I have this habit of the mindless push-pull method when it comes to charging.
It’s the idea of letting your charger plugged in with or without my phone charging.
Something that I have been doing all along, when I first bought it two or three years ago. This is because I want my phone to be charged easily, or I guess that’s just the laziest thing I did.
But I doubt if doing it was a safe thing to do. However, I realized that a charger, just like your smartphone, needs electricity to run.
There are possible reasons why you may not want to do it in the future.
Consumes Electricity
Did you think that your smartphone is the only device that needs power to be recharged? Even the charger consumes electricity to do its work.
Plugging your charger into the outlet without a smartphone connected to it will continue to consume power.
And what does it mean when the device is currently consuming power through the process called phantom energy? Expect additional expenses to your electricity bill every month.
Next time, you may want to consider unplugging your charger when not in use.
Charging Capacity Ruined
Your smartphone chargers are not designed to stay plugged in forever. Currently, they are made to bridge your smartphone and the electric source (outlet).
Letting your charger be unplugged negatively affects the charging quality and capacity over time.
Should your charger capacity be ruined, it will affect your charging process and may result in the ineffectiveness of your charger, as in being unable to be used.
Spot on these charger symptoms as they are visible signs that your charger is about to wear out:
- Sudden Slowdown in the Charging Speed.
- Failed Charger Attempt
- Having internal component problems.
Heat Build-Up
Since chargers are only designed for a faster-charging process, plugging them in for longer periods may result in heat build-up.
This can cause serious problems on the device, and the device is prone to household risks like fire.
Aside from overcharging, place the smartphone in a place where the charging heat can escape.
Do not allow your device to be charged near fabric, paper, under a blanket, or on a bed.
Power Surge Affects Quality
Electric current fluctuation may happen in some areas, especially if they undergo sudden power outages, grid issues, and storms.
These events not just disrupt power, but affects the entire power distribution of the locale.
Letting the charger be plugged in consistently allows the power surge to ruin your charger’s quality.
Electric surges often come uninvited, and our charger has the capacity during this period to prevent them.
Unplugging your charger, it spares both the quality and health of your charger. Extending its life for further use.
Prone to Children and Pets’ Reach
Charger cords are made in delicate materials, and letting the children or the pets reach for them may affect the charger’s capacity.
Both the children and the pets may be curious about the charging cords. But they should not be accessible for their safety.
Wearing off a charger or charger cords can also lead to life-threatening or accidental situations, such as burns or electric shock.
Plugging off the charger from the outlet means letting everyone stay safe.
A Smart Habit for Conserving Energy
Plugging the charger off from the outlet is not just for safety, protecting its quality, or heat prevention. It is meant to remind us to reduce energy consumption.
This act is sustainable, smart living. Making us responsible, environmentally aware, and to use energy efficiently.
I Thought Modern Chargers were Secured?
That’s the question I asked myself upon learning these things.
But modern chargers are only efficient in terms of energy usage and fast power distribution.
Nowhere do tech companies promote that modern chargers withstand overheating and power surges.
Unplugging it reduces the overall quality of the charger from being ruined. Yet the safest method is to prevent ruining the charger as a whole.
When my phone hits full charge. It’s time that my phone and the charger are fully unplugged. A routine that I must do again.
It’s time to give your chargers a break from any of their quality disruptors.