Summer is a time for trips, spontaneous travel, and extended stays away from home. In such conditions, we increasingly rely on mobile devices and accessories. These provide independent access to energy – car chargers, inverters, USB adapters, or power banks. These are seemingly simple products designed to safely power our phones, navigation devices, or cameras. Unfortunately, they are often bought without much thought – in supermarkets, at gas stations, or online – where the main purchasing criterion tends to be a low price.
As a result, the market is flooded with hundreds of low-quality devices that do not meet basic safety standards. Using them – especially in challenging holiday conditions – can lead to equipment failure, electric shock, or even fire.
Safe phone charging can ensure a peaceful and relaxing holiday, so it's worth taking care of it before you travel.
Risks associated with cheap chargers
Among the most common dangers of using uncertified equipment are:
- Overheating and excessive thermal load,
- Lack of protection against short circuits and power surges,
- No insulation or moisture resistance,
- Electromagnetic interference affecting other devices.
All these factors become especially important when a charger operates inside a closed, heated car, in a tent with humid air, or when powered from an emergency energy source like a generator or voltage inverter.
How to identify devices that meet safety standards?
Proper markings and technical documentation are the first signs that a device has been tested:
- CE – declaration of conformity with EU requirements
- LVD (Low Voltage Directive) – electrical safety
- EMC regulations – electromagnetic compatibility (whether the device interferes with others)
- RoHS – absence of hazardous substances (e.g., lead, cadmium)
However, the CE marking on the casing alone is not enough – what matters is whether the product has actually passed the required tests..
Where and how are these devices tested for safety?
At the RCC Research and Development Center Ltd. in Głuchołazy, we conduct comprehensive testing of electrical and electronic devices. This includes chargers, adapters, inverters, and power supplies. We verify their compliance with EU legal requirements and applicable technical standards.
For chargers and similar products, our safety testing includes:
- LVD directive compliance testing (2014/35/EU) – assessing insulation strength, effectiveness of electric shock protection, thermal resistance of the casing, and protective circuit design
- Electromagnetic compatibility testing (EMC, directive 2014/30/EU) – evaluating whether the device emits disturbances affecting other systems (e.g., radio, GPS, alarm) and whether it resists external interference
- RoHS compliance testing (directive 2011/65/EU) – analyzing material composition for hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium, or brominated flame retardants
- IP protection rating testing (according to PN-EN 60529) – for devices used in humid conditions (e.g., outdoors, in tents, in vehicles), we assess resistance to dust and water (e.g., IP44, IP65)
During the design phase, we also offer pre-compliance testing. Additionally, we provide support in selecting appropriate standards, documentation, and labeling. This helps manufacturers bring products to market more quickly and effectively. End users, in turn, gain confidence that they are using equipment that is safe, tested, and compliant with regulations.
Safe phone charging – especially while traveling
Summer months are when we rely heavily on mobile devices. We often use them in conditions that are far from a home office setup. High temperatures, humidity, lack of supervision, and the use of inverters or generators increase the risk of failure. They can also lead to electric shocks or fires. Particularly dangerous is the use of random, cheap equipment of unknown origin.
That’s why it's important to pay attention to a device's technical documentation. Markings and compliance with standards are also crucial. A properly designed and tested device will operate reliably. It will be suitable not only at home, but also in a car, at a campsite, or out in the field. That level of safety starts much earlier – in a testing laboratory like ours.