This is a story about an Apple product recall and some flip-flops.
Last Sunday I tripped over my iPhone cord.
All the outlets in my apartment are at floor level and I plug my iPhone into the wall outlet nearest my bed. As usual, I was wearing flip-flops (as many computer programmers do) and the cord got caught between my toes and the sole.
The result was that I pulled the adapter out of the wall, breaking off one of the prongs. I had a metal prong sticking out of the outlet!
Freaked out about getting electricuted, I left it alone for a few days. The Pownce community offered some practical and creative ways for me to remove the prong, but having previous experiene with electric shocks (freshman physics class) I had no desire try my luck.
I went out and bought a new adapter.
Then, Thursday during work, I tripped over a printer cable when it got caught in my flip-flop! Ethan from the podcast What Should You Know, works next to the printer so I told him the story of the iPhone adapter prong. Apparently he knows a lot (hence the podcast) and pointed out that one prong wouldn’t connect the circuit (duh) so I should just pull it out.
When I got home I was feeling more confident and a bit silly. I got out a pair of rubber-handled pliers and gingerly touched the prong with the tip of the pliers. Nothing. Yay! I yanked out the lone prong and threw it away.
I thought that would be the end of the story.
Oh no… Yesterday, Apple recalled the particular adapter, citing
“that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter’s metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock.”
Whatever actually caused the recall, just let me keep thinking it was my flip-flops.
12 Comments
Nick Dawson
Glad you were able to fix the outlet… my magsafe adapter just broke as well, so I feel your pain.
I do think you were lucky though…the bit about completing the circuit only applies to DC (like a battery) not AC (like your wall outlet)… touching the “hot” side of outlet will give you a pretty good jolt (ask me how I know)
Ben Atkin
Using rubber-handled pliers is exactly what I would do. In fact, I immediately thought of it when I saw the picture, despite not ever having a prong stuck in a power outlet before. I’m glad the right idea popped into your mind before you took action!
The pliers have adequate insulation, but they also make it easy to remove the prong without touching both sides of the outlet, which will cause electric shock.
I once got shocked when I removed a desktop power plug from a surge protector. I reached under the plug to pull it out, and accidentally touched both main prongs (not the ground prong) while they were still partly in the plug. I felt the shock all the way up my arm before I pried my hand away from the outlet.
I am very careful to yank plugs out by the cord now, and if I need to I’ll grab on the sides of the surge protector to hold it still while I pull the plug out.
Jerry
Moral of the story: Flip flops are are EVIL and should never be worn except in rare circumstances at the beach and public showers.
Ethan Bloch
I’m so glad you didn’t get electrocuted, especially after reading Nick Dawson’s comment…my bust, what should I know?
and When I heard Apple was recalling the adapter because people were getting fried, I was like oh noes! I hope I didn’t kill my ping pong partner :p
Mark Bate
Glad you’re still with us & that everything turned out alright!
I pownced the product recall when I saw it the other day. http://pownce.com/markbate/notes/3530707/
So does that mean you get some kind of refund?
PK Shiu
The “not completing the circuit” advice is dead wrong (sic) and a little right. In theory, if the circuit is not completed, you are safe. The problem is that “ground” is everywhere. Wall AC being 120 volts 15Amp, if you are barefoot standing near a pipe, touching the “hot” side may just complete the circuit and give you a shock.
The DC comment is off as well, don’t ever consider touching the “hot” side of a car battery (which is DC). Again, while only 12V, the battery can delivery enough current to do serious damage.
Ironically, wearing rubber flip-flop will help insulation a bit !
Jo Vermeulen
Apple’s power adapters are way too expensive, I payed about 70 Euros for a new Powerbook adapter :-s
Alisha
Maybe it’s a sign you should stop wearing flip-flops.
Glad to hear you weren’t hurt in any way though!
Steve Kain
What kind of flip flops, Rainbow? Reef? there may be a direct correlation to the accident and my cats ruining a pair of mine. I was too caught up in my iPhone madness and forgot to clean the litter box one day.
Their revenge was a horrid, horrid, mess.
Tomas (Domas)
Flip-flops are evil, maybe even part of the ankles-of-evil…
Aaron Brethorst
You electrocuted yourself in Phys 1302? No fun.
JuJu
Uhhh… How about flipping off the breaker to that room then pulling it out with rubber-handled pliers?