We have a number of staff who have taken it upon themselves to use fans and lights that are powered direct from the USB connections in their PC's. Before anyone comments on why, the answer is I don't rightly know because we have good lighting and air con etc. Whilst management decide on whether we ban these things, or not, (I can feel the backlash and H&S gone mad comments now), does anyone know why they should not be used. Is there a genuine H&S issue with these gadgets? I have even had people suggest they should be PAT tested (I don't because we don't PAT test the mouse or other USB devices). I am of the view that it is a HR/Management issue not H&S and so long as they are CE marked there is no real reason to stop their use, other than the fact that they are a total waste of money in this particular circumstance. Anyway whilst I brace myself for the inevitable variety of comments, your views would be welcome.

By people who haven't got a Scooby about the subject matter, no doubt. As with all electrical kit, they should not contravene EAW Reg 4(2) or PUWR Reg 5, but any real danger is more likely to be to the acceptable operation of the computer they are plugged into.

i feal this is getting to be more an office clear desk policy issue rather than H&S, pass it back to the office manager

I have got a decorative rocket light that plugs in to my laptop around christmas time. It is very pretty with lots of glittery sparkles in it. Please don't spoil this for me! I have even considered a usb powered foam missile rocket launcher for firing at the Evil Emporer Zurg (or colleagues).

Yeah, I know. Those in glass houses! Oh for an edit function.

Scooby Doo = Clue

Oh, I would pay top dollar for a real cluebat. I would use it everyday.

I don,t see a problem with that, I have people that use USB ports to charge mobile phones at work, I don,t see it as a safety issue, HR might view it as an inappropriate use of company IT equipment, but that's up to them.

It wasn't a clue, it was PVZ telling you what it meant. Surely the concept of rhyming slang hasn't totally bypassed 'Manchester and North West Districts'?

Grizzly Perhaps you didn't realise from my mega-smiley and the words after it that I was feigning ignorance about rhyming slang. Anyhow, though I can't claim to be a spokesman for folk in the North West, I reckon that most of us (and no doubt Yorkshire folk as well) prefer plain speaking - calling a spade a spade and all that - and avoid rhyming slang. A rhyming slang expression is confusing to anyone not familiar with it and also takes more time and effort to say or write. For example, why use 'apples and pears' when 'stairs' is a perfectly good word and instantly understood?!! (o < )) another prototype mega-smiley to indicate that the above shouldn't be taken too seriously! (o p.s. Apologies to chas for this deviation from his thread, even though there seems to be a consensus from sensible responses that gadgets plugged into computer USB sockets do not pose safety concerns. p.p.s. The decorative rocket light device with sparkly bits mentioned by BuzzLightyear at #7 sounds like a variant of a lava lamp. I've only got a battery-operated version which sadly seems to take ages to get going because of its limited heat input. :-( As for USB powered foam missile devices, are these available from emporia by any chance?!! Also, does anyone know of any other wacky USB powered devices which might amuse some forum users?

http://media.duracell.co...Technical%20Bulletin.pdf Try this Z

For what? I don't think that adds anything to the discussion (which itself is a distraction from the topic). It tells you that internal resistance of a particular brand of one particular chemistry of consumer cell is "less than 1 ohm". So that tells you that the short-circuit current will be more than 1.5A or so. It tells you nothing about different chemistries, and it doesn't even tell you the limiting value for the chemistry it is discussing. If you want to refer to duracell data sheets, how about http://professional.dura...ble-Cells_Supreme_AA.pdf where you find AA cells with internal resisitance of 25 milli-ohm, implying a short-circuit discharge more like 48 amps (with various grotesque simplifications).

Grizzly - From having lived in or visited various parts of the UK I have to agree with you about the variety of expressions and words pertaining to different regions. Along with the range of dialects and accents I find them fascinating. During several years living in Sheffield I encountered a number of new words isuch as ginnel (alleyway) and wazzock (alias nitwit or stupid person). Some years ago a friend of mine with a mild Scottish accent was amused during a party in London to be told by a young lady with a strong Cockney accent something along the lines of "cor, you don't arf speak fanny". My friend was apparently too polite to respond that her informant also spoke funny. BuzzLightyear - the foam missile firing device might raise complaints from people working within its range of 6 metres. Some might even allege that the missiles pose a safety risk! Therefore, it might be best to opt for the USB powered dalek device instead - though your neighbours might be driven to sabotage it if they hear it say "exterminate" too many times! :-(

achrn I just thought it was of interest. I was wrong. Big deal. Re the first post. Let them plug in what they like. Don't see a problem at all

Steps have been put in place to prevent this becoming a problem.

Forgive my ignorance but wouldn't that defeat the object of a fusable link?

Not if the motherboard conforms to USB standards. Power on USB ports is managed. USB ports should not deliver more than 100mA without active negotiation between the device and the PC, and should not deliver more power than they can safely provide. According to the standards, if a device wants more than 100mA it has to ask the host for it and it only gets it if the host decides to give it. If a device attempts to draw more power than has been negotiated, the host should cut the power supply to the port. It is not possible to overload a USB port electrically because the device supplying it cuts all power to that port before that happens. This is why if you plug a high-power device into an unpowered hub already running other devices you sometimes get a message telling you there isn't enough power.

I soooo want one of those rocket launchers! (on a serious note, your IT department might want to comment on these as if there is sensitive data then they might have a clear policy with regards to USB sticks or other plug in devices). Could potentially pose a fire risk perhaps or trip hazard if the cable was dangling?