Kodi boxes come in many different shapes and sizes. In fact, there are so many that it can be difficult to choose the right Kodi box. People often make their decision based on cost alone.
The desire to save money creates problems. Many users simply opt for a cheaply made device (usually made in China). After all, there is nothing special about a Kodi box, it is just a set-top box running the Android TV operating system. So why not?
Unfortunately, low-cost boxes from the Far East are often plagued by electrical problems. They're just not safe to use.
How can you make sure you don't send your house on fire? We are going to explain why many Kodi boxes are unsafe and then show you how to check your Kodi box for electrical safety. Read on to find out more..
Unless you have a high-end Android TV device, like the Nvidia Shield,
the ultimate tool for cable cutters - there is a reasonable chance that your Kodi box is not safe from an electrical perspective.
The discovery was discovered by a UK non-profit group called Electrical Safety First. It is a subdivision of the country's Electrical Safety Council and is responsible for campaigning on issues related to the issue.
The group tested nine of the most common Kodi boxes found in the UK. Surprisingly, he found that all nine failed his security tests.
For balance, it is important to note that the tests were a joint venture between Electrical Safety First and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT). However, given the results, we don't think there is anything conspiratorial at play here.
This is what Steve Curtler, Product Safety Manager for Electrical Safety First, told The Independent after the results were made public:
Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, added his voice, saying:"It should now be clear that the dangers these illegal devices pose far outweigh any benefits of purchasing them."
Some withdrawal notices have already gone out. In June 2017, the European Union issued a recall for a Chinese-made Android TV box amid reports that its design left users at risk of electric shock. The OTT TV Box 4K had a faulty power supply unit that did not comply with the EU Low Voltage Directive.
Electrical safety regulations vary around the world. They are generally based on one of two standards:the National Electrical Code or the International Electrical Code.
In the United States, the National Electrical Code (NEC) is the document that describes electrical safety and best practices. It attempts to codify the minimum requirements for safe electrical equipment. It is updated every three years..
The code is not law at the federal level. Instead, it is up to individual states to implement it. If a state has enforced the NEC, it is illegal to not follow the rules. As of this writing, only Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, and Missouri have not implemented the code.
The rules of the code are complex and beyond the scope of this piece. For more information, see the full document on the National Fire Protection Association website.
Most of the rest of the world, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, use the International Electricity Code.
The British parliament has also passed several laws to govern electrical equipment on a national level. The most recent rule update occurred in 2016.
For more information, you can download the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 - Guidance document from the government website.
Ok, now you know that some, if not most, Kodi boxes are potentially dangerous. However, that doesn't help if you already have one in your house. So how can you tell if your device is secure?
Just follow these five tips from the Electrical Safety First group.
Many of the cheap Kodi boxes you find online, especially the fully loaded ones, will not have a brand on them. This is because they are private label products that are manufactured for mere pennies per unit in factories in the Far East.
Schedule 3 of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 states that a manufacturer's mark or trademark must be visible on the device in order for it to be legally sold.
The CE mark (Conformité Européenne) is a certification mark. Indicates that a product is safe to sell in the European Economic Area from a health, safety and environmental point of view. The FCC label is the equivalent in the United States.
Many products manufactured outside of the E.U. and the United States have the marks, especially if they are to be sold in the respective markets.
Failure to see one of the two marks means either a) the product has failed the country's electrical safety tests, or b) the product was never intended to be sold in the respective locations and the seller is breaking the law by doing so.
Note: There have been cases of counterfeit CE and FCC markings. Don't assume your device is secure just because you see one. Complete all other recommended checks.
You need to make sure that your device's power supply can provide enough current for the device itself. If your box is trying to draw more current than your power pack can handle, you risk starting an electrical fire. Even in the best of cases, it will kill your power supply.
For example, if your box tries to draw 2 amps at 5 volts, but your power unit is limited to 1 amp, you'll quickly run into trouble.
To make sure you're not at risk, check to make sure the amps and volts on your power unit match the box itself.
(Note: Although not recommended, it is safe to use a power supply unit that can supply more amps than your box needs. For example, a power unit that can supply 10 amps would be safe to use with a box that draws five. The reverse situation would be unsafe.
If you live in the UK, you're in luck. British plugs are the safest in the world. Still, for the safety features to work, you must ensure that there is at least a 9.5mm gap between the three pins and the socket housing. If the space is smaller, you run the risk of receiving an electric shock when plugging and unplugging the device.
But if the plug of your device does not match the plug of your country, you can still use the device. You just need to buy a local power converter that a) offers the same plug shape, and b) can provide the correct amount of power.
However, you should be aware that there is no safe way to use a plug differently on your local power supply.
To be 100 percent sure, you have two options:
Lastly, try to remember if your device came with full documentation.
By law, all products sold in the European Union and North America must include instructions on safe use, limitations on use, and safe disposal of the device. Do you know how to dispose of your old electronics? Do you know how to dispose of your old electronics? Getting rid of electronics is not as simple as just taking them to the landfill and leaving them behind. Read more.
We know that some of you will immediately complain as soon as you read that FACT was involved in the study.
And while there could be an ulterior motive for the investigation, the facts remain true. The group tested nine of the most common Kodi boxes in the UK and all nine failed.
We're not going to debate the rights and wrongs of using Kodi for illegal purposes, but you'd be wise to pay attention to the findings, especially if you have a cheap, fully loaded Kodi box lying around your house. The risk of not doing so is simply not worth it.
For more information on the legality of streaming content on Kodi, check out our list of online resources that explain copyright law Confused about copyright law? Can these online resources help you get confused with copyright law? These Online Resources Can Help It's a confusing topic, yes, but it's important to wrap your head around it. If you're involved in any kind of creative work, these resources will help you do just that. Read more.
