Post by Nikolaj LazicPost by Peter JasonI have a powered hub connected to the computer.
One of the sockets on this hub is a "charging port" designed to rapid
charge.
Is it safer to stay with the usual slower charging, and does this
"rapid charging" shorten the mobile battery life?
It affects battery life. But sometimes you need faster charging.
Battery life is affected by three things:
1. Excess heat generated during charging
2. Leaving batteries 'full' for an extended time
3. Deep discharge
#1 you can test by feeling your phone as it charges. If it gets much above
40C then there might be an impact on battery life.
#2 isn't affected by fast charging, merely by keeping your phone at 100% for
too long. Some phones have a setting where they will try to guess when you
remove your phone from the charger - eg if you plug in your phone at night
and always wake up at 7am, it'll slow charge to 80% overnight and then do
the top 20% from maybe 5 to 6am.
#3 is prevented by a cutoff circuit - ie when the phone says '0%' the cutoff
circuit activates but there's still some actual capacity remaining (might
be 5-10% reserve capacity).
However, most 'fast charging' isn't really that fast. Phones are shipping
with 30/40/50W chargers these days. A USB port that gives you 10W instead
of 2.5W isn't really 'fast' on that scale.
Theo