How to choose a power bank: important characteristics

A power bank has become a real necessity in times of war and power outages. It will help to extend the charge of a smartphone or laptop when there is no way to recharge them.

When choosing a power bank, it is important to pay attention to the capacity, size, weight, and some other technical characteristics of the device. OBOZREVATEL has collected the best tips for choosing a power bank.

Capacity

The capacity of the power bank should be sufficient to charge the gadget. It is measured in milliampere hours. Experts say that you should take into account the energy consumption during conversion because it is lost even in the charging cable that connects your device to the power bank.

For example, the power bank says 10000 mAh. This means that the battery supplies a current of 10,000 milliamps for an hour with a certain voltage. But there is a nuance: most batteries in power banks have an output voltage of 3.7 V, while USB requires 5 V. Thus, the power bank undergoes a voltage conversion process.

There is an important rule: 50% of the reserve should be added to the capacity of the power bank. In other words, if you need to charge 5000 mAh, you should choose a 15,000 mAh power bank.

Don't forget that the power bank will self-discharge over time, and this happens faster in cold or too hot conditions.

Size and weight issues

The larger the capacity, the heavier the weight. Please note that a 20,000 mAh power bank will weigh more, so it is unlikely that you will be able to carry it with you every day. For such purposes, pocket models up to 10,000 mAh are more suitable.

As for the appearance, it all depends on your preferences. Rounded edges will allow you to hold the power bank comfortably in your hand, and square models are easier to put down. The power bank should have LED indicators that show how much charge is left.

Charging connector

In the specifications, charging inputs are designated as IN. It's simple: choose a model with a connector that matches your gadget.

According to experts, the USB-C connector will support more power than micro USB or Lightning.

The capacity of the power bank correlates with the time it takes to charge the device. An average device will charge in 2-3 hours, while more powerful models need 8-10 hours.

Charging speed

The power output of a power bank is determined by the charging speed. The output power is calculated by the formula: voltage multiplied by current.

The average voltage of power banks is 5 V. The output current is measured in amperes and is 2 A, but some power banks have a maximum power of 2.4 A. This means that they will charge gadgets faster. Do not choose power banks with an output current of 1 A, they will take too long to charge.

Charging laptops

To charge a laptop, you should choose a power bank with a high output power, which should be equal to the power of the laptop battery.

Make sure that both the laptop and the power bank support Power Delivery.

There are power banks that support pass-through or wireless charging. The latter works if the gadget also supports wireless power. The disadvantage is the slow charging speed.

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