The advancement of technology over the years has seen the introduction of powerful gadgets such as tablets, iPods, and iPhones just to name but a few. However, even with this advancement, battery life has remained as one of the major problems facing many gadget users and this problem does not seem to be coming to an end very soon. This notwithstanding, you can keep enjoying your gadget for long though by using power banks which are special devices used to store power and only discharge it when necessary. However, it is important to note that these gadgets come in different shapes and sizes and one of the most important factors to consider during the purchase has to do with power bank certification. While there are many other factors to consider such as portability, capacity, input rating and output rating, certification is very important as it guarantees your safety when using the charging gadgets.
Is industry power bank certification necessary?
First, it is important to note that there are different electronic certification bodies and parameters. However, UL and MSDS certification are some of the most important as they help guarantee safety and efficiency through professional testing. The UN has special requirements that ought to be met during the manufacturing and transportation of battery systems and products but unfortunately, not many manufacturers adhere to these requirements. As a consumer however, it is always important to check and ensure that the recharging device you are buying has been tested and certified by an accredited body and other technology institutes for guaranteed safety and peace of mind.
Why UL and MSDS certification is important
Both UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) help by ensuring that battery systems and products have met the nationally and internationally recognized safety standards while at the same time giving the necessary information concerning potential hazards (reactivity, health, environmental and fire) and how to use the products safely. Electrical gadgets such as power banks can be hazardous especially if they are substandard and many have caused fires and other harmful effects to the users in the past.
Sample cases of power bank hazards
Over the past few years, different brands of power banks have been recalled due to cases of overheating and exploding while being charged or even when being used to charge electrical devices. One such scenario has seen a recall of thousands of power banks due to the potential dangers they posed to the users with a reported case of power bank overheating before exploding and causing a fire.is a good example of the inconveniences associated with lack of standardized certification.
Before buying an external power back-up, it is important to check its packaging and ensure that it has official UL listing Mark or UL logo. A power bank is a potentially dangerous battery product and as a consumer or distributor, you should avoid any that has not been certified no matter how good the packaging is. Normally, a portable battery charger without MSDS and UL certification do not come with short-circuit protection, temperature protection, over charging protection, yet these are some of the most important features to consider for product safety. Power bank certification always guarantees the safety of the user as long as the product is used according to the provided information. In addition to using a certified external power back-up device, it is also advisable that charging cables should be UL approved to avoid cases of melting while charging.
