John Ndlovu
Information and Technology Reporter
Charging of phones on personal computer (PC) and television (TV) has become a norm which has been adopted by most people in Zimbabwe.
However doing so comes with severe disadvantages.
Zim GBC News spoke to some of technology experts who pointed out the demerits of charging phones using such devices, PCs and TVs.
Talent Ncube, a computer technician at the heart of Bulawayo Central Business District (CBD) told this reporter that charging a cellphone using a PC can have long term effects of shortening the battery life of the computer as the battery of the PC will constantly be drained by the charging cellphone.
“Constant charging of phones using a laptop might damage it’s battery life in long term as the laptop will be drained by the phone which will cause it to be continuously charged which will depreciate it’s battery lifespan. So I wouldn’t advise anyone to charge their phone using these devices as they are toxic to their battery life.”Ncube said.
Thabang Moyo another seasoned computer technician also discouraged charging of phones using television and other appliances apart from requisite chargers citing that they might damage televisions through draining of current from the device.
“A television port has a small current as compared to the current of a phone hence a phone might take a whole day charging. There is a risk of destroying the television as some phones might drain current from the television due to high currency. ”Moyo stated
However Moyo also stated that nowadays some laptops and modern computers are designed with requisite current possessing capabilities of charging phones.
Andile Dube, an aspiring computer programmer also discouraged charging of phones using personal computers and televisions as she said it also suppresses battery life of the computer as the battery will be drained enormously due multitasking.
“Charging phones using laptops means that the battery is being drained faster than normal as it’s performing it’s daily tasks and discharging to charge the phone. Constant charging and discharging of laptops seriously undermines battery life which will decrease with time.”She said
Technology advancement has come up with different utilities as people can now even charge their phones using television as modern TVs such plasma TVs have charging/Universal Serial Bus(USB) ports however using a USB cable to charge mobile phone can cause harm to the cellphone battery. Since the computer USB jack voltage is lower compared to device’s charger voltage. Charging cellphones on laptops will damage the cellphone electric ion therefore also shortening the life of the cell of the phone’s battery.