wierd cell phone problem (they burn up)

[skywalker[TSG]]

hmm why do my cell phones catch fire when i charge them they sometimes burst into flames could it be my powercables ?

phones lost so far

1 ericson T28
3 ericson SH888
2 NOKIA 6150
1 NOKIA 9150
1 NOKIA 8810
1 motorola wings
1 motorola time port

[GVolosky]

Charger is too close to your Microwave oven or cordless shaver .... this was a problem for me too until I removed every AC appliance in my house except my Mr. Coffee and computer..!!!!!!

[GVolosky]

Seriously though...Are u using 120v chargers on a 220v circuit.???? 50Hz Versus 60 or maybe that particular outlet is wired screwy..
g

[skywalker[TSG]]

none off that this is like so wierd
not even ericsson or nokia knows what the problem can be
that is why im trying to get some answers here

[chuckiechan]

I would ask the power company to check your voltage. It's free. You could be gradually melting more resiliant appliances in your house, also.

Do they still fry at another location?

And is the charger set at 110 v (usa)?

Do you want the insurance company to buy you a new house?

[Wiz]

hmmm... maybe your house is some weird sponteous combustion chamber. Call TLC now, make some money, but stay away from flammable items. lol, sorry, j/k =]

[Chainsaw]

I wish that would happen to all those idiots using their cell phones while not paying attention to their driving. Where's that flamin' phone when ya need it?! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
Sorry to hear about all the phones, I'd be doin' some serious testing before I got another phone.
Best of luck,
Chainsaw

[This message has been edited by Chainsaw (edited 12-21-1999).]

[Zacko10000]

Try charging them at a friend's house, if they catch on fire there too, then you really know you have a problem.

[Dave_H]

Get or borrow a voltage meter with two probes on it. Check to make sure the voltage is around 117v. Then check the polarity of the outlet. If you look at an outlet, you will see that one slot is larger than the other. The large slot is the neutral connection and should NOT have any current.

Put one probe in the ground terminal (the round one) put the other probe in the large slot. You should NOT have current here.
(If you do the outlet is wired wrong).

Keep one probe in the ground hole, and put the other in the small hole. You should have current here. (If not the outlet is not grounded).

If this checks out, I think you should call your electric company and have them check your electrical service. At least you will go on record here with them so that if something happens down the line, you will have a better case with them.

Be carefull when testing the outlet(s), make sure that the bare part of the probes don't
touch when they are sticking in the outlet.
If you do not feel absolutly comfortable with trying this, I know you will be able to get a friend who has done some basic electrical work to help you.

Dave

[Dave_H]

I forgot to mention this.
You have tried more than one charger haven't
you? I'm sure the phone companies told you that battries catch fire or explode because they get overcharged, get charged to fast,
or improper voltage.

[wangel]

Have seen many chargers get very hot. Have not seen any melted batteries yet. I investigate fires and I would be interested in knowing more about this. Other questions if you have the time:

1) Any electrical problems with any other appliance?

2) Neighbors having any electrical problems?

3) Do you live very close to a transformer or power company, or sub station?

4) Do your light bulbs need replacing often?

5) Has the electrical polarity been checked in your house?

Thanks

[jad1097]

Are they always pluged into the same outlet or same circit? If so sounds like you need to call out an eletrican! DO you live near the Nashville area? I could come over and take a look at it for you if you do.No charge!It could be many things or a combination of many.
The local power company will most likely tell you to call an eletrican first.
The light bulb question is good. The problem with light bulbs is voltage is rated too low on them. Just make sure you buy 130v light bulbs. It is normal for voltage to be over 120v in houses. The average voltage that I have seen is around 125 volts on a single phase circuit(in Florida and Tennesse).
Is you house old or new? Do your lights get bright and dim all the time? If so,in one room or through out the house?
I had power surges all the time in the house I just sold and never had a problem charging phones.
Do you charge any other type of batteries? Any problems with them if you do.
Dave_H and wangle both have good ?'s.
This is very odd! Please let us know what happens. Also be sure to call a UNION electrical contractor! We are the best trained. Had to throw that in!
Could be loose connection somewere! DO you have aluminum wiring in your house? It will loosing up in time and cause fires and many other problems. Did you have someone do any work at your house before this started to happen? Like maybe an addition, changed a light,fan,etc.. If so DO NOT CALL THEM BACK! have someone else fix their screw up.
I did electrical service work for 10 years and have seen many things , but nothing like this. I stoped doing service work 5 years ago. So I am a little rusty. I just do controls and industrial mostly now.


