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We often overlook the care of phone charging cables, a device essential in our daily lives. We only notice their importance when our battery dies and the cable is damaged. In reality, charging cables deteriorate faster due to the way we handle them. Here, we discuss proper cable care and usage techniques.
Michael Pect, founder of the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering at the University of Maryland, remarks that charging cables “go through a lot of abuse.” Technology companies frequently send their devices to his center to investigate why they fail. Pect explains, “We are like a morgue, but for electronic devices.” According to him, rough handling such as pinching, pulling, and repeatedly bending USB cables is common.
What is the best way to store a charging cable? I asked Pect. I assumed that loosely coiling the cable was best, as over-tightening or tangling causes damage. However, I learned that many people, including myself, waste time and energy storing cables this way. Pect says, “It doesn’t really make much difference.” This was hard for me to believe.
Charging cables are very useful. Their importance only becomes clear when they wear out. If a cable breaks, a phone or other electronic device cannot be charged. Remember, proper usage and care can save both your expenses and the environment.
“There are two types of people in this world: those who damage charging cables and those who prevent damage,” said Kyle Wiens, co-founder of iFixit, a long-term solutions and consumer rights organization. “It’s a tough truth, but I am the type of person who damages cables.” Let’s understand cable structure. Inside a charging cable are small metal wires encased in a material that prevents electrical leakage.
One end of the cable connects the small wires to a plug. Problems usually arise at that connection point. The joint experiences stress causing wires to break. Robert Hayers, head of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, explains, “When repeatedly bent, atomic bonds gradually break down.” This causes the metal to become brittle and break.
Knowing this, you should avoid common mistakes. “Many people, when unplugging, lie on their beds and pull the long cable, which puts unnecessary pressure on the connector,” Pect explains. According to Hayers, using thin cables also leads to issues. Plugging your phone while lying on a bed or in unusual positions bends the connector at awkward angles.
“Some people plug their phones in and place them in a car cup holder,” Wiens notes. “The phone’s weight and car vibrations stress a single part of the cable.” Avoid this behavior as it only accelerates cable damage.
Additional advice concerns storing long, heavy cables. Wiens and other experts suggest, “If you neither coil cables too tightly nor leave them overly twisted, they will last longer.” If available, prefer ‘braided cables’ which use durable fabric or nylon mesh instead of plastic coatings. “This is ultimately the better choice,” says Wiens.
