Quick Guide: Everything To Know About Wireless Charging Pads

The post Quick Guide: Everything To Know About Wireless Charging Pads appeared first on RAVPower.

Since the dawn of the digital age, humanity has been connected at the hip, literally, by cables. “Plugging in” is as about a ubiquitous phrase for describing our modern society as any other. But now, thankfully, the popularization of fast power ups via wireless charging pads is finally here! As leading cellphone and electronics companies begin launching flagship devices equipped with wireless charging, it’s high time we explore the technology behind this innovation, how a wireless charging pad works, and why you need it!

What’s the Deal with Wireless Charging

If you’ve ever been to a science museum, you’ve probably already seen wireless charging first hand: the Tesla Coil, consisting of two towers, which transfers electricity from one to the other through the air. Now obviously, fast wireless charging is nothing as dramatic as this. Wireless charging pads work by transferring power from a base, which is connected through a cord to a power outlet, to your device. Direct physical contact here is key – a base or pad can’t yet send wireless power across a room, but instead your cellphone needs to sit on top or be in touch with the pad.
 
After years of development, industry has arrived at a cross roads, a battle for supremacy like we witnessed with Betamax and VHS. Major companies are claiming their wireless charging sides between the Qi Standard pushed by the Wireless Power Consortium, used by more than 900 products, and the Power Matters Alliance standard which is being adopted by big brands like Starbucks and General Motors. Thankfully, you may not actually need to choose between the two for personal devices – new cellphones, going back as far as the Galaxy S6, have adopted both standards.
 

How does Wireless Charging Work?

Let’s dive head first into a bit of techno-babble. Wireless charging is based on a principle called Inductive Energy Transfer (IET). Using a primary and secondary coil (think super miniature versions of Tesla’s invention) and sending an alternating current between them, the charging pad or base creates a condensed electromagnetic field. The latter, simply, is an invisible field of electricity that can charge a battery without having any meaningful effect on the human body. The range on inductive energy transfer is typically very small, requiring physical contact for it to work on your cellphone or tablet. IET is a popular wireless charging technology and is now fairly well matured in the consumer marketplace.

More recently, we’ve been hearing more and more about an alternative form of wireless charging called Resonant Induction for wireless charging pads. In technical terms, resonant is a confusing misuse of terminology. All wireless technology uses a set of specific frequencies to build up energy by moving between primary and secondary coils – the resonant is the frequency at which an object will ring or move. Resonant wireless charging, on the other hand, is essentially an upgrade to IET, improving performance so as to allow for faster and multi-device charging through the creation of a bigger electromagnetic field that extends on all axis. It means that with wireless charging pad that uses a resonant format doesn’t need perfect alignment between your phone’s battery and its coils.
 

Why Buy Wireless Charging Pads? – Convenience!

The answer is “of course!” Let’s first talk about the convenience. As more and more stores, companies, and spaces adopt wireless charging, you’ll never need to bring a cable with you again. No more fighting for a seat close to a wall outlet. At home or in the office, you can simply and effortlessly place your phone down on your wireless charging pad-integrated table, desk, or Ikea furniture, and like magic, battery power will be restored. That’s certainly something to invest in if you’re designing your first smart home.

Why Else Should You Buy a Wireless Charging Pad? – Safety and Future-Proofing!

Wireless charging is actually safer as well. Every time you go to unplug your device from a socket, there’s an inevitable risk of shock. But wireless charging pads remove this potential altogether – no more worries about random sparks or jolts. It’s why electric toothbrushes have been using induction charging for years. Finally, wireless charging pads are available and usable for a range of products, not limited to cellphones. Think about the potential for wearables! Sure you can wear a portable solar panel, but with wireless charging, you won’t need to take off your smartwatch. Instead you can charge while you wear it.

Charge with RAVPower!

At RAVPower, we love helping you get your hands on the latest technology, and with our latest wireless charging pad, coming out later this month, the future will be powered and bright! We are especially excited about the charging pad’s 5W charging output, in comparison to other products that only offer 3W or 4W capabilities. This means that with RAVPower, you’ll have a full battery at an incredibly quick speed.

Can’t wait for our new wireless charger? Get 20% off either the RAVPower Wireless Charging Stand or the RAVPower Qi Wireless Charger with code BLOGTWOC and BLOGONEC, respectively. Offer ends September 31st.

Have you jumped on board the wireless charging train? Tell us in the comments below.

The post Quick Guide: Everything To Know About Wireless Charging Pads appeared first on RAVPower.