IKEA Charger Recalled

[armandine2]

Just had an email from IKEA - they're recalling their 40W USB charger 

something of a surprise as I thought (and half remember Big Clive saying) IKEA and Apple were the recommended ones.

Anyhow - I will return, to be on the safe side (I guess). 

[tom66]

Looks like the recall is over risk to damage to the power cord possibly causing burning and electric shock.   If the cable is fine, and you like the product, it's probably safe to keep, especially if you can replace the cord yourself (looks user replaceable to me?)

[armandine2]

IKEA has received reports that the power cable may get damaged or broken after being wrapped around the charger, or bent back and forth, after a long period of use. The damaged cable may lead to thermal burns and electric shock. At IKEA, the health and safety of our customers is our top priority, therefore ÅSKSTORM 40W USB charger dark grey is being recalled.

well I don't wrap the lead around the charger - so I'll keep it 

[Karel]

Probably because they used a powercable with CCA wires?

[armandine2]

Probably because they used a powercable with CCA wires?

it is a stiff cable - I was nostalgic seeing cable with that old fabric type sheath, as used for irons. 

[Monkeh]

something of a surprise as I thought (and half remember Big Clive saying) IKEA and Apple were the recommended ones.

The fact that they recall products when they find an issue is part of the reason for the recommendation.

[SeanB]

Plus the fabric covered cable normally uses a thinner core, as it can, due to the silicone insulation and fabric cover, run a lot hotter in use, and still fit in the allowed temperature rise for cable, as it can run hot. However the issue is the silicone insulation is soft, and flexing will result in the flowing and splitting of the silicone, especially in places with constant flexing, like the cable entry.

Clive did give a good result for the plug in chargers in a monolithic block, which do have correct insulation, and both robust insulation, correct sleeving and routing of conductors, and proper isolation components in use, plus also conform to creepage and clearance limits. Not sure about this one, never seen one been tested by him.

Will add that the UK plug, with a 3A fuse, will protect the cable well, unless the owner blew the fuse, and decided to put a 13A one in, or the never blow fuse option of aluminium foil or wire.

[ebastler]

Surprising. I would rather have expected thermal problems from their powerbank "VARMFRONT".

[tom66]

Unlikely the cable would ever overheat, maximum power rating looks to be on the order of around 50 watts.  If you take the worst case assumptions - 80% efficiency, 100V input running in Japan off a socket adapter, power factor of 0.5, it might pull around 1.25A  (that seems to be the sticker rating they've put too).   Since the plug will have a 3A fuse, the cable will be more than sufficiently rated.

Most likely, the issue is that if the cable insulation breaks, you can get a few strands touching, which can overheat and burn temporarily but not blow the fuse as the current isn't high enough.  I've seen this with bad power cords.  And there is of course an electric shock risk.

It really is a bit silly,  you should just replace a cord if it fails,  but companies have to take this into account, users are stupid.

What surprises me is they are recalling the whole item rather than offering a free power cord replacement.  Maybe that's just seen as safer.  But reminds me of the VW cadmium charger thing, where cadmium was discovered in some VW electric vehicle on board charging units, a RoHS violation.  At one point VW said they were considering replacing the whole charging unit, which would have led to a huge amount of e-waste.  Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and the recall consisted of someone adding a "danger cadmium" sticker to the charger unit.  Just in case you had the idea of eating it for dinner, I guess.

[Halcyon]

something of a surprise as I thought (and half remember Big Clive saying) IKEA and Apple were the recommended ones.

Clive was referring to the SMÅHAGEL series of charger from Ikea. I don't believe he has ever tested or commented on the ÅSKSTORM model.

[SiliconWizard]

Yes, users are stupid. Until the stupid user is you.

[Karel]

On the other hand, how many people got killed by unsafe electric tools & appliances?
Crossing the street is more dangerous.

[Ranayna]

This morning i saw the recall notification in the local newspaper. Yes, i'm oldschool and still read it
So this recall is not limited to the UK Version of the cable. The EU cable looks similarly braided in the pictures, though i have never seen this power supply except in pictures.

