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The next generation of wall chargers

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Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#101
post #53

When I got a new laptop this summer I researched what chargers were out there, as I was fed up with carrying the normal assortment of cables and chargers. I settled for another GaN charger - the Innergie Powergear 60c[0] which is a very decent size for 60w and not having a mains lead built into it (still very common on non-mac chargers) makes it a lot more compact. I travel a lot, often with more than one laptop, so…

I've got the same one, very pricey, but amazing to travel with compared to the giant macbook charger. It's only 60W but charges almost as fast as the 87W one for 15" macbooks. It's also really nice to be able to charge all my travel gadgets with one small charger, reducing the number of cables and chargers I have to carry. I'm hoping that giant power bricks and those adapters that power via barrel plugs will disappea…

> Computer monitors are most guilty of having some of the biggest power bricks, and I'd love to see them replaced with regular power cables

Dell Monitors have a single power cable (for example this P2418D [1]). Many other manufacturers ship giant power bricks because it allows them to make the screen thinner, and nobody sees the power brick under the table. It comes down to customer preference.

1: https://snpi.dell.com/snp/images/products/large/210-AMUH-mvi...

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend the RavPower 61W GaN over Innergie. The Innergie is smaller, but it is 3x the cost and, in my experience, less reliable and less ergonomic. I purchased the Innergie after a previous travel charger failed. Loved it at first, but started experiencing issues pretty quickly. The first issue I encountered was that the plug would fold in frequently while I was trying to plug into outlet. Over the course of a co…

Anyone have a good recommendation for a wall charger similar to RavPower mentioned in parent comment but with EU plug? Additionally, is there a good charger with EU plug that I can use to charge both my MacBook Air 2018 (USB-C) and my iPhone X with at the same time?

Not the answer you were looking for, but I couldn’t find one so got the ravpower 61W and an extra small international adapter.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#103

I'm still waiting for a USB-C charger with more than two ports. Until then, I'm sticking with USB-A cables for everything except my MacBook Pro. For travel (where outlets are often at a premium), I use a four port USB-A charger on a nightstand to charge 2 iPhones and an Apple Watch (this one: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-Foldable-PowerPort-Sams... ).

Something like this?

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/4000237954145.html

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#104
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Charging slower is always better for lion based batteries. Period

For battery lifetime -- also charging to lower voltage and stopping discharging at higher voltage. Cathode will stay intact longer this way and metallic lithium has less chance on plating the anode.

There's an Android app for that (if the device is rooted)

https://f-droid.org/app/com.slash.batterychargelimit

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#106
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My preferred alternative to electrical tape is a piece of aluminum foil stuck on with painter's masking tape. Aluminum foil (or any metal) is really excellent at blocking all the light, and painter's tape doesn't leave residue.

Gaff tape.

Gaffers tape is the holy grail IMHO. So many good uses for it.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#107
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have an example you'd hold up as the ideal or best case outlet?

The UK plug design is generally regarded as the best of the standard ones https://www.fastcompany.com/3032807/why-england-has-the-best... From my experience with some amount of traveling, I would agree that its very nice to use in practice and definitely got a lot of things right.

[deleted]

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The exposed metal part of a Schuko socket is ground. You can touch it. The live contacts aren’t exposed at any stage of plugging/unplugging/... ever.

Electrically I don't see how that works since there's no interruption of the metal pin inserted into the socket like you see on a tip/ring headphone plug. Unless there's a mechanical process that energizes the live side of the inserted plug after a certain depth?

No mechanical process, the wall socket is depressed in the wall, so that by the time any metal prongs connect, the prongs are hidden.

Re: The next generation of wall chargers

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The exposed metal part of a Schuko socket is ground. You can touch it. The live contacts aren’t exposed at any stage of plugging/unplugging/... ever.

Electrically I don't see how that works since there's no interruption of the metal pin inserted into the socket like you see on a tip/ring headphone plug. Unless there's a mechanical process that energizes the live side of the inserted plug after a certain depth?

You have to look at the plug in combination with the socket.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuko#Safety_features

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