safety | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 01 Jun 2018 14:01:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png safety | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 FSP puts safety first ahead of IEC 62368 https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/andrzej/fsp-puts-safety-first-ahead-of-iec-62368/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/andrzej/fsp-puts-safety-first-ahead-of-iec-62368/#respond Fri, 01 Jun 2018 14:00:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=374962 As part of its preparation for the introduction of tough new EU safety requirements for power supplies in 2019, FSP invited KitGuru along to its main office in Taiwan just ahead of Computex 2018. We were given a tour of the safety lab process by the engineer who runs it, Mike Lin, before getting hands …

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As part of its preparation for the introduction of tough new EU safety requirements for power supplies in 2019, FSP invited KitGuru along to its main office in Taiwan just ahead of Computex 2018. We were given a tour of the safety lab process by the engineer who runs it, Mike Lin, before getting hands on with the first FSP power supply to satisfy the new requirements.

With multiple, large-scale factories dotted across mainland China, FSP claims to produce over 50 million power supplies a year. That figure seems incredible, until you take into account its 3rd party manufacturing of PSUs for other brands and power products for other industries – including power units for televisions and external power bricks for laptops.

From Mike's point of view, the most important aspect of IEC 62368 is that if a unit were to catch fire, the flames must be contained within the power supply and cannot be allowed to escape. Work on the new European standard started ages ago, but you have to wonder if something like IEC 62368 could have helped to prevent the Grenfell Fire tragedy, which was caused by a Hotpoint fridge.

We were shown 13 distinct tests that FSP units must pass. Mike Stressed that his was the product safety department and – in addition to his lab and testing – that R&D had their own facilities (for units that have yet to come to production) and the manufacturing plants themselves also have the ability to pull products out of the line for spot checks. Every PSU will undergo a baseline test to ensure it functions within specified parameters and up to 10% will be pulled for more in-depth testing – which is all part of the certification process required by bodies like TUV and UL.

These are the stages we were shown:

1) Working Voltage Check
Comparing primary (AC mains) to secondary stage (DC internal). The bigger the gap in voltages, the further the physical separation between each section needs to be, in order for the unit to be declared safe.

  

2) Touch Current Check
Specifically, they are looking for leakage. The main component here is the transformer. You also have a white cap which is designed to reduce noise on the line. It's important that the electricity stays where it's supposed to. Lower quality components can cause a unit to fail this test, but as you increase component quality, you also increase the cost of the PSU. Production specialists need to understand where the ‘balance point' exists and to stay on the safety side of the line.

3) Temperature Sensing
Special glue is used to attach sensors to every part of each PCB – measuring temperatures everywhere. The glue is designed to have zero impact on the results. The resulting ‘web' is quite possibly the maddest thing we have ever seen.

4) Environmental Testing
This stage uses an ambient chamber which can deliver a steady 50 degree environment with no airflow.

5) Impact Testing
Definitely the most fun part of the day. Any part of an FSP product that can be touched by a customer, will have been tested by Mike and his assistant Lucifer (we kid you not!). This includes a sturdy ball being dropped from a fixed distance onto the prescribed impact points to show how well a product can withstand being hit hard.

6) No Fingers – No Tools
FSP must ensure that a customer’s finger cannot enter the ‘live’ parts of an AV component, and they do a similar test for ‘small screwdrivers’ with regular PSUs. If contact is possible, then that part must be isolated.

7) Stress Testing
Quite self explanatory this one – power supplies are tested to make sure that all of the components are OK to be stressed past their certified levels.

8) MTBF Calculation
With enough testing, you can calculate the MTBF (mean/average time between failures) for the final supply. Mike's guys are looking for 100,000 hours (around 11 years), but R&D will also force-test selected units to see how they might react to running for 200,000 or even 500,000 hours.

9) Electro Magnetic Interference Testing
This happens in 2 parts. First is conduction testing – to make sure that energy is going through the wire and not exiting sideways. The second is the radiation test. Once the door to the radiation chamber is shut, the giant antenna can pick up signals from 3 metres away. In both cases, the test equipment is looking for less than a 6dB variance.

