Popular USB travel adapters failed safety tests, pose risk of short circuits and electric shocks, Hong Kong consumer watchdog warns
Problems were found with all 10 tested by Consumer Council, with officials urging public to stop using one unbranded product altogether
All samples of popular USB travel adapters failed to pass safety tests, exposing users to risks including short circuits and electric shocks, Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog warned on Thursday, with officials urging the public to stop using one unbranded product altogether.
The Consumer Council tested 10 products widely used by travellers who prefer to take only one adapter on trips, especially overseas. Such universal adapters also serve as USB chargers and can be used in different countries.
“While we urge manufactures to apply safer design and not operate in the grey area of the law, consumers should also pay attention to the features we mentioned,” Gilly Wong Fung-han, the council’s chief executive, said on Thursday.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department issued a warning on such adapters as well as products with a similar design after it was notified of the test results in May.
The department urged consumers to stop using one of the unbranded products on safety grounds.
The devices tested by the council came from Skross, Maxtron, Lifetrons, Zendure, Momax, Verbatim, ecDigi, Adam Elements and two unbranded producers. All of them were made in China except the Skross adapter, which was made in Thailand.