It’s perfectly safe to be in close proximity to a wireless charger, so you can continue tocharge your phone on your nightstand overnight, or on your desk all day at work. When yourwireless charger is not connected to a smartphone or a tablet, it emits a harmless signal thatsearches for a wireless charging receiver coil, like the one in your smartphone. Because thereceiver coil (in your smartphone) needs to be in contact with the coil in the charging base,the signal does not extend into the air around it. When your smartphone makes physical contactwith the charging base, the signal focuses on the receiver coil in your phone and chargingbegins. The whole wireless charging process emits less radiation than a phone that is connectedto a mobile network.
All chargers create some heat as they charge. Wall chargers, docks, even portable power bankslose some energy in the form of heat. Wireless chargers are no different. Chargers that havebeen through extensive efficiency testing will minimize the amount of energy wasted throughheat, so it’s worth choosing a reputable brand. Belkin chargers offer additional safetyprotocols built in to the circuitry – these advanced chipsets will shut down if theydetect excessive heat to protect you and your devices.
Look for a Qi certified wireless charging pad to ensure compatibility with your wireless chargingsmartphone or tablet.
Accreditation that your charger has been developed specifically for your smartphone means it ismore likely to work seamlessly, without compromising your smartphone’s features andcapabilities. Look for compatibility icons for your specific model of smartphone.
Check for international safety standards to guarantee a charger adheres to legal guidelines onsafety. These assure safe levels of emissions and manufacture using non-hazardous materials. Thelaws are different for each country but key ones to look for include:
- FCC
- CE
- RCM
- BSMI
- EAC
- KC
- UL Listed
Some smartphones claim they are water-resistant or even waterproof, but most wireless chargerswill not be. As with all electrical devices that connect to a power outlet, liquid can be verydangerous. Don’t get your wireless charger wet, and make sure your phone is dry before youset it down to charge.
Duration
Most charging pads will safely trickle charge your phone battery to keep it fully charged at alltimes, so it’s perfectly safe to leave it on the charging pad or mat overnight or for anextended period of time. Trickle charging refers to when the battery dips below 100% while stillon the pad and a small amount of current is supplied to the battery to keep it fully charge atall times.
Voltage
Chargers with intelligent microchips, also known as smartchips, will only deliver the preciseamount of power that your smartphone requires. While they may be capable of delivering morepower, this will only be activated for phones or tablets with higher charging capability.
Surges
Although your charging pad or base is connected to a wall outlet which can be affected bylightning strikes and other power surges, the wireless charger cannot pass increased voltages onto your smartphone. This makes wireless charging safer for your smartphone than chargingdirectly from a power outlet.
A poorly-made charger may not be able to detect if a foreign object – like your keys or acoin – are sitting on the pad under your smartphone. This may cause the charging pad tocontinue to emit power, not only hurting your device but potentially melting the foreign objectson the pad. That’s why it is important to look for a charger with a foreign objectdetector which will shut down charging and alert you - usually with an LED light - thatsomething other than a compatible device is in contact with the charger. This will help preventunsafe charging.
Qi certification guarantees compatibility with smartphones and tablets engineered with the Qistandard. However, it vouches only for the configuration of technology, and not for the qualityof materials used, the overall lifespan of the product, or even the safety of the user. Whenchoosing a wireless charger, ensure you choose one with a good warranty to protect yoursmartphone and yourself.
