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Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 25, 2022

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

Posted because I didn't see Zorba post one today. Feel free to delete if that's an issue.

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Do charging systems have a limit in how much they can charge certain devices?

I have a weak charger and I left it charging a phone over night and it is still only at 66%. I vaguely remember seeing some solar panels that claimed the same thing -- they could only charge a device to X percent full.

I figured it would just take a long time but eventually get full, but is there some equivalent to "water pressure" where it takes more work to get that last 10% in?

I figured it would just take a long time but eventually get full, but is there some equivalent to "water pressure" where it takes more work to get that last 10% in?

This is basically correct. Same reason that quick charge batteries in phones can charge the 1st 60% in like 15 minutes but the remaining 40% take hours. To charge the battery, you need a voltage difference between the charge source and the battery, and that difference gets smaller the more the battery gets charged.