Why is CE important

Models Currently Available:-

PHF001 - Motorola V & T Series

PHF002 - Sagem 920/930/3020

PHF003 - Sony J5/J6/J7

PHF004 - Sharp GX10/GX20

PHF005 - Nokia 3310

PHF006 - Nokia 7210

PHF007 - Nokia 5110

PHF008 - Siemens C34/C45

PHF009 - Philips C12/Savvy

PHF010 - Ericsson T28/T68

PHF011 - Ericsson T10/T18

Since we are regularly asked this question by our customers I felt it may be useful to update all of our trade customers and re-confirm the current requirements.

CE approval in relation to electronic products applies to anything that connects with the mains electricity. It was originally introduced as a harmonising standard across all EU countries to provide a bench mark for electrical safety and compatibility. Whilst it does not dictate how a product should be designed it subjects all products to the same testing standards to in an attempt to keep consumers safe.

So what are the key issues that CE approval will address;

1) Physical Construction – all products are tested to make sure that the outer casing is robust enough for everyday use and for instance will not break and expose live wires. Cables are also tested to ensure that they can not be easily detached from the body of the product or that they will not break when folded or twisted

2) Electrical Safety – this covers many different areas but tests include what happens if a short circuit occurs or a temporary surge in the voltage occurs. Any product should be adequately insulated from the mains voltage, in the UK 240v

3) Electro Magnetic Compatibility – these series of tests aim to make sure that no approved product will interfere with any other electrical appliance in the same vicinity. This might be shown as burst of static on radio equipment or snow on TV pictures and with the increasing number of electrical products is an important area to reduce interference between all the devices

4) General Safety Requirements – in addition to electrical safety issues the CE approval looks at physical requirements; such as whether there are gaps in the casing of a product that might allow objects to be pushed in and to come in contact with the live circuit, or whether the product correctly fits with the mains socket. Also under this section issues such as how the product would withstand outside pressure changes or react to fire.

Naturally the approval in itself cannot make any product ‘failure proof’ but what it should do, is to help minimise the risk to the end user if any failure should occur. This is what we mean by the multi level safety system when describing the Asiastar replacement mains chargers. So even if a component fails or a short circuit or over voltage occurs the product should ‘fail safe’