Charging mount
The method of fixing, provided by the design of the wireless car charger (see "Type").
The main methods of such fixation are
suction cup,
car air vent grill and
adhesive surface. Some devices combine several options at once — for example, a suction cup and air vent clip. At the same time, in some models, different types of fasteners are initially included in the kit, in others, the method of fixation depends on the modification; these nuances should be clarified when choosing. As for the features of each of the individual types of mounts, they are as follows:
— Suction cup. The suction cup allows you to mount the device on a dashboard, windscreen or any other relatively flat surface. At the same time, unlike a sticker, such a mount is reusable. On the other hand, suction cups are generally less reliable, and on rough and textured surfaces they stick poorly, if not at all. Thus, such mounts are often provided as an addition to mounting on an air vent grill (or as one of the alternative options for a complete mount, along with a clothespin).
— Car air vent grill. The most popular method of mounting wireless car chargers is widely used both individually and in combination with other options. This is because those pins are simple and, at the same time, very reliable; moreover, they can be used an unlimited number of times; air vents are on almost any
...dashboard, and they are usually located conveniently enough for using wireless car chargers.
— Adhesive surface. Fastening with a special adhesive pad is similar to installation on double-sided tape (only in this case, the “adhesive tape” is initially attached to the device body, and before installation, it is enough to remove the protective film on the adhesive surface). This type of attachment is suitable for both completely smooth and embossed surfaces, it is stronger than suction cups, but it is disposable — it is not easy to remove the installed device, and the fastener itself usually does not require reuse. Therefore, such clamps are rarely used in their pure form — most often they are provided as a spare (or alternative) option for mounting on the grill.Power (with 1 device)
The maximum power that the charger is capable of delivering to one rechargeable gadget (for models with 1 connector or with 1 wireless platform — the actual charging power). We emphasize that for wireless devices, it is the power in the wireless format that is indicated here (even if the design has a USB port with a higher power). Wired chargers usually list the USB power with the highest charging current or with support of the most powerful fast charging technology.
The smallest value of this metric nowadays is actually
5 W. Other popular options include
10W,
12W,
15W, and the most powerful models have
18W or more
to charge laptops(up to
100W).
Higher output power allows you to speed up the charging process; and in the case of wireless devices, a value of more than 10 watts already allows us to talk about the presence of fast charging. At the same time, a number of nuances are associated with this parameter. Firstly, not only the charger, but also the gadget being charged should support the appropriate power — otherwise the speed of the process will be limited by the specs of the gadget. Secondly, in order to use the full capabilities of the charger, it may be necessary to support not only the appropriate charging power, but also a
...certain fast charging technology (see "Fast charging"). Thirdly, in a charger with several charging connectors, the maximum power per device can only be achieved if the other ports are not used.Cable length
The length of the cable supplied with or included with the charger. For wireless models, the length of the power cable of the charger itself is indicated here, for wired models, the length of the cord for charging gadgets
Anyway, a longer cable gives more freedom of movement, but it creates inconvenience for short distances. Also note that charging is supposed to be used in the immediate vicinity of sockets, so wires longer than 2 m are practically not found among such devices. A length of
more than 1.5 m is considered significant, from 1 to 1.5 m — medium, from 0.5 to 1 m — small, and in some models there are wires shorter than 0.5 m.
Power adapter
Whether or not
a power adapter is included with the charger.
This feature is relevant primarily for wireless models, including the ones for cars(see "Type"). Such devices usually consist of three parts: the charger itself with a platform/stand/latch, a charger power cable and an adapter for connecting the wire to a power outlet or cigarette lighter. If the presence of an adapter is initially indicated in the specifications, then the charger is supplied in a complete set; it is these models that you should pay attention to if you want to use the device right out of the box, without the hassle of finding additional accessories.
Also, this feature can be indicated for individual car chargers of the traditional, wired type. This usually means that the device is similar in layout to wireless models: main unit, power cord and cigarette lighter adapter. This design allows you to use the charger at some distance from the dashboard of the car — for example, take it to the back seat, giving passengers the opportunity to charge their phones. In this case, the adapter can have its own charging outputs (usually USB) and can be used separately from the main unit.
