Do Chargers and Cable Get degraded overtime and stop providing fast charging?

[solo_wing]

Hi,
I think this is true that cable get degraded over time. whats your experience?
I dont understand if my charger has also degraded?

I have realme superdart 65W . And same cable is attached to that charger since years. My mobile use to charge at superb speed on that.
Nowdays it doesn’t.

I thought maybe my mobile battery is gone bad . but on connecting to power bank that supports 33W charging. It chargers pretty fast .

I tried to charge my DJI drone battery with same old cable and charger…same issue it was suppose to charge fast but it took a bit of time.

I dont see any damage. I even changed few cable ( but tbh I dont know if that cable supports high speed or not, I have many cables but at another home. Will take my charger and try that as well)

Have you guys experienced anything. Please share and let us know which brand of cable you using for fast charging . I might order one soon as I need fast charging .

made a poll too. You can choose multiple answers.
For the last option…Please select only if you using your cable since quite a long time and never faced any issue with slow charging.
Also share your cable details( Brand and maybe link to it or model no. etc)

• Fast Charging cables do, chargers don’t degrade.
• Chargers can also degrade overtime.
• No, they dont degrade,If it worked fine before.( unless damaged)
• Only cheap quality ones do. ( I’ve been using one since long time)

[Heisen]

I have noticed this on iPhones in winters, if the battery is cold, phones slow down the charging. Phone battery management system limits charging speed when the battery is cold, for safety.

Based on AI 15–35°C or close to room temperature is where there should be no fast charging problems with lithium battery.

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[solo_wing]

This explains a lot also but then how come immediately changing to powerbank resolves that fast charging issue.

[Heisen]

@solo_wing

but then how come immediately changing to powerbank resolves that fast charging issue.

Using the same cable? That is a mystery.

[napsterlabs]

My experience has been that either the cable (cheap ones) degrade, or in more likely case, the port gets dirty and needs a cleaning/service.

[Futureized]

Yes, chargers and their cables degrade over time due to physical wear (bending, plugging/unplugging), heat, and constant electrical stress, leading to slower charging, connection issues, or complete failure, though the battery inside your device degrades much faster.

Meta Title: Why Charging Cables Fail: Everything You Need to Know

[akg7091]

Where’s the option for both degrading ?

[The_Eternal_Guest]

@solo_wing

This explains a lot also but then how come immediately changing to powerbank resolves that fast charging issue.

Maybe it is because phone/compatible device can communicate with/recognize the official/compatible charger & can tell it to limit charge current whereas powerbank with no communication/recognition just brute force charge whatever max amt it is capable of outputting.

[solo_wing]

@akg7091

Where’s the option for both degrading

You can choose multiple answers.

@Heisen

I have noticed this on iPhones in winters, if the battery is cold, phones slow down the charging. Phone battery management system limits charging speed when the battery is cold, for safety.

You are right.

My ipad is keeping it’s charge on hold due to cold.

Though inside temperature is about 5-8°C.

outside temperature is about -3°C to -10°C

[rsaeon]

So we know that cables of course degrade, the strain relief ends start breaking apart, copper gets exposed, oxidized. Debris gets into the connector and burns, corrodes, etc etc. Change your cables often, say every one to two years. Price them accordingly.

Chargers degrade but not like what you expect.

There’s two types of failure:

The first is when you drop the charger. The heaviest thing inside a charger is the iron core of a tiny transformer, this has mass and momentum when you drop it, causing stress on the pcb and solder joints. A drop can cause the connection of this tiny transformer to become intermittent and the charger only works when you tap it, or that when it heats up, thermal expansion causes the joint to break and it stops charging then when it cools down it starts charging again — making it look like it’s taking forever to charge.

GAN chargers are designed to newer, higher standards and they’re much lighter and most of the nicer ones have pcb traces for the transformer winding instead of actual copper coils, making them impervious to damage by drops. It’s not just the upgrade from Silicon to Gallium, it’s a complete redesign with modern components that makes them so superior.

The second, and more common type, is gradual. Heat build up inside the charger eventually degrades the electrolyte inside the capacitors, effectively reducing their capacitance and eventually turning them into duds — making it look like it can’t fast charge anymore until it’s unable to charge at all.

Your charger shouldn’t feel more than mildly warm. A hot charger is an overloaded charger or a poorly designed charger.

I use 65W chargers with devices that can only fast charge upto 33W and none of my chargers feel even the tiniest bit warm. Some are just cold to the touch. Cold chargers are good, they’ll last years.

I still use anker chargers that I bought ten years ago!

[msvsme]

In my realme charging cable, near the port there is a chip on the cable. Without it fast charging doesn’t work. Charger works at 5v 4-6A using the original cable. with other cables just 5v 2A.

You can find dart, dash, vooc etc cable in flipkart with good reviews cheaper than original. 33w is fast enough.

[solo_wing]

@rsaeon interesting points.

@msvsme

In my realme charging cable, near the port there is a chip on the cable. Without it fast charging doesn’t work. Charger works at 5v 4-6A using the original cable. with other cables just 5v 2A.

You can find dart, dash, vooc etc cable in flipkart with good reviews cheaper than original. 33w is fast enough.

When I had purchased my realme mobile I got Superdart charger too 65W and I treated the original cable as just normal cable and didnt care much.

Had no idea back in those days that cables also make huge difference. Use to treat all
USB-C cable as one. Even noticed many times some USB-C cable were not transferring when connected to PC and some were. Took them as faulty and god knows how many i might have just discarded.

Because got many cables from Gopro purchase, Family mobile purchases, this and that.

My family has two chargers always connected in home and almost everyone mostly just come and charge it on them. So most cables and chargers are still in the box or thrown by them.

I wish I knew back in those days.

though I must add…I know test my cables with every new purchases. and keep them well.

[rsaeon]

Xiaomi/Redmi have special cables with a non-standard type-A connector that trigger “turbo” fast charging:

Without this cable my Redmi Note 10 is “limited” to 27W charging, with it it’s bumped upto 33W.

This also means I’ll never get 33W charging from a type-c charger, only a type-A one and only a specific one sold by Xiaomi.

[solo_wing]

No,
Even on powerbanks with 22.5W

It goes on hold due to temperature.

[The_Eternal_Guest]

But temperature in this case should refer to device being charged which in turn would suggest that charger/cable was outputting more current than what was required ideally because only outputting more than what is required for charging will result in temperature of device being charged increase more than usual.

[solo_wing]

[The_Eternal_Guest]

Watch this to understand better:

I’m the dude playin’ the dude, disguised as another dude | Tropic Thunder #cineclip #filmedit #movie

[solo_wing]

To charge the ipad in cold ..I have to keep warm electric bag ( those like water pouch)

Under it ( but it is not in direct touch) there is a thick case plus have to keep them in sleeping bag.

Otherwise Ipad just refused to charge.

Tbh honest 4°C should not be an issue for it to charge.
God knows why it goes on hold for even that temp.
The operating temp is suppose to be down till 0°C.

Is charging temperature not same as operating temp?

Can’t find charging temperature details though.

[LightBeam]

I’ve been using the same phone and charger for over 8 years. I did replace the cable last year because It was charging slowly & stopped showing fast charging symbol/wattage possibly because it had worn out near the connector from constant bending, rest still works

Anyway, Use it or not. Everything degrades over time, especially electronic components like capacitors

Nothing Lasts Forever​

[solo_wing]

@LightBeam

Nothing Lasts Forever​