How to choose and where to buy portable chargers (power banks) for your phone and other electronic gadgets? Portable charger (power bank). Criterias of choice
Greetings to all readers of my blog! We continue to disassemble portable batteries. The cost of a good Power bank is significant enough to put up with a rapid loss of performance. To extend the life of your device, you need to know how to charge a power bank correctly. We will talk about this today, and also analyze the situation when the Power bank does not charge: what to do, how to identify the cause and try to eliminate it yourself.
Charging the power bank correctly
To begin with, the new power bank needs to be “pumped”. First of all, we charge the battery to 100% (according to the rule, you should receive a portable device with 70 - 80% charge). It is not possible to pre-discharge new modern batteries, as was previously recommended. Next, be sure to carry out 2 - 3 cycles of complete discharge and charging to 100%. Such manipulations will allow you to “boost” the maximum possible battery capacity.
The next important recommendation on how to properly charge a power bank is to always “fill” the “energy storage” 100% and not immediately disconnect it from the network for “trickle” charging. It is carried out at low current strength, after the 100% indicator on the case lights up. The beginning and end of this process can be monitored using a USB tester. When a value of 0.1 - 0.05 A appears on its display instead of 1 - 1.5 A, then “drip” charging has begun. The battery will be charged to maximum if you wait until it resets.
You should not allow your portable battery to constantly discharge completely. It must be connected to the power supply when the critical threshold of 20% is reached. At the same time, there are two ways to charge the device: from a stationary 220 V electrical outlet via an AC adapter and from a computer via a USB cable. The first method is the fastest and most preferable. At the same time, there is the concept of calibrating a battery, which implies completely discharging it. To prevent various malfunctions, such calibration should be carried out once every 3 months.
The battery charge level is displayed on an LED indicator (the more lights are on, the higher the charge) or on the display (shows the exact percentage). It is recommended to always allow the power bank to “feed” completely. Short-term recharging is harmful to a lithium-ion battery, despite manufacturers' assurances that there is no memory effect. It’s unfortunate, but such an effect exists, and such irresponsible handling of the device will lead to the inability to charge it 100% in the future.
Another common question from buyers is how long does it take to charge an external battery? There is no universal answer for all models, since the time depends on the energy intensity, the presence of an additional fast charging function, and the current strength in the network (more precisely, on the value that your adapter produces). If we talk about 5 or 10 thousand units for smartphones, then they require an average of 12 hours of recharge. High-quality models with a capacity of 20,000 mAh for laptops are equipped with a fast charging function and, surprisingly, require only 3 - 4 hours. You will, of course, find more detailed and accurate information regarding the purchased device in the user manual or operating instructions.
What to do if the portable battery does not charge?
When we connect the power bank to an electric current source, the indicator immediately lights up and flashes until the process is completed. At the same time, there is no need to constantly wake up at night in order to promptly disconnect the charging gadget from the network. Most models have overcharge protection and automatically turn off when the battery is completely full.
But what to do if the real situation does not develop according to the manufacturer’s scenario? Why did an external battery that had been in service for a month suddenly stop charging? The most common reason, according to service center specialists, is a break in the wiring in the port socket. As a result, you insert the cable into the connector, but no current flows. There is one way to fix such a malfunction - solder the contacts.
If the device (especially one ordered via the Internet) does not even turn on upon first inspection, then most likely it is completely discharged, so you first need to charge it.
Many users encounter this problem when the power bank takes too long to charge (for example, 10 hours with a capacity of less than 5 mAh).
You need to look for the problem in the following:
- low-quality network adapter that produces low current output (less than 1 A);
- thin cable that loses a large percentage of current;
- controller malfunction;
- the contacts in the connector move away (current flows in and then stops flowing);
- poor quality assembly (when it’s easier to throw it away and not have to suffer).
You can try to eliminate some causes yourself (take another adapter with a good cable, disassemble and solder the broken contacts), but without certain basic knowledge it is better to contact a specialist.
Very often, a cheap power bank from a dubious manufacturer not only charges slowly, but also discharges disproportionately quickly. There can be two options here: either the battery capacity is outrageously lower than declared (and instead of the expected 12,000 you actually have about 6,000 mAh), or one or more parallel-connected batteries inside the case turned out to be poorly sealed and simply came off (as a result there is a noticeable loss of capacity).
A power bank should ensure our comfort and mobility (this is its essence), but for this we must take care of it and not forget about the operating rules: store for a long time with a charge level of about 50 - 80%, avoid prolonged hypothermia, do not leave in room with high humidity. Before you begin troubleshooting any problems, you should evaluate all the risks (especially when working with Chinese counterfeits). I hope I helped you understand the issues of charging a power bank in order to avoid its premature failure. Subscribe to blog updates - share interesting information with friends on social networks and get to know the technology around us better.
