Power Banks 101 - What You Need To Know
Found in the pockets of millions around the world, power banks are a must-have accessory for phones, tablets, and other smart devices. Despite their popularity, not everyone is clear about how power banks work or are familiar with the technology inside them. So if you cannot tell input from output or USB Type-C from Type-A, read on for our no-nonsense guide to understanding the technology found in your portable charger.
Battery Size
If you are still unsure what a portable charger is, it’s a compact device that houses a battery that can be used to charge a digital device like a phone, tablet, digital camera, laptop, mp3 player, or any other USB-powered product. Portable chargers are not all the same and one of the things that distinguishes them is the battery size. Naturally the larger the battery, the more times your smart device can recharge. For example, a portable charger with a 3350mAh battery might only charge an iPhone X once. On the other hand, a far larger device with a 27000mAh battery can charge the same iPhone 7 times.
Output
A device that charges with 1 amp can be used with a 1A output charger and will charge at a normal speed and within a standard time. However, if charging an iPad, a portable charger with a 1A output will take double the time. This is because an iPad requires 2 amps to charge, which means a 2A charger or above is needed. When there are multiple outputs on a power bank, it is common to find 2.4A, 2.1A, and 1A outputs together. With simultaneous charging across all three of those ports, all devices, no matter their charging amplitude, can power up.
Input
Input on the other hand refers to charging the power bank itself. Similar to speed limitations on output charging, the input charging speed is dependent on the type of wall charger used. A standard wall charger that provides a 2A output would recharge the power bank twice as fast as one with only 1A. However, this requires that the portable charger support a 2A input. The vast majority of power banks currently do not support that. That said, with technology advances, the recharge speed of most power banks has increased. While 1A has long been the standard input, 2A is becoming more and more common.
Quick Charge
Qualcomm’s rapid charging technology has proven to be the current fastest recharge speed on the market. Now in the third generation of their Quick Charge series, devices with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor require only 5 minutes of charging to get back 5 hours of battery life. It is so fast that it can get 66% of your phone battery back in only 27 minutes. Power banks with Qualcomm Quick Charge technology are not limited to faster output rates. The technology allows for a faster input meaning you can get a rapid recharge that is even quicker than the already fast 2A input.
UBS Power Delivery
USB Power Delivery (or PD, for short) is a single charging standard that can be used all across USB devices. Normally, each device charged by USB will have their own separate adapter, but not anymore. Instead, one universal USB PD will be able to power a wide variety of different devices. Three reasons why more and more power banks (and other devices) are relying on USB PD are:
- Increased standard power levels to up to 100W. This means your device will be able to charge much faster than before.
- Power direction is no longer fixed. In the past, if you plugged your phone into the computer, it would charge your phone. But with Power Delivery, the phone you plug in could be responsible for powering your hard drive.
- Ensures devices are not overcharged and will only provide the necessary amount of juice needed. While most smart phones won’t be able to take advantage of the added power, many other devices and computers will be able to.
USB Type-C
The latest in USB technology is USB Type-C. Relatively new, the reversible head and smaller size stand in contrast from the older yet familiar USB Type-A. Type-A, of course, being the standard USB input nearly all charging cables use. While power banks have traditionally catered for USB Type-A inputs, the latest power banks support USB-C as it slowly becomes the newest standard for transferring and charging. When recharging with USB Type-C, a 20100mAh power bank will take just 4 hours to be recharge. Conversely, charging with a standard 1A charger can take close to 30 hours. What is even better is that USB Type-C compatible portable chargers can power the latest MacBook as fast as the original 30W charger so you can have mobile charging on the go wherever you are. In addition, if you are charging your Nintendo Switch then you will need a USB-C charger and cable.
Please note: An appropriate USB Type-C charger and USB-Type C cable are necessary to achieve these speeds.
Protections
Carrying a little device with serious power might raise a few safety concerns. Even airlines limit flying with portable chargers that exceed battery limits. Thankfully, any external battery charger worth purchasing comes with a bare minimum of safety protections to safeguard your devices. These protections help to prevent malfunctions or more serious safety risks. Mandatory protections include over-charge and short-circuiting, with extra protections needed depending on the battery size. These extras include over-discharge, surge current, surge voltage, over-current, high temperature, a safe reset mechanism, reverse connection, and EMF protections. An exhaustive list? Yes, but all have useful purposes, especially if you do not handle or charge your external battery correctly.
Extras
Not found in every portable charger, these extras can enhance the user experience making for greater convenience or improved safety:
Built-In AC Pins: For those travelling, power banks with built-in AC pins require you to connect to a socket to recharge; saving you from bringing a cable and a wall charger.
Waterproof or Shockproof Protections: In addition to internal protections, power banks also contain durable outer protections in the form of one-cast casing, or thicker, rugged hard shells. It is very useful as a safety precaution, especially if used daily.
AC Output Less common but still a feature found in incredibly powerful chargers, a built-in AC output can power 110V home appliances so you can be mobile with your favorite gadgets. A favorite for those that fly drones.
Parting Words
Portable chargers are not hard to understand — simply connect your phone, tablet, or other device and charge. However, they contain technology that might not be clear to everyone. We hope now that you can tell the key differences between input and output, or Power Delivery or Quick Charge technology. Happy charging.
RAVPower is a portable charging brand providing power to millions around the world. For power banks, wireless chargers, and more visit RAVPower’s Official Website or check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Blog channels.
