Smartphones are a living necessity. They are vital in this current digital world, where we communicate, entertain, and work. But, have you ever wondered how much electricity your smartphone charger is utilizing? This is a pretty common query, with all the talk about conserving and being efficient with power.
That might sound trivial, but knowing what the energy consumption of your phone charger is can inform you how to use your energy more efficiently, perhaps to lower your electricity bill. This is very important in the time when the use of smartphones has increased; thus, it will have to increase the number of times one has to charge them, thus leading to high energy consumption. We'll dig deeper into this information in this post.
How Many Watts Does a Phone Charger Use?
It is not constant. This wattage can vary quite a lot with various types of chargers, and different forms of phones it is made to charge. A typical battery-booster will have power anywhere from 5 watts to 30 watts. Today, we find more powerful options because everybody wants his device to be recharged faster.
But some rapid options can go all the way up to 18 watts: 9V/2A. For example, a conventional USB charger can provide you with 5 watts: 5V/1A. Some of the fancier smartphones and their chargers can go even faster: Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 can go up to 18 watts and 4+ to 27 watts. And USB-C charging can go all the way up to 100 watts!
The label, or user manual, should come with the exact power of the charger, including the ratings for both voltage and current. The multiplication of these two numbers provides us with the wattage. In other words, if your charger is rated at 9V and 2A, the energy will be 18W.
How Much Electricity Does a Phone Charger Use?
Two things determine this. These include how powerful it is in terms of wattage and how long it is used. In using a 5-watt type for 3 hours/day, that will amount to 15Wh in a day. In a month, that will accumulate to 450Wh, and in a year, 5.4 kilowatt-hours.
But this can change when you are using some other kind of battery-booster. Fast ones may consume anywhere between 30-100 watts/hour. Take for example a 30W fast one; it will consume 90Wh of power/day with 3 hours of daily usage. Thus, this adds up to 2700-Wh/month and 32.4-kilowatt-hours/year. This impacts the amount of energy it will utilize. It'll depend on the kind and the duration of leaving it in use.
How Much Electricity Does a Phone Charger Use When Left Plugged In?
You may be wondering if your battery-booster still uses energy while they are not juicing anything. Well, the answer is yes, but a minuscule amount. A case that is just plugged in but not charging a device consumes about 1 watt of power. Now, 1 watt may sound like a trifle, but think about this: you leave your battery-booster plugged in all the time, that's 1 watt/hour, 24 watts/day, and nearly 9 kilowatts/year!
And that's only for one booster. Now imagine if you have several chargers around your house, all of them plugged in and juicing nothing. These numbers can add up quickly over time to become a significant amount of energy.
So, what is the right solution for that? Well, disconnect them when you are not using them. Sounds really trivial, but it can make a phenomenal difference over time. It minimizes energy usage. Furthermore, it cuts down your utility expenses.
How Many Solar Panels Does It Take to Run a Phone Charger?
Solar panels are definitely very effective in offsetting a phone charger. The amount of daylight collectors it would actually take to run this charger depends on both the wattage and output of the panels. The PV120 120W, for example, under optimal sunlight conditions, is able to generate 120 watts. This implies that one PV120 can provide power to approximately 24 5-watt chargers at a go.
The actual numbers can be different from that, depending on the amount of sunlight and how efficiently it is put to use by the solar panel. This clearly confirms the huge potential in energy sources like solar power to capacitate the world with more renewable energy sources and sustainable energy use by far, hugely reducing the use of other resources. Now, let's review PV120:
It is a very flexible/effective model. It suits anyone who wants to harness the sun's power. Being a 120W powerhouse, this is more than enough power for keeping all your solar generators juiced as long as the sun is up. This gets very handy when thinking of the milliamp hours that phone chargers nowadays use up. For example, by using an average USB charger that delivers 5 watts, this solar panel could, theoretically, power 24 chargers like that at the same time under the best sunlight conditions.
The PV120 uses monocrystalline solar cells, which make it highly efficient. It can transform up to 23.4% of sunlight into solar energy—meaning a reliable powerhouse even in not-so-ideal weather. That way, even in cloudy weather, you might be using a phone charger that's powered by the sun.
The PV120 also features an easy setup with its built-in kickstand, which will allow you to set this up in an instant and change the angle into an appropriate direction for the maximum solar exposure. This user-friendly design makes it a practical choice for anyone, regardless of their technical expertise.
The ETFE coating and IP65 junction box enable PV120 to resist scratching and water splashes. Thus, this makes it perfect to carry along for camping, fishing, or hiking, and the PV120 will offer the required power source for your phone charger and other devices.
Besides, the PV120 is big in power, having a large 120W output, which is more than ample for charging your phone, and all other small devices. The high cell efficiency of up to 23.4% will save you more energy because you harness more from the sunlight.
What Size Battery Do You Need to Back up a Phone Charger?
This can range from small to large. It depends on the wattage of the charger and the duration of backup you would desire. For instance, a 5-watt booster that lasts for 24 hours would need 120 watt-hour-capacity cells. That said, the BLUETTI AC2A is a 204Wh capacity battery and would, in essence, overkill backup for a charger for a single phone for a good amount of time. This would mean that one would need to know how much energy they need and go for a battery that would be big enough to meet those needs. Now let's review the AC2A:
This is a robust and versatile power solution that will ensure your phone charger and other devices run flawlessly. Having an output of 300W and a capacity of 204Wh, this power station will easily run most of your phone chargers. For example, if you were using 5-watt phone chargers, the AC2A may be able to power 60 of them for an hour.
One more thing that we like with the AC2A is its portability for long hours of travel, thanks to its slim and compact frame that comes with an ergonomic handle. This makes it easy to carry, a perfect companion for any camping, RV, or outdoor getaway.
Another offer from AC2A is the rapid energy reload. Up to 270W of Turbo Charging can hit 80% capacity in just 45 minutes, ensuring access to power while on the move. It also supports pass-through charging, implying that the AC2A can charge itself while it is at the same time being discharged. This is very helpful for phone chargers because it allows charging of the phone, then the power station itself.
Besides, the AC2A, one of the safest, runs on a LiFePO₄ battery with an intelligent BMS, providing more than 3,000 charge cycles within its 10-year lifespan. This would ensure the power station provides your phone charger with power over many, many years to come.
Is It OK to Charge a Phone with a Higher Watt Charger?
You may indeed be able to charge quickly with a higher-wattage charger, but that's assuming the product specification itself allows for that. Also, not every phone is meant to be fast-charged, and this could even be dangerous to the device if the charger being used is incompatible. Therefore, it's always better to use a charger suitable for the charging capabilities of the phone. This will be important to assure the longevity of your device and prevent potential damage because of overheating and overcharging.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, the above knowledge of the energy consumption of our phone chargers will be minor but impactful towards the efficiency and sustainability of the energy source. Charger wattage and how long the charger is in use contribute to the entire energy footprint. Ultimately, selecting energy-efficient chargers and possibly considering, besides solar panels, other available renewable sources will make a huge difference. Remember, every watt counts and the smallest of our gadgets add up to our overall energy consumption.
