How to Charge anywhere
When traveling, you may find yourself needing to charge your phone or tablet. But what happens when you run out of battery? If you’re like most travelers, you probably don’t have access to an outlet. That means you’ll either need to plug into a wall socket or wait until you reach your destination.
But there’s another option available to you: a portable charger. These devices allow you to charge your device without worrying about running out of juice.
So what should you look for when purchasing one? Here are five factors to consider when buying a portable charger for travel.
Power banks are a portable battery pack that stores electricity. They’re usually used to charge mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Power banks aren’t an accessory anymore, it is a must to stay connected and online. They’re convenient because they allow users to charge multiple devices without needing an outlet.
But what exactly makes these batteries special? And how do they work? Let’s find out!
What Are Power Banks?
A power bank is a small, rechargeable battery that stores electricity. These batteries come in various sizes and shapes, depending on the device you wish to charge.
For example, a smartphone may require a smaller battery than a laptop computer.
These batteries are typically made up of lithium ion cells. This type of cell has a higher capacity than alkaline cells, which store less energy.
How Do Power Batteries Work?
When you connect a power bank to a device, the device draws its electrical current directly from the battery. This means that the battery provides the direct current needed to operate the device.
However, most power banks don’t provide a constant voltage output. Instead, they offer a variable voltage output. This means that you can adjust the voltage level of the battery using a switch these apply to the older models. Most new models are automatic.
Why Use A Power Bank?
The main benefit of using a power bank is convenience. Because you no longer need an outlet to charge your device, you can use them anywhere.
For instance, you can use them in hotel rooms, airplanes, and cars.
Since you can charge multiple devices simultaneously, you can save money by purchasing one power bank instead of buying separate chargers for each device.
You can also use them to charge your phone during outdoor activities. For instance, you can use a power bank to charge your phone while hiking or camping.
Using a power bank allows you to charge your phone while you’re away from home. This is especially useful if you want to stay connected while traveling
How much Power should you have?
Check the power chart above, if you see the older phones didn’t need much power, 2.5Watts for the small keypad phones while the iPhone X now needs 18watts and phones screens now are huge so you will need to take that into consideration, the bigger the screen the more power it needs.
Battery Size and Charging | ||
5,000 mAH | 10,000 mAH | 15,000 mAH |
Charge iPhone 1.5X | Charge iPhone 3X | Charge iPhone 5x |
Charge Android 1.5X | Charge Android 3X | Charge Android 5x |
20,000 mAH | 50,000 mAH | 100,000 mAH |
Charge iPhone 6X | Charge iPhone 12X | Charge iPhone 20x |
Charge Android 6X | Charge Android 12X | Charge Android 20x |
Most Powerbanks that say they are higher than 20,000 or 100,000 mAH are probably fake unless they cost you an arm and leg since quality batteries do come at a premium. If you shop online you can see power banks can come really cheap but buyer beware. Buy it from your favorite branded retail shop to get the best possible quality that can last you years.
Power requirements
Understanding your device power requirements, all devices have their recommended charging requirements and each also has their own connector and cable specifications and each one has its own limitations, understanding each one gives you a better chance of buying something good that will last a long time. It’s a mix and match to get the best possible battery pack, cable to fit your phone.
Things to consider when buying a power bank
Size
First, you’ll want to ensure that the charger has enough capacity to handle your needs. This means that you’ll want to choose something that’s big enough to accommodate your device. How many devices do you use and what type of cables do you use also matter when charging.
Charging speed
Next, you’ll want to make sure that the charger offers fast charging speeds. This is especially useful when you’re trying to charge multiple devices simultaneously. You will need to check output of your power bank, is it
Portability
Finally, you’ll want to choose a charger that’s small and lightweight. This allows you to easily pack it in your bag and bring it wherever you go.
Durability
While you won’t necessarily need a rugged case, you’ll still want to choose a charger with a durable design. This helps prevent damage to the charger itself.
Safety features
Lastly, you’ll want to purchase a charger that comes with safety features. Some chargers include built-in surge protectors, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your device.
In addition to these factors, you’ll also want to consider the price of the charger. While some chargers cost hundreds of dollars, others are much cheaper. So shop around to see what works best for you.
Now that you know what to look for when choosing a portable charger, you can rest assured knowing that you’ve made a smart investment.
