A cordless charger provides charge to the battery in an electronic device without a cord extending from the device to the power source. In some cases, this means that the device, or its battery, is plugged directly into the wall. Other cordless chargers use induction to transfer electricity to a device that is set on top of it. Solar and battery powered chargers are other types of cordless chargers.
One type of cordless charger is a wireless charging pad. This charger pulls energy directly from a wall outlet and transfers it to various electronic devices, such as cameras, cell phones and electronic readers that are placed on top of it. One of the advantages of charging with a pad is that multiple devices can be charged at the same time. The charging pad is limited to about six small electronics at a time, which is about the number that will fit of the surface of it.
Devices charged with a charging pad must be connected to a receiver in order to obtain electricity without plugging into the charging pad. Receivers can be attached to the outside of the device or to the battery inside. The devices are charged through induction, which is the transfer of electromagnetic energy from one coil to another. In the case of a charging mat, one of these coils is in the mat and the second is in the receiver attached to the electronic device.
Another type of cordless charger is a portable solar cell. Small electronic devices plug into the charger, which is able to draw energy from exposure to direct sunlight. Solar chargers may be specifically designed to work with a certain device or may come with a series of attachments in order to connect to various electronics. These chargers are useful for travelling to places where electricity may be limited or unreliable.
A cordless charger may also plug into a wall socket and then directly into an electronic device. These chargers only work with small devices because the device will need to sit on the charger, above the wall socket, while it is charging. Sometimes these types of chargers can be designed to charge a battery that is taken out of the electronic device.
Emergency chargers are also available that can charge a device without access to an electrical outlet. Powered by batteries, an emergency cordless charger can plug in to a number of different types of electronics. The electronic devices pull power from a battery powered charger in the same way that they would from a wall socket. Emergency chargers can come with disposable or rechargeable batteries.
What Is Inductive Charging?
Inductive charging is a method of moving power wirelessly. A power-generating source system is placed near a power storing or power-transferring system. An electromagnetic field is generated between the two objects, and power moves from one system to the other. Inductive charging is a common way of moving power from a main system to a subsystem, such as the power grid to a local transformer. It may also work on a smaller scale, allowing hand-held gadgets to benefit from wireless recharging.
Regardless of the scale used, inductive charging works the same way. To start, two power systems are placed very close to one another. These power systems do not need to be exposed or connected to each other. Each of these power systems contains an electrical coil. This coil stores electricity for the device’s eventual use.
As a result of the coils’ proximity to each other, they generate a low-power electrical field that connects them. This field allows the two systems to transfer electricity as though they were connected. In general, this will result in the two power systems sharing electricity until they both have exactly the same amount of power. Since a small amount of power is lost in the transferal, this equilibrium is generally only possible when both systems are out of power.
With inductive charging, one of the devices generates power or has an external power source, and one of them doesn’t. Since one device is constantly powered, it will never run out of electricity; this is the sender. When the receiver can’t take on any more power, the sender stops sending it over. This system works around the normal problem of induction by constantly keeping the power systems full.
Induction has several advantages over standard power transferal. One of the main benefits is that it's wireless. This allows the power systems to have a modular construction, making repairs easier. Since it is wireless, the power systems may be completely enclosed, making the system air- and water-tight. In the case of electric gadgets, there is no upper limit on the amount of devices that may be charged at once; this allows a single inductive charging mat to charge several items at the same time.
The main disadvantages of inductive charging are heat and power consumption. In most cases, it takes more power to inductively charge an item than charge it through normal means. This is a result of the power lost to the electrical field used to connect the coils. In addition, the process has the potential to generate a lot of heat. The amount of heat generated is an indicator of the amount of electricity being lost during the process.
What is a Charging Valet?
A charging valet is a product that helps keep all electronic devices in one location for battery recharging. Also known as a charger station, this product can vary in appearance and size and usually consists of a couple of stacked shelves, separated by a few inches. The shelves allow people space for numerous devices like MP3 players, personal organizers, and cellphones, but the product itself doesn’t take up much space and can easily fit on a corner of a desk.
What makes the charging valet so attractive to many people is that it provides a convenient location to store all products that need charging, but doesn’t have exposed plugs or wires hanging from it. Most of these charging stations have a single concealed power strip, which can allow about six devices (this may vary) to be plugged in at the same time. Cords for charging can be fed through concealed holes and many charging valet types have Velcro to attach the cords in back and keep them neatly out of the way.