 

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10) Echo Chamber
It's important that power supplies are seen and not heard. We got a slightly wobbly feeling inside the huge anechoic chamber which makes you realise how much of a human's balance is dictated by the way our ears/brain constantly process reflected sound waves. Once the chamber door is shut, the noise in the room drops below 8 dBA.

The unit being tested when we arrived was from the FSP ‘Twin' series, which pairs two PSUs together for redundancy. With two fans instead of one, this is arguably one of the louder set-ups possible. The measurement of 38 dBA is taken by a sensitive microphone positioned 1 metre away – and set at 30 degrees above the unit. Putting the PSU in a case would deaden a lot of that noise and putting the completed system under a desk would render it almost inaudible. Not as quiet as a fanless design, but pretty silent for a regular user. These shots show the test set up, the very thick door to the chamber and the output from dual PSUs.

11) Halt
This is where PSUs are sent to die. This test chamber includes extreme vibration and heat testing. Around 120 degrees should be enough to kill most PSUs (and most people). The same can probably be said for 2 hours of extreme vibration. The ‘Halt' test is designed to stop a PSU in its tracks – so the engineers know what the extreme limits are for the unit's survival.

12) Thermal Shock Test
The FSP engineers working in this section look like normal people, but they definitely have the coolest/most evil kit. I'm told that going from -25C to +80C in 3 minutes is close to the limit for most PSUs. With a smile, I'm informed that -40 degrees to +100 Celsius will ‘do it' for most power supplies.

13) Surge Test
Lightning may not strike twice that often in the real world, but this test rig can zap up to 15,000 volts through a product whenever it's needed. The question being asked is ‘can a PSU pass EMS testing – before being killed?'. The second part of the surge test is EFT which varies the input AC voltage by +/-90 volts.

We were then taken to a presentation room and given hands on time with the first FSP power supply to pass not only the existing TUV/UL tests that we had been shown, but also the IEC 62368 safety check.

In the UK, a fire door will be required to protect people for half an hour (for example) before ‘burning through'. Asking how long the unit had to be able to contain an ‘internal fire', we expected a similar answer.

“No. It can't burn through. At all. That is the new standard. In the unlikely event that there was a fire, it must stay inside the unit, flames cannot be allowed to escape”, we were told by Joey, one of the Senior Managers (on the right).  The ‘wall shot' shows just how many industries FSP plays a role in.

   

KitGuru says: It was interesting to see the variety of tests that modern power supplies have to prove that they can endure – and the introduction of the new IEC 6238 standard will make things even safer. We asked about price and when they would be introduced. FSP indicated that pricing wouldn't change by any noticeable amount and that the new, even safer products would be phased in over the coming year. A big thank you to Sean Liao for organising the tour and to Joey Cheng for being our guide around the vast FSP building.

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Samsung wants you to triple box your returning Note 7 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/samsung-wants-you-to-triple-box-your-returning-note-7/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/samsung-wants-you-to-triple-box-your-returning-note-7/#respond Wed, 12 Oct 2016 08:23:29 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=308445 Samsung's saga of dealing with smartphones that self-combust might be winding down now that it has officially killed off the flagship smartphone, but it's not quite over yet. It still needs to recall all of the Note 7's out in the wild and to make sure they don't damage anything on the way home, it's …

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Samsung's saga of dealing with smartphones that self-combust might be winding down now that it has officially killed off the flagship smartphone, but it's not quite over yet. It still needs to recall all of the Note 7's out in the wild and to make sure they don't damage anything on the way home, it's sending out three boxes and gloves.

Considering some of the injuries and fires that have been caused by overheating and shorting out Note 7s, you can't blame Samsung from taking this recall seriously. Those returning their Note 7 to Samsung through official channels, will be required to put their phone in a static-proof bag, in a box, in another box, in another box, all while wearing protective gloves.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pySvc17K2jE']

That last box is said to be fire-proof too, so clearly Samsung isn't taking any chances that these phones will ignite on the way home, especially if they spend any time in the cargo hold of a commercial vehicle. They are unlikely to end up on a plane however, as the exterior box specifically labels the package as containing a possibly defective lithium-ion battery and is therefore unsuitable for planes.

