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Because some manufacturers do not include a charger and force consumers to choose the charger for their new smartphone. It's annoying, but maybe this trend will ultimately benefit the environment? Whether you're using an old charger, buying a proprietary one, or a third-party option, you'll need to do a little research to make sure you're choosing the right charger to power your phone.
Luckily, we've tested a lot of chargers and you'll get the hang of them! This list will make it easier for you to buy phone chargers.
What you need to know about phone charging
When it comes to choosing the best chargers, there are two key things to consider: what standard is required to charge your phone quickly and how much power is required.
Most modern phones support the USB Power Delivery PPS standard provided via USB-C. This is a less common part of the enhanced Power Delivery standard and requires certain chargers to operate at full speed. USB PD PPS is also used in the Samsung Galaxy S21 series and is supported by a growing range of first-party and third-party plugs.
Most modern phones support power up to 30 W and you should not take a charger with a power of less than 18 W. A more powerful charger, can charge phones faster, no need to buy custom chargers. If your phone supports wireless charging, make sure that the charger supports the Qi standard.
Charger Specifications
First, you need to determine the main characteristics of any charger for a smartphone - we are talking about a power supply unit (adapter) that is plugged into an outlet. Depending on the battery capacity, type of device and other factors, charging blocks differ in their characteristics, which we should have studied in physics lessons.
Samsung tablet charger 2.0A
Each normal power adapter has certain markings indicating technical characteristics. It will come in handy if you have to constantly power your smartphone from a non-original/non-original charger.
Let’s make a reservation once again: if we are talking about isolated cases of using non-original devices, then nothing bad will happen. If you are going to use them constantly, be sure to study the article.
Manufacturers always leave their logo on power supplies, put various markers, certification and GOST badges, and also indicate really useful information:
- Electric current voltage range: usually 100-240V (volts).
- Frequency: on all our units 50-60Hz.
- Output is the main characteristic of the power adapter, usually looks like this (5.0V - 1.0A) or like this (5.0V - 2.0A).
Let's take a closer look at the last characteristic. 5.0V is a standard indicator, but the current value varies depending on the adapter and the gadget that it charges. Typically, the current on power supplies is 1.0A (for smartphones) or 2.0A (for tablets). There are cases when the current is, for example, 0.85A, 2.1A, 1.5A.
Sony smartphone charger 0.85A (850mA)
Features of operating an external battery
To use an external battery for a smartphone for a long time, you need to adhere to some rules for its operation:
- do not leave the device in the cold (low temperatures damage any batteries, including external batteries);
- for charging, use only high-quality cords (cheap accessories can cause overheating, short circuits and other damage);
- use your battery regularly (and if you decide not to use it for a long time, then make sure that its charge level is not lower than 80%);
- buy high-quality power banks from leading companies (they guarantee the quality of work and last for the stated amount of time).
Buy only high-quality Power banks
Agree, using an external power bank is not difficult. You only need to remember a few rules for the device to work without interruption for a long time (manufacturers promise up to 500 charge cycles).
Arguments against charging from a computer:
- The threat of virus infection. If you connect your smartphone to someone else's computer, you can accidentally receive a dangerous file - a virus. To insure against the problem, before connecting, open the phone settings section and select the “Charge only” mode. This function blocks the transfer of information.
- Slow charging. The computer's USB connectors are not able to provide the required level of current to charge a mobile phone, so the battery charges slowly. Sometimes you need to wait several hours for your smartphone to reach at least 50 percent charge.
- Battery wear. Some users have noticed that when frequently recharging from a computer, the smartphone battery begins to discharge faster. That is why phone manufacturers recommend using original chargers to fill the battery with energy.
If you use a voltage converter
Even when connecting a laptop to a phone charger for charging, through a voltage converter (from 5 Volts to 15 or higher voltages), the charging current will be constant. The charging current will not change in any way. Again the phone charger will be overloaded.
There is also the Joule-Lenz law, which is known from the school physics course. The Joule-Lenz law shows the direct proportionality (dependence) of the amount of heat (Q) released by an electric current conductor when current passes through it (Y), on the square of the current, on the resistance (R) of the conductor itself, and on the time of passage of the current (Y ) on it.
