Powerbank, portable charger: description, features, user guides

As the productivity of mobile devices increases, requests for their energy components are also increased. A standard battery for a phone or smartphone can support the performance of the gadget for 2-3 days under medium load conditions. Obviously, this will not be enough if you plan a week trip to nature or a trip in which there may not be a possibility of recharging. For such cases, there are special devices called powerbank - a portable charger, which has a large capacity for powering the same smartphones, tablets, cameras, etc.

What is a powerbank?

Outwardly, such devices resemble those of mobile phones. The standard form factor is a small cylinder or rectangle in which the working filling is placed. As a shell, plastic or metal is used. The second option of finishing the case increases the strength, and the first - facilitates the design of the powerbank. The portable charger of this type only externally differs from the usual mobile batteries, but it is manufactured according to the same principles. As a rule, the filling is made up of a Li-ion element, which is small in size and has a rather high capacity.

In this case, there are different versions of such drives. The standard is the performance that allows you to charge at home through the USB-interface tablets and smartphones. But there are special modifications, which include the D-Lex Powerbank model - a portable start-up charger designed for use in a car. This drive is powered by a 12 V car power network and, thanks to two USB-outlets, allows charging mobile gadgets. This model also features a flashlight and shockproof plastic in the case. If we talk about functionality, then with the help of D-Lex, the driver can also start the engine.

Main characteristics

In the choice of storage accumulators should take into account the two operating indicators - directly the capacitance and charging current. To begin with, it is worth considering the capacity, which averages between 10,000 and 20,000 thousand mAh. For example, one of the best representatives of the segment, the Xiaomi Power Bank Mi modification, provides the user with 16,000 mAh. But here we must take into account that dividing the capacitive potential by the volume of the target battery will not at all give an idea of the complete cycles of replenishment of the battery. To understand the actual possibility of servicing a mobile device, for example, it is necessary to cut off about 30-40% of the received capacity.

As for the current, on average it is 0.5-3 A. The lower level is optimal for modest consumers in the form of low-power phones, smartphones and flashlights. For a tablet or a productive camera, you may need 3 A. It is advisable to focus on the recommendations of the manufacturer of the device and at this amount to select a powerbank. A portable charger with inadequate amperage can also perform its task, but the energy efficiency of this process will be lowered.

Models from Xiaomi

This manufacturer is the leader in the segment, successfully competing with the giants of the market in the form of Apple and Samsung. Although nothing fundamentally new Chinese developers do not offer, releasing quite traditional and already standardized solutions. The simplest product Xiaomi from this family can be called a modification of 5000 mAh. This drive has a modest size of 12.5x5.9x1 cm and a light weight of 156 grams. That is, the device is smaller than many of today's smartphones. What's more, Xiaomi Power Bank for 5000 mAh has flat batteries, provided with modern protection against voltage drops. The interaction of the user with the device is facilitated by the LED-indicator of the charge level. If you talk about the shortcomings, then you can safely be attributed only one USB-port.

GP Powerbank series models

A rather unusual line, representatives of which can not be called full-fledged powerbank devices. The GP models are more likely to be in an intermediate niche between storage batteries and chargers. Such devices are intended for replenishment of a charge in batteries and some versions of accumulators separately from phone. At the same time, the GP Powerbank device must be connected to a 220 V power outlet in the process of maintenance. The main difference from full-fledged drives is that there is no possibility of autonomous charging via USB. Nevertheless, such devices are used. In particular, the modification of the GP PB420 allows simultaneously charging 4 nickel-metal hydride batteries AA and AAA.

Solar Power Bank model

The idea of connecting solar generators to mobile consumers has long been mastered by the largest companies, but in the way of each concept in one form or another there are always stop factors that do not allow the launch of mass production. Nevertheless, Solar PowerBank with a solar battery has made significant progress in this direction, offering users a new approach to energy supply.

This is an external accumulator-accumulator, for which supply it is not required a socket for 220 V. Capacity of the device for 20 000 mAh is compensated for by solar energy, which makes the device practically free in service. But there are disadvantages to such models of powerbank. A portable charger can be filled with energy only in good weather and in summer. In the rest of the time it will be necessary to turn to the standard system of filling the container from the socket.

User's manual

To start working with the drive, you must connect the target device to the USB interface. The process of filling with energy will be started automatically. The current status of the served battery will be indicated by the indicator on the drive's display. Again, do not forget that the outlet for this procedure in this case is not required, since the powerbank is a portable charger. How do I charge multiple batteries with different amperage? Typically, models in which multiple USB outputs are provided, a different current is applied to each circuit. A typical example of a three-channel device is a configuration with ports of 1, 2 and 3 A.

Conclusion

Despite the obvious benefit of portable storage devices of this type, it is not always convenient to use them as universