How To Be Sure Your Hoverboard Is Safe

So, what do you think? Do you think hoverboards are safe?

Well, the truth is that they aren’t, at least not yet.

What happened in 2015 had the chance to repeat with the same proportions in 2017. Fortunately, and on time, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) started recalling all the hoverboards produced by several companies. The commission raised concerns on their battery packs when safety officials discovered a significant risk of overheating, smoke, fire, and even risk of explosions leading to property damage. All this was because they weren’t meeting the product safety requirements… again!

In case you’re considering buying one, or you already have one, then it’s better to pay attention to the safety standards included on its label. For any products sold within the EU zone, you should always look for the CE marking. This is a mark certifying the product's safety and compliance with the European regulations. You should find it on the following hoverboard’s elements: battery, charger, and packaging. Continue reading to learn more about each one of them.

I. Battery

The battery of the hoverboard should be designed to last for as long as possible, with zero per cent chance of fire risk, and be completely safe. You should stay away from hoverboards with batteries of unknown manufacturer. They are usually of the most inferior quality and with the highest chance of causing problems. It's best to look for hoverboards with batteries of brands, such as Samsung. The hoverboard is mostly, let’s not say 100%, safe when it has such battery. However, the CE mark and the UN 38,3 mark must always be present on the label no matter the brand of the battery.

II. Charger

One of the first things you should check is the spelling on the charger’s label. If you see anything misspelt, then it’s more likely your hoverboard to be unsafe. Secondly, check the plug. If the plug doesn’t have a fuse or an automatic cut-out, then it’s not safe and with a higher chance of causing a fire or exploding. Your hoverboard will be safe when you can see the CE mark on the charger, along with the fuse, the automatic cut-out, and the sign BS1363 on the plug. This way you can be sure your hoverboard will stop charging once it’s 100% charged and will not overheat. Just in case, you should never charge it unattended, especially overnight. Additionally, each certified hoverboard must have instructions on how to charge it safely. If they're missing, then it’s better to reconsider your purchase even if all the other requirements are present.

III. Packaging

The package of the hoverboards should have branding or manufacturing details. If they’re missing, misspelt or with poor quality translations, you shouldn’t buy it. Moreover, you should make sure the hoverboard you’re buying is from a trusted brand, and not from any unknown brand just because of its lower price. Knowing the brand, you can always contact them if something goes wrong and expect them to deal with your problems. In this regard, it’s better to verify the contact information for the respective manufacturer before buying the product. Last, the package should be of good quality and not an unmarked cardboard box.

Except for the abovementioned elements, you should always have in mind that the price isn’t an indicator of a good quality hoverboard. CPSC found hoverboards of some expensive brands that weren’t meeting the product safety requirements. The companies, which hoverboards were recalled at the end of 2017, are Sonic Smart Wheels, iHoverspeed, Tech Drift, Go Wheels, iLive, LayZ Board, Smart Balance Wheel, and Drone Nerds. In case, you are an owner of a hoverboard bought from one of the mentioned companies, then better stop using it and return it.

Thank you for reading our review on the topic. If you have any questions regarding product safety requirements and certification, please contact us. Alternatively, feel free to check our compliance software solutions or learn more about our product testing services for electrical equipment.