Can Using the Wrong Charger Damage My Device?

[@askleonotenboom]

✅ Watch next ▶ How to Read Phone Charger Voltage Specs ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmbUdKigmbaYf8k

[@wildzeke]

Get a label maker and label the charger. We all eventually end up with a drawer full of wall warts and no idea what devices they belong to.

[@bjornroesbeke]

1:20 I have a USB charger that has its USB-C and USB-A ports connected to eachother. If a USB-A device is using the 5V output, but a USB-PD triggers via the USB-C connection, then the USB-A will get 9/12/20V as well.

[@felixlersha]

Excellent video Leo!

[@jeffwalther]

Well explained Leo!

[@janfrosty3392]

Some, not all generally more sophisticated devices would have a voltage and amperage regulator in the charging circuit.

[@berrywin]

You forgot to mention that many new devices has an id pin. If this doesn't match the the voltage and amperage is mute.

[@LauraKnotek]

Thanks for this helpful video.

[@johnstafford8488]

I thought most devices have diodes that will block reverse polarity. I have gotten it wrong before & nothing was harmed. Just wouldn't charge. Replaced it with the right one & worked fine.

[@chichimus]

It is surprising how many, even high end, devices have no reverse polarity protection.

[@johnstafford8488]

@@chichimus Guess it's been a long time since I worked on any electronics. Back in the day, everything I did had the diodes. Guess they're just trying to save a little money. For what it would cost, VERY little.

[@pipe2devnull]

If you have to use vice grips and a hammer to connect the charger, it's probably the wrong charger. 😊

[@azrobbins01]

Excellent video!

[@neilw2O]

BE WARNED! My new phone, a while back has a USB-c charger. Had it plugged into phone. Probably charging at 10v. Unplugged USB cable, put an adapter on cable and plugged into my old CAR Camera. Instantly destroyed it. Residual voltage, on stupid charger was not returned to a safe value.

[@MarcioHuser]

Without playing yet, short answer: no. BUT, only if it a charger from a "reputable" brand. It doesn't matter if you use a Samsung charger on a Motorola device (or vice-versa), both brands are reputable and respectable. Same with brands like Baseus, Anker, Ugreen, etc. The trouble comes when you use a charger from dubious procedence, from gray shady/unknown generic brands purchased on gray markets. THAT's where the issue lies

[@MarcioHuser]

OH, yeah, if we are talking about barrel hacket charges, THAT is a major issue, if the voltage/polatiry is not correct

[@roncaruso931]

My laptop has protection from reverse polarity.

[@jerryfacts9749]

Extremely well explained. In my younger years I was working for a company where we were designing precision power supplies and chargers for lead-acid batteries. This was back in the early 70s before there were mobile phones like today. With the phone chargers it is important to take care if the vendor is selling chargers that are safe for the user and for the device. There are many clone chargers of poor quality out there. It is important to buy from a reputable vendor. Read the vendor and product reviews when buying on line. I realize some dishonest vendors put up false reviews. I tend to buy well known brand names from their authorized dealer.

[@davinp]

Don't buy a cheap Chinese knock-off charger. Read the manual/documentation of the device that specifies the amps that are required if you need to buy a charger

[@janfrosty3392]

'Chinese knock-off charger' I yet to see charger that was not made in China

[@johnhpalmer6098]

@@janfrosty3392 I think he is meaning, the ones sold stand alone from China sold for say, a few bucks, those are to be avoided if at all possible.

[@legoyodascream]

I got an MP3 player off ebay and my device got so hot it stopped working when it was charging in a cigar lighter plug in my car. I'm assuming it was a faulty second hand product that couldn't sense it had enough charge. Wyoming is great. The wind never stops and with enough Turbines they will become carbon negative via electricity. As in they will create more than they consume and export it.

[@namvet_13e]

The nominal 12 volt power in some cars can far exceed 12 volts. It probably will be around 13.8 volts but could be higher than that when the engine is running and the battery is charged. Some "cigarette lighter socket" power adapters have circuitry to regulate the voltage to your device but some may just be a direct plug delivering whatever the car circuit is running at.

[@zembalu]

mp3-players usually need 5V. There are cigarette lighter cables, that reduce the 12 or 13,8 V from the lighter plug to 5 V, but some don't. In that case, the mp3-player will be immediately destroyed, or its built in protection circuit will get very hot with managing the overvoltage.

[@askleonotenboom]

Are you SURE the mp3 player expected 12v? A friend of mine smoked a dashcam because he didn't realize it was 9v, and he plugged it into the 12v (to 13.8 as others commented) plug.