GROUND RULES FOR YOUR GADGETS
Recently, a 31-year-old man was fatally
electrocuted while connecting his laptop charger plug to a power outlet.
Reports claimed he was sipping a beverage when his finger touched one of the
metal pins on the plug. Basic precautions could have averted this incident from
taking place. Still, it is never too late to take preventive measures and avoid
getting into such situations.
POWER OUTLETS
Always ensure that your hands are dry when handling power cords
and chargers.The human body is a bad conductor of electricity (also referred to
as high resistance). But moisture and sweat lowers our electrical resistance
drastically, allowing high current to surge through the body. Depending on
severity , this can cause minors burns or even upset the heart's natural
rhythm.
It is advisable to wear rubber-soled slippers or shoes while
handling cables, to insulate yourself from an electric shock.
Do not use electronic items in places where they are liable to get
wet. Gadgets should not be used in the bathroom, by the poolside, kept on a wet
table or under a leaking air conditioner.
If your devices outnumber the number of wall outlets, then opt for
a surge protector (see below). Do not use 4-way adapters to hook up all your
devices to one point. This causes overloading, increases chances for a short
circuit and fire.
Get an electrician to check all your power outlets for `earthing'
on a regular basis. Earthing, or grounding, is a safety feature that provides a
pathway for electricity to flow away from an appliance in case of a short
circuit. This will trip the circuit breaker installed in your house, cutting
the flow of electricity to that room.
Do not connect your gadget to a live socket.This could cause
sparking, lead to a short circuit and electrical damage. Make sure that the
power outlet is switched off before you plug anything in. If the outlet doesn't
have a switch, power down your device before connecting it to the outlet.
Regularly check all power cords for wear and tear. Charging cables
are prone to twists and tangles. And if you have pets, they are likely to get
chewed up too. Frayed cables with exposed wires should be replaced immediately.
Keep beverages away from your gadgets. This is a no-brainer, but
very few make the effort to avoid accidental spillage. Moreover, if you are
going to handle power cables, it is best you keep cold drinks away . And no,
you cannot use your printer or your PC cabinet as a coaster.
SMARTPHONES &
TABLETS
Avoid sharing charger adapters between smartphones and tablets.
They may have different power ratings. Excess current will damage your gadget
over time.
Leaving your smartphone to charge overnight is unsafe. It causes
overheating and hampers battery life. You can continue charging your handset
when you wake up.
If your smartphone drains too quickly, then check the battery for
swelling. Take the battery out and spin it on a flat surface. If it spins
freely, there is a bulge. It's time to replace your battery .
Buy a battery replacement from an authorized service centre. Do
not use non-branded batteries. There is no way to know if they have passed
standard safety regulations. A cheaper alternative could damage your device.
Avoid making phone calls while your device is charging. Both
activities generate heat. Either use a wireless headset to take calls or just
be patient till your device is sufficiently charged.
Do not leave your handset hanging by the wire from the power
outlet. It will damage the power connector on your phone. Respect your handset
and it will not fail you in the long run.
DESKTOPS & LAPTOPS
Get a PC technician to clean the inside of your PC cabinet. Dust
and dirt inside the cabinet lowers air circulation, increases internal
temperatures, and leads to hardware failure. Keep the PC cabinet in a
well-ventilated place, away from the wall.
Static electricity can damage electronic equipment. This is common
in dry weather. It occurs when two materials rub against each other your
clothes and the chair you are seated on, for instance building up an electric
charge.Touch a grounded metal object, like a key , to discharge static before
handling metal-bodied gadgets like portable hard drives and phones.
Use a three-pin plug to charge your laptop.This ensures that the
gadget is `grounded' or `earthed'. You might feel a mild tingling sensation on
metal-bodied laptops that use two-pin power plugs. Connect such devices to a
surge protector or a UPS (see boxes) for indirect earthing.
Avoid using your laptop on soft surfaces like a bed or your lap.
This blocks the vents on the underside and leads to overheating. Place it on a
hard, level surface for proper air circulation.
Like smartphones, do not leave your laptop to charge overnight. It
is a potential risk and an utter waste of electricity.
UPS
If you experience frequent power cuts then consider investing in a
UPS (uninterruptible power supply). It will help prevent corruption of the
operating system and even hard drive failure in the event of a sudden power
outage. These machines are equipped with an internal battery, giving you time
to shut down your computer properly. For most PCs, a 600VA UPS is enough, while
for higherend gaming rigs you might need a 1,000 to 1,100VA UPS. Consider
brands like APC, Microtek, iBall and Zebronics, which can cost between `2,000
and `6,000 depending on features. Replace your ageing laptop battery and power
adapter with an authentic piece. Do not use non-branded alternatives. They may
not have protection for internal malfunctions.
POWERBANKS
Avoid cheap, non-branded powerbanks like the plague even if they
claim to offer higher charging capacities. Such battery packs may even turn out
to be too powerful for your device, irreversibly damaging it.
Solid insulation and complex circuit-protectors prevent lithium
batteries from causing external damage in case of an internal failure. It is
virtually impossible to know if spurious powerbanks adhere to any of these
safety regulations.
SURGE PROTECTORS
Erratic power supply or sudden `spikes' can damage your computer.
A surge protectorspike buster prevents the extra electrical current from
flowing through your PC or laptop, while ensuring that it receives the normal
voltage it requires to work.
When buying, make sure that the surge protector has a built-in
fuse. Opt for a reputed brand such as Belkin, MX and Zebronics from a
trusted electronicelectrical store. These could cost anything between `300 to
`1,200 depending on the number of plug points and build quality.
Ashutosh Desai TOI30MAY15
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