Some people find the charging valet difficult to set up at first. The power strips may not accommodate the larger plug sizes that often are part of charging devices for electronic equipment. Others complain that the holes to feed the cords into the back are a little too small and could be more generously sized. Other people love the convenience of the charging valet and contend that once the charging station is set up, it’s quite easy to use.
There are a few different products on the market that are called charging valets, so customers can expect variation in features. They may each look slightly different, and may not all charge the same number of devices. A few only hold about four devices at most. Some have additional features like extra drawers or extra space to keep common accessories like sunglasses or keys.
Price on charging valets will vary by features, manufacturer and stores selling these items. They are popular at “gadget” stores like Brookstone®, but can also easily be found on plenty of Internet sites like Amazon. The differences in colors, appearance and extras make it easy to find one that will coordinate with home or office décor. These useful organizational tools can solve the growing problem of how to charge all electronic devices in the home neatly and without clutter.
How Do I Choose the Best Wireless Cell Phone Charger?
Reliability, portability and cost should be the main considerations when choosing a wireless cell phone charger. If you are looking for a mat type of wireless cell phone charger, where you merely place the phone on a surface to charge, portability will probably not be a concern. On the other hand, if you are looking for an emergency cell phone charger, it will need to be both reliable and portable.
The mat type of phone charger creates a wireless connection between the phone and the charger, but the device must still be plugged into a power supply in the home or car. Some use a design called inductive charging that can charge virtually any device configured for it. A newer phone that is capable of using this type of wireless cell phone charger will have that feature mentioned in its specifications.
Other wireless cell phone chargers use an adapter that attaches to the phone. You place the phone on the mat or grid and it connects to the charging power. Finding the right adapter is fairly straightforward if you own one of the more popular or advanced kind of cell phones.
Mat chargers can also be used to charge mp3 players and other hand held devices. While primarily sold for home or office use, mobile versions are being developed. Some car manufacturers have announced that as early as the 2012 model year they will be featuring charging pads as part of their vehicles.
Portable, battery powered, emergency cell phone chargers are available in addition to solar and hand crank models. This type of wireless cell phone charger is designed to be kept in your briefcase, purse, or glove box. Unlike charging mats, these are adaptable to different cell phone models. The battery powered wireless cell phone charger is available as a disposable or a reusable device.
Hand crank models that are designed specifically for cell phone use are environmentally friendly, but their effectiveness depends upon how much power your phone uses and your stamina. Due to their small size, the cranks lack the leverage to generate power easily. According to consumer tests, five minutes of work provided only two to five minutes of talking time and would not revive a completely dead battery.
Another green solution is the solar powered wireless cell phone charger. It may or may not have a battery included to store a charge, and its effectiveness will depend upon the design and the availability of sunlight. Usually this type of charger is larger than the other types, and that makes it less portable.
You may also want to consider a hand cranked radio or lantern with a built-in universal serial bus (USB) connection. These are not dedicated cell phone chargers, but can provide power to a cell phone using the same cable that connects your phone to your computer. They are marketed primarily in regions where storms or other natural events routinely disrupt power. Their larger size makes cranking easier and will provide more power for your phone.
How Do I Choose the Best Wireless Battery Charger?
A wireless battery charger typically uses inductive coupling to transmit power to one or more devices. Some chargers will work with a single device, while others can couple with a number of different gadgets at the same time. Choosing the best wireless battery charger may depend on how many devices you would like to charge at once, and which charging systems offer adapters for your existing cellphone and other gadgets. You may also have a device that requires a proprietary system, in which case your choices may be more restricted when choosing the best wireless battery charger.
Wireless charging stations are often available in a variety of different sizes and configurations. If you only have a single cellphone to charge or just want to power up one device at a time, then a wireless charger with a small footprint might be the best choice. One of the main benefits offered by a wireless charger is the reduction in clutter, so using a large, powerful device for a single cellphone might be unnecessary. If you have several devices, a large station which can accommodate many devices at once may be the best wireless battery charger for you.
Compatibility with your devices is another main concern when choosing the best wireless battery charger. If you have a cellphone or other gadget that already supports inductive coupling, you may want to pick a charging mat that is compatible with that particular technology. You can also check with the manufacturer to make sure that the proper adapter is available. Many wireless battery chargers have specific adapters or sleeves designed for a variety of gadgets, or offer universal options for devices that have some type of universal serial bus (USB) charging port.
