Over the years, the market of power banks has become so versatile & confusing that it is quite impossible to choose the right one. In this discussion, we will learn some of the most essential criteria of a power bank specifications, that you should consider when you plan to buy a power bank.
What power bank specifications should you check?
Protection
High voltage protection: Instant high voltage can erupt anywhere, anytime. This instantaneous spike can cause severe damage to your electric device. As you are going to charge all your precious devices using a single power bank, your power bank needs to be more precise and protective during any irregular eruption. So, during a power bank purchase, make sure your power bank has high-voltage protection. Usually, every manufacturer mentions this feature in their product listing.
Extreme temperature protection: Lithium-ion batteries are temperature-sensitive. It works optimally in between15°C to 35°C. Excessive temperature over 45°C to 50°Ccan damage the battery entirely. Lithium is explosive in free air, so a damaged battery can explode at any time. So, extreme temperature protection is a must-have feature for every power bank. This feature allows the power bank to change its charging speed according to the temperature increase. It decreases charging speed during high temperatures and increases speed during low temperatures, allowing the power bank to work optimally.
Short circuit protection: Short circuits can cause for many reasons. It can occur due to overload, wear and tear of electric wires, loose connection, or water damage. Short circuit protection helps the power bank to stop current flow during these award situations.
Airline safety:Make sure that your power supply meets airline safety rules. For example, 100Wh is the maximum battery capacity for a single unit that a user can carry during an air flight. Airline authorities can ban a specific product or category of products to maintain safety.
Capacity:
Most consumer power bank’s capacity varies from 10,000mAh to 50,000mAh. If you need more capacity than 50,000mAh, consider a power station rather than a power bank. Here are some use cases of power banks at different mAh ranges.
5,000mAh or less: Best for portability. But you have to sacrifice in terms of capacity. You won’t be able to charge a single phone as most modern smartphones tend to have much larger batteries (usually Android phones). But you can charge your small peripherals such as airphones, earbuds, and portable mics. For small gadgets like this, you won’t like to carry a power bank of a considerable size and heavy weight. So, in this case, small power banks of 5,000mAh or less are the best choice.
Between 5,000mAh to 10,000mAh:Serves both portability and moderate capacity purpose. You can fully charge your smartphone for once and other small gadgets like airphones, earbuds, portable mics, etc. It is an excellent choice for lite users who need to charge just one phone and peripherals.
Between 10,000mAh to 20,000mAh: Good for moderate users. It can easily charge 3 to 4 smartphones. Able to Partially or fully charge (depending on the laptop’s battery capacity) a laptop.
Between 20,000mAh to 30,000mAh:Good for hardcore users. Heavier in weight. It’s not suitable for portability. It can charge 5 to 7 smartphones. Able to Partially or fully charge (depending on the laptop’s battery capacity) up to two laptops.
Between 30,000mAh to 40,000mAh:Great for power users. It’s bulky in size, so there’s zero portability. It can charge up to 10 smartphones. Able to fully charge up to 3 laptops or even more.
Efficiency:
Efficiency indicates how well a power bank can transfer its energy during charging and discharging. So, more efficiency means more energy transfer and less heat. Typically, power banks are rated between65% to 95%in terms of efficiency. High-efficiency power banks generally have efficiency ratings of 80% or higher. This rating can range from 60% to 75% for standard power banks. A highly efficient but low-capacity power bank can easily beat a more high-capacity but low-efficient power bank. A highly efficient power supply generally tends to have less weight than its other counterparts.
Fast charging:
Fast charging technology is a recent development. In the power bank industry, this feature is a recent addition. As power banks tend to have larger batteries, the fast-charging feature helps them to get charged quickly. At the same time, they can recharge other supported devices rapidly. This feature comes in handy when you are short of time. Fast charging support varies from model to model of your power bank, ranging between 20W to 140W or above.
Charging technologies are probably the most essential part of your power bank because they will help you in every way. Some industry standards (for power bank and smartphone) charging technologies are:
iSmart: This helps to increase the battery life span. Basically, specify the battery of your power bank or smart gadgets and then automatically adjust the current, power draw, and voltage. This feature helps the battery to get charged and discharge quickly and efficiently.
Quick Charge (QC): Qualcomm developed battery charging technology that reduces battery charging time dramatically without damaging the battery. For example, a QC 3.0 supported charger (or power bank) can fully charge 3000mAh of battery within 15 to 20 minutes. This technology has several versions, from QC 2.0 to QC 5. For more recent information,visit this official site.
Power Delivery (PD): The USB-IF Association first introduced this technology. PD only works on a USB-type C interface. It is a similar technology like QC but can operate on higher voltage up to 20V. This technology is useful for devices having higher power draw.
Gallium Nitride (GaN):GaN is a chemical element. In terms of charging, it is superior to silicon. GaN is more conductive and doesn’t overheat during charging and discharging. It is also a superior conductor of electricity. GaN also takes less space, meaning it reduces the overall weight of your device.
Multiple Device Compatibility:
Most power banks can charge your smartphone. However, some other devices, like laptops, require specific voltage and power draw. A power supply can only charge a limited number of devices simultaneously. During multiple device charging, output power to the specific device can also vary.
Wireless Charging Support:
Some chargers support wireless charging. This feature could be helpful when charging your small peripherals like earphones or earbuds. Wireless charging wastes too much energy, meaning that, overall, it has lower efficiency. So, you should not use wireless charging to charge smartphones using a power bank.
