-3
Is it OK to leave device chargers plugged in all the time? An expert explains
(theconversation.com)
this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
-3 points (47.8% liked)
Technology
70441 readers
2844 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related news or articles.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.
Approved Bots
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I have never heard of someone having to replace their wall outlets due to wear and tear
Most wall outlets if they are a frequent use location only last a a handful of years before they start to get loose and maybe a decade before shit just doesn't hold at all.
A plug that you plug something into once or twice ever and leave it in can basically last forever.
As someone who just moved into a 1965 house - yep, plugs absolutely wear out. These are some sloppy bois.
Around here, people usually have to replace the wiring in such old houses, since they tend to only have two wires (i.e. no PE). But the Schuko sockets themselves are most likely fine.
I've encountered a number of outlets in American airports that should be replaced due to wear. They have very little friction on the prongs after millions of uses.
Life pro tip: bend the prongs a little to give your device more grip if you encounter outlets like this.
Pro tip: bend the wall where the outlet is to assert dominance.
I have had to do that - so now you have heard of someone... My house was built in 1973, some of the outlets in locations I believe previous owners would have plug/unpluged often have worn out, and thus I had to replace them. (think kitchen appliances or vacuum cleaners - the same outlets I'm using all the time). There other other outlets that still work, but they don't grip plugs as well as they should anymore and I am planning to replace. Despite the above, the vast majority of outlets I've replaced have been perfectly fine, but with young kids around I wanted modern TR outlets anywhere the kids are likely to be playing.