What to do if the power bank does not charge your phone?
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Thank you for your attention! See you again on my blog. Sincerely, Rostislav Kuzmin.
So finally you have mobile charger (Power Bank).
Congratulations! Buy Power Bank in Ukraine- a very correct decision!
(If you are just thinking about such a purchase, where will you order)
Of course, you would like the charger to last as long as possible and keep your gadgets happy forever. To do this, you need to know some of the features of Li-Ion batteries and follow a few simple rules of use:
1. After purchasing an external battery, immediately charge it fully.
The ideal charging process (both the PowerBank and the battery of your phone/tablet) also includes the so-called “trickle” charging - charging the gadget for some time after the indicators show that the device is 100% charged, while the charge continues very weak current.
Special applications have been created for smartphones and tablets that recognize “drip” charging:
http://bit.ly/battery-doc - for Android
http://bit.ly/battery-doc2 - for Apple (the application is no longer available in the AppStore)
Previously, to find out when the “drip” charging was over, you needed special measuring equipment (ammeter, voltmeter - tester). How all this equipment works is known to a rather narrow circle of radio amateurs, and not everyone wants to delve into all these details (even for the sake of increasing the life of the batteries).
That is why they have become such a joyful and saving novelty for everyone.
With this little device you can see not only the voltage and current, but also the amount of Ah (amp/hour - the unit of capacity for all batteries) that has passed through USB tester. Therefore, you will always know the condition of the battery of your phone, tablet or, since we are talking about a Power Bank, Power Bank capacity.
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Usually Power Bank charging The current is 1-1.5A. The closer to the end of charging, the lower the number of Amperes. “Drip” charging is 0.1-0.05A. To ensure that your battery has maximum capacity for as long as possible, wait until trickle charging is complete. As soon as your USB tester will show 0.00A - charging is completely completed and the device can be disconnected from the network.
2. In order for your Power Bank to reach its maximum capacity, you need to do 2-3 full charge/discharge cycles.
Also, if in the future the Power Bank begins to discharge faster than usual, it is worth repeating this cycle of 2-3 repetitions and thereby rewriting the battery statistics.
3. ALWAYS charge Li-Ion batteries to 100%!
Try to never stop charging prematurely - only after the battery is 100% charged. Yes, many will say that “modern Li-Ion batteries do not have a “memory effect.” Yes, manufacturers also claim this. But, based on our practice and experience, this is not entirely true: in Li-Ion batteries this effect is much less, but still present (this applies to phones and any other gadgets).
4. Do not completely discharge the PowerBank (to 0%)
Modern Li-Ion batteries that come with mobile batteries don't require this. Moreover, their constant discharge to 0% reduces their service life. Charge the Power Bank when it still has 10-20% charge.
In external chargers With a percentage indication of the discharge/charge level, this is very easy to find out; in devices with LED indication, you will have to do it “by eye”.
(devices with % indication can be found )
5. This point contradicts the previous one, but nevertheless it is also very important: completely discharge the battery from time to time (once every 1-3 months).
This allows you to reset the charge limits (upper and lower - calibrate the Power Bank).
6. If you do not plan to use the external battery for a long time, discharge it by about half.
Storing a fully charged (as well as a completely discharged) battery is very harmful to it and significantly reduces its service life.
7. Use only original network adapters or those that have the required characteristics (if PowerBank It is recommended to charge with a current of 2A, then use a charger that gives 2A).
It’s worth mentioning separately about network adapters: They're in real trouble. Finding one that produces the declared current is a very difficult task. Even if you buy an expensive adapter in a company store, very often you will get not 1A, but 0.5A at the output. And that’s half the problem (it’s just that your phone/tablet will take 2-4 times longer to charge). It is much worse if in fact it produces a much higher current and does not smooth out significant voltage surges - this can already greatly reduce the battery life of your gadget, and sometimes even lead to its failure.
The problem is that if you don't have a USB tester, you have no way of knowing whether your charge is normal or not. The phone is charging - everything seems to be in order. This is exactly what unscrupulous manufacturers and sellers are counting on (the same can be said about cables - even if charging produces 1A, a poor quality cable can lose up to 80% of the current, and you, again, will have no way of knowing about this without a tester).
This is why we almost always recommend that our clients order a USB tester right away. This purchase will pay for itself more than once! Here you will find various : more expensive and cheaper, more and less informative. But no matter which one you choose, it will be one of the most useful and smartest purchases you make!
