What's the difference between a power adapter and a charger?

Do you know the difference between a power adapter and a charger? Let's find out today!

Working Principle:

Power Adapter: Generally consists of a power transformer, rectifier circuit, filter circuit, and voltage regulator circuit. It converts the high voltage of the mains power into low voltage AC power suitable for the device, then converts it into DC power through rectification and filtering, and finally stabilizes the output voltage through the voltage regulator circuit to ensure that the output DC voltage fluctuates within the allowable range of the device.

Charger: In addition to including transformer, rectifier, filter, and voltage regulator circuits similar to those in a power adapter, it also adds a charging control circuit. The charging control circuit automatically adjusts the charging current and voltage according to the battery type (such as lithium battery, NiMH battery, etc.) and charging state. For example, in the initial stage of charging, the charger will use a large current to quickly charge the battery; when the battery is close to fully charged, the charger will gradually reduce the charging current, entering the trickle charging stage to prevent overcharging.

Functions

Power Adapter: Its main function is to convert AC mains power (usually 220V AC) into stable DC power required by devices, providing power support and ensuring normal operation. It focuses on providing a stable power supply, with generally stable output power and the ability to provide continuous power for extended periods.

Charger: Its main function is to charge rechargeable batteries. It not only converts AC power to DC power suitable for battery charging but also has functions to control and manage the charging process, such as controlling charging current and voltage, monitoring battery status, and preventing overcharging and over-discharging to protect the battery and extend its lifespan. The charger automatically stops charging or enters trickle charging mode once the battery is fully charged.

Application Scenarios

Power Adapter: Commonly used in devices requiring stable DC power, such as laptops, desktop computers, monitors, routers, and TV boxes. The electronic components inside these devices need to operate under stable voltage and current; the TDX power adapter converts AC mains power into a suitable power source.

Charger: Primarily used for charging various rechargeable batteries, such as those in mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, power tools, and power banks. Chargers for different devices are usually not interchangeable because different batteries have different voltages, capacities, and charging requirements.