Everyone has done it: hurriedly unplugging their phone, leaving the charger dangling from the wall socket as if it were on vacation. Why not, given the circumstances? There is, as it happens, more going on behind the scenes of this apparently innocuous deed. Here are some potential consequences of leaving a phone charger plugged in without the device.
The unseen energy hog hiding in your wall has to be addressed first. Your charger will keep using a little power even when no device is connected to it. « Phantom power » or « vampire energy » is the name given to this stealthy phenomena that might lead to increased electricity expenditures in the long run. It may not seem like much, but those little fees may build up, and you can wind up paying for power you’re not utilizing.
There is a more immediate danger—fire hazards—than only the financial ramifications of leaving your charger plugged in and unattended. I don’t want to imply that your charger is hatching a scheme to set your house on fire, but mishaps can happen. Although chargers are designed to properly carry electricity to your device, there is a greater danger of overheating if they are kept plugged in without any attachments. Your home might become a horrifying catastrophe zone if this heat accumulation causes electrical fires.
continued on next page