These boxes are being issued for original Galaxy Note 7s and their initially considered ‘safe,' replacements. All Note 7s are being recalled and they will no longer be sold or manufactured moving forward. Oculus has also halted support for them on the Gear VR headset.

The fall out from these defective phones has left Samsung more than $1 billion out of pocket and its share price has fallen by more than 10 percent, slashing $20+ billion from its market value.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Here's hoping Samsung can ship out decent replacement handsets in short fashion. It sucks being without a phone for a few days, even if your old one did have the potential to burn you in your sleep. 

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In-road LED lighting to help smartphone distracted pedestrians https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/in-road-led-lighting-to-help-smartphone-distracted-pedestrians/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/in-road-led-lighting-to-help-smartphone-distracted-pedestrians/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2016 10:21:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=290920 Although there are some parts of the world that have considered banning the practice of texting while walking, the German city of Augsburg, just outside Munich, is trying something different. To prevent its smartphone users from endangering themselves on the roads, it's added LED traffic lights to crossings at different points in the city, letting …

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Although there are some parts of the world that have considered banning the practice of texting while walking, the German city of Augsburg, just outside Munich, is trying something different. To prevent its smartphone users from endangering themselves on the roads, it's added LED traffic lights to crossings at different points in the city, letting you see how safe it is to walk, without even needing to look up.

While this might seem like a costly way to aid those too lazy to lift their head when looking to cross a road, it is a reaction born of tragedy. A 15 year old girl was recently killed when attempting to cross a road while wearing earbuds and looking at her phone.

Traditional lights are still in place for those not addicted to their smart devices, but the city authorities hope that by embedding low-power LED lighting in the roadways, they can help prevent any more tragedies in future, as per N-TV (via Ars).

ledroad

Source: N-TV

“We have the additional lamps installed on two crossings that are especially frequented by the relevant target group,” said the city's spokesperson Stephanie Lermen. Specifically these lights have been installed near the local university, with the aim to help younger people and commuters, who are more likely to be smartphone obsessed, to get across the road safely.

While no one is quite sure whether these lights will have much of an impact, the city council hopes that it will be a positive one. Much has been made of the move in Germany however, with local press lampooning the idea and deriding those who would text and walk as ‘smartphone zombies.'

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Do you think the practice of absently texting while walking should be pandered to? Or should authorities keep encouraging people to be more spatially aware?

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Tesla scales back car automation, for now https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/tesla-scales-back-car-automation-for-now/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/tesla-scales-back-car-automation-for-now/#respond Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:17:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=280255 Although most analysts believe that full vehicle automation won't be ready until 2020, Tesla recently jumped the gun and introduced its take on the feature back in October last year to mixed praise and concern. In line with the latter response, Tesla has now released an update which restricts where the cars can use automated …

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Although most analysts believe that full vehicle automation won't be ready until 2020, Tesla recently jumped the gun and introduced its take on the feature back in October last year to mixed praise and concern. In line with the latter response, Tesla has now released an update which restricts where the cars can use automated functions – for now, it's still working out the kinks.

Once a Model S has been updated with the new automated software, it will only let its driver take their hands off of the wheel on residential roads or those without central dividers. It's also limited the vehicles using it to drive at only five miles per hour above the speed limit. This might stop drivers receiving speeding tickets when taking their hands off of the wheel.

tesla-model-s-autopilot-software-70

Elon Musk himself said that the cars would now anticipate curves in motorways and would slow down if necessary before them (as per Reuters). He also stated via Twitter that with continued innovation, in under two years at the touch of a button on your smartphone, your car could open the garage, drive cross country to your location and pick you up. Once it's dropped you off, it could return without difficulty.

Although he admitted to reporters that more work needed to be done on the feature, he believes that already Tesla's autopilot software is better than human drivers on motorways, with its suite of cameras and sensors constantly mapping out where other drivers and their vehicles are.

