Power Supplies & Chargers

If you want to check whether the charger or power supply is broken, you can do this very easily by connecting it to the electronic end device. If the power supply or charger develops warmth after half an hour, current is flowing and the part is working. However, if it remains cold, there is a defect and you should promptly buy a new charger or power supply. 

Camera, radio, telephone, printer, computer, baby monitor, e-bike … 

Every household has numerous electronic devices that are often used several times a day. When purchasing electronic devices, the battery with charger is always included. However, when a replacement part is needed, many users feel overwhelmed and, for simplicity’s sake, choose the manufacturer’s original products. For this, you have to dig deep into your pocket, because branded products are expensive. 

At ElectroPapa you will find a huge selection of replacement products for a wide variety of devices. Quality does not have to be expensive. We offer a high-quality battery charger for 

• Chargers for vacuum cleaners 
  
• Chargers for e-bikes
  
• Chargers for two-way radios
  
• Chargers for smartphones and mobile phones
  
• Chargers for cameras
  
• Chargers for notebooks
• Chargers for navigation devices
  
• Chargers for power tools
  
• various chargers

But also good power supplies for 

• Power supplies for landline phones
  
• Power supplies for printers
  
• Power supplies for shavers
  
• Power supplies for game consoles
  
• Power supplies for cameras
  
• Power supplies for audio devices
  
• Power supplies for window vacuums
  
• Power supplies for tools
• more power supplies

The differences between a power supply and a charger 

The difference between power supplies and chargers can be explained clearly. They differ in the purpose of the device. A charger is actually only a specific type of power supply which, in addition to the voltage provided, also has battery-charging capability. The built-in battery (NiMH, Li-polymer, lithium, Li-ion) is fully charged through a charging cycle, while monitoring ensures that no overcharging takes place. Since every battery is subject to specific requirements for the charging program, it is important that the suitable charger is always used. 

The important function of a power supply 

The power supply is a small and practical helper that makes it possible for our everyday electronic devices to be supplied with electricity at all. Whether it is a large appliance such as a television, refrigerator or washing machine, or smaller items such as the kitchen radio or baby monitor - not every device needs the full socket power of 230 volts that we can draw from the wall. This is where the power supply comes into use, because it can convert the current and the voltage into exactly the form that the individual connected device requires. It is therefore no surprise that there are numerous types of power supplies in order to cover the various devices. 

Power supply or power unit - what is needed? 

Although the terms sound similar, power supplies and power units have different functions and should not be used as synonyms. A power supply is a plug-in power adapter, which is usually small and compact. It is supplied with electronic devices that we use at home - for example for laptops, televisions, radios. In most cases, each device has its own power supply. The plug-in power supply can only provide a specific voltage, which must remain constant. 

Power units are more complex devices that can enable different voltages, which can be adjusted flexibly. What is important here is that the voltage between the electronic device and the power supply must match so that no damage occurs. So be absolutely sure to pay attention to this if you are planning to buy new power supplies. 

The USB charger as an all-round talent 

Modern chargers for smartphones, tablets and many other devices are often power supply adapters with a separate USB cable. The USB charging cable can, for example, also be connected to portable battery chargers or to PCs in order to charge the device. Some devices can also be connected with the cable to enable data exchange. 

Conveniently, you can use any USB charger for most standard smartphones or tablets if the USB connection is the same. Whether the charger is compatible and can be used for the tablet or smartphone can be checked very easily when purchasing by comparing the volt and ampere output. Simply enter the name and model of your device into the search bar of
to display the suitable chargers. 

Charging devices via USB cable 

Tablet and smartphone users know the problem: If the device is charged on a PC or laptop by connecting both devices with a USB cable, a charging cycle does take place, but much more slowly than usual. If you plug the USB cable into the power supply and charge it via the socket, charging is at least twice as fast, but why is that? The reason lies in the different power outputs of the devices through which charging is carried out. The USB port of the PC or laptop delivers far fewer watts than the socket, which supplies the current to the smartphone via the power supply and the cable. 

The differences at a glance 

The difference between a power supply and a charger lies in the function. Chargers provide a predefined charging process, which charges the battery of electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets according to a fixed program. With power supplies, a device is continuously supplied with the required current and receives exactly the right amount of voltage and volts. That is why it is important to always use the suitable power supply for the device in order to avoid defects. 

Battery chargers 

We can certainly agree that rechargeable batteries are practical and efficient talents precisely because of their compact size. However, to guarantee an optimal charging cycle, it is not only the size of the battery or the charging current that matters. The quality of the charger also plays a decisive role. After explaining how they work, the next step is to find the right charger. 

Which chargers are available on the market? 

