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.
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.
They use a few cents (in US dollars) a year.
A 2000 mAh battery that is charging at 3.7V for one hour per day uses 2.5kWh of energy per year. About $.50 at ~$.20/kWh. That’s pretty remarkable!
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.
Dr office, no in the waiting room, yes in the exam room. Library, no. Grocery store, yes. Any more?
Airport? Shopping mall? Restaurant? Parking lot? Stadium? Your friend’s house? The office? Classroom? Museum? Cinema?
No, maybe, yes, no, no, yes unless you know better, no, depends how old you are, maybe, no so long as its off/silent.
Also, I’ll note in case anyone forgot, the original question was not “can you?”, but “is it rude?” Which are two different things.
Libraries welcome you to do it! So definitely don’t feel weird there.
I don’t think it matters with a phone/laptop or other small device.
If you plugged in a Tessy that might make some people unhappy.
I wouldn’t bother asking if it’s a 15 min charge for your phone. If you are there for 3 hours, then maybe consider asking.
I don’t think it’s that big of a deal specially if you are just charging your phone.
I’ve literally moved tables in doctors offices to plug my phone in and no one’s ever said anything. The library those outlets are yours. Charge away.
All the examples you gave sound like it’s not a problem just plugging it in 5 minutes or so. But if it makes you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious, a power bank might be the solution to your problems.
If you don’t have to reach or lean over someone, sure. Obviously if you do that would require saying ‘excuse me…’ or asking them to plug it in for you. An open outlet, anyway, is always fair game. If someone needs to use it after you start… they can say something.
No… Never
depends on what it is and where you’re connecting it/who pays the power bill
Carry a power strip and you’ll never have to worry. I learned that in the Marines.
Plugging into any outlet that you do not own or have explicit permission to use is stealing electricity. People with Nissan Leafs used to do this to charge their cars.
Now, a phone charger takes so little electricity you could probably pay them a penny and you’d be overpaying, but stealing is stealing.
Just ask permission first.
While I agree with the sentiment that it is technically stealing. No one should worry about charging their phone in public. Atleast in the region of the US I am located, it costs about 1-2 cents per year to charge your phone. So charging your phone for one sitting would be a miniscule amount of money. Just opening the door of the business and letting the conditioned air out would cost them more.
Obviously cars are an entirely different situation since one charge can be several if not tens of dollars.
While I agree with the sentiment that it is technically stealing. No one should worry about charging their phone in public
It is stealing. It doesnt matter if they’re stealing $0.00001 from someone, they’re still stealing from them. If they ask permission, or if the location has an outlet marked for public use, then its no longer stealing. I have seen charge stations in public, and while I personally would never use those due to my question of their security, people can use those too without stealing.
If a person’s phone battery often runs low when they are away from home, that’s what portable battery banks and car chargers are for. If their phone battery dies in the middle of the day, they can simply stop running a million apps in the background and maybe lower the brightness down from “puts the sun to shame” to something more reasonable. My phone battery lasts all day long, and usually I end the day with 30% battery remaining, and its an LG Wing. Not even a brand new phone and it has two screens.
Will you drink a can of Coke™ lying around a stranger’s house without asking? No? Then, ask for permission as a matter of etiquette unless there are signs specifically saying it is ok to use them.
Well if they had some on tap piped into each wall of their house I would be pretty comfortable with filling up a bottle.
