Unsafe electrical devices and brands including but not limited to power banks, USB chargers, Heymix, Amazon

johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:04
Last edited 26/05/2024 - 18:33

This is a PSA for people looking at buying electrical devices on Amazon and other online retailers.

I've created this topic after a popular deal was posted. The item is a Heymix 10000mAh 22.5W Power Bank and as you can see, there is a bit of controversy in the comments section. My own comment was:

I haven't purchased a power bank in years so I'm out of the loop. These comments made me investigate further and I found these comments on Ozbargain.
There's a very interesting YouTube link I'm watching right now.

Since then, I've dug further and found more interesting information. It's led me to ask, are these concerns justified or are people attacking Heymix unfairly based on isolated incidents?

My aim for this forum post is to create discussion and consolidate information. I'm not a moderator but I'd like everyone to discuss only the facts and keep the emotions out.

There's no point attacking each other or bashing a brand. Just list your experience with their devices and the reasons you think they're unsafe. It would be good to provide supporting information or evidence too. Let the buyer make up their own mind.

It appears Heymix sold safe products in the past but they have evidently dropped the ball, and it's concerning because it affects our safety and the safety of attached devices. To be unbiased, there are also reports of recent and new devices being used without issue. Whether you think the good reports outweigh the bad reports and risks is your decision to make. That would explain the popularity of deal above as I suspect a lot of people are happy to take the risk for a good bargain. After all, we are on Ozbargain!

Another topic is how do brands like Heymix get away with this? They are sold on Amazon and there is evidence of reviews being deleted or modified, so basically a cover up. Is it too difficult to police these things? Are there any other brands we should be aware of?

The ACCC recall page has an Electronic and Technology section where I found a plethora of Comsol recalls but no Heymix. Is the ACCC reliable when it comes to consumer safety reports?

Lastly, I am genuinely curious as to how many people own and use Heymix products and their experience with them. Feel free to vote below.

Poll Options expired

  • 34
    I've used Heymix products and they have functioned safely
  • 4
    I've used Heymix products and they have caused safety issues (fire, smoke, electrical damage etc)
  • 3
    I've used Heymix products and some have functioned safely while others have caused issues
  • 49
    I've not used Heymix products based on feedback from OzBargain
Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:15
    +4

    Ozbargainer ihfree posted quite a long list of concerning experiences in 2022. This tells me the safety issues have been going on for a while.

  • MS Paint on 25/05/2024 - 12:15
    +15

    I'd like everyone to discuss only the facts and keep the emotions out.

    There's no point attacking each other or bashing a brand.

    You do realise you posted this on ozbargain forums?

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:17
      +1

      Haha yes I do and I see your point. I know it's tough ask but I'm hoping to generate a useful discussion rather than have people personally attacking each other. Let's see how it goes.

      • MS Paint on 25/05/2024 - 12:18

        There's a first for everything. All the best.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 25/05/2024 - 17:06
      +2

      You do realise you posted this on ozbargain forums?

      That makes sense. Cheers.

    • DoctorCalculon on 25/05/2024 - 21:52

      You do realise you posted this on ozbargain forums

      Do you recommend Whirlpool or Reddit instead?

      • MS Paint on 25/05/2024 - 21:58
        +2

        For your ozbargain forum post to be meme worthy history dictates that you should paste the same post verbatim on all 3.

        • DoctorCalculon on 25/05/2024 - 22:03

          you should paste the same post verbatim on all 3

          Yes. Preferably using the same handle so that folks can shame you for doing this.

  • bashar20 on 25/05/2024 - 12:16
    +4

    Add. I have not used Heymix products based on feedback from OzB.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:19
      +1

      Good idea! Done.