One type of universal wireless battery charger can involve a sort of secondary battery or power supply. If you have a number of devices that all use USB power plugs, then one of these may be the best type of battery charger for you. A universal USB charging system often works with the same type of power mat as other wireless chargers. They may allow you to charge a USB battery that can then be plugged into a variety of devices as your power needs change.
Some devices may use a proprietary form of wireless charging. Inductive coupling is still typically the way that charging is accomplished, though these devices may not be compatible with the universal mats offered by other manufacturers. If you have a device that uses wireless charging as its primary or only charging method, you may be limited in your choices. In some cases, you may only be able to use a specific type of wireless battery charger that is made by the same company as your device.
What Is a Wireless Charger?
Consumer electronics and mobile phone technologies have come a long way over the last two decades, including the introduction of the wireless charger. The wireless charger is a handy product that allows mobile electronic devices to be charged without the necessity of wires or plugs. Wireless chargers can even conveniently charge several devices at once, which saves time and electricity.
Wireless chargers, often called power mats, use a technology called magnetic induction to transfer electrical energy from wall power sockets to electronic devices. Electricity is carried along magnetic waves into the wireless charger and then transmitted to electronic devices through wireless receptor pads. Instead of physically attaching directly into each unit with electrically conducting wires or plugs, static energy is sent through the air to power and charge up batteries.
Wireless electricity technology, or “Witricity,” was developed by a team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2007. However, being able to transmit electricity through the air is not new technology. It was actually a scientific concept introduced by inventor and electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla, in the early twentieth century. Wireless charger capability is now made more possible due to practical applications of this science, recent developments and the demand for it by consumers.
Due to the influx of other wireless technologies specifically for consumers who wish hands-free operation of electronic or mobile devices, the wireless charger is becoming available for use by all. Companies that carry mobile devices now also offer universal charger units that employ the wireless charger technology. For many consumers, this increases access to fully charged cell phones, personal data accessories and gaming equipment.
It is important to note that all wireless chargers do not power all devices equally effectively. With wireless electricity technology still in its new phases, some electronics devices will not accept the charge produced by wireless chargers, despite being called universal. In some cases, wireless chargers will cause consumers to update their existing handheld devices or buy adapters capable of transmitting the electrical energy wirelessly to some devices.
A wireless charger system can be purchased for regular consumer use at most electronic device retailers. Because the wireless charger uses less electricity to charge multiple devices, it is a convenient way of handling the power needs for a variety of consumer electronics. In the future, wireless chargers may be used to power laptops, computer networks, and even transmit electricity without cables and wires to vehicles, homes and businesses.
Does Wireless Battery Charging Exist?
As of 2009, wireless battery charging did indeed exist, and several companies had products on the market to provide wireless charging capability. Researchers were also working on the development of next generation products in a race to capture the wireless battery charging market. Electronics stores are a likely source for wireless charging equipment, and it can also be ordered directly through manufacturers.
There are several reasons why consumers find the idea of wireless battery charging appealing. For many, the thought of getting rid of a tangle of cords and wires is pleasant, and wireless charging could also mean that people wouldn't have to worry about losing charging adapters and other accessories. Furthermore, the concept carries a note of convenience; instead of having to plug things into the wall, people could simply carry them within range of a charging device and they would charge automatically.
Wireless battery charging technology could better be termed cordless recharging. It involves the use of electromagnetic induction, which means that the device being charged needs to be in contact with the charger. Owners of electric toothbrushes may be familiar with inductive charging, because this technology is routinely used with rechargeable electric toothbrushes, in part to make sure that the batteries are tightly sealed inside.
With electromagnetic induction, both devices are equipped with coils. A current flow on one side, in the charging device, induces voltage in the device set on or in the charger. The charging device can read the battery capacity and determine how much charging it requires, and such systems often enable rapid charging.
The issue with inductive charging is that the device being charged needs to have a coil which corresponds with the charger. For products which are sold with wireless charging capability, the coil is built right in, but with products such as charging mats which people are supposed to be able to use to wirelessly charge cell phones, PDAs, and other devices, an adapter or case is needed, with the device to be charged being plugged in and then set on the mat. Furthermore, inductive charging is not as efficient as simply plugging the device into the wall to charge.
Researchers have proposed the development of systems which could transmit usable energy within a small radius for truly wireless battery charging. Devices equipped with receivers could intercept the energy and harvest it to recharge their batteries. While this technology has been demonstrated in experimental settings, it has not yet been refined to the point where it would be available to consumers.