There are numerous different rechargeable batteries, individually designed for each device, and the selection of different chargers is just as large. This is not arbitrary; the devices serve individual purposes. Every electronic device has an individual power requirement and electricity requirement. The various charger types can be divided into three different types. In addition to classic chargers, universal and intelligent chargers are also available on the market, but they are not compatible with all end devices. These chargers can be divided into further subcategories: 

• Type of end device: smartphone, computer, printer, camera, e-bike, household appliances and much more. (at ElectroPapa you will find all available end devices listed categorically), battery cells 
• Type of battery: NiCd, NiMH, Li-ion, LiPo 
• Type of connection: USB charging cable, car charging cable, power supply 

If you choose a classic charger, you have made the most affordable choice for a charger for normal batteries. These simple devices provide the same voltage for the battery. However, this carries the risk of overcharging and overheating, because the charging program is not individually adapted and therefore does not offer automatic shut-off. 

In addition to the normal charging process of the battery, intelligent chargers also offer maintenance and monitoring of the cells to ensure that there is no overcharging or overvoltage. This greatly extends the service life of the batteries. Universal battery chargers can be used in many ways for different types of rechargeable batteries - regardless of type and size. They provide the suitable voltage for compatible batteries and charge them just like classic chargers. 

The most popular charger is probably the USB charger, which we use every day for our smartphones or tablets. These power supplies with USB cable are now synonymously referred to as “chargers” and can be used in many ways. 

Which charger do I need? 

ElectroPapa makes the search for a suitable charger very easy for you, because we have clearly categorized the various devices so that only the device type needs to be selected. It is best to use the original specifications of the branded manufacturer as a guide when choosing, in order to find the suitable replacement battery from us. 

USB battery chargers can be found under “Telephone”, where you can filter by the suitable manufacturers and product types for smartphones and tablets. Under “Household”, you will also find many other everyday devices that are charged with a power supply or charger. 

Universal chargers for battery cells offer an uncomplicated way to charge various rechargeable batteries such as Li-ion or NiMH batteries. These chargers are selected according to the required size of the battery as well as the battery voltage that is used most frequently in your own household. Thanks to several slots, they allow different batteries to be charged at the same time. So anyone who uses many rechargeable batteries at home should look for a universal charger for batteries with many charging slots. 

The compatibility between battery and charger should always be correct. The information on technical data such as nominal voltage and capacity in milliampere-hours as well as the type of battery should match the charger. This means that the battery should only be used with the charger if the technical specifications for amperes, volts and watts are compatible - even if the battery would fit in terms of size, this does not mean that it must be compatible with the charger. 

Chargers for rechargeable batteries offer additional features such as extra-fast charging cycles, but devices with displays showing the current charge level, warnings about overvoltage and overheating or information about the health of the battery also have convenient special functions. These extra functions improve not only the charging program, but also the service life of the batteries used. This saves money in the long term and protects the environment, because batteries are less often affected by defects and therefore need to be replaced less frequently. 

Which charger do I need for my smartphone? 

Do I need a different charger for every smartphone, even if the connection is the same? In principle, this question can be answered with “No”, because all smartphones have a lithium-ion battery technology battery and therefore require the same current voltage of 3.7 volts. 

Our tips for an optimal battery charging cycle 

Correct and healthy charging of rechargeable batteries optimizes the service life and performance of every battery. To make this work optimally, we have summarized a few tips here that should make charging with chargers for rechargeable batteries easier for you in the future. This also protects your wallet and the environment. 

• Rechargeable batteries can discharge during long storage periods, so it makes sense to charge the batteries only when they are actually needed. This saves charging cycles and electricity. 
• Rechargeable batteries should not remain in the charger after the charging cycle. In the long run, this damages the battery due to the float voltage. It is better to remove the batteries after they are fully charged. 
• Some rechargeable batteries do not always have to be fully discharged and recharged again and again. Batteries with Li-ion can also be connected to the charger when they are still partially charged. 
• Deep discharges of the battery should be avoided, as they only cause damage. A deep discharge occurs when empty batteries are stored for a longer period of time and are not charged in between. These are defective, because charging is no longer possible. If you try anyway, you risk the battery swelling, which is dangerous and must absolutely be avoided.

High-quality replacement batteries at ElectroPapa 

Whether charger, power supply or battery - at ElectroPapa you will find what you are looking for. We offer maximally compatible replacement products for branded devices, which represent a cost-effective alternative to original manufacturer products. This protects not only your wallet, but also the environment. From now on, the search for suitable chargers, power supplies and batteries is over - ElectroPapa makes the search easy and, with the in-house brands vhbw and Exentsilo, offers affordable and powerful replacement products for the entire household.

Frequently Asked Questions