If you’re still charging your device with wired chargers, then it might just be time for you to make the change. Based on the current advancements in technology, wireless car chargers are taking over space. And it’s important that we understand how a wireless car charger works.
Wireless car chargers were introduced a few years back and have ever since become a household item. Many phone manufacturers are adopting wireless technology on their devices, with Apple being the latest to jump on board. Thus, this new technology is practically in every flagship device nowadays.
If you’re the type that’s always on transit, having a wireless car charger is very beneficial. Even if you’re not an avid traveler, you might still get stranded and your phone battery dies. A wireless car charger can help you juice it up so that you can get some help.
How Does a Wireless Car Charger Work?
Wireless charging, otherwise known as inductive charging, works on the premise of an electric field. A base generates the electric field, which then transfers electrical power to the phone or device. The phone has to be compatible with the Qi wireless charging technology or otherwise it won’t work.
The fact that you don’t have to use annoying wires makes wireless charging very convenient. Initially, when driving, one had to struggle with tangling wires just to charge the phone. This was one of the major contributors to distraction on the road. But a wireless car charger solves this problem by allowing a user to simply lift and drop when charging.
Wireless chargers uses magnetic induction to transmit energy. It uses two electromagnetic coils that help to create a magnetic field between two devices. The charger itself has a transmitter coil, while your phone has a receiver coil.
Once you plug your charger inside the car, the current moves through the wire and into the base of the charger, thus creating a magnetic field. The magnetic field then creates a current in the coil that’s inside the phone, which charges the battery.
What is the Standard for Wireless Charging
The primary standard for wireless charging is Qi. Most phone and car charging brands utilize this technology. The wireless power consortium, WPC, came up with the Qi wireless charging standard. It works over distances of up to 40mm.
Most vehicles are equally not staying behind in the installation of the Qi wireless charging technology. This standard has three power specifications:
- Low power, which helps to charge mobile devices. This can provide a minimum wattage of 5w and a maximum of 15w. The range depends on the device you’re using. For instance, iPhones are capped at 7.5 watts, while some Android devices base around 15 watts.
- Medium power, which is ideal for monitors and laptops. This power specification delivers up to 120 watts of power.
- High power, which is ideal for high-power devices like kitchen electronics. It can deliver up to 1Kw of power.
What is the Range of Distance That a Phone Can Work With a Wireless Car Charger?
Since a wireless car charger works on the premise of induction, the phone needs to be close by. Companies are trying to find a way of making phones charge wirelessly at a distance. However, since this is still not possible, you’ll need to place your phone on the charging pad for it to work.
Can a Wireless Car Charger Damage a Battery?
This has often been a major query among smartphone users. Some believe that a wireless car charger can reduce the lifespan of their phone’s battery by a significant margin. While there are lots of myths in circulation, it’s vital that you separate the facts from the lies.
Here’s the reality – all batteries have a lifespan. All of them begin to degrade after several charging cycles. The only argument that proves wireless charging may have a negative impact is the one on charging cycles. Wireless charging has been under heavy criticism over its increased rate of charging cycles.
When compared to the wired variants, they tend to have more charging cycles. The cable is designed to power the phone, rather than just powering the battery. And that’s probably the reason why you can leave your phone on charge overnight without it affecting the battery.
Pros of a Wireless Car Charger
There are several benefits of a wireless car charger as you can see below:
- Safer to use while driving. It leads to lesser distractions.
- They are simple to use, as you only lift and drop your phone to use and charge respectively.
- This reduces the strain on your charging port, which may become weak with time when using wired chargers.
- Holds phones tightly when moving. Most of them can withstand bumpy roads and shaky movements.
Cons of a Wireless Car Charger
Everything that has benefits has its share of disadvantages. And here are the cons of using a wireless car charger:
- Not all phones have the Qi specification to use wireless charging.
- You can’t use the phone while charging like in the case of their wired partners.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, that’s how a wireless car charger works. You have also seen the benefits of having it outweigh the disadvantages. Therefore, make your choice today and decide whether or not to purchase a wireless car charger.