Tesla still faces some criticism for its software security though. With concerns arising more and more about hacking cars that become more connected, other manufacturers have taken shots at Tesla for allowing wireless remote updating of critical car features that control its major functions like acceleration and breaking. Other car manufacturers still utilise a hard-install to prevent nefarious actors from hacking their vehicles.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What kind of automated features do you guys use in your cars? Smart cruise control? Lane assist? Autonomous braking?

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Amazon drops ‘hoverboards’ amid safety fears https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/amazon-drops-hoverboards-amid-safety-fears/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/amazon-drops-hoverboards-amid-safety-fears/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:36:12 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=278118 This year's celebrity Instagram phenomenon has arguably been the ‘hoverboard,' the Segway, swegway, Elite-Board… whatever you know it by: the two wheeled, self balance board. It's been tearing it up in social media posts and many real-world people have enjoyed them too, but amid safety concerns, Amazon has now stopped selling them, after a number …

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This year's celebrity Instagram phenomenon has arguably been the ‘hoverboard,' the Segway, swegway, Elite-Board… whatever you know it by: the two wheeled, self balance board. It's been tearing it up in social media posts and many real-world people have enjoyed them too, but amid safety concerns, Amazon has now stopped selling them, after a number were found to have serious design problems.

The issue stems from the fact that there is no patented design for them that must be adhered too. Everyone selling them can tweak what they like, which has led to the use of inferior components to try and reduce the price tag. In the case of batteries, that's meant some have caught fire, others have exploded and there has been some concern about non-certified chargers too (thanks the Guardian).

With as many as 88 per cent of the two-wheeled boards coming from outside the EU, many of them from China, a number have been found to fail basic safety checks. While there are some manufacturers and retailers that likely can pass those tests and provide a quality product, their price is likely to be far higher than the check-dodging undercutters.

hoverboard

Source: Wikimedia

Regardless though, nobody will be buying one of these from Amazon in the near future. Of course most of those who planned to buy one for Christmas probably have done already, so this block comes a little late from Amazon.

Anyone who has already purchased one is encouraged to check to make sure their ‘hoverboard' is safe for use and has a rated and tested UK power supply and plug. It's also worth remembering that these boards cannot be legally ridden on UK pavements or roads.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Any of you bought one of these? I had a go on one a few weeks ago and bailed hard. Be careful riding them too, it's easy to go flying once you get up to speed.

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Study claims dashboard cameras are latest road safety vogue https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/study-claims-dashboard-cameras-are-latest-road-safety-vogue/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/study-claims-dashboard-cameras-are-latest-road-safety-vogue/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:53:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=271505 As much as car companies are touting automated features like autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and smart cruise control as important safety systems that could severely cut back on road collisions, they aren't as big a focus for consumers as you might expect. Drivers are more interested in dashboard cameras according to a new study, …

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As much as car companies are touting automated features like autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and smart cruise control as important safety systems that could severely cut back on road collisions, they aren't as big a focus for consumers as you might expect. Drivers are more interested in dashboard cameras according to a new study, which suggests that one of the biggest perceived problems on the road is avoiding insurance scams and proving innocence in the case of an accident.

This data comes from a new study by GPS firm Garmin, which found that as many as 20 per cent of quizzed drivers have been involved in an accident claim that went unsettled due to lack of evidence. When asked what equipment or feature may have helped avoid that outcome, more than half said that a dashboard camera would have been the most helpful.

There is some evidence that this insight is smart one, as in countries like Russia, where insurance fraud is more common place, dashcams have become similarly so. Any quick Youtube search will turn up hundreds of videos of scams potentially avoided because video footage of its perpetration exists.

driving22

Much like telematics tracking – which can also provide some measure of after-accident diagnostics – dashboard cameras can also help cut insurance premiums. While they aren't always gigantic – circa ten per cent at most insurers – this can be enough in some scenarios to make it worth it – especially if it's a shared work vehicle.

