Here we will give you everything you need to know about the key elements of power and why you should know them. The science behind it is not actually that complex so once you get the hang of it, you will never get your wires crossed again.
Let’s start with the basics:
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The equation: Watts = Volts X Amps Amps: The strength of the current (not the raisins) and how fast it flows Wattage: The total amount of energy being created, for the sake of this article - the trusted charger. Wattage is used to quantify how much energy is needed for your devices to charge effectively. |
Simple right?
You might not think so, but that’s why we are here to help!
It is crucial in the big wild world of technology that your device and its charger take advantage of compatibility. Why use a charger that delivers only 5 watts of power, when your gadget can supercharge using 15?
Let’s put this into context, we have all heard of the phrase ‘it’s a marathon not a sprint’. Well, we’re going to flip that because when it comes to charging our devices, we’re all about the speed and we want to charge them as quickly as possible. In this analogy, the marathon is the 1-amp USB wall socket that has come as standard with most gadgets over the last 10 years, but the sprint is the latest advancements in technology that are readily available to us today, which allow us to supercharge!
But what is supercharging? Don’t worry, keep reading and we’ll explain it for you.
How to take advantage of supercharging
Today, we are very much used to having multiple cables and wall sockets lying around for every device we have ever had, even dating back to the good old Nokia. While you may think that these will work fine on our newest gadgets, they won’t, as power requirements in tech have changed.
To take advantage of supercharging and delivering the most amount of power that our devices can use, a 1-amp USB socket is no longer good enough. Today we have ‘quick charging’ Q3 & Q4 USB sockets delivering up to 3-amps of power. So, for your device to supercharge not only will it need the latest USB-C cables, but it will also need a new 3-amp USB wall socket. All our wireless charging pads are enabled to supercharge all your compatible gadgets.
Did you know to simultaneously supercharge 2 devices (using 20W of power) you will need the latest QC3/QC4 PD wall socket.
To understand more about all things Quick Charge, please read our QC Masterclass here!
What about if my device was not built to supercharge?
Don’t worry, you can still use any wattage power supply safely, as devices have their own built-in battery protection. If your device can only charge at 5 watts but you use a power supply that can deliver 10, don’t panic you can't do any damage as your device will never draw more power than it needs. It’s impressive isn’t it! Battery tech has advanced so much that the device will now rapidly charge when at low levels and trickle charge when over 70% full, so your battery is always protected.
Am I using the right charger?
Generally, on most USB wall sockets you can find the amp and voltage listed in very tiny letters on the back of the plug, so get your reading specs on! For example, the standard USB wall sockets that have forever come with iPhones, carry 1-amp of current and put out 5 watts of power - perfect for a classic iPhone which could not take any more than 5 watts of power anyway. However, as the industry has progressed, so have the power capabilities of the phones.
Have you ever thought “wow my phone charged really quickly today” but never questioned that perhaps it was because you were using your iPad USB wall socket and cable? The USB plug for the phone delivers 5 watts whilst your iPad USB plug was delivering 12! Didn’t know that, did you?
Picking out the right wireless charger for your device
Wireless charging is offered at various power specifications, from 2 watts which is fine for your Apple Watch, 20W which is what you would need for the latest compatible phones, or for super charging 2 devices at the same time.
CHARGit has the answer, offering a range of wireless chargers, including a 3 in 1 Power Pad that can deliver up to 23 watts for 3 separate devices, all safely supercharging at the same time! So, there’s no need to worry about which charging cables and plugs you need - you’ve got it all in one trusty little gadget!
To find out more about all things wireless charging check out our different need to know blogs here.
Or to delve into the CHARGit wireless products head to our CHARGit store here
