User profile for user: pjbnz
pjbnz Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

swollen battery by a third party charger?

Hi everyone,


I hope anyone, especially from Apple, could provide me some advise.


It is about my kids's swollen battery. My kid has a iPhone 8.


I recently bought my kid a USB charger (48 watt) from a online trader (Trade Me). It was a bit cheaper than one with well known brand. My kid plugged her iPhone to the charger, but just before she went to sleep, she pulled the charger from electric socket as she heard buzzing noise. I reported that to the seller with a video clip showing buzzing noise. The seller replied me back saying the buzzing noise is normal and that do not affect charging experience. I suspected his answer but shared that email with my kid. She then used the charger to charge her iPhone for a couple of days. My kid then brought her phone to me and said her phone was dead.


I noticed there was a quite gab between the screen and the phone. It looked like the battery was swollen. I reported that to the seller with the photo of the swollen phone. There has been a series of email communications, but basically the seller do not accept that the charger was not a defect charger. And said they do not accept any responsibility until it is proven by a third party lab test report.


I am about to send the charger and my kids phone to a independent tester. But I would want to know if anyone can tell followings.


  1. Is Buzzing noise on a USB charger normal? I am asking this because my other chargers (all with 50w or more) do not make any noise.
  2. If that is not normal. Can this be a defect for me to get a full refund including returning cost from the seller? I am asking this the seller only offered to refund what I paid if I send it back at my expense. Seller said they would not reimburse the delivery back cost.
  3. Can anyone tell me if a bad charger can cause the phone battery to swallow?


I can actually forget about those whole thing and get on with my life. However, the seller is adamant that the charger had no problem and the swollen battery is nothing to do with the charger.


I hope anyone or anyone from Apple could advise me


Regards,



John

New Zealand









iPhone 8

Posted on Dec 17, 2022 9:19 PM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,172 points

Posted on Dec 17, 2022 9:45 PM

pjbnz wrote:

Is Buzzing noise on a USB charger normal?

No it is not. Please note that the iPhone's charger is actually built-into the phone itself. What you would connect to it would be a power adapter. A power adapter, amongst other things, can contain electronic components called capacitors. These can "buzz" if they are either faulty or the adapter's manufacturer used poor quality parts.


If that is not normal. Can this be a defect for me to get a full refund including returning cost from the seller? I am asking this the seller only offered to refund what I paid if I send it back at my expense. Seller said they would not reimburse the delivery back cost.

Yes. Unfortunately, what you may have saved in the cost of this adapter, you are "paying" for any their lack of service.


Can anyone tell me if a bad charger can cause the phone battery to swallow?

In theory, the iPhone's charger should prevent this from happening. However, not knowing exactly what is wrong with the adapter, anything could be possible.


The issue now, just in case you didn't have enough already, is that your iPhone is damaged ... and definitely should not be powered on. The lithium battery in this phone could cause further damage, including the potential to explode or catch fire. I strongly recommend that you place the phone in a fire-proof container until you can get properly dispose of it.


I'm afraid, based on what you have provided us, is that your were taken by this vendor. What you do, as it relates to them, is totally up to you.






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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,172 points

Dec 17, 2022 9:45 PM in response to pjbnz

pjbnz wrote:

Is Buzzing noise on a USB charger normal?

No it is not. Please note that the iPhone's charger is actually built-into the phone itself. What you would connect to it would be a power adapter. A power adapter, amongst other things, can contain electronic components called capacitors. These can "buzz" if they are either faulty or the adapter's manufacturer used poor quality parts.


If that is not normal. Can this be a defect for me to get a full refund including returning cost from the seller? I am asking this the seller only offered to refund what I paid if I send it back at my expense. Seller said they would not reimburse the delivery back cost.

Yes. Unfortunately, what you may have saved in the cost of this adapter, you are "paying" for any their lack of service.


Can anyone tell me if a bad charger can cause the phone battery to swallow?

In theory, the iPhone's charger should prevent this from happening. However, not knowing exactly what is wrong with the adapter, anything could be possible.


The issue now, just in case you didn't have enough already, is that your iPhone is damaged ... and definitely should not be powered on. The lithium battery in this phone could cause further damage, including the potential to explode or catch fire. I strongly recommend that you place the phone in a fire-proof container until you can get properly dispose of it.


I'm afraid, based on what you have provided us, is that your were taken by this vendor. What you do, as it relates to them, is totally up to you.






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swollen battery by a third party charger?

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