The formula looks like this:
- Q= Y2*R*t ,Where
- Q – amount of heat, expressed in Joules (J)
- Y – current, expressed in Amperes (A)
- R is the resistance of the conductor itself, expressed in Ohms (Ohm)
- t – time of passage of current through the conductor, expressed in seconds (s or sec)
The operation of electric heating devices is based on this law. Only electric heating devices have a different design, so they reach a certain heating level and maintain a certain temperature, which is working for them.
Not so with the charger. It consists of different parts, elements that have different characteristics, different properties, and are designed for certain loads. When large currents pass, which are several times higher than the rated current, the entire charger heats up, which leads to strong heating following the Joule-Lenz law. And this will cause the charger to malfunction.
Based on the reasons described above, you cannot charge your laptop, even just a little, using a phone charger.
Modern phones have improved significantly, but users have to pay for the new features with short battery life. If you constantly use your smartphone for entertainment, browsing the Internet or making phone calls, the battery usually runs out in half a day (5-7 hours).
A message appears on the screen asking you to connect the device to the electrical network, and here a problem arises - often there are no free sockets nearby. You can always recharge your phone from a computer or laptop - just use the USB port. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of this method.
Using a multimeter instead of a battery
A multimeter or tester is a universal electrical measuring device that combines the functions of several devices: a voltmeter, an ammeter, an ohmmeter.
This device usually runs on batteries or rechargeable batteries. It is better to choose a multimeter with AA batteries. Krona type batteries are more expensive and more difficult to find, since the frequency of their use decreases every year.
At home, digital multimeters are more often used. They have liquid crystal displays. If the battery is low, it will be difficult to see the readings on such a screen.
If mobility of the device is not necessary, you can make a multimeter power supply from a mobile phone charger.
Chargers of this type do not have voltage stabilization, so instead of the declared 5 volts they often produce inflated values. It is also possible to replace a “Krona” battery with a voltage of 9 V in this way. Although it is better to increase the output voltage. This is done by setting the zener diode to a standard voltage of 7.5 V or 8.2 V. Then the output voltage will be within 9 volts.
You can make a power supply that can be adjusted. To do this, replace the conventional zener diode with an adjustable one. The output voltage will be changed using a variable resistor.
Safety precautions
Charging a phone battery using non-standard methods requires compliance with certain rules:
- To ensure that the settings are not reset and all data is saved, the gadget must be turned off before removing the battery.
- For non-standard charging methods, it is necessary to take into account the parameters specified by the manufacturer. If they are smaller, then this procedure will lose its meaning, and if they are larger, it will disable the element and may even lead to its fire. If excessive heating is detected, the process must be stopped immediately.
- The voltage and current values must be monitored using a multimeter for this purpose.
If a person has little idea of how to distinguish a minus from a plus and what a multimeter is, then he shouldn’t even think about how to charge a phone battery without a phone. There is only one way out in this situation - go to the store and buy either a new battery or a “original” charger.
What if the USB port stopped working after charging
Sometimes the phone puts a lot of load on the USB port, and it stops working, as if it freezes. In such cases, you may also see the message “The USB device is not functioning properly and has exceeded the power limits for its hub port.” Then it is better to disconnect the phone from the computer and it is better not to charge it from it. In the window with a message about the problem, click the “Reset” button, if there is one.
But even after stopping charging, the USB port may still not work. In this case you can:
- Go to Device Manager
- find a broken “USB Root Hub” that will be marked with an exclamation point
- go to “Properties -> Power”:
- Click the “Reset” button.
But if this does not help, then disconnect the computer completely from the power supply. If this is a laptop, then it is also better to remove the battery for 10 seconds and put it back. Now turn it on and check.
Is it possible to charge a phone battery without a phone?
It is inconvenient to charge two or more batteries in turn through the same telephone set and there is not always time or opportunity. Moreover, frequent opening and closing of the device cover can lead to breakage of its clamps, as a result - it will simply stop holding on over time, and the battery will fall out.
It is more convenient to charge additional batteries separately from the phone while the main one is being used for its intended purpose. And this is quite possible. This can be done in different ways. Among them there are both special devices and handicraft methods, from more advanced to completely primitive opportunities to extend the life of the battery even a little more.