      • pjd24 on 26/05/2024 - 13:16

        One more option please "I don't care, so I buy whatever is the cheapest available in popular stores"

  • mskeggs on 25/05/2024 - 12:16
    +4

    The old “just asking questions“.
    I have one of their charges, but not an especially powerful one at 30w I think. I would be more concerned about a power bank, especially a large capacity one, and would tend to a name brand in that circumstance.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:40
      +1

      I can't help but be very curious about this topic. Hoping to learn more and get to the bottom of it, to some extent. Yes, I can see why those things would be a bigger concern, the larger capacity power bank. But then I stumbled on reports of USB chargers catching fire which is also concerning especially if it occurs at night with no one attending to the issue.

  • AustriaBargain on 25/05/2024 - 12:23
    +11

    Any Amazon brand that sounds something like XAICHOWZINGZHUGHOU I probably wouldn't trust.

    • MS Paint on 25/05/2024 - 12:36
      +8

      Bless you.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:45

      I've purchased non-safety concerning products from brands like that in the past. I can remember if I've purchased electronics from them but I usually look at the reviews. Now after reading though Ozbargain, I've come to see that Amazon reviews are not always trustworthy.

      • AustriaBargain on 25/05/2024 - 14:47

        There's plenty of good Chinese brands that would, or probably almost could, pass all Australian standards. They aren't exactly cheap though, but quality costs I suppose.

        • lint on 27/05/2024 - 11:03

          Yeah, you pretty much get what you pay for.

          For electrical stuff that can cause fires like USB chargers and power banks, I don't think it's worth cheapening out and saving a few dozen dollars. You may never experience a problem, but given the reports of Heymix chargers burning out, you're potentially playing roulette with your house and people's lives.

    • scooba on 25/05/2024 - 17:54
      -8

      This is the correct answer.

      Anyone with half a brain knows that these companies don't have safety standards or quality control so this garbage is just pumped out and then people are seriously injured and their houses burn down.

      In Australia, we have some of the highest standards in the world when it comes to health and safety, so this is why it such a surprise when one of these devices "blows up" in someones face and serious injury or death is the cost of trying to save some money from buying cheap, unethically and poorly made garbage.

      I believe the term for these unsafe products is "yum cha quality" according to OzBargain posts for the last 15 years or more. I know some of the wonderfully "diverse" guests on this forum won't like that analogy, but unfortunately it's a fact of life.

      • rumblytangara on 25/05/2024 - 18:04
        +3

        I believe the term for these unsafe products is "yum cha quality" according to OzBargain posts for the last 15 years or more. I know some of the wonderfully "diverse" guests on this forum won't like that analogy, but unfortunately it's a fact of life.

        I've not noticed this term before, but it makes zero sense to me. Some yum cha places are great, some yum cha places are terrible.

        It's like calling something "restaurant quality."

        • scooba on 25/05/2024 - 18:46
          -5

          To be better humans we learn something everyday, or hope to at least.

          Yes chinese breakfast can be good depending where you go and I think you're missing the point that it's an affectionate term for really sub par products that should've never made it into Australia.

          Most Aussies are good at being honest yet comical when referring to something terrible which is why we're really good at taking the mickey out of ourselves, whereas other races don't have that ability and dislike it when other races do it to them, even though it's the truth.

      • scooba on 26/05/2024 - 17:19
        -5

        I love how I'm getting downvotes, always appreciated, but no one from Winnies army is prepared to debate me.

        Maybe there's a language barrier and everybody's now able to tell when AI is writing it for them?

        • youfnc on 27/05/2024 - 00:55
          +3

          You're looking for a debate? I feel most are smart enough to avoid the person coming across as xenophobic.

          I believe the term for these unsafe products is "yum cha quality"

          I think you're missing the point that it's an affectionate term for really sub par products

          Could you elaborate how you could possibly consider this as a term of endearment. You might need to recheck that meaning.

          Winnies army

          Maybe there's a language barrier

          Not necessary.

          whereas other races don't have that ability and dislike it when other races do it to them, even though it's the truth.

          I think you mean there might be cultural differences. I'm not sure what somebody race has to do with anything.

          • scooba on 27/05/2024 - 12:56
            -1

            @youfnc: I was only looking for a debate with the faceless fifty center's, y’know, the ones who find any criticism of their country and industries…xenophobic.

