4 Ways Cellphone Electrocution Can Happen to You GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Mobile Phones > Android 244 244 people found this article helpful

4 Ways Cellphone Electrocution Can Happen to You

It's rare, but cellphone electrocution can happen if you're not careful

By Kat Aoki Kat Aoki Freelance Contributor California State University Kat Aoki has nearly 10 years worth of professional IT and troubleshooting experience. She currently writes digital content for technology companies in the U.S. and Australia. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 28, 2021 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Charging a Cellphone Near Water Using a Cellphone While It's Charging Using a Counterfeit Charger Charging a Cellphone in Bed There's No Need to Panic Billions of people use smartphones every day without worry, but sometimes, they turn deadly. The question is why. While the circumstances are different in each case—there might be a bad charger, faulty wiring, or poor judgment on the part of the user—the risks are real. Here's a look at four ways smartphone electrocution can occur and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you. A smartphone is a cellphone that has advanced features. The two terms are often used interchangeably to refer to modern-day smartphones. A smartphone is a cellphone, but a cellphone isn't always smart.

Don' t Charge and Use Your Cellphone While in Water

In December 2016, a 32-year-old British man was found dead in the bathtub. The cause was a charging smartphone. He was resting a charging iPhone on his chest when the device made contact with the water. His injuries were severe, including burns on his chest, arms, and hand. While a cellphone looks like a harmless device, it can be as deadly as a hairdryer when it is plugged into a charger. Consider that it only takes seven milliamps (mA) applied for three seconds to kill a person. Add water to the mix, and you have a risky situation. Water lowers your body's natural resistance to electricity, which means you're more likely to die if you contact electricity in the bath or shower. Saltwater lowers your resistance even more. To prevent cellphone electrocution: Never charge your smartphone in the bathroom or near water.Don't let extension cords or chargers come in contact with water.Never use extension cords or chargers with frayed wires.

Using Your Cellphone While It' s Charging

While smartphone batteries carry a low voltage—lithium-ion batteries are about 3.7 volts—attaching them to a charger puts you in a direct line to the high-intensity voltage from the power socket. This can be dangerous under certain conditions, such as when there's a short circuit or power surge. A case in point: A 24-year-old factory worker in Thailand was found dead in his bedroom in 2019. His cellphone was plugged into the wall while he listened to music on his earbuds. For some unlucky reason, electricity surged into the phone, making contact with his ears. Police believe that a short circuit or a faulty charger was to blame. To prevent cellphone electrocution: Don't use earbuds plugged into a charging cellphone.Plug your cellphone charger into a surge-protected power strip when possible.

Using a Counterfeit Cellphone Charger

The cost of replacing smartphone chargers can be enough to make your eyes water. It can be tempting to purchase a knock-off for a fraction of the price, but experts say don't do it. According to a study from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute in the UK, 98 percent of all fake Apple chargers failed basic safety tests. After several tests, only three of the 400 devices tested had enough isolation to prevent an electric shock. These are scary statistics by any measure. Kihopczmaluoch / wikimedia.org To prevent cellphone electrocution: Only use OEM (original equipment manufacturer) chargers for your smartphone. If you suspect a charger is fake, check the manufacturer, model number, and voltage ratings. If you doubt a charger's authenticity, throw it out.

Charging Your Cellphone in Bed

In 2017, a girl was electrocuted by her phone charger. The 14-year-old teenager from Vietnam was charging her iPhone 6 in bed when she rolled onto a frayed cable and was electrocuted in her sleep. Tape wrapped around the cable indicates she was likely aware of the frayed cable for some time but failed to replace it before the worst happened. To avoid smartphone electrocution: Never charge your cellphone in bed.Replace faulty or frayed charging cables immediately. Don't tape them up as a band-aid measure.Don't touch frayed or damaged cables when your charger's plugged in.Plug your cellphone charger into a surge-protected power strip when possible.

There' s No Need to Panic

If all of this information has you a bit on edge, remember that the odds of cellphone electrocution are minuscule. It requires a weird mix of events to happen, which is probably why it's not common. Still, it's a smart idea to follow common-sense precautions and stay safe. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Can a 12 Volt Car Battery Really Electrocute Someone? How to Fix It When a Tablet Won't Turn On How to Fix a Broken Charger The 7 Best Surge Protectors of 2022 How to Fix a Surface Pro Not Charging How to Check for Loose Monitor Power Cable Connections Xbox One Won't Turn On? How to Fix It How to Charge Your GoPro Camera and Batteries How to Fix It When a Tablet Won't Charge The 9 Best UPS Battery Backup (Uninterruptible Power Supply) of 2022 by Lifewire How to Check for Disconnected Computer Power Cables Why Doesn't My 12v Socket Work? What Is a Trickle Charger? The 6 Best Power Inverters of 2022 The 4 Best USB-C Chargers of 2022 The 6 Best Fast Chargers of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies