Electric charger remains connected: Does it continue to draw power? - Power adapter remains plugged into outlet.
Unused Charging Devices Consume Small but Significant Amounts of Energy
A recent study by Vattenfall has shed light on the energy consumption of charging devices, even when they are not in use. The findings indicate that if all 68 million smartphone users in Germany were to remove their unused charging devices from the outlet, it would result in an incredible 170 million kilowatt hours of power saved [1].
While the power draw of idle chargers is generally low, it is not zero. This wasted energy contributes to higher electricity bills and unnecessary energy waste. The exact wattage for unused charging cables is not always specified, but it is considered quite minimal compared to other standby devices such as gaming consoles (11.1 W) or modems (7.7 W) [1].
However, the continuous trickle charging when a device is plugged in and fully charged also consumes some energy. For instance, an unused iPhone charging cable consumes approximately 2.5 kilowatt hours of power per year, while a MacBook Air charger consumes between 6 and 8 watts when the laptop is fully charged [1].
The testing of three charging devices - Anker's universal USB-C charger, an older iPhone charging device, and one for a MacBook Air with M1 chip - revealed that charging devices consume power even when not in use. The Anker charging device for an iPad consumes 17 watts in operation with almost a full battery, while the charging of an empty smartphone with an iPhone charging cable requires 7 watts [1].
Safety concerns also exist with cheap or non-compliant chargers and cables, which not only may use energy unnecessarily but can also pose fire risks [2].
In summary, the power usage of an idle charging cable is small, usually less than a watt or a few watts, but it is still a good practice to unplug chargers when not in use to save energy and reduce risks. Since the consumption per charger is minor, the total impact depends on how many chargers are left plugged in and for how long [3][5].
References:
[1] Vattenfall (2022). Vattenfall study reveals smartphone chargers consume power even when not in use.
[2] Electrical Safety First (2021). Counterfeit chargers can pose a fire risk.
[3] European Commission (2021). Standby power.
[4] U.S. Department of Energy (2021). Vampire Power.
[5] Energy Saving Trust (2021). Phone chargers.
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