Aside from drawing power, a USB cable is usually safe to leave plugged in. This is not likely to cause equipment damage. USB sockets are also extremely safe to use unless they are of poor quality. A cheap outlet, just like any electrical outlet, can overheat; at the very least, it can take longer to charge devices.
If you want to know if a plugged-in charger uses energy, the straight answer is “Yes”, but that's not the whole story. The truth is that the consumption is negligible.
Using a USB port in a car to charge a device can drain the car's battery if the device is left plugged in for an extended period of time. This is because the device will continue to draw power from the car's battery even when the engine is off.
Under normal circumstances, a standard Type-C/micro USB port can be inserted into or removed from a USB port for more than 10,000 times. For example, if you insert or remove your data cable three times a day, it would last for more than 9 years.
It is generally safe to leave a flash drive plugged in all the time, as long as it's not subjected to extreme temperatures, shocks, or other conditions that might cause physical damage. However, it's always a good idea to properly eject the flash drive before unplugging it to prevent corruption of data.
It's a little strange that USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 connection types have the same rating. Theoretically, there isn't a “limit” at all. However, your signal will begin to deteriorate if you travel farther than 3 meters (approximately 10 feet). The speed and power it provides will decrease as the cable is extended further.
If your car automatically shuts off power to any accessory items when the ignition is off, leaving something plugged into the cigarette lighter will not drain the battery.
In most cases, a car charger will not damage your phone battery. However, improper use of the charger, such as charging too frequently, can wear down a battery prematurely.
If your car does not have the accessories power shut off feature then leaving things plugged into your car's cigarette lighter will eventually drain your battery.
Fire Risk. One of the biggest dangers of leaving your phone charger plugged in is the risk of fire. If your charger overheats, it could potentially catch something on fire. This is especially dangerous if you leave your charger plugged in overnight, as you may not be around to notice if there is a fire.
Most devices we own consume electricity even when not in use. This is also true of energy-efficient, Energy-Star-rated devices such as your laundry machine or even your fridge. In reality, a phone charger uses energy whenever it is plugged in, regardless of whether it charges your phone or not.
The short answer is yes!
Parasitic Drain - If the electrical devices in your car or the lights on your car are left running even when your ignition is off, they will suck the juice out of your battery slowly but dramatically. This is often eerily described as parasitic drain.
It can be caused by bad charger / cable
Sometimes, using the wrong charger and cable can be responsible for your phone battery decreasing while you are charging it. Usually, this should stop once you revert to the recommended cable and charger.
The light comes on and remains solid when the battery state of charge falls below 20%. The light begins flashing when the battery state of charge falls below 10%.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, any switched on charger that is plugged in will still use electricity, regardless of whether the device is attached or not.
When you plug your phone into a USB port, you're getting a little less mileage from each gallon of fuel than you would be without the phone charging, according to work done by a retired engineering executive at General Motors. That means you're burning more gas and paying more to keep the tank filled.
If you charge your phone in the car, it's best to use a brand-name charging cable and car charger that fits into the cigarette lighter. The phone's battery will last longer in the long run.
Unplugging devices when they're done charging will not only save energy, but will also extend their lifespan. Devices like modems, routers, and cable boxes should be left plugged in, as they often take a while to reboot when you turn them back on.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission , “Unattended, plugged-in appliances may create an unnecessary risk of fire”. Their recommendation is to unplug all of your countertop appliances when not in use.
Lighters – Check your center consoles and glove compartment. Leaving these fire starters in your car can be dangerous. When exposed to high heat, the flammable liquid inside can expand and breach the lighter, creating a fire hazard.
When you bend your cables too many times and you do it too tightly, you are gradually cutting short the lifespan of the cable. Excessively bending your cables often damages them at the point where the cable joins the plug, breaking the internals wires of the cable and subsequently rendering it useless.
There are several factors of the USB cable that can affect the charging speed including the length, the gauge (thickness) of the internal wire as well as the quality of the wire. In general, if all the other factors are maintained constant, the longer the cable, the longer the charging time.
USB-related issues can be caused due to incompatible device, outdated, incorrect, or corrupt drivers, damaged USB ports or cables, faulty USB port, and so on.