Expert's verdict on whether you should leave phone chargers plugged in all the time

We're all guilty of leaving our chargers plugged in all the time - but what is that doing to them? You probably own countless chargers for things you may not even know what for. Phones, earphones, laptops, smart watches, e-bikes, you name it, it will have a plug in charger. If you are one of those who leaves their phone charger plugged into the wall next to the bed without bothering to turn it off, it could be risky according to experts.

Even if they aren't charging anything, chargers use "vampire power" (also known as standby power) if you leave them plugged in and they will use a small amount of power still. Part of this is to keep control and protection circuits run, while the rest is lost as heat.

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While the amount of power is small, if you add up all of the chargers that may be plugged in, the wasted energy racks up. It doesn't just come from chargers either as this can also happen from TVs on standby too. Over the years, it could rack up to several kilowatt hours.

According to Glen Farivar a Lecturer in Power Electronics at The University of Melbourne, modern chargers are designed to minimise standby power consumption. He told The Conversationthat these chargers come with "smart power management components" that keep them in sleep mode until an external device attempts to draw power.

He said: "Chargers wear out over time when electricity flows through them, particularly when the electricity grid voltage temporarily rises above its rated value. The electricity grid is a chaotic environment and various voltage rise events happen from time to time."

The expert further noted that leaving your chargers exposed to these events "will shorten their life" and this premature ageing shouldn’t be alarming for modern devices, thanks to their improved design and control, but he said is "particularly concerning" for cheap, uncertified chargers.

What's more, these often lack appropriate levels of protection and can be a fire hazard. "Although modern chargers are generally very safe and should be drawing minimal standby power, consider unplugging them anyway, if convenient. If a charger gets warmer than usual, makes noise, or is damaged in any way, it is time for a replacement. And it definitely shouldn’t be left plugged in."

It's also important to note that different countries use different plugs, and there can be nothing more frustrating than when you go on holiday only to realise you haven't brought the right adapter. But a flight attendant has shared a simple trick to make sure you can always charge your phone while away.

Esther Sturrus has been jet-setting with the likes of TUI and KLM since 2019, and her practical travel tips and honest vlogs have won her a flock of more than 223,000 followers on TikTok.

In one of her most buzzworthy TikTok posts, the 22 year old shared six nifty hotel hacks that she lives by. "World travel plug broken?" Esther asked in the video. "Use your USB cable and charge it in the TV."

She explained that this trick comes in super handy if you've either forgotten or misplaced the wall plug part of your charger.

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