The apparent news that the new Iphone 5 is a deadly instrument has already gone viral. A woman in China was allegedly electrocuted when she answered her new Iphone 5.
This week, another man was apparently electrocuted.
Much has been made of the news. There are those who believe that China is trying to get back at American products because of the issues it has had with its own less than quality product and America's penalties and duties of unrelated products. In the other camp are those fidele to the Microsoft cause who are saying that Apple products have always had problems.
But the truth is much more mundane, and more deadly.
Apparently the cause of the problem is the charger itself, not an Apple product, produced as an aftermarket accessory, no name brand substitute for the real Apple charger. In the latest incident in which a man named Wu JIan Tong has lapsed into a coma after being electrocuted, Apple has already offered condolences for the victim, but boldly reiterated that the chargers were knock-offs. These knockoffs are often sold as the real thing.
Almost every phone does carry the warning not to answer the device while docked, although many people disregard the warning. In this case however, it seems the device is so poorly made that it delivers a lethal charge if anyone touches it while it is charging the Iphone.
The chargers in both cases were probably not insulated. This kind of problem is often observed on cheap aftermarket gadgets or accessories.
The Chinese are well known for their inability to stem the flow of poorly made counterfeits. The consequences however are often deadly.
In both of the above cases, it appears that on the day of the electrocution it had rained substantially, raising indoor humidity. High humidity exacerbates poor insulation problems and the risk of electrocution.
Source : The Independent UK/ 7.19.13
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