At Apple’s Singapore plant every computer monitor made there went through a ground fault current test. If a monitor did not pass a buzzer sounded, lights flashed, and the production line stopped until an engineer reset the alarm and restarted the line.

I was very impressed with those guys in manufacturing.

Apple is an example of the latter category to a great extent. The products are exceptionally well design and manufactured—and the price reflects that.

 

At Apple’s Singapore plant every computer monitor made there went through a ground fault current test. If a monitor did not pass a buzzer sounded, lights flashed, and the production line stopped until an engineer reset the alarm and restarted the line.

I was very impressed with those guys in manufacturing.

That’s a legal requirement. There’s nothing impressive about doing what it says in the standard.

 

That’s a legal requirement. There’s nothing impressive about doing what it says in the standard.

The standard requires stopping the line when a fault is detected and requiring an engineer to get it restarted?

 

The standard requires stopping the line when a fault is detected and requiring an engineer to get it restarted?

No, it requires each one to be tested. It’s likely to be quite a rare fault, so stopping to investigate would save time in the long run.

 

Obviously, I haven't tested every type of charger in existence, and if I had your next comment would be just because the one you tested is safe doesn't prove that EVERYONE is safe.

The chargers I tested are from a variety of sources and a variety of manufacturers. They came with products I've purchase new, products I've purchased used and even boxes of "cables and junk" purchased at garage sales. These were the ones easily gathered when I decided to do this experiment for the benefit of others. If you look at the attached pictured, you'll see these weren't "high-graded".

Please feel free to take what knowledge you like from this effort or none at all. If nothing else, perhaps you'll at least hesitate a moment before telling someone they are in mortal danger because they measure a common characteristic on a perfectly good power supply.

I didn’t intend to sound confrontational at all and appreciate any time actual data gets posted. I just wanted to remind all that as good as data is, there’s always an outlier around the corner. I wouldn’t want anyone to leap to the “all chargers are safe” conclusion. Your data clearly supports the “many chargers are safe” assertion, and I think that’s what you intended. All good.

 

I didn’t intend to sound confrontational at all and appreciate any time actual data gets posted. I just wanted to remind all that as good as data is, there’s always an outlier around the corner. I wouldn’t want anyone to leap to the “all chargers are safe” conclusion. Your data clearly supports the “many chargers are safe” assertion, and I think that’s what you intended. All good.

Maybe a good conclusion is “(most) chargers will (usually) not kill you“.

Funny though, it doesn’t sound as good as I’d imagined.

 

I think y'all are missing the key point, so I'll say it one last time and drop it.

Measuring approximately one-half AC line voltage or less to ground on a switch mode power supply is common, is safe, and does not indicate a defect.

 

About tat "Half line voltage", I can tell you that I have got quite a "tingle" off that when accidentally getting hold of it standing on a cement floor barefoot. Which at the time was normal in the sector I was living in. Concrete floor over flattened marshland and the water table just a couple of feet below. And the air warm enough so the cement floor felt good.
Of course, that 55 volts was the midpoint between two mains powered 50 watt bulbs, so it could deliver a fair current.
And once again, mains leakage can cause a lot of problems besides shocks. It can play hob with many kinds of analog systems.