How many
chargers
What do you possess? We are encircled by devices that can be recharged electronically.
mobile phones
, laptops, smartwatches, headphones,
e-bikes
and more.
You might have a phone charger plugged in next to your bed without ever bothering to switch it off at the wall or unplugging it when not in use. The same might go for a laptop charger by your desk.
However, could that be risky? Also, are there concealed expenses related to keeping chargers plugged in continuously?
What’s inside a charger?
Of course, not all chargers are identical. Their inner design may vary from quite basic to intricate, based on the specific use and power demand they are intended for.
Nevertheless, a standard charger draws in the AC (alternating current) from the wall socket and transforms it into a lower voltage DC (direct current) appropriate for charging your device’s battery.
To grasp the distinction between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), visualize how electric charges travel through a conductor. In a DC system, electrons consistently flow in a single direction around the loop. Conversely, in an AC setup, these same electrons oscillate backward and forward without making a complete circle.
The rationale for utilizing both forms of electric current dates far back, all the way to the era when innovators were pioneering advancements.
Thomas Edison
Nicola Tesla clashed with others over which variant would be adopted as the standard.
Today, we find ourselves caught between the two options.
Electricity
Traditionally produced in AC form, yet contemporary devices and batteries necessitate the DC format. Therefore, nearly every electronic device includes an AC-DC converter.
For converting AC to DC power, a standard charger requires multiple electronic parts including a transformer, a circuit designed for the conversion process itself, filter mechanisms to improve the purity of the resulting DC voltage, along with control circuits meant for regulating and safeguarding operations.
Chargers use electricity even when they aren’t powering devices.
“Vampire energy” is indeed a thing. When left plugged in, a charger continues to consume a tiny bit of electricity constantly. This power is partly utilized for maintaining the operational and protective circuitry, with the remainder being dissipated as heat.
If you examine a single small charger, the vampire power—or standby power—appears minimal. Yet, when you sum up all the chargers in your house for different gadgets, the cumulative waste of electricity becomes considerable over time.
Idle power consumption isn’t limited to chargers; televisions and other electronics also use a small amount of standby power.
The total energy consumption from leaving various devices plugged in can accumulate to multiple kilowatt-hours throughout the span of a year, depending on how many items remain connected.
As mentioned, contemporary chargers are engineered to reduce energy usage when not in use. They feature advanced power management systems that allow them to remain dormant until an external device tries to consume electricity.
There are additional hazards as well.
Chargers degrade gradually as electric current passes through them, especially when the voltage from the power supply spikes higher than what they’re designed for.
The electrical grid is a tumultuous setting where numerous instances of voltage surges occur periodically.
Exposing your chargers to such conditions will reduce their lifespan. You shouldn’t worry too much about this early degradation with contemporary devices due to advancements in design and management. However, it’s especially worrisome for inexpensive, unapproved chargers. They frequently do not have adequate protective features and can pose a fire risk.
What steps should I take to properly maintain my chargers?
Even though contemporary chargers are typically quite safe and should consume negligible amounts of standby power, you might as well unplug them if it’s easy to do so.
If a charger becomes unusually warm, produces noise, or sustains damage of any kind, it’s time to get a new one. It should certainly not be left connected.
Glen Farivar serves as a Lecturer in Power Electronics at The University of Melbourne.
This article has been republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can read the original here.
original article
.
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