Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2025 Poal.co

103

I have a Qi charger and it works OK for its purpose. I thought it would be possible to install it under a table without cutting a big hole. However, my testing shows this isn't possible, at least with the model I have. It's an Insignia 15watt model. It's supposed to have 3 coils of 5 watts each. I've found that I can only lift the phone a few millimeters above the induction coils before it stops charging.

All the furniture mounted models I've seen require a huge hole for their induction coil and you set your device on that.

I was thinking of buying the raw coils with power controller, but I don't want to waste too much time with that if it isn't going to work.

Any thoughts?

I have a Qi charger and it works OK for its purpose. I thought it would be possible to install it under a table without cutting a big hole. However, my testing shows this isn't possible, at least with the model I have. It's an Insignia 15watt model. It's supposed to have 3 coils of 5 watts each. I've found that I can only lift the phone a few millimeters above the induction coils before it stops charging. All the furniture mounted models I've seen require a huge hole for their induction coil and you set your device on that. I was thinking of buying the raw coils with power controller, but I don't want to waste too much time with that if it isn't going to work. Any thoughts?

(post is archived)

You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (10).
[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Holesaw through plywood, thin veneer top allowing wireless charger to work, some aluminum trim round the edges to hide you cheaped out and went with plywood. I built the same wireless charging desk for my nephew.

[–] • 1 pt

I'm guessing that the magnetic field isn't very strong. I'd have to find a circuit with a much stronger field output. I don't want to build something specific for it. Perhaps if I ganged up a few charging circuits and put 12 induction coils, that could do it. Perhaps winding the coils around a ferrite core would strengthen the field. It looks like these chargers don't have a ferrite core.

[–] • 1 pt

No, they're not strong. Wireless charging is already inefficient as all get out, a little space in-between the charge coil and the receiver and it can't transfer enough power to make it worthwhile.

[–] • 2 pts

Just because it cannot be done, doesn't mean we shouldn't do it, right? Maybe a 1KW charging circuit would allow an inch gap. After all, electricity is green. You and your silly efficiency!