STACK #231 January 2024

TECH FEATURE

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You might have heard the word GaN charger around the traps and wondered what exactly it is. Well, GaN technology brings faster, cooler and more energy efficient charging of your devices. But what is it, how does it work, and why has it become the go-to component of chargers? GaN CHANGER!

Words Bec Summer

W ith all best intentions, we try to send our students off to school with fully charged devices, but in the morning rush it’s something that’s sometimes easy to overlook. We’ve all impatiently watched the battery level interminably inch towards 100% when a full charge is urgent, and wished for a faster solution. The good news is that GaN chargers provide that very solution.

A relatively new charging technology, these chargers

with a power conversion rate of over 95%. This means that the increased output can charge devices three times faster than traditional chargers. GaN also produces less heat, so the charger won’t become hot to the touch like a standard one that’s been powering for a long time. This makes them a much more energy efficient option for charging devices, not to mention safer. A lot of power is required to

charge a device, and GaN chargers pack it into a light and compact block. As well as the convenience of high speed charging, they're also more durable, and have a longer lifespan than traditional chargers. A GaN charger is a game changing accessory, providing fast, energy efficient charging and the peace of mind that a flat phone can now be restored to full power in a third of the time that it usually takes.

incorporate gallium nitride (GaN) as a semiconductor, rather than the more common silicon used in traditional chargers and a plethora of other electronic tech. A key component of LED lighting, gallium nitride’s tough, crystal-like make-up can conduct higher voltages over longer periods, and current passes faster through GaN components,

Belkin BoostUp Charge Pro 108W 4 Port GaN Charger This compact desktop GaN charger will

EFM 65W GaN Dual Port Wall Charger This wall charger with a 65W output has been designed for use with tablets and phones, and can charge two devices at once. Compatible with any USB-C charging cable, it works with Samsung, Google and Apple devices.

We put on our white lab coats and delve into the world of GaN and find out what it really is

simultaneously charge up to four separate devices, or fast charge up to two devices using USB-C 3.0 Power Delivery. It includes 2x USB-C and 2x USB-A ports.

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a crystalline chemical compound on the cusp of potentially dethroning silicon as the foundation of power switching technology.

LOGIC Rapid Power 4 Port 100W A portable, punchy 100W wall charger, the LOGIC Rapid Power charger features four ports – two for USB-C and two for USB-A. That means you can fast charge devices such as a laptop, smartphone and tablet all at the same time. Oh, and it includes a 2m USB-C charging cable, too.

It’s a component of LEDs and the laser diodes that read Blu-ray discs, as well as military radar. And with its low sensitivity to ionising radiation, it can also be found in solar cells and satellites. GaN is non-toxic, which presents possibilities for use in the electronic components of biomedical implants.

32 JANUARY 2024

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