Power bank Charging
Charging | 1 Device Charging | 2 Devices Charging | 1 Phone + 1 Tabet Charging | Notes on Charging |
2.4 AMP / 12WATTS | yes | slow | very slow | Can charge multiple devices but can be really slow |
3.4 AMP / 17WATTS | yes | yes | slow | Can charge 2 small devices well but will be slow when on bigger devices |
4.8 AMP / 24WATTS | yes | yes | yes | Can charge 2 big devices easily |
Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 2A or 3A 36WATTS | yes | yes | yes | 75% faster than normal charging |
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 2A or 3A 36WATTS | yes | yes | yes | Charge a smartphone up to 50% in 30 minutes 100% faster than QC 1.0 |
Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 3A or 5A 100WATTS | yes | yes | yes | Charge a smartphone up to 50% in 20 minutes based on 2750mAh Can charge Laptop |
Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ 3A or 5A 100WATTS | yes | yes | yes | Charge a smartphone up to 50% in 20 minutes based on 2750mAh Can charge Laptop |
How Many Devices are you using?
Do you have 2 Phones? 1 phone and a tablet? or do you travel with your partner and need 2 ports handy for charging? The more ports the better and the more flexible you are with charging any device. Just make sure you have enough juice to share (check table above)
What is mAh (milliampere hour)?
For rechargeable or non-replaceable batteries, the common unit of measurement is milliampere hour (mAh). The higher the mAh, the longer the battery life. Because almost all batteries have capacities measured in mAh, this is a common unit. mAh (milliampere hour) is a unit of energy measurement dating from 1854. It is equivalent to one ampere hour (A hr).
CABLES ARE IMPORTANT – Quality is a must
Charging phones used to be easy. Plug the cord in, charge the phone, unplug it. Then the market kind of got complicated. Even today, there are a ton of chargers out there, and many do different things. Some charge quicker, some last longer, some use less power. The cable you use to charge your phone is important and matters. It is best to use the best quality when possible to deliver power easily to your phone or device.
Look for cables that can support 2A, 3A or 5A, you know they can take the power without heating up and causing some serious damage. Choose Thicker cables and make sure you shop at certified stores.
Important Notes on Charging your Phone or Powerbank
Here are some things you need to know before shopping around for a power bank, understanding what there terms meet can help you choose the right power bank fit for your device.
Qualcomm Quick Charge
Qualcomm Quick Charge is an ultra-fast charging technology developed by Qualcomm for mobile devices. It differentiates from other charging technologies through its ability to increase efficiency in charging a mobile device using less power.
mAh
mAh (milliampere hour) is a measurement of how much energy a device can drain from a fully charged battery. mAh is often used to compare battery life between devices.
Amp
An amp is the rate of flow of an electrical current.
USB-C
USB-C is a connection standard for USB-C devices. It is designed to provide thinner, lighter, and more power-efficient connections between devices and accessories, such as USB flash drives, printers, and docking stations.
GaN
GaN (gallium nitride) is a compound semiconductor that, when used as an active device, has the potential for very high ‘on’ current but low ‘off’ current, thus occupying less space than silicon, but being able to handle much higher voltages.
USB-PD
USB Power Delivery is a standardized protocol and set of pins for charging and powering devices over USB. It defines how USB power is derived, transmitted, and regulated.
Volts
Volt is a term used in physics to describe the rate at which electric charge flows through an electrical conductor.
USB-A
USB-A is a type of USB connection port that is becoming the standard for connecting USB peripherals and devices. USB-A connectors have 2 contacts, which face outwards (left and right), and the power connection. The USB-A standard is also being adopted for power connections
Lighting Connector
Lightning connector (also known as the Lightning port, Lightning connector, or simply Lightning) is a proprietary, reversible, 30-pin dock connector for Apple Inc.’s line of electronic devices.
Why Quality matters when you buy a power bank
The power bank is used to charge your phone when you need it, what is inside that matters. Buying a good quality power bank gives your the following benefits.
- Durability and peace of mind
- Efficiency
- Over-current protection
- Overvoltage protection
- Charge and Discharge protection
- Heat Protection
Cheap doesn’t mean Sulit
What matters is what is inside and that is what you don’t see, good rechargeable batteries come at a cost and since you don’t see what goes into those cheap branded powerbanks, you don’t know the quality and if they will last you til the end of the year. That is why you should go with trusted brands.