STACK #208 Feb 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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ON THE CHARGE Wireless charging in the car offers a whole new level of convenience.

passes through a ‘receiver’ coil inside your smartphone. There’s a similar ‘transmitting’ coil in a wireless charger, which generates an electromagnetic field. The ‘receiver’ coil then converts this to electricity, which is fed directly into the battery. What is ‘Qi’ wireless charging? charging standard that has been adopted by the largest global tech firms, including Samsung and Apple. Will a wireless car charger charge my phone faster than a conventional charger? No, but the rate at which a battery is charged is dependent on several factors. These include the age of the battery, what battery level the phone is on when the phone starts charging, and even temperature can have an impact. Does wireless charging work with phones in a case? We tried charging phones adorned with thin (no more than 3mm thick) plastic, silicone and leather cases and had no issues with conducting a charge. Aside from convenience, what are the other benefits of using a wireless charger in the car? Straight off the bat, utilising a wireless charger means less wear and tear on charging cables and on the charging port of the phone itself. It’s easy, too, especially if you’re in a rush to get away and need your phone immediately for directions. And from not only an aesthetic point of view but a practical one too, trailing leads are obstructive in a car where space is limited. Pronounced as ‘chee’, which means 'breath' or 'life force' in Chinese, Qi is the wireless

W e’ve all been there. You jump in the car thinking you’ve got a healthy charge on your smartphone, only to see it sitting in the red at an uncomfortable 18 per cent. A morning of video conference calls and the kid’s marathon Bluey session has taken its toll. And what if you left the charging cable in the house? That’s where a wireless charger becomes a must-have accessory for your wheels. Now, some higher-end new cars incorporate wireless charging as a built-in feature. However, if your car is a few years old, there’s a good chance you’ve just got a USB-A port or, at best, the old faithful 12V accessory socket. Wireless car charging is the ultimate in convenience. Dropping a smartphone onto a wireless pad instead of fumbling with a cable every time you jump in the car is not only practical, but a great time saver. So, what exactly are they, and how do they work? Will wireless charging work for me? We’ve already spoken about the convenience of wireless charging, so that’s a no-brainer.

But before you rush out and buy one for the car, there’s an essential factor to consider: compatibility. Most newer flagship phones will incorporate support

for wireless charging. However, not all phones, especially older models, will. Chances are you will already know if this tech is available for your smartphones, but if you’re unsure, do your research first. What is wireless charging? In short, it means transferring power from an electricity outlet directly to your device without using a cable. It’s not totally wireless, though – the charging pad needs to be connected to a power source.

So how does it actually work?

Wireless charging, known as inductive charging, is when an electrical current

40 FEBRUARY 2022

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