage it well .... if there's a chance the charging will be done covertly or with illicitly-obtained chargers, then you've made the situation worse.