The lightsabers wielded by the legendary Jedi Knights and Sith Lords of the Star Wars universe are by far the most beloved and recognisable props from the franchise. These energized plasma blades have become a relevant part of pop culture, and many fans of the franchise now own (or wish to own) replicas of the weapon.
Lightsaber replicas come with highly immersive and realistic features (like blade lights, visual effects, and motion-sensitive sounds) that make their owners feel as if they are wielding a real life lightsaber.
However, just as the lightsabers in the movies needed a power source (kyber crystals and diatium power cells) in order to work, replica lightsabers need to be powered too. In this post, we shall be taking a look at how replica Star Wars lightsabers are powered and the important role a lightsaber charger plays in empowering your weapon.
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How are Replica Lightsabers Powered?
Many of the realistic replica lightsabers we have on the market today require batteries to function. This is mostly due to the various electronic components and sophisticated features that come with these lightsabers. Features like blade lights and authentic sound effects require LED strips and electronic soundboards, both of which are powered by batteries.
The batteries that are used for replica lightsabers are of two main types: alkaline batteries (AA or AAA batteries) and Li-ion batteries. The alkaline batteries are removable and can be changed out when they run out of power. The lightsabers that use these types of batteries typically have removable battery holders placed inside their hilts.
Li-ion batteries, on the other hand, are non-removable. They are usually built into the hilt of the lightsaber and charged through ports. These charging ports are typically found on the side of the lightsaber hilt. A lightsaber that uses this type of battery would usually come with a charging cable or a charger.
The Role of a Lightsaber Charger
A lightsaber charger plays a role in the amount of usage and fun you get out of your lightsaber. The last thing you want is for your lightsaber to run out of power mid-battle like Mace Windu’s did in the Star Wars novel, shatterpoint. Owning a lightsaber charger can help you avoid this.
Your lightsaber’s charger performs the very important function of powering up your weapon and ensuring that you get the best experience out of using your lightsaber. It is what keeps the important electronics and saber features working.
How to Recharge Your Lightsaber’s Battery
Alkaline Batteries
Although certain AA and AAA batteries can be recharged with a special type of charger, most need to be replaced. To replace your saber’s alkaline batteries, start by getting the recommended battery type (you can check your saber’s manual for this), then proceed to open up your lightsaber. You will also need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this, as the procedure for opening up the lightsaber may differ based on the model. You may end up needing to remove certain screws or clips that join the saber.
After opening the saber, take the old batteries out of the battery holder and replace them with the new ones while making sure that the positive and negative sides of the batteries align correctly with the positive and negative terminals inside the battery holder.
Once the batteries are installed, close the lightsaber and make sure that all the clips and screws you removed earlier are put back securely.
Li-ion Batteries
For lightsaber models that use built-in Li-ion batteries, charging is quite straightforward. All you need to do is plug the lightsaber’s charging cable into the port located on the side of its hilt. Depending on your saber’s model, charging can last between 2 to 8 hours. The saber should come with an indicator for displaying the charge level.
Conclusion
A lightsaber charger plays a very important role in empowering your lightsaber. A good quality charger is what keeps your weapon powered up and ensures that you continue to enjoy the ‘immersiveness’ and thrill of using it.
