Experts have issued an urgent warning about signs that a bargain tech gadget could be potentially deadly.
It can be hard to resist being able to buy them online for a good price, especially for items that would cost tens (if not hundreds) of pounds or more in stores or official retailers.
However, manufacturers of cheap gadgets often cut corners.
One piece of evidence that the product is dangerous and potentially deadly is the “clover leaf” plug.
Clover leaf plugs are smaller than standard plugs and have a unique shape, with the plastic on the back of the plug being only slightly larger than the three pins on the front.
However, although the plug looks smooth, there are two major risks.
First, the small size of the plug increases the risk of electric shock, as the pins are very close to the end and can be grabbed when inserting or removing a device into a live socket.
Second, most cloverleaf plugs do not contain a fuse, so the fuse will not blow in the event of a fault that could cause a fire.
The charity has discovered that clover leaf plugs are being used in a wide range of products including hair dryers, hair straighteners and heaters. They are also found in e-bike and e-scooter chargers, two products that have caused a number of deadly fires in recent years due to substandard products available online.
“The plug is the clearest evidence that a product is compliant and safe,” says Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First.
“Gifts received or bargains kept in bags should be fused so that the device can shut off in the event of a failure. Also, the distance between the plug pin and the end of the plug should be 9.5 mm .
“If the plug attached to your device is clover-shaped like the one in the image, please stop using it immediately and return it.”
The charity also highlighted other red flags that high-tech products may be substandard, warning shoppers to look out for misspellings on packaging and manuals, saying: “Good manufacturers pay attention to detail. I will pay my bills and not make these mistakes.”
The company will also stop using products that come with foreign-made plugs or travel adapters.
“This shows that sellers are not taking the time to comply with British Standards, as all products sold in the UK market are required to come with British Standard plugs. ” the charity warned.
Mr. Capanna added: “When buying electronics on online markets you often find plugs like this. They are substandard and are sold illegally in the UK.
“The best way to protect yourself is to use reputable high street retailers.”
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