We all use chargers to recharge our devices. But how much does it consume when it is plugged in? Few know.
A habit common to many people is to leave the smartphone charger plugged into a power outlet, even though the charge is complete.
This habit is often due to convenience, forgetting, or recharging devices. overnight.
However, not everyone is aware that this widespread practice is not correct and can have serious consequences.
It is important to know the amount of energy consumed from a charger that remains connected to the power outlet.
Battery charger: how much does it consume when connected to the mains?
Chargers, whether for mobile phones, tablets, PCs or other devices, also consume energy when are offline of the electronic device.
This occurs due to a small transformer inside the charger that constantly requires power, even small amounts, from the wall outlet.
In today’s world, we are constantly connected through various devices, leading to an increase in battery production. high performance.
However, even the most advanced mobile phones will eventually they lose their job. This raises the question: what is the cost of leaving chargers plugged in all the time?
When a charger is not connected to a device, it is estimated to consume approx. 0.25 watts.
However, this number increases significantly 3.68 watts when a device is charging and drops to 2.24 watts when the device is fully charged.
While this amount of energy consumed is negligible, it can add up quickly in a home where every individual has a cell phone, a personal computer or a tablet and other devices like electric razors and toothbrushes.
The increase in your electricity bill can be substantial. Unplugging chargers when not in use can save money about 40 euros a yearwhich can be particularly useful given the current trend of rising prices.
The types of chargers
There are a variety of available on the market wired or wireless chargers with different power capacities.
Typically, the standard phone charger has a 5 watt (W) output, but there is a growing trend for “fast chargers” or fast chargers with an output 20W.
In addition, car chargers are also available, allowing travelers to quickly recharge their smartphone batteries.
When not in use, plugged in wireless chargers consume around 0.8 Wh of energy, which is significantly more at 0.02 Wh consumed of wired chargers.
never leave it plugged in
Overcharging your smartphone not only wastes energy, but also carries the risk of overheating, which can potentially harm device components and affect its functionality.
If you continue to charge your smartphone in this way, such as slower charging, the need to replace it sooner may arise.
Batteries in most of today’s devices can be fully charged in an arc 2-3 hours.
Lithium batteries are known to favor frequent but short charge cycles. Therefore, it is recommended that you unplug the charger from the wall outlet once the battery is fully 100% charged.
A ciabatta with on/off switch is a viable solution as it allows the user to easily disconnect power from the charger with the push of a button, while remaining plugged in.
Alternatively, timer switches are an option that allow users to set a limited time for the charging process.