That alone proved to be a deciding factor for many of those quizzed by Garmin too. Around two thirds of all drivers said they would consider a dash-cam based on the cost saving measure alone.

Funnily enough, Garmin is coming out with its own line up of dashboard cameras, which it highlights would be a perfect solution for those individuals. They're said to offer video recording, as well as GPS tracking and in compatible vehicles, can even aid forward collision systems.

Other solutions do exist of course. Intelligent Telematics offers an impressive 3G connected camera, that also provides telematics tracking.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While this study seems like one that may have been worded to push Garmin's new line of dashboard camera hardware, it's interesting to consider that cameras are simply popping up everywhere now the technology is cheap enough. Are you interested in the idea of having a camera on your car's dash?

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CAA threatens jail time after another drone near-miss https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/caa-threatens-jail-time-after-another-drone-near-miss/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/caa-threatens-jail-time-after-another-drone-near-miss/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2015 08:07:43 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=260116 The Civil Aviation Authority, which directly and indirectly handles all sorts of aircraft regulation within the UK, has announced that any drone users found to be endangering other aircraft will be prosecuted and could face up to five years in jail if convicted. This follows on from another instance where a private drone pilot manouevered …

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The Civil Aviation Authority, which directly and indirectly handles all sorts of aircraft regulation within the UK, has announced that any drone users found to be endangering other aircraft will be prosecuted and could face up to five years in jail if convicted. This follows on from another instance where a private drone pilot manouevered their craft within just a few metres of a commercial jet at Heathrow airport.

“Drone users must understand that when taking to the skies they are entering one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world,” said Tim Johnson, director of policy at the CAA, in a statement. He went on to point out that the reckless endangerment of any aircraft was a criminal offence, and simply by being in airport airspace with such a small and difficult to spot aircraft was akin to such action.

drone23

Moving forward the CAA wants all drone users to follow a code of conduct. All drones must stay within line of sight of the pilot and must not fly higher than 122 metres. If it carries a camera, it must remain at a distance of at least 50 metres from people, vehicles and structures in order to comply with privacy law and prevent collision. Groups of people should not be approached closer than 150 metres.

The aviation authority also urged drone users to use common sense when it came to staying clear of busy airport airspace, as per the BBC.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As much fun as drone flights can be, the more people adhere to these sorts of guidelines, the less chance they have of being banned or heavily restricted for end users. Nobody wants that to happen so don't be an ass with your drone.

Image source: Wikimedia

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Obama critical over Chinese net security terrorism laws https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/obama-critical-over-chinese-net-security-terrorism-laws/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/obama-critical-over-chinese-net-security-terrorism-laws/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2015 10:44:49 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=238603 US President Barack Obama has criticised Chinese plans to implement new anti-terror laws which would see all tech firms doing business in the country forced to hand over encryption keys and to provide back doors in software to allow the military to gain digital access to whatever they want.  While China remains adamant that the …

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US President Barack Obama has criticised Chinese plans to implement new anti-terror laws which would see all tech firms doing business in the country forced to hand over encryption keys and to provide back doors in software to allow the military to gain digital access to whatever they want.  While China remains adamant that the laws will not affect legitimate tech firms, Obama has stated that China would need to change its tune if it wants to continue to do business with the United States.

China's response has mostly been to hold a mirror up to Mr Obama, who has during his terms as president presided over some of the most privacy invading digital actions of any administration, including the NSA's installation of backdoors in commercial hard drive firmware. It also suggested that other Western countries had also requested encryption keys from developers. While not cited specifically, the UK PM, David Cameron, recently stated that if re-elected in May, he would push to have effective encryption outlawed.

obama2

Indeed, while Western nations like to hold China up as an example of infringing the rights of its citizens, the use of anti-terror law as a tactic to push through restrictive technological reforms has been used in Western countries for years. Just a few weeks ago a new anti-terror bill was shot down in British parliament when it attempted to piggy back the ‘snooper's charter' onto legislation designed to help prevent terrorism.