Important! If charging additional batteries is required regularly, then it makes sense to purchase a special device. It is reliable and durable. Home methods are best used only in emergency situations, because their use is always associated with some degree of risk.
The main thing is that your phone or smartphone has a removable battery.
How to choose?
To choose a good external battery, you need to start from the needs of the buyer. You should understand which gadgets you plan to charge, in what quantity and how often.
There is no point in overpaying for a PowerBank with a large capacity if you choose an external battery for your phone that can be charged at fairly minimal rates. To charge a laptop, you will need a device with at least 20,000 mAh; less capacious ones simply will not work. Please note that the larger the capacity, the greater the weight, and some models may not be comfortable to carry on a daily basis.
When using tablets and photographic equipment, it is better to opt for models with higher current, which will ensure fast charging.
If you need to charge the battery of your phone or other gadgets that do not have a USB port, choose a model that includes adapters for connecting older devices.
Portable chargers can be made of plastic or metal. In the second case, the phone charger will be stronger and less susceptible to scratches, but its price and weight will be higher.
You can find PowerBanks with unusual designs. They can be made in the form of various toys, animals or have any other shape. It is worth keeping in mind that such decorative devices, due to their original appearance, have a higher cost, although they may not have high performance.
other methods
Now let's move on to considering charging methods that are not high-tech, and despite this, as many claim, they work.
Using tape
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask a Question
Any smartphone battery has 3 terminals. It powers from the outer two, and the middle one is used to transmit information about the battery status. Usually there is still some charge in the power supply that has turned off, which can be used if the information pin is isolated. To be fair, it won't last long.
Precautionary measures
When charging your smartphone battery, you must follow these rules:
- Before removing the battery, the gadget is turned off. This will help avoid factory resets and data loss.
- The above methods cannot be used to charge simple batteries. They differ from batteries in the absence of the “rechargeable” inscription on the case. Failure to follow this recommendation will result in the battery exploding.
- The battery cannot be recharged. If the charger remains connected to the mains for a long time, the battery capacity will decrease. Harmful to lithium-ion batteries and critical discharge. Charging should begin after the battery power has been reduced to 20%.
- Once every 2-3 months, battery training is carried out. To do this, the element is completely discharged, after which charging begins.
- Do not charge the battery in short cycles. This also negatively affects the ability to gain and retain charge.
It is not recommended to use extreme charge recovery methods. They not only damage the battery, but also contribute to injury to the user.
Sometimes situations arise in which you need to charge the battery without the gadget in which it is installed. If such a problem arises for the first time, a person may encounter some difficulties. There are several ways to charge a battery directly, some of which may result in reduced capacity.
What is a Power Bank?
The device is called differently - external battery, portable or mobile charger, portable charger. In this case, we are talking about the same thing - about charging for a phone without an outlet.
The advantage of a Power Bank is that it can be used to charge electronic gadgets when other methods are not available. This can happen not only in situations where there are no outlets nearby or they are all occupied, but also during long trips, travel and even hiking trips. For those who like to often get out into nature, there are special external batteries equipped with a solar battery.
A power bank is a battery that needs to be pre-charged and then used to power other devices.
The portable charger is small in size and lightweight, making it easy to carry in your bag. Gadgets are connected to the Power Bank via a cable connected to the USB connector, which makes the external battery a universal device. It can be used not only to charge your phone battery, but also for tablets, cameras, laptops, and players.
Some models of portable devices have more than one USB connector, which allows you to charge several gadgets at the same time.
Charge currents
The current strength affects the charging speed of devices. USB ports of 1 A or 2 A are common in external batteries. A 1 A connector is needed for charging phones, smartphones, players, and e-books. A 2 A USB port is suitable for large equipment - tablets, cameras, laptops.
There are PowerBank models with multiple connectors. Most of these chargers have ports with different current strengths.
Mobile batteries are equipped with controllers that limit the supply of voltage to devices with a weak battery, so the player or phone will not be damaged if it is connected to a 2 A connector. Otherwise, when connecting large equipment to a connector with a weak current, the charging process will occur slowly.
