Shorting the Ends of a Mobile Phone Charger

[QwertyXP]

What would happen if I shorted the ends of a mobile phone charger (in both the cases when input is 110V or 220V)?

I was considering using the terminals of a charger as a dc source for any experiment I might want to do at home (batteries would be too expensive), and wondered whether it was a good idea.

 

[phinds]

Google is your friend. Here's a discussion (among dozens) that I found in about 2 seconds:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?180059-Cellphone-chargers

 

[meBigGuy]

It's not good to short them. Some might deal with it fine, some may burn out, some may burn up. Personally I think using them for experimental power sources is fine, but keep within the limits on the case. I've never had one fail "violently", but I generally use them on reference design and evaluation test boards. I expect they will handle a momentary short without burning up if they have a UL or other safety rating, but they may fail. Others here may disagree about their safety.

 

[Superposed_Cat]

Perhaps Google the specs and safety features of whatever model you are planning to use. Everyone is different.

 

[alphy]

I would advise against shorting the ends of a mobile phone charger for any experiment. Shorting the ends of a charger can be extremely dangerous and can result in damage to the charger, your phone, and potentially even cause harm to yourself.

When a charger is plugged into a power source, the input voltage (110V or 220V) is converted into a lower voltage that is safe for your phone to use. However, when you short the ends of the charger, you bypass this conversion process and expose your phone to the full input voltage. This can cause damage to the internal components of your phone and potentially render it unusable.

Furthermore, shorting the ends of a charger can also cause overheating and potentially start a fire. The charger is designed to regulate the flow of electricity to your phone, but when you short the ends, you remove this protection and create a direct path for the electricity to flow. This can result in overheating and potentially cause a fire.

In conclusion, shorting the ends of a mobile phone charger is not a safe or advisable experiment to conduct. It is important to use chargers and other electronic devices as intended to avoid any potential hazards. If you are looking for a low-cost alternative for a DC source, there are other safer and more appropriate options available.