            It would be pretty hard to explain to someone that uses the term “xenophobic”, unless you've been in Oz for a couple of hundred years, I doubt you'll "get it".

            It's not necessary to downvote a person when they state that peoples houses are burning down from unethical products that "slipped" through customs somehow either.

            Oh no, it's definitely a race problem, some will even say that problem stems from dictatorial dynasties that permeate right through the populous of that country.

            • youfnc on 27/05/2024 - 14:27

              @scooba:

              Oh no, it's definitely a race problem

              Hmm. I'm out!

              • scooba on 27/05/2024 - 17:25

                @youfnc: Yep, stick your head in the sand mate, it’ll all be fine….just fine🙄.

            • rumblytangara on 27/05/2024 - 16:25
              +1

              @scooba: I was mainly just amused by the archaic reference to "yum cha" as a quaintly off-base way of describing quality.

              From what you've written, you seem to have a thing about China, but "yum cha" isn't really a China thing. It's mostly a HK thing, and HK dropped manufacturing forty or more years ago.

              I don't really care what peoples' views on the country are, but it was just funny to see someone try to assert familiarity with something the clearly don't have much of a clue about and then try to wrangle it into some kind of complaint about online political persecution and issues of race.

              • scooba on 27/05/2024 - 17:36

                @rumblytangara: As I said before, it’s just taking the mickey, nothing too serious unless there’s fifty center’s involved.

                Ah, so now we’re working off a technicality. Ok then, where’s Honkers mate?

                And people not caring is one of the biggest problems in Oz and yes, being complacent is detrimental to health and safety i.e buying sub par electrical products for cheap and hoping they don’t catch fire.🔥

  • foxmulder on 25/05/2024 - 12:24
    +6

    I personally will stick to Anker or Belkin, worry non confirming battery product may explode and cause fire.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:58

      Yes, you and your family safety is something you have to look after and no one can fault you for that. They do make good products. Now if only they had more bargains.

      • Hybroid on 25/05/2024 - 13:23
        +1

        You get what you pay for. You cannot expect cheap Heymix prices because then you’ll get Heymix quality…

        Anker is buy once for peace of mind to last years upon years. I still have 2017-purchased cables and power bank that work great.

  • Pikaloo on 25/05/2024 - 12:25
    +1

    I have Heymix products. Power bank 100w, power strips, and cables. They work as expected. No issues. But I don't use the power bank often, it was only for an overseas trip.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 13:00
      +1

      I've definitely noticed people like you and Ozbargainer Clear having no issues. Seems like there's little consistency across Heymix's products. It's good that your items are not causing issues for you.

  • anonym on 25/05/2024 - 12:27
    +2

    As far as I'm aware, the brands with a lot of crontroversy surrounding them are Heymix and to a lesser extent Lencent and Zyron. All the brands I mentioned have sold electrical fire hazards in the past with reports from fellow Ozb users.

    Zyron appears to have turned over a new leaf (read the entire comment thread) and have made good on their promise to report on the QC results on a burning charger (in a private DM) so I'm willing to give them a try again.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 12:56
      +1

      I followed your link and was hit by a SmoothCactus. Thanks for bringing up these brands. I've never heard of Lencent. It's nice to see a brand like Zyron engaging with their customers and trying to improve. Hopefully their new products are good now that you're willing to buy them again.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/05/2024 - 12:36
    +2

    They are sold on Amazon and there is evidence of reviews being deleted or modified, so basically a cover up. Is it too difficult to police these things? Are there any other brands we should be aware of?

    Not gonna name names but I’ve had many experiences now where I was offered a full credit to give a 5 star review and modify my scathing reviews especially for electrical items.

    One item was an rgb oyster style light with fan combo - functionally sure it works fine but so many concerns I raised - a licensed electrician would 100% double think installing the product - despite claims from seller it met all Australian standards - but was unable to elaborate on what minimum standards were. I was offered a full refund and to keep the item in exchange for a 5 star and to remove content.

