For anyone who works or plays on a laptop, you've likely witnessed the peculiar round and knobby object on your charging cable. Every laptop charger includes one of this so-called ferrite cores, yet its purpose remains largely unknown to many. Let us explain its function to you.
Many people use a laptop every day, whether for work or gaming. Yet, like most, you likely haven't given much thought to your laptop charger. But surely you've wondered about that peculiar knob on the cable? Do you know its purpose?
But since you're reading this article, you're probably curious: "What is that weird thing and what does it do?" Don't worry, we're here to explain it to you.
This Is Why You Need A Ferrite Core
As you've just read, the strange cylinder on your laptop charging cable is a ferrite core, also called a ferrite bead. In short, this ferrite core is a filter that ensures that other electronic devices in the vicinity of your laptop are not disturbed by electromagnetic interferences. But of course, you need some more input here. You're probably wondering now why your laptop should interfere with other devices at all, and how a weird plastic cylinder can prevent that. So here's the more detailed explanation.
Electronic devices, such as your laptop, generate electromagnetic waves that are transmitted by the laptop charging cable and emitted into the environment. These waves can now lead to interference with other electronic devices.
A common example here would be your Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi is transmitting on the same wavelength, you might have problems with the connection. The electromagnetic waves can also cause monitors to flicker or speakers to chirp. These are all issues that we don't want to have, of course.
To prevent these issues from occurring, laptop charging cables are equipped with a ferrite core. This "filter" is situated on the cable, just behind the plug that connects to your laptop. Encased in the plastic cylinder is a ferrite core through which the charging cable runs.
Ferrite is a material that is either non-conductive or minimally conductive, and it absorbs electromagnetic waves traveling through the cable. When the charging cable passes through this cylinder and the ferrite core, it absorbs the electromagnetic waves, preventing them from causing interference with other electronic devices.
So now you know what this funny round thing on your laptop charging cable is and that it actually has a purpose. If your charging cable doesn't have a ferrite core, like on a Mac for example, you don't have to worry. Many newer electronic devices already have these ferrite cores integrated into the device and thus don't need to attach it to the charging cable.
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