How phone chargers actually work is blowing people's minds
A simulation details exactly how the inners workings of a smartphone charger functions
A tutorial to explain just how phone chargers actually work has left people mind blown at the revelation.
It’s something you’ve probably never thought about but how do chargers refill the batteries of our smartphones? One YouTuber seems to have the answer.
Known as Explorer on the platform, the channel shared a video to its 161,000 subscribers which details the science behind our phone chargers.
In the video description, it reads: “This is an animated video on the working of a mobile/smartphone/cellphone charger that converts 220 Volts AC to 5 Volts DC with the help of an optocoupler using Switch Mode Power Supply(SMPS).”
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How do our phone chargers work?
So, how does it work? In the clip, the video depicts a simulation of the inside of a charger.
The video says: “You would know that charger converts AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current), but it’s not that straightforward.
“First, It converts AC to DC then again back to AC and then finally to DC… This is an oscillator circuit, this converts DC back to high frequency AC of 15 to 50 kilohertz.”
Explaining what each component is, the clip goes on to point out a ‘bridge rectifier’ which converts AC to fluctuating DC.
The video continues: “As we can see this fluctuating DC filters from the capacitor and becomes almost pure DC. We can see we have as DC in the circuit.
“Now this current passes from the 2 mega ohm resistor to the base of T1, turning it on… As the transistor is now fully on it allows the current to flow through itself.”
The YouTube channel goes on to say how the ‘diode and capacitor convert the AC from the auxiliary coil to DC for the optocoupler’.
The video adds: “Now you would have the question, why not directly convert AC to DC than this? This is because for the normal power supply which is at 50(60) hertz.
“The size of transformer and the capacitors are large. They cannot be mounted in a small charger like this.
“Hence in the charger the 50(60) hertz frequency is converted to 50 kilohertz. This reduces the size of the transformer and capacitor required in the circuit.
“So to change the frequency of AC first we have to convert it to DC and then again back to AC.”
Viewers were stunned by the detailed video, with many taking to the comment section to share their reactions.
One user wrote: “Wow, i had no idea that was all going on in those little power adaptors.”
Another said: “Truly the work of many geniuses stacked together.”
And a third person added: “I'm just gonna pretend I understood it all.”