USB Socket Outlets
Some types of 13A socket-oulets, extension leads and adaptors are starting to be made available with built-in USB power supplies - to aid the charging of the ever increasing number of consumer electronic devices.
Whilst most of us will appreciate the convenience of having such items installed within our homes, Electrical Safety First believes that the use of low cost, unbranded products might present the risk of electric shock and/or fire.
This is because our initial findings revealed that the extra‑low voltage parts of the USB power supply were not always suitably segregated and/or electrically separated from the low voltage (230 V) parts of the accessory and/or, in the case of 13 A sockets, of the fixed wiring.
To find out more about those risks, and what else the independent test laboratory uncovered during its investigations, click here to read the technical article in full.
You can download the laboratory test results for the samples put through the screening programme by clicking the links on the right of this page.