    Classic Amazon bullshittery.
    If anything reviews from actual long term members here are what I rely on most of the time now.

    I do actually have 2 heymix chargers. They charge a bit slow and do get quite warm, but yet to show fault (dangerous or otherwise)

    When it comes to items with rechargeable batteries it makes sense to take some precautions. Especially with that news piece not long ago where a rechargeable tool battery exploded burning down a house.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 13:06

      I've also read about people being bribed to modify their reviews on Amazon. It's unethical especially if the product causes a safety issue. I too rely on reviews from 'reliable' Ozbargainers'. I'm glad you've had no issues with your Heymix devices. I remember that news report about the tool battery. There's also this one involving a power bank charging a phone and burning the poor tradie! So yes, more precautions with rechargeable batteries.

      • rumblytangara on 25/05/2024 - 13:38
        +1

        Not gonna name names but I’ve had many experiences now where I was offered a full credit to give a 5 star review and modify my scathing reviews especially for electrical items.

        You should just name names. Why protect dodgy companies?

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/05/2024 - 14:03
          +1

          Some companies and their reps/owners are can be absolute psycho

          I can safely say though soundpeats incentivised 5 star review years ago with 50% off next purchase coupon. They also full refunded me for one of my other purchases as I gave it a 3 star. Like it was ok, but not worth the money imo. The listing also had inaccuracies (which had since been changed)

      • bcYield on 25/05/2024 - 21:54

        The incident is the latest in a series of explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries, also found in e-scooters, e-bikes, e-cigarettes, laptops and some power tools.

        The other news mention EVs and Telstra on fire the other day as if that will stop EVs into the market.
        https://www.drive.com.au/news/video-tesla-model-3-catches-fi…
        https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/tesla-battery-fire-at…

        • ihfree on 26/05/2024 - 00:47
          +1

          First article is a result of physical damage to the battery. That's a seperate issue to cheap chargers/dodgy electronics which simply need to be powered on to fail.

          The article in the comment you replied to appears to be regarding Comsol which, AFAICT, is basically Officeworks picking the cheapest product they can get away with selling. There's evidence from old comments that Zyron sells products from the same OEM.

          The article specifically advises against using dodgy third party products - specifically cables. There's also mention of recalls which would not happen with many pop-up Amazon brands.

          The articles could be summed up with: To minimise risk of a fire, buy from a reputable brand and take care of your product with a li-ion battery.

    • bcYield on 25/05/2024 - 21:55

      Similar practice found more on Ali and eBay from my experience. If you rank reviews based on trustworthy, Amazon is better at the moment. OzB doesn't have a verify system or a ratting system. We rely on fri fri bond.

      • ihfree on 26/05/2024 - 01:04
        +1

        Amazon reviews are next to useless for electronics. Better than eBay/AliExpress is a very low bar.

        Many reviews are simply:

        • plugged it in and my device started charging
        • haven't received it yet but got an email asking me to review

        You need to be looking at more technical reviews or tear downs to properly assess products. More popular products from bigger brands are much more likely to be reviewed in this way. Once the brand has a track record, they are a much safer bet than a brand that simply re-brands.

  • omguleh on 25/05/2024 - 13:01
    +3

    I got a few dual USB wall chargers, no issues so far.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 21:02

      That's good and hopefully those chargers stay good to use. As commented above, it looks like there's very little consistency when it comes to these things with Heymix. I assume that's what you're using.

  • Baysew on 25/05/2024 - 13:23
    +8

    From what I have observed, ACME products appear unsafe in some situations.

