Man arrested when he plugged his phone charger into a socket on the Taipei metro..

[Stuart]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02...t_electricity/

A man has been arrested and charged after plugging his mobile phone charger into a socket on the Taipei metro. While I can sort of understand if they charged him for using electricity without consent (the socket was apparently clearly labelled with a not for public use notice), I did laugh when I read the reason given..

Taipei Rapid Transit claimed in the paper that the reason for its rigorous policy on such matters is that it is worried a short circuit may bring down the electricity-powered rail network.

So, they are worried that plugging in a small phone charger that takes a couple of hundred volts and maybe an amp of current will cause a short circuit that will take out the High Voltage high current systems needed for the trains? Or maybe just the signalling?

At the very least, I would have thought they'd be on seperate circuits, properly protected by RCDs. If that's not the case, then I'd have thought that someone plugging a charger in would be the least of their problems.

I'll admit, I am not an electrician, or an expert on Railway electrics, but I'd have thought just plugging in a mobile phone charger, short circuit or not, shouldn't be able to take out a metro underground system?

[AbyssUnderground]

It can't, it's just an excuse for them Bit excessive though. A slap on the wrist or a fine would have been sufficient.

[AndyCambs]

Originally Posted by Stuart

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02...t_electricity/

A man has been arrested and charged after plugging his mobile phone charger into a socket on the Taipei metro. While I can sort of understand if they charged him for using electricity without consent (the socket was apparently clearly labelled with a not for public use notice), I did laugh when I read the reason given..



So, they are worried that plugging in a small phone charger that takes a couple of hundred volts and maybe an amp of current will cause a short circuit that will take out the High Voltage high current systems needed for the trains? Or maybe just the signalling?

At the very least, I would have thought they'd be on seperate circuits, properly protected by RCDs. If that's not the case, then I'd have thought that someone plugging a charger in would be the least of their problems.

I'll admit, I am not an electrician, or an expert on Railway electrics, but I'd have thought just plugging in a mobile phone charger, short circuit or not, shouldn't be able to take out a metro underground system?

Personally I wouldn't plug anything in, if the socket said not for public use - you can't guarantee the supply, and what happens if it fries your equipment?