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Keep an eye on those multitude of skinny charge cords we all have for our assorted gadgets from cells phone to tablets and Kindles. Tonight I plugged my phone in and was laying in bed reading a few emails when suddenly I smelled something acrid and warm. I glanced at the cord on the bottom and it was glowing !!!! I managed to snatch it out of the bottom of the phone without burning myself but it was quite hot ! I hollered in the process some pleasantries ( yeah thats it) at Mel as I levitated out of bed and shut the charger switch off. Fortunately I caught it in time and 1. The phone seems ok, thank goodness!! And 2. I was here holding it so it did not catch my nightstand and eventually the house on fire!! Mel inspected it and says it had a small bulge before he was suspect of but had not thought it would short like it did.
Moral of this story, inspect frequently all cords and toss and replace any with bulges, breaks, or other damage. Better safe than sorry ! Whew!! Glad this happened while he was here at my side for moral support. I learned my lesson, I will not take a chance with a possibly damaged cord in future. A cord is cheaper that a phone or even my house!
Velda

Wow, glad you're both okay!!

We really take all these things for granted, they just exist and we rarely think about them or any danger they might bring into our homes. Thanks for the reminder, I'll give my cords and chargers a look.

OMG!!! What a horrible end to Sat night, or a horrible start to Sun Morning! Thanks for the warning! lyn

I had heard of cell phone chargers and phones catching on fire so I try to remember to unplug the charger. Of course, sometimes I forget to watch and unplug it all and it gets left overnight. My son was complaining that every time I left the router went off. He had moved all the plugs around on my battery backup so I thought I was unplugging the cell phone charger.

When you think about all the things we have plugged in now it's a miracle there aren't more fires.

Martha

And if the phone itself is getting warm or hot, it's a good chance the battery needs replacing. That can also cause a fire.

I agree that it's amazing there aren't more fires with all the electronics we have.

A few years back, I bought a really cheap toaster and had the cord melt on me. From them on, I got in the habit of unplugging it as soon as I finished using it. Not a bad idea to do with all electric appliances.

Beth I agree with you - it is amazing that there are not more fires. Right now I am sitting in bed with my laptop, my ipad is being charged next to my bed, and my cell phone is right by me - in case of emergency. In the next room is a bluetooth-enabled printer, a wifi router, and the TV cable equipment. On the kitchen counter is a Bose bluetooth speaker thingy. I can remember not having any of these things in the past. We are our own worst enemy!

hmmm perhaps I need to unplug the charger
I keep it plugged in easier but need to change that habit I think
sheila

judi wrote:Beth I agree with you - it is amazing that there are not more fires. Right now I am sitting in bed with my laptop, my ipad is being charged next to my bed, and my cell phone is right by me - in case of emergency. In the next room is a bluetooth-enabled printer, a wifi router, and the TV cable equipment. On the kitchen counter is a Bose bluetooth speaker thingy. I can remember not having any of these things in the past. We are our own worst enemy!

Mary telecommutes from her job in Illinois, our living room is lit up in a bright blue glow at night from all the computers and peripherals plugged in, it's disconcerting.

In this case it was a faulty cord. Unfortunately iPhone batteries are not consumer replaceable they literally have to go back to factory! Phone thankfully is fine. Charnger cord not so much which is why I keep extra though this was a first electricaal short, I have had wires come losse so tossed them before a short could happen.
Velda