  • whitepuma on 25/05/2024 - 13:56
    +18

    Don't know about all the cheaper electronics on amazon, but can certainly talk about heymix. See the below:

    ToobsAU did a good write up on a tear down of a heymix product
    Writeup of teardown
    Photos of teardown

    ihfree summed up some OZB experiences in 2022
    summary of comments

    My professional experience (not including my experiences mentioned in ihfree's summary)
    I'm electrical test & tag certified and can legally test, pass, and fail any single and 3 phase device. I had an IT guy at my workplace a couple of years ago order a box of 50 heymix chargers (he had planned on giving them to salesreps on the road to charge their devices). It was my job to test & tag & certify them before letting the business use them….Now although they all passed the visual inspection (doesn't involve opening the device up), every, and i mean EVERY one of them didn't pass on the appliance tester and accordingly failed the test & tag process. They all had to be dumped and our workplace wouldn't be allowed to plug them in, otherwise we risk damages that insurance wouldn't cover (because they failed test & tag). Should also note…..Just because a device looks like its fine, and works when it's plugged in, doesn't mean its electrically safe.
    We now have a ban on all heymix devices in our workplace.

    • rumblytangara on 25/05/2024 - 14:13
      +2

      That was eye opening. A hobbyist with $30 of handheld equipment will produce cleaner looking solder joints and boards than that.

      This looks about the quality of some of the cheapest stuff I've picked up from street stalls in China.

      • fantombloo on 26/05/2024 - 02:39

        What specifically?

        (Looks like lots of flux residue - inelegant but should be fine.)

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 21:07
      +1

      Thanks for that. I was hoping people could look at this forum post and get a consolidated list of reviews from Ozbargainers like yourself. There's a lot of information out there but it's scattered across different deals.

  • bcYield on 25/05/2024 - 16:08
    -2

    Interesting to hear responses from an Amazon rep, a Heymix rep, or a mod.

    I suggest you go to Amazon live chat, one of the quick and easy ways to get the answer.

    Also, this should be added to the poll as you find it the most in the first place.

    I've not used Heymix products but I comment "fire" based on feedback from OzBargain

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 21:17

      I would welcome any Amazon rep, Heymix rep or a mod, to add their input here but only the facts. As I mentioned above, I'm interested in people's firsthand experience with Heymix and other devices, both good experiences and bad. We can get a good picture of what's really going on if we get honest reporting. If you look above at the comment from Jimothy Wongingtons, he details his experience with the dishonesty of Amazon reviews and product reps in relation to another brand and product. I believe him. And he's clearly not criticising Heymix. In fact, he then states that he uses 2 Heymix chargers that operate correctly.

  • JIMB0 on 25/05/2024 - 17:53
    +1

    It's not just odd brands you need to be wary of. Several big name brands have had exploding lithium batteries, one even had washing machines that catch on fire as well.

    • ihfree on 25/05/2024 - 18:46
      +2

      There's a bit of a difference. For larger brands, with a proper presence in Australia, there would be certifications and recalls.

    • johnwickspuppy on 25/05/2024 - 21:27

      Yes we should definitely be wary of all batteries and power banks regardless of name. A comment above from Jimothy Wongingtons aligns with your thoughts, and I replied with a link to a serious exploding battery incident that resulted in a tradie getting burnt. Since then, I've discovered another article about the dangers of exploding lithium batteries. There have been numerous incidents and it's very concerning. I would hope that we could clamp down on dodgy brands and products through ACCC intervention or word of mouth, like right here on Ozbargain.

  • WK1991 on 26/05/2024 - 01:28

    I have 2 x 65w to USB-C Heymix adapters plus a travel adapter which I use when travelling.

    Used almost every day to fast charge my devices.

    So far it has been ok, but I do notice if I am charging a laptop from 0 while using it, the charger will heat up.

    • spurf on 26/05/2024 - 09:57
      +1

      I have Heymix 65W GaN USB-C + USB-A that I have been using s my main laptop / phone charger for around 6 months. Using it instead of the bulky 65W charger my laptop came with. Have had no issues with it, only gets moderately warm when gaming. Measures 68W at the plug on max load.

  • Windows7forever on 06/06/2024 - 17:54
    -1

    I use Blitzwolf USB chargers. Never had a problem with any of them.

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