http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4151

If i put the batteries and and turn the charger on at the wall it trips the fuse box, also it makes the metal tap in the kitchen give off electric shocks!

Has anyone else had any problems? Can anyone recommend a better one?

I know it sound daft but are the batteries in the charger the right way round? When they come they are about threequarters charged and I know someone else that has done this tonight-he shall reamain nameless (okay Dan your secrets safe) 😛

And secondly if your tap is live I would suggest getting a sparky in (I assume you have checked it with the siad suspect unit unplugged)

the tap is not live when the charger is not plugged in.

batteries are the correct way around, batteries are at a different level of charge – could this be an issue?

also cable is a 2 wire one – live and neutral – no earth

You bought one after those reviews? I got my charger as a specific for those 18650 batteries from a UK supplier with batteries for about £12

i bought a package with the charger as part of it – never bothered with the reviews.

More worried about the wiring in the house if the charger makes a tap live to be honest!

Sounds like it is fubarred and downright dangerous. Nothing to do with charge state of batteries more to do with it not being wired correctly with an earth. Send it back.

will bin it – ordered another one 🙂

https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251

http://thephotonshop.co.uk/page44.htm
17670 / 18650 DUAL BAY CHARGER
Tis what I got and spot on too.

bought the one you recommend – cheers

I've got that charger and so far haven't had any problems … but I'm a bit scared to use it now!

Sounds to me like your wiring's ****ed too mind… Hard to see how plugging something into the wall could cause the plumbing to go live, especially if it's popping the RCD and breaking the circuit.

FWIW, this is the good charger:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.936

Works a charm, and can run off an old nokia phone charger if you don't have an adaptor.

I went for this one – http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251 – works a treat but a mate has the same kind and his seems to be gubbed – just doesn't seem to charge the batteries…appears to show everything working (but the LEDs remain red constantly).

I'm not sure how plugging something into the main can magically make a tap turn electric – I'd suggest your wiring is also a bit suspect…does it only happen when the fuse box trips? Or is it constant? i.e. trip the fuse box and try the tap – naybe best not with wet hands though!

The tap is live only when the charger is charging 2 batteries. The tripping of the box happens when i have the batteries in the charger and i then plug it in

I'm not sure how plugging something into the main can magically make a tap turn electric

Well, AFAIK, plumbing is earthed. So maybe the charger is shorting earth across to live? Have you checked inside the plug on the charger?

There is no way plumbing should ever be live regardless of the equipment plugged in, foobar'd or not.

Before you do anything else, get an Electrician in to take a look at your house wiring.

poddy that is a possibility

There is no way plumbing should ever be live regardless of the equipment plugged in, foobar'd or not.

I guess you're probably right there, but maybe a fault in the charger is handily showing up a fault in the wiring. If it was me, I'd be getting a sparky in, TBH

PeterPoddy you were right – plug shorting accross live and earth – all sorted 🙂