Extra-long charging cables for smartphones and other gadgets can lose power and overheat, technology publication How-To Geek reported. While long cords offer convenience when wall sockets are located far away, specialists warned that these accessories carry technical limitations.
Electrical resistance depends directly on cable length, causing longer cords to lose power compared to standard-length cables with identical specifications. When electrical current increases to offset this power loss, wire temperatures can rise, creating a risk of overheating and fire.
Performance Limits and Recommendations
Specialists at the portal noted that inexpensive long cables typically cap data transfer speeds at 480 megabytes per second. Connecting a long cable between a computer and a monitor can also cause display delays and image artifacts.
Journalists at How-To Geek recommended purchasing chargers from reputable brands and selecting cables no longer than three meters. Previously, journalists at publication BGR listed alternative options to wired charging, advising users to rely on wireless chargers or specialized car accessories.
