How safe is an unplugged lightning cable

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Level 1

4 points

How safe is an unplugged lightning cable

Someone (ahem) I know charges an iPhone in bed. While there are many points of concern, here I am not worried about the iPhone, faulty/counterfeit/frayed hardware, etc. Instead, consider a properly functioning lightning cable, USB plugged into a 5W adapter, plugged into a power strip, plugged into a wall outlet. The lightning plug end is dangling, not plugged into anything. How dangerous is this?

- Is it dangerous for the lightning plug to make contact with a metal standing lamp? (Suppose I then grab the lamp)

- Is it dangerous for the lightning plug to fall into a cup of water (1 amp immediately flows)?

- If I grab the lightning plug with my fingers, on one or both sides, can current flow?

- In the above grabbing scenario, in what situations would current flow, or not flow (e.g. I'm wearing insulating shoes, I am barefoot standing in a puddle, my fingers are sweaty, I am not grabbing that hard, etc.)?

- Are there features of the lightning plug design that reduce the chances of inadvertant current flow?

The next question is, are there ways to mitigate the current risk (0.2A being rather terminal).

Cable: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD818AM/A/lightning-to-usb-cable-1-m?fnode=97

Adapter: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD810LL/A/apple-5w-usb-power-adapter

Amperage: Everything you wanted to know about charging your iPhone or iPad

iPhone 6, null

Posted on May 13, 2017 1:21 AM

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Answer 1

seventy one

Level 7

27,460 points

May 13, 2017 1:31 AM in response to sockedin

There are ways to mitigate all of these factors ... just keep it switched off at the mains until you need use it. In normal circumstances however, the lightning cable plugged in is of no danger. You can touch the end without a problem. I would never hold anything electrical where there could be water contact; very unsafe practice.

Otherwise, I doubt that many people reading this would meet with the alternative questions which in my view, seem to stretch the bounds of reasonable probability.

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