Speaking of adapters:
For a long time we did not sell them at all precisely because of this: we could not find a reliable supplier who had good and (which is very important) constant quality. However, customers kept asking, and we never stopped looking. After many test purchases we managed to find it. Now you will find many high-quality original 2. AC charger UGREEN QC3.0 Qualcomm CD122 (1 USB) - Apple certified, supports Qualcomm 3.0 fast charging mode (1 Output)
And at the present stage it is used everywhere. Of course, it also needs charging regularly. If you purchase a power bank, how to charge its correct and what is the charging method better - this will always be important to know.
How can you charge a power bank using different methods?
A large number of such portable devices are now being produced. To understand how to charge correctly power bank of this or that model, you need to carefully read the . Please note that different models charging with certain features and nuances.
The most popular method is charge power bank just from the network. In order to connect power bank to the network, it is possible to use telephone chargers. Considering that the average time during which the device will be fully charged is 4-5 hours, it is better to leave it online at night and turn it off in the morning.
Sometimes novice users ask, Which The best charging method is network or using USB -cord from the computer? Any direct connection to the network will help “power” your device much faster than USB -port. Although practice shows that for many, connecting a power to a computer is much faster and easier. To charge the power bank from a PC, you just need to connect the supplied cord to the computer.
As for the popular question about whether it is possible charge the device in the sun - You should not make such mistakes if your power is not equipped with a solar battery. Such devices can be found on sale, but they are not cheap and are much less common than standard models.
If you have a device such as a “cigarette lighter” in your car, it is possible to directly power your power. In this case, charging occurs when the car starts moving. By the way, there is another method that for some reason is still not very actively used.
You can quickly recharge the power bank from the mobile phone itself - models with the ability to use them as an external battery device have already appeared on sale.
Determining whether the power bank is charged
How to understand that the power bank is charged? Finding out the charging percentage when using standard power supplies is easy thanks to the divisions or numbers that show the quantitative percentage of charge. When power bank fully charged, the indicator light begins to blink, or the number 100 appears on the display (depending on the device model). On simple external batteries everything is much simpler due to the fact that there are only two indicator lights.
When the power bank is fully charged, the system will automatically disconnect it from the mains power.
Power bank charging time
How long does it take to charge a power bank? The average time is 4-5 hours. Although there are already models on sale that require a minimum time of 3.5 hours to fully charge. For example, power bank xiaomi pro capacity of 10,000 mAh (we'll talk about it below). It used to be that the larger the battery capacity, the slower it charges. But now new production technologies make it possible to minimize this disadvantage.
It is recommended to always charge the power to 100%, completely. When this indicator has already been reached, you should not rush to disconnect the device from the network. You need to hold it for about an hour more so that it receives the necessary drip charging using low currents. It is this that contributes to the long-term preservation and maintenance of the maximum level of power bank capacity. By the way, there is a special application on the Internet designed to track the drip charging process. It is suitable for both Android-based smartphones and Apple.
Do I need to charge a new power bank?
There are many different opinions on this matter. Some say that this is not of fundamental importance. However Manufacturers recommend charging a new power bank completely , taking into account the time allotted for “drip” nutrition chargeable low current devices.
Many online sources say that the power banks, which are now supplied with all models of power banks, do not have a “memory effect”. But practice shows that this is not always the case. If you look at it objectively, lithium batteries still have a “memory effect”. But it is less pronounced than with older batteries. Therefore, you should run the new power through several charge-discharge cycles immediately after purchase.
Do not completely and deeply discharge the power bank. : Li-ion batteries are very sensitive to this. Make sure that your device is not discharged more than 10-20%.
A full charge-discharge cycle can be carried out no more than once every two to three months. This will help adjust the operation of the power bank so that the capacity of its batteries is maintained at an optimal level.
Which charger is right for you?
Both manufacturers and experts unanimously agree that for this you should always use only the charger that is suitable for the power, matching its technical characteristics. You should not skimp on chargers and purchase temptingly cheap models that can cause the power bank to fail.
Why is the power bank not charging?
If the power bank is not charging and has stopped working, the reason may be that it is equipped with a controller that is not of very high quality. There can be two options here: either the device simply “blinks” but does not work, or the power bank does not turn on - that’s all. What to do in this case and is it possible to fix the power?
If the device stops charging at all and cannot charge even if it is plugged in longer than usual, this means that the controller simply “does not see” the remaining charge level and does not start the battery “to start”. For such a controller, the energy inside the battery simply does not exist.
Therefore, for the future: never discharge “budget” Chinese devices to zero, but make sure that they have at least a minimum amount of charge left. The controller cannot detect the remaining energy level in the battery, so the power bank cannot turn on and function fully.
