is it true that a mobile phone charger draws as much electricity if it is left plugged in and the plug switched regardless as to whether it is charging a phone or not?

[mkjuk]

also how much does it cost to charge a moblile phone typically from dead? thanks

[almcd007]

Locically - how is it "using" the electricity. If it's charging a phone - the energy/electricity is being passed through the charger into the phone and being stored on the phones battery. If there is no phone - what is the charger doing with the electricity it is supposed to be using?

[Loosehead]

They do giv off heat when they are plugged in and not charging so presumably the transformer is converting the electrical energy into heat. I think it's ageneral problem with devices that need a transformer. For example I have a lamp at home and when it's off it still get's warm.

[scrumpy78]

if the suggestion that it is not using any electricity is true, why do tellies etc use power when on stand by - surely the charger is on stand by when the light on, even if not connected to a phone?

[almcd007]

Maybe the charger converts its energy to heat and a TV converts its energy to the little red light saying it's on standby.

To USE electricity the appliance has to convert electric to something else constantly in order to actually USE it.

[winny]

I read that in the local recycling/enviroment leaflet thing and have turned mine off now when not in use. Prpbably pointless but once i read it i felt obliged to do it.

[Space]

When plugged on the mains, most old chargers and transformers do use electricity, even when there is nothing plugged at the other end.
They just convert the energy into heat.
If it feels warm, then you know your charger is wasting energy.

[dipee65]

The small amount of energy used when the phone is unplugged from the charger is due to what engineers call "iron loss" The metal core of the transformer in the charger is being magnetised, whether on load or not.
This is the same effect that causes the hum from the big transformers at the electricity substations. And as others have said earlier this gives out heat as well.

[Matheous]

Not sure how good a remedy it would be to buy from B&Q their 'remote controlled mains 'OFF' socket 3xpack at �11.99?

[jake-the-peg]

A number of modern chargers sese when no current is being drawn and switch off.

I know this because I've measured it with a device that you plug into a socket and then plug a device into. It then shows you the current drawn.

With my phone charger if the phone is unconnected or full no current is drawn.

But as said above, if it's getting warm it's a dumb charger

[scrumpy78]

matheous, isn't that remote control device the one that was on dragons den ages ago? so they didnt have the patent after all!