Phone Charger under Kitchen Worktop ?

[Spinny]

Thinking to have a mobile phone charger recessed into the underside of the island worktop (quartz).

Anyone done this ?

[ProDave]

You mean a contactless one?  Will it work? the phone will be 30mm or more from the charger base.

[MikeSharp01]

7 hours ago, ProDave said:

Will it work? the phone will be 30mm or more from the charger base.

I think the 30mm will be reduced by:

7 hours ago, Spinny said:

recessed into the underside of the island worktop (quartz)

This is still going to be a problem unless you:

1. Get a long range charger: This guide will help - https://invisqi.com/blogs/all-about-qi/quartz-countertop-wireless-charging-guide
2. Get the recess so that only about 10-12mm of the quartz remains between the charger and the phone.

[JohnMo]

Really wouldn't bother, tech will change by the time you get it working. Or you will change your phone it it won't work.

[Spinny]

Yes a recess would need to be rebated/bored out from the underside of the quartz. Our quartz is 30mm thick.

We wouldn't be intending to mark the exact position on the topside as that would obviously ruin the worktop aesthetic. But we would know the measurements for the position from the edges of the quartz (our quartz is not veined, just mottled) and I don't think your phone needs to be positioned with mm accuracy. presumably you would be able to see via the phone whether it is charging.

[ProDave]

Is it necessary?

 

My phone is old and with poor battery life, even that only needs charging once a day which I do overnight.  How often do you really think you need to charge your phone in the kitchen?

[Square Feet]

I guess if you are a Youtube chef or something that spends all your life in the kitchen then something like that might be useful, but I just have a wireless charging stand on my desk and in my van. Between the two my phone stays charged all day - I never bother plugging it in at night.  I agree with what others have said that it's just a fancy waste of time, money and effort.  Also a waste of electricity as it will be beaming out charge into the stone to dissipate all over the shop and won't be very efficient. Oh and the phone will be flat so you won't be able to see the screen very easily.  Nah.

 

I've got one of these. It's the biz. You just sort of throw your phone at it from a distance and it sticks on and charges. 

 

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vaestmaerke-wireless-charging-stand-30618430/

Edited yesterday at 08:12 by Square Feet

[Spinny]

4 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Really wouldn't bother, tech will change by the time you get it working. Or you will change your phone it it won't work.

Yes a consideration.

Have one in the car which I find really useful and have used for 4 years now though. It is surprising how much difference it makes not having to mess around with trailing wires and sockets and connectors that always seem to become 'dodgy' within a couple of years of use.

Worse case would seem to be that it goes obsolete a few years down the line, in which case I can just turn it off and ignore it I suppose.

[Spinny]

33 minutes ago, Square Feet said:

Also a waste of electricity as it will be beaming out charge into the stone to dissipate all over the shop and won't be very efficient.

Possibly. Although I believe they detect whether a phone is present or not and shut off when phone is fully charged. Google AI: "...it continues to consume a small amount of electricity (about 0.2W) to constantly "ping" the surface and detect when a device is placed on it." So pennies a year only on that.

Yes perhaps somewhat less efficient while charging but still seems pretty good through 12-15mm quartz etc at 85-90%, and apparently the quartz won't get hot.

I wouldn't want to find the quartz was effected long term - e.g. by causing it to fade/change colour leaving a surface shadow.

 

Anyone tried it or done it with a worktop/desktop/furniture top ?

 

Ikea type is cheap as chips but somewhat mixed reviews on their website. I am not very good at plugging my phone in every night I am afraid, and given phone addiction I frequently find myself on low charge.

 

Was thinking maybe one under the island, one under a shelftop in the hallway. Apparently...

Common everyday items you can charge wirelessly include:

• Wearables: Smartwatches and fitness trackers.
• Audio Devices: Wireless earbuds and their charging cases.
• Computer Accessories: Select wireless mice and mechanical keyboards.
• Electric Toothbrushes: This is actually one of the oldest and most common uses of wireless charging!
• Vehicles: Many modern electric vehicles (EVs) can be charged wirelessly when parked over a special induction pad, and the technology is actively being tested for in-motion highway charging.

 

 

[Conor]

We've a charging drawer. Hidden drawer in the island behind a cupboard door, sockets in it for charging. Simple, out of the way but handy.

[Spinny]

Thanks Conor, yes that's an idea too. We have laptop, tablet, and phones - always seem to have charging cables trailing about the sitting room.

(Not to mention rechargeable tools and stuff - but those are probably a seperate question. Can't see SWMBO giving me tool space in the kitchen.)

(Numerous USB powered Smart Hubs which I will put in the network cupboard when it exists)

Possibly need a charging drawer or cupboard too TBH.

 

Phones seem to be always out in case they go off.

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

47 minutes ago, Spinny said:

Thanks Conor, yes that's an idea too. We have laptop, tablet, and phones - always seem to have charging cables trailing about the sitting room.

(Not to mention rechargeable tools and stuff - but those are probably a seperate question. Can't see SWMBO giving me tool space in the kitchen.)

(Numerous USB powered Smart Hubs which I will put in the network cupboard when it exists)

Possibly need a charging drawer or cupboard too TBH.

 

Phones seem to be always out in case they go off.

 

 

Get an off cut of the quartz, 30mm thick, do a test run to see if it only charges at 1/4 snails pace, if so then bin the idea. 
 

If it charges around (at least) 50% normal rate then go for it.

 

If you think it'll be handy, just do it. 🤷‍♂️😉

[Square Feet]

One major flaw in the quartz idea is that most phones now have slightly protruding cameras on the back so they don't sit flat and therefore wouldn't charge wirelessly on a flat surface. 

 

I really like the IKEA wireless charging stuff. I've had several of theirs for years and it's all been good. Much more easily replaceable than something chiselled into quartz.  The one I linked to above is wireless btw. No plugging in required.

[torre]

Pop up plug with wireless charging maybe?

 

I'm not personally a fan of pop up plugs, but neither do I like expensive phones easily sliding / being knocked off hard surfaces in a working space. I do like @Conor's charging drawer idea!

[Onoff]

Why recess the quartz at all? Search for long range / invisible wireless chargers:

 

[SteamyTea]

I buy Motorola phones, the battery life is excellent, and not one of them has cost more than £100.

I charge them in the car with an adapter and lead from Poundland. 

Had to buy a new lead as the newer phone is USB C, so got one with 3 tails on it. C, micro and one for an iPhone.

So can charge my phone, Kindle, camera and vape.

Can also transfer data between devices.

No idea if the Lightning plug works, don't allow those people into my car.