In this case, there is no point in keeping it on charge for a long time: the controller will still not start it without an additional stimulus. This is the most common reason why the power bank does not charge. This problem can be solved in a simple way: you need to remove the discharged battery from the device and briefly connect the power wires to the contacts. It is necessary for the battery to be charged “directly” a little. This energy is quite enough to “launch” it. And do not be afraid that this method will render the battery unusable. Practice shows that many power sources that were charged in this way did not fail and even began to work better.
If you don’t have suitable wires at hand, but have an unnecessary electronic lighter, you can borrow the wires from it after tinning them first. Then the power body is carefully disassembled with a knife, and the battery itself is removed. You don’t have to touch the board; handle it as carefully as possible so as not to damage it. Connect the wires to the contacts, and the power source can be a new AA battery, to which the wires are actually connected.
Keep the power bank battery on such an impromptu charge for thirty minutes. After this, the controller should “see” the charge of the battery. When this happens, proceed to charge the device as usual. You can put the case back together using simple superglue.
Power bank model from Xiaomi: breakthrough in charging time
Not long ago, a new power bank from the famous Chinese company Xiaomi was released, which can be charged in no more than 3.5 hours. At the same time, its declared capacity is 10,000 mAh. This device has a universal cable with which you can properly charge not only the X itself. iaomi power bank pro, but also any other gadget suitable for it. This power supply supports fast charging function, or fast charge 2nd generation. He not only fast charges the gadget connected to it, but also charges itself. This is how the entire power bank is charged in 3.5 hours.
A universal cable with which you can charge the power bank itself, has the ability to connect to type C- port, network or computer. If you need to charge any device that has a Type C port, insert this port into USB power bank - and charge it. In case you need to charge a device with micro USB-output, but there is no cable from it, just remove the large attachment and get micro USB-adapter. When purchasing such a power supply, we purchase a universal cable with an adapter, as well as an automatic voltage selection function.
Progress does not stand still. There are Xiaomi power banks with much larger capacities.
Thus, if you have a power bank, how to charge it is correct and how much time is needed for this becomes quite clear, and the appearance on the market of new, more “advanced” models can significantly reduce the actual charging time - if the device has significant indicators of actual capacity. In order to carry out the charging process correctly, do not forget to use the recommendations that the manufacturer always gives in the attached instructions.
A power bank is a device used to charge gadgets when there is no power supply. Their connection occurs via a wire connected through the built-in USB port. However, in order to give charge to other devices, the Power Bank itself must first be charged.
Basic ways to charge Power Bank
When planning to purchase this device, you should ask how to charge this particular model and how to use it correctly. Despite the ease of operation, any model may have some differences and nuances. In order for the device to last a long time, you need to learn how to properly charge the Power Bank portable charger by looking at the instructions.
From a 220V outlet
The main question that interests buyers is whether it is possible to charge a power bank using electricity, because this charging method is the most convenient and familiar. To do this, you will need to purchase a network adapter - you need to buy it separately; it is not included in the Power Bank package.
Since the external battery is designed for smartphones, it is logical to use a telephone charger for charging from the network. Given that the standard charging time for an external battery with a capacity of 4000 mah - 5000 mah is 4-5 hours, it is most convenient to plug it into the network at night. Charging from the network is much faster than via a USB port.
From computer via USB
The simplest option that makes it convenient for every user to charge a Power Bank is a computer. To do this, you just need to connect it to a working device using a cable via a USB connector. Charging occurs during its operation unnoticed by the owner.
From the energy of the sun
Many users are interested in whether it is possible to charge a power bank in the sun. This is the most economical and inexpensive way - you just need to place the device in the sun. However, it is only suitable for those external batteries that have a solar panel.
From car cigarette lighter and other devices
Users are interested in the question of whether it is possible to charge from an outlet in the car. Car enthusiasts who have a cigarette lighter in their car can charge the Power Bank while the car is moving. Another charging method is from a mobile phone. Mobile gadgets have appeared on the market that also serve as an external battery.
How do you know if the external battery is charged?
How do you know if the power bank is charged? The standard device has 4 divisions indicating the amount of charge - 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%. The last indicator blinks when the battery is fully charged. However, the simplest budget models may have one or two indicators. When fully charged, the system will turn off the device automatically - there is no need to monitor the charge.
How long does it take to charge a Power Bank?
The time directly depends on two factors: battery capacity and charging method. The standard 5000 mAh capacity when connected to the network will require 5 hours to be fully saturated. If the capacity is twice as large, the time required for charging will also increase. Other methods take much longer; you can only find out how much you need to charge a power bank from a computer or car cigarette lighter by trial and error. The solar-powered device takes the longest to take energy out of thin air.
