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My main work laptop charger died in a cafe in Lisbon last Tuesday, right before a big client call.
It was a generic 65W USB-C brick I bought for 30 euros at a tech market in Berlin. Just stopped working, no warning. Had 12% battery left. Had to ask the barista if they had any chargers behind the counter, which they didn't. Ended up doing the call from my phone's hotspot with the phone plugged into a portable power bank, which was not ideal. What's your go-to backup plan for sudden power failures? Do you carry a spare charger, or just rely on power banks?
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victor2666mo ago
My old 30 euro charger from a Berlin market died during a train ride to Hamburg, and I swore off cheap bricks after that. I used to just carry a big power bank, but now I keep a spare 65W Anker charger in my bag at all times. It feels like overkill until you're the guy begging for an outlet with 5% battery. The power bank is still my backup for the phone, but the laptop gets its own dedicated backup charger now.
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richard_wells595mo ago
Yeah, that's the move right there. I learned the hard way too. Had a cheap charger fry itself and my phone port on a bus. Now I keep a good charger and a short cable permanently in my backpack. Never even take it out. It's just part of my gear, like my keys. The peace of mind is worth the extra weight.
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skylerc866mo ago
Forgot my charger once and had to buy a new one at the airport for triple the price. Now I keep a universal plug adapter with a built-in USB-C port in my bag. It's not a charger itself, but it lets me borrow a charger from almost anyone, because it can handle any wall plug shape. Turns a stranger's charger into a temporary solution. Adds almost no weight and has saved me more than once.
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