Unfortunately, this is the knock on effect from such secretive and invasive digital laws: countries would prefer to keep to their own. China's latest move essentially forces US and other technological companies to play by its rules. If that doesn't happen, it will simply look to domestic suppliers for hardware and software, something that many nations have suggested doing in the wake of Edward Snowden leaks killing a lot of people's faith in the US and British tech firms.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It does seem pretty hypocritical of Obama to suggest that China's laws are too restrictive, when his intelligence agencies have been spying on their own citizens for years.

[Thanks Reuters]

Image source: Mark Nozell

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Volvo issues official warning on C30, S40 & V50 https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/faith/volvo-issues-official-warning-on-c30-s40-v50/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/faith/volvo-issues-official-warning-on-c30-s40-v50/#respond Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:23:03 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=31347 Not sure how many KitGuru readers would buy a new Volvo, but just in case you do, we wanted to flag an email that's been sent from Volvo HQ. Following the Toyota brake safety issue, you can't be too safe and it's always better to have all of the facts. We have had this issue …

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Not sure how many KitGuru readers would buy a new Volvo, but just in case you do, we wanted to flag an email that's been sent from Volvo HQ. Following the Toyota brake safety issue, you can't be too safe and it's always better to have all of the facts.

We have had this issue pinged in by several readers and the email warnings relating to a mis-badging issue seem to be real.

According to official communications from Volvo, cars affected include the Volvo C30, S40 and V50.

Volvo issues warning - impeccable safety record threatened?

If you're thinking about a different Volvo model, then that would seem to be OK, but maybe these cars should also be avoided for a while – until Volvo makes some kind of confirmation statement.

At the very least, it seems that the cars in question are being offered for sale ‘incorrectly labelled'. So you could spent £20,000 and find that the Volvo you bought is worth considerably less. Volvo's warning seems to indicate that the re-badging is enough to lead to fines and, if ignored, your car being towed/impounded/crushed.

Better safe than sorry.

Every KitGuru driver, from an early age, will have been warned by a knowlegable friend/relative about the worst kind of re-badging, the ‘cut and shut'. That's where a car appears to be a bargain, but it is in fact 2 previously broken cars that have been welded together and re-labelled. Re-labelling of any kind is worrying and, in all likelihood, illegal.

At its simplest level, re-badging can be relatively innocent, to make a car look nicer/faster than it really is. But that's the start of a run down a slippery slope, with real consequences.

For example, driving without insurance is illegal. If you do not disclose to your insurance company the EXACT make/model details, then your insurance is invalid.

It stands to reason that someone buying a new Volvo would tell the insurance company what it says on the sales receipt/badges on the car. If there is a security issue and ‘fake' cars are being sold, then in addition to basic safety problems – you will almost certainly be driving without insurance as well.

This is a blow for Volvo, because – traditionally – its brand has been associated with uber-safety and soccer mums. It's unlikely that people who buy a new Volvo intend to get involved with insurance scams and illegal driving.

They might not make the sexiest cars on the planet, but until this official warning from Volvo, you would have thought it one of the safest options – that you could trust in the brand.

For a company like Volvo to issue any kind of safety warning is a worrying thing. KitGuru would have assumed that they employ the very best back-end hardware, software and security systems to ensure that issues do not occur.

If you ignore any kind of warning from a manufacturer like Volvo, then you're nuts. Don't take a chance. Wait until they issue a formal safety statement.

You can find loads of alternatives to Volvo from sites like Auto Trader in the UK.

Volvo also seems to have been embroiled in a series of email phishing scams recently, specifically designed to dig out personal details from potential customers. These were bad enough for Volvo to address them on its main site.

KitGuru says: We wouldn't recommend anyone takes a chance right now. If you absolutely, positively, definitely need to buy a new car, then scan the web for alternatives until Volvo issues a clear statement that (a) you can trust that the car you ordered is the one you received and (b) that your family will be safe. We scanned the Volvo web site, but there does not seem to be a place where you can ask safety-related questions or contact Volvo's press department. Unfortunate.

Comment below.

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