Mike D.
International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers Local Union 429

[skywalker[TSG]]

thanka for the replys
and thanks jad for offering me your help
but i live in stockholm/sweden

we use 220v here and i have copper wiring
my light bulbs are like this too
i change them every week

the wierd thing is that this has happend at my friend´s house also

[jad1097]

I am not sure about how the electricity is over there but I would call out an electrican. Just in case you do have a serious problem.

[Dave_H]

skywalker,
My suggestions, (and the others).
assumed you were using 120v 60htz (USA standards). Silly assumption on our part, forgot that SysOpt has global dominance
in the web world. LOL http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Since your country uses 220v 50htz and since you stated that it's not just the charger and the phone, (light bulbs too). I think you will find that you got a problem that the two 110v circuits that combine to form 220v are not phased correctly. Your friend with the same problem, does he live in your neighborhood? If so, the step-down transformer on the power pole needs replacement or repair. Also could be that someone took a three phase line and used the wrong wires to make up the 220v.

Either way, I'm sorry to say that I think you need an electrician, and/ or the power company.

Dave

[800XL]

Very good info Dave_H. I don't think I've ever heard/read an explanation of how to test for miswired outlets that was easier to understand. Great stuff. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
I would get the power company into it first as they will at least check things out without charging you. If they find a fault in the house/building wiring, you'll need an electrician. If you rent, call your landlord and file a written maintainance request with them to get it fixed. Tell them their building could burn down at any moment and that should get their attention at least.
The dorm I used to live in had many an outlet reversed, floating ground, etc. I got fed up with buying power strips only to have them die/burn in a month and finally rewired every outlet in my room. After that, no more problem.

[Andre]

~Skywalker!

It´s about time you get the hell out of that house!
Your comp´s P/S gives you shocks and now your cellphone burns!?
Why are you still there?

[skywalker[TSG]]

since im in debt with about 200000$ i do not have any money for a new house http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif
i have called the power company they are sending someone over here today
they say that i use like 1900KW/h per day
witch is about the poweroutput of a small nuclear reactor

my god my house is haunted or something

[Wiz]

skywalker,
1900kw/h?!?! ehhh... thats about enough electricity for 3 average households, give or take. what are you doing?

[skywalker[TSG]]

thats the thing i dont do ****
i just have my
11 comps
41" tv
stereo
3 vcr´s
AC 4000watts
fridge
DVD unit
THX sound system
30 lightbulbs
on all the time 24/7

[Andre]

Have you ever watched Poltergeist!?!?!?

[Dave_H]

Ever had all your hair stand straight up?
Ever get a warm tingly feeling all over?

(Just kidding Skywalker) But,
Don't fly any kites inside your house, or practice with a golf club.
LOL
Dave

[skywalker[TSG]]

>>dave
as a matter of fact i have

this is like so wierd

they did not find anything wrong in the house

and at $20c per KW/h
im getting broke

[Wiz]

open up a side show called "The Amazing Electricity-Eating House"

Start charging admission

do that or move, sorry man...

[Todd Beck]

I like your entertainment system, skywalker. It's kinda small, and a little underpowered, but overall it's not bad.

[skywalker[TSG]]

underpowered ??!!??

the sound system has a 8000watts NOT pmpo
capacity

im thinking of moving

and getting me that níce 72" tv that i saw for only 5000$

[chuckiechan]

You may have several problems, not the least of which is:
Do you have a duplex or some other arrangement whereby you share a common wall?
If you do, someone could be using some of your electricity to run part of their house!
That could explain the high useage. Pull your breaker and see if his house goes dark too!!
I found I was supporting some cretin next door once, I ran his TV until the day he moved-- had no idea! When he moved they shut off his power and that outlet kept power!
I have streetlights in front of my house..Hmmmm

[Axel]

Last time I heard about power consumption like that was in a new appartment complex. What had happened is that, when building the complex, the construction crew temporarily wired a street light to one of the units to see what they were doing early in the morning. The poor tenant was paying to power a street light all the time - The light was finally moved over to the city grid.

As far as Cell phones go - I've only ever seen a problem with the Northern Lights effecting transmission. Not sure if you're close enough to be impacted by the effect. Never heard of it actually melting phones, but I'm aware that sometimes light-bulbs go out due to the effect.