Sometimes I’m at the doctor’s office, at the library, or even at the grocery store and see an unused power outlet. My phone is dying. I feel weird plugging in, but I feel even weirder asking for permission.
You could probably just skip the whole anxiety issue by buying a portable battery and using that whenever you’re low. If your phone is fully charged at the start of the day and you burn through the whole battery and a mid range portable battery you’re using your phone quite excessively and may need to figure something more reliable out.
Yeah this is a great tip, you can get some that can fast charge your phone and plug directly into the wall. You can use it as a normal phone charger and then unplug it and bring it with you for 10,000mAh on the go
I bought a 20,000mAh portable battery. My partner hogged it from day 1, so I ordered another straight away.
Honestly a big battery is so liberating.
I like the 10 amp ones because the 20 amp ones are too large for flying carryon (or they used to be, they might have changed that law)
Phones charging use such little power I’d really be surprised if anyone cared. It really depends on the place. A library I would have no issue plugging in anything without asking. I can’t say I’ve ever been at the doctors and considered charging my phone though I may ask out of courtesy if I did simply because I like my doctor. Overall I’d say it wouldn’t be a big deal either way.
If it’s a public place and you have legitimate business starting there for a while, I don’t see any issue with it. Eg. Doctors waiting room and you have an appointment, restaurant and you’re dining there, etc.
If it’s someone’s private home I’d ask first.
Some places you’re not supposed to plug anything in unless it’s tested and tagged. Unlikely to be an issue in a public area, but if you’re somewhere that the power getting tripped would be a safety issue then best to ask first.
A business’s insurance might require all electronic devices to be tested before being plugged in though.
Something small like that, you’re fine. They wouldn’t really care, or even notice the bill.
The problem comes if you either start unplugging devices to plug in your phone, or you plug in such a ridiculously large load that you start tripping breakers, but that comes more with space heater, or car charging territory.
Phones are perfectly fine, and in some places, like the library, that is what they’re meant for, to let people charge their phones or laptops while they work.
I don’t think it matters
