nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

BEWARE - Penney's Power Bank melted !

long_b

Left this power bank from Penney's charging overnight on the arm of the couch.

The battery pack melted and singed the couch.

Contacted Penneys who accused me of using it incorrectly.

I was using a branded charger and good quality cable.

In any case - if you have one of these, be careful with it and never leave it charging unattended.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

[Deleted User]

you were lucky it didnt cause a house fire. I think these things need to be on a hard flat surface and I would be in clined to unplug before going to bed.

Jim_Hodge

A quote

Don't charge a power bank overnight. This can increase the risk of overcharging. So, as a safety precaution, you should avoid leaving your power banks to charge for an extended period of time, especially on bed or other soft surfaces that may build up heat.

long_b

I would have expected there should be some sort of thermal limiter/overcharge circuitry which should kick in once it got hot ?

Flinty997

Never leave anything charging on something combustible like a couch or a bed. It's also a bad idea to leave things charging out of sight and overnight. Especially these cheaper devices. But anything electrical and or with a battery can go faulty.

magicbastarder

Did Penney's state what constituted 'incorrect use'?

If it got hot enough to do that to your sofa, I'd be inclined to push it further. Not sure if the small claims court will award compensation for collateral damage like that though.

JohnC.

How is overcharging still a thing in this day and age? Reeks of them choosing to sell a product that cut too many corners.

Mrs OBumble

Clothing from Penneys usually falls apart after the third trip thru the washing machine.

No way I'd buy anything electrical from them.

long_b

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767766#Comment_122767766

Our technical team have reviewed the photos of the powerbank and have confirmed that the safety instructions have not been followed as the powerbank was left in charge with several external products.
We advise you to place the batteries in a plastic bag and bring them to your local battery recycling point, wearing protective eyewear and gloves where possible.

Which is nonsense - the power bank was charging on a multi port usb charger with nothing plugged in to either the power bank itself or the charger.

I think they should be recalled.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767868#Comment_122767868

You used it incorrectly and you want it recalled!

Every battery device I've gotten has said it needs to be charged on a hard surface and never leave it unattended. The fact that most devices don't malfunction when we don't follow instructions is why we are having this discussion.

magicbastarder

that's a strange attitude; even if instructions are not followed to the letter, a power bank should not melt if charged on a fabric surface. if the safety margins of the use of that product are that slim, it's not safe.

sham58107

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767766#Comment_122767766

OMG probably should use stronger words ,everything on here lately is SCC , what about consumer responsibility !!!

No wonder our insurance is going through the roof , To the OP hope you have, not family living with you , but what kind of person leaves something Electrical to charge overnight on a bloody couch , consider yourself very lucky the whole house did not go up, look at the numbers of fires caused by this stupid act , DFB even had/have an add about this practice.

Instead of chasing Pennys for compo , learn a bloody good lesson and count yourself very lucky

long_b

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767962#Comment_122767962

Who's said anything about chasing Penney's for compo ?

Large capacity power banks take many hours to charge so I'd say I'm far from the only one who charges them overnight.

Using an item as intended is hardly "stupid". It's not like I covered it over.

User567363

I would have no problem charging stuff 24x7

My laptop is plugged in all year around and my 6 year old work iPhone battery is down to 80% but I don't care as it too is charging all year round

But have half of the device in contact with a thermal insulator is going to make it much warmer, may as well have kingspan under it

Also there is no way to prove that the port was fully pushed in

Op make sure to have a smoke alarm on the ceiling of every room you can fall asleep on, so if it has a couch chair or bed fit a smoke alarm

The old hallway one is useless if there is a fire in your room and your asleep and the door is closed

Nigzcurran

And usb chargers with multi ports should not be sold if they are not safe

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767154#Comment_122767154

I always use a plug on a timer as well, otherwise if you left a device like that charging there is a great chance the device overheats. OP very lucky put down as lesson learnt.

10000maniacs

I had a similar one go on fire. The one with the oled display readout of %

I always place them in the crevice of a concrete block when charging so if it catches fire it won't spread.

Laptops and audio gear by reputable comapnies like Sony, Lenovo, Bose etc are 100% safe because they have a proper charging circuit built in. So when it reaches 99%, the charging circuit is automatically disconnected.

3d4life

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767941#Comment_122767941

Exactly.

Is it ccpc.ie to report stuff like this that needs recall ?

The J Stands for Jay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767897#Comment_122767897

I've never seen those things in instruction manuals

magicbastarder

Yep.

https://www.ccpc.ie/business/product-safety/product-safety/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20a%20consumer,or%20use%20our%20contact%20form.

10000maniacs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767897#Comment_122767897

No you are wrong. Putting this as a warning should not be a get out clause for the product. This is a dangerous design flaw. It should stop charging when it reaches 100%. If it keeps taking current after 100% or max capacity, the charging circuit is flawed or faulty. The item should be banned from this country if people experience this.

[Deleted User]

Who in their right mind would leave a powerbank charging overnight on a fabric sofa?!?

10000maniacs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768164#Comment_122768164

If Samsung, Sony and Bose allow this, and there is never a problem, then there is no excuse for Chinese companies who are flooding the market with dangerous tat. If they can't get their design right, their product should be stopped at the ports.

I would like to point out that there are many great Chinese companies who do this right.

Every radio you have bought in the last 10 years is Chinese in origin. 99% of them have no issues.

BurnUp78

What about a laptop? They have a huge battery and I tend to just leave mine plugged in all the time

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768030#Comment_122768030

You might have no problem charging 24x7 but it wears out batteries much fast and increases the risk of problems. Unless it something designed to do that. Most of these devices aren't..

[Deleted User]

You can now buy extension leads with smart USB ports which automatically go on standby when an attached device is charged to 100%.

I still wouldn't leave them charging overnight though.

BurnUp78

I feel like in going crazy In this thread.. why would the battery of a powerbank be any more dangerous than the one in your phone which many of us charge overnight under a pillow or on the bed etc?

halkar

Your few hundred or thousand euro phone is tested much more before arrived to you than ten euro powerbank that probably never tested for anything.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122767868#Comment_122767868

You've no idea if the power bank or the charger are to spec or regulations. Either could be faulty or both.

I agree it should be checked not dismissed as user error. Likely be recalled.

Even if what you did was also wrong.

You've some hope a well known brand with an EU mark might be to standard. But too many of these usb chargers and batteries are from unknown not up any standard.

Sarn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768200#Comment_122768200

You really aren’t supposed to be charging your devices on your bed or under your pillow. It’s just asking for trouble. Especially if a cheap charging cable is used.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122768017#Comment_122768017

That people have bad habits and do stupid things does not make those things ok.

Theres was probably something in the documentation what input charge it took and not leave it unattended on flammable surfaces.