Why you should NEVER charge your Phones on Car Chargers or Public Transportation
… especially if you’re a Traveller!
In the world we live in today, everyone has a mobile phone or a mobile device regardless of age. The worst feeling is running low on power and need a recharge to continue using your device.
Also currently people travel a lot and we can find charges points everywhere to do us the things easier. But none say us that we should never charge our phones on cars or public transportation. Here we tell you which is the reason:
In Theory
I’m sure that not everyone knows about why you SHOULD NEVER charge your phones off the USB outlets in cars or other public transportation like trains, buses, airplanes or the like.
These USB sockets are mainly fed by a generator or alternator to convert 12VDC/24VDC down to 5.25VDC (USB power).
So their amperage fluctuates from “sometimes low” and “sometimes-high”. VDC stands for Voltage in Direct Current for the non-technically inclined readers. Amperage (current) means how much power is flowing into your mobile devices. High amps = fast charge!, Low amps = slowww charge.
Low-Amps & High-Amps does affect your battery life!
The power supply on a USB port off a car goes :
Low-amp — car idling in the parking lot/traffic light
High-amp — when driving at higher engine revs.
Your phone’s battery doesn’t like inconsistent power input causing it to damage the cells. Sometimes bloating your battery (in some cases) or even causing your battery to lose the ability to hold a charge.
Eg. A brand new battery at full-charge could stand for 24-hours. After a lot of charging in a car-charger it could only last 18-hours or less on a full charge. It would only get worse over time. Unless if its a life-threatening emergency then go ahead use that option.
Learnt it the hard way
I found out the hard way from many years of charging my phone in the car.
I use to charge my phone for GPS on long distance travels and at its worst, my phone could only last 3-hours on a full charge and it ‘warped’ so much that the screen popped out, haha!
Battery replacement?
Replacing a battery can be expensive if you send it to a shop or dealership, otherwise doing it yourself is a cheaper option, or better yet, avoid the hassle all-together!!
Wall Socket USB plugs supplies consistent power since the power source comes from the power plant that has big capacitor-banks to regulate the power output.
Choosing a charger
Thus producing a consistent amperage to charge your phone. Same goes to portable battery power-banks, the battery stores the power and it drains consistently to charge your phone. The bigger the amp rating for the charger (1.5A-3.0A) the better —batteries love them!
I run a 2.3A charger for my phone’s and its still healthy for 4 years now.
So, when you need a charge for your mobile phone, look for a wall powered USB socket or get yourself a power-bank battery pack.
The power supply is consistent and would prolong the life of your beloved phone. Forget those in-car USB charger plugs, there’s none that works regardless of their sales-pitch. Trust me, I’m an engineer lol.
Hope this helps especially when you’re travelling, backpacking or on the go, you want to stay connected as it could even be literally life-saving.
FBI Warns Public Against Using Free Phone Charging Stations
The FBI has issued a warning to the public about the potential dangers of using free public charging stations. Criminals have found ways to compromise these chargers, using them to spread malware or install software that can give hackers access to your device.
In a tweet from the FBI’s Denver field office, consumers are advised to “avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers” and instead carry their own charger and USB cord to use with an electrical outlet. The FBI’s website also offers similar guidance on how to protect yourself from public chargers.
While there have been no reported incidents of consumer harm resulting from “juice jacking,” as the malware-loading scheme is known, the Federal Communications Commission has also warned the public about the risks of using public charging stations since 2021. The FCC warns that compromised USB cables can be used to steal usernames and passwords.
To stay safe, consumers are advised to avoid using public charging stations and to carry their own charger whenever possible. By taking these simple precautions, you can protect your personal information and keep your devices secure.
Death by Electrocution
This article was suggested by my old friend Carrine Teh.
News by TheStar Malaysia :
BUTTERWORTH: An eighteen-year-old teenager was found dead after being electrocuted on an express bus at Penang Central here on Saturday.
North Seberang Perai OCPD Assistant Commissioner Anuar Abdul Rahman said that police received a call from the public reporting an individual who was found unconscious at 7.40pm.
An initial investigation revealed burn marks on the victim’s left fingers, suspected to be from an electric shock while he was charging his phone,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Nov 2).
ACP Anuar noted that this conclusion was drawn from the melted condition of the cable’s end and the overheated state of the phone.Following an interview with a witness, it was revealed that the victim had boarded an express bus to KL Sentral, and around 6pm, he was heard screaming and was seen foaming at the mouth. The witness immediately called an ambulance upon realising the situation.”The ambulance arrived at about 6.20pm, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” he added.