Features of charging Power Bank
The device must be charged until it is fully, 100% charged. However, when this indicator is reached, you should not rush to turn it off - experts recommend leaving it on for about another hour. At this time, “drip charging” occurs with a weak current, allowing you to maintain the maximum battery capacity for as long as possible.
You can track drip charging if you install an application specially created for this purpose - for Android and Apple.
Fully charge after purchase
There are different opinions on how best to charge a power bank after purchase. Some users argue that this moment does not matter. Manufacturers recommend that the purchased external charger, regardless of its charge level when purchased, be charged to 100%. It is important not to ignore drip charging.
Several charge/discharge cycles at the beginning of operation
When purchasing a Power Bank, you need to “boost” the battery - completely discharge and charge the battery. The same technique can be used if there is a faster than usual discharge.
3 or 4 full cycles of discharging and charging will rewrite the battery statistics.
Always charge your external battery to 100%
Users and manufacturers unanimously claim that modern Li-Ion batteries do not have the disadvantage of the previous ones - the memory effect. Nevertheless, experience shows that this effect still exists, although it is less pronounced than with other types of batteries. Therefore, charging an external battery can be interrupted only in the most extreme cases, and in other cases, wait until the charge is fully 100% and withstand the trickle charging period.
Why can't you completely discharge the battery?
However, it is not recommended to constantly completely discharge the device to zero - this will shorten the battery life.
You need to charge the battery when the charge level drops to 10-20% charge.
Depending on the model, this can be recognized by the indicators, seen on the screen, or determined by eye by the LED indication.
Sometimes it needs to be discharged
If you do not use the battery for a long time, then...
If you do not plan to use the external charger for a long time, it should be left to “rest” half charged. Full charging and discharging will negatively affect the service life.
Use original chargers
What kind of charger should I use to charge the Power Bank - any or a special one? It is extremely important to use original chargers for this device!
If this is not possible, it is important to choose those that match the characteristics of the Power Bank. Buying cheap accessories can result in expensive gadget repairs.
Avoid overheating the device
It cannot be charged in direct sunlight (except for models with a solar battery). You also need to make sure that it does not lie on the battery or running gadgets, or near a heating radiator.
In order for the Power Bank to serve for a long time, it is important to ensure that it does not overheat.
Conclusion
It is important not to use the Power Bank in the cold - low temperatures significantly reduce the battery capacity. If all operating rules are followed, an external charger can serve its owner for a long time, for example, such well-known manufacturers as Xiaomi, Yoobao, Pineng provide a guarantee of 500 cycles, which equates to 7-8 years of active use.
Using a mobile charger is an excellent solution for a long trip or outdoor recreation. In order for the capacity to last for a long time and to be able to constantly recharge gadgets, you need to know some of the features of charging and using an external battery. Power banks are built on the basis of Li-Ion batteries, taking into account the properties of which, you can extend the life of the equipment.
Features of Power Bank charging
- Regardless of the charge level when purchasing, fully charge the external battery immediately. At the same time, it is better not to disconnect it from the network quickly, after reaching the 100% mark. The process when the battery is charged, but is still connected to the network for some time and is powered by a weak current, is called “trickle charging” and is considered correct.
- To achieve maximum capacity, completely discharge and charge the battery 3-4 times. This method is suitable when you begin to notice that the device begins to lose charge faster.
- Regardless of whether you charge from an adapter from a wall outlet or from a computer’s USB port, use only original chargers, paying attention to the amperage indicated on the battery and charger: they must match. As a rule, these values can be found in instructions or in product cards of online stores, for example, here http://www.moyo.ua/acsessor/acum/accu_univers/.
Correct use of devices
To extend the life of your external battery, try to always charge it to 100%. For Li-Ion batteries, the absence of memory effect is stated, but practice shows its minimal presence in phones, tablets and external chargers. Constantly completely discharging to 0% negatively affects the battery; make it a rule to connect power to the device when the level drops to 10-20%. It is recommended to perform a complete discharge once every couple of months - to reset the charge limit. For prevention, you can calibrate the battery from time to time. When you know that the battery will lie idle for the near future, it is better that it has about half a charge. Storing a charged or discharged battery will also reduce its life. Make sure that the Power bank does not overheat either in the sun or when exposed to other factors, or while lying down while charging.
In order to be able to use your favorite gadget without worrying about the lack of an outlet nearby, choose an external charger with a larger battery capacity and follow simple operating rules. This will significantly increase the quality and service life.