Does it have a IEC C5 socket, or is the cable fixed in place?

[Haenk]

I still find it odd to state overheating cable as a reason for the recall.
With 240V, max output of 50W that's less than 300mA, rather in the range of 200mA - at max load.
So it's really more likely to be a "broken wire" issue with some arcing.

[newbrain]

Does it have a IEC C5 socket, or is the cable fixed in place?

It's a standard 8 shape C7/C8 (cable/socket).
I have one.
I'm still undecided on bringing it back, as it is extra convenient, especially when traveling (laptop+phone+headphone or tablet).
Might just get a replacement cable instead.

[tom66]

Does it have a IEC C5 socket, or is the cable fixed in place?

It's a standard 8 shape C7/C8 (cable/socket).
I have one.
I'm still undecided on bringing it back, as it is extra convenient, especially when traveling (laptop+phone+headphone or tablet).
Might just get a replacement cable instead.

Use it, if the cable shows wear then replace the cable.

IMHO power cables like these are 'wear' items anyway, they will eventually need replacement if flexed frequently.

[SiliconWizard]

Probably because they used a powercable with CCA wires?

it is a stiff cable - I was nostalgic seeing cable with that old fabric type sheath, as used for irons. 

Well yes, but these days, the fabric thing is often merely decorative and doesn't add anything. You'll find tons of them on Aliexpress for instance, you can just "tear them down" to see what they really are.

[BrokenYugo]

Probably because they used a powercable with CCA wires?

it is a stiff cable - I was nostalgic seeing cable with that old fabric type sheath, as used for irons. 

Unfortunately I've never seen the cloth sheathed vintage look stuff with anything but the crappiest PVC underneath. You have to go out of your way to buy actual rubber insulated lay flat cable anymore, but some of it is still made, e.g. SJOOW/SOOW (EDPM wire, neoprene jacket), 

[thm_w]

Does it have a IEC C5 socket, or is the cable fixed in place?

It's a standard 8 shape C7/C8 (cable/socket).
I have one.
I'm still undecided on bringing it back, as it is extra convenient, especially when traveling (laptop+phone+headphone or tablet).
Might just get a replacement cable instead.

Cut open the cable and post some photos here after you replace it. A new cable is like $3 on digikey for a quality one (IEC 320-7). If you want I can refund you the cost.

[newbrain]

Got a replacement cord - it's probably worse.

If you want I can refund you the cost.

I expect your check to be soon in the mail. 

I cut the IKEA cord, and looked at its innards.

The fabric sleeve is not cotton - not that I expected that - probably some mixed material: it burns like plastic, but smells "organic".
Under that an outer plastic shell, encasing one blue and one brown wires.
The wires are stranded, 42 strands with 0.15 mm diameter for a total area of ~0.75 mm².
The metal is real copper, not CCA or CCS: it stays reddish when scraped with a blade, is not attracted by magnets and does not melt with a lighter flame.
Both ends seem to have a decent, molded, strain relief.

Pictures attached - on the background, HEAT and FLYGFISK 

[Gyro]

It looks like proper double insulated cable to me (the woven fabric doesn't count as an insulation layer). I wonder if the problem is at the termination to the connector (charger end [or both?]). Maybe the presence of the fabric causes difficulties with getting a decent bond in the molded strain relief?

[ebastler]

I would assume some users were simply abusing the cable, by wrapping it tightly around the relatively small, sharp-edged box. Maybe even leaving the cable plugged into the unit and starting with a sharp bend, from the far end of the plug back to the enclosure.

[ConKbot]

You buy from Ikea because they will actually issue recalls.  Will a VFRIDON Amazon charger have a recall sent out when it's determined the product wasn't actually in compliance with CE standards?

Ikea actually has skin in the game, and can have a meaningful legal judgment against them if they cause damaged because of selling trash products. Everyone makes mistakes. How they get handled is important.