How to: Identification of fake smartphone charger without disassembly

[Kiriakos GR]

While in my workbench there is all sort of electrical parameters measuring equipment, my suggestion today this is for consumers them not necessarily be specialist in electronics.

The most practical method to identify a Fake charger, this is by measuring it weight over a small scale.
You may get the actual product weigh information by visiting for example: 
Samsung website (Original Manufacturer).

By the numbers, most to all low priced goods on eBay them are Fake.
For example an eBay seller trading Fake chargers he will never write product weigh in his own listing.
But an honest Asian seller, he will offer product weight information too, and he does that so to earn further credibility.. 

Explanation of what a Fake charger is all about.
1) Internal components are fewer and low quality.
2) Electrical input this does not qualify to any Safety standards = unsafe for all people.
3) Expected performance specified by the labeling, this is down to 1/4

Now you may use the above tip even about shopping unbranded charger.
But only if product weight it is identical to branded solution ( Then this charger came from the Asian factory which produces and the branded one.)

Usually such a product offering will be priced 50% lower than the branded (retail price in your country), but Never - Ever lower than that.
 
Pictures below of genuine goods. 

[Kiriakos GR]

At my post above my product sample this was a Genuine Samsung  EP-TA20EWE which I purchased from Greece and this is 100% genuine product, but not 100% compatible to Fast charge my phone.

Now I was after a Made in China:  regular 5.3V 2A charger for Samsung S5 & Note 3,  and received a counterfeit, a Fake 5.3V charger this truly outputting about 5V at about 1A and then gets very hot in just few minutes.

Because the specific eBay seller while in the beginning he did demonstrate some interest so him to find out of what got wrong, I thought to helping him by me demonstrating to him actual electrical measurements’ and to explain to him that with out a true output of 5.5V up to nominal 5.3V, mobile phones such as Samsung G900F they never disengage their current limiter so them to perform Fast charge at 1.6A and instead the phone limiting the current to 1A so to protect any generic 5V charger.

By this post I am going to win my case at PayPal for receiving counterfeit goods, but this is also an educational opportunity.
I did take apart this FAKE EP-TA10EWE, so we all to have the chance to admire this technological miracle.

This honest made product !! which his seller in China, him feels that proud about it!!     

Fake QR code:  GH44-02430D RT4D517HS

Note: Please use arrows at zoom window for fast navigation within pictures.

[Kiriakos GR]

More..

[Kiriakos GR]

   Genuine EP-TA10EWE electrical performance & measurements
I got lucky this time by shopping from Spain, shipping cost was lower than shopping from Athens - Greece
And I will pass my recommendation and to others for this honest eBay seller. http://www.ebay.com/usr/tpc_2014 

[Khaleef]

Really glad I found this site! Thank you for the thread. Please I need help with my Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger. I can do little of electronics fix.

My Original Samsung Fast Charger EP-TA20CBC was plugged in socket when there was a sudden high voltage. I opened it to look thinking it would be the Capacitors (10uf 400v) but they weren't cos I once replaced those when they blew up and my charger worked. But this time, it wasn't the Capacitors, I examined every components on the board and noticed these two component, (don't know it's name) but small and black (picture attached & marked) .

I would like to know how to find these part in another dead charger to fix the charger, i don't want to lose the original  charger please.

Thanks

[Kiriakos GR]

Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger this is more complicate design than regular 5.0V or 5.3V charger.

I own Galaxy S5, with major difficulty I manage to get true 5.3V (fast charge) charger, but Adaptive Fast Charger this is easy to find,  even me I have one genuine which I got by mistake, as I thought that this will do 5.3V too.

Sorry there is no much that I can do for your issue.
Neither you seem having appropriate tools for such mini-parts replacement. 
R1 = resistor
CL = capacitor

But at area these are blown,  by 99%  pulsing IC this is dead now too.

[Khaleef]

Thanks for the quick reply. But if only I can get the "Part name" I can try get it and fix it... The part is labeled "CL" on the circuit board!

**edit***

I didn't read properly, I saw it CL is capacitor and R1 resistor.

I'll check for that!

You solved my problem halfway!

Thanks so much!

[Kiriakos GR]

Unfortunately  such capacitors are not named over a PCB (small smd) ,  at regular sized pulsing PCU, pulsing circuit capacitor this is small ceramic.

Prior making any other soldering, check D1 D2 D3 D4 too.