What could be more stressful than worrying about running out of battery life? Wonderful mobile technology, such as smartphones, are making our lives easier and more enjoyable, yet we’re all beginning to rely on them. While improvements in battery life have made it possible to charge only once every few days, we still have a ways to go. A power bank is a “plug-and-play” product in every sense of the term, but there are still some things that every user of these devices should be aware of. In any case, they are far more advanced than the majority of us give them credit for. These are some key details about portable chargers that you should memorize before using one again so that you may make better educated decisions when purchasing one.
The Importance of Fast Charging Standards
Everyone with a smartphone from the last several years knows how rapidly they can be charged when plugged into a standard wall outlet. Several power banks really require a whole day to fully recharge, which may come as a surprise to some. There are a number of factors at play here, but if you plan to really utilize your power bank and not just keep it around for emergencies, faster charging times are very necessary. These days, most smartphones and tablets can be charged rapidly using one of several available methods. There are far too many charging standards to list them all here; however, all you need to do is check that at least one of the standards listed as supported by the power bank is the same as the standards provided by your charger. This will drastically reduce the time needed to recharge the batteries.
Despite Appearances, Not All Power Banks Have the Same Capacity
Portable battery packs measure milliampere hours (mAh). Marketing trickery and physics cost extra. Marketing emphasizes battery voltage and device charging input. Lithium cells have 3.7 volts “nominal” voltage. The device must be charged at least five volts because USB requires that voltage to work. Using a mAh to Wh converter, our 10,000 mAh battery bank has 37 Wh at 3.7V. We require 12.5 Wh to charge our phone’s 2500 mAh battery at 5V. We have three complete recharges instead of four. Remember that energy conversion always involves loss. Your power bank’s energy will be lost as heat during the chemical-to-electrical-to-chemical conversion. A portable charger’s “actual” battery capacity is usually two thirds of its 3.7V nominal voltage capacity. Certain battery banks have dual-voltage ratings to facilitate your work.
Pass-Through Charging
It brings up a problem that is related to it. Which of your electronic devices should you charge first if you only have one charger: your portable battery pack or your electronic device? If your portable battery pack supports pass-through charging, you won’t find yourself in a sticky situation like this. These power banks have the capability of drawing electricity from an electrical socket as well as transferring that power to another device. Two electronic devices and one happy charger. That is something that needs to be kept in mind and watched for.
Not quite magic, but definitely usable, battery technology will have to do for now. Now that we have portable power banks, we can take use of sleek electronic devices without worrying about running out of juice while we’re not near an outlet (like in the automobile). There is no need to worry about missing out or running out of juice. With the knowledge gained here, you will be able to make the most of your power bank and reap the benefits of having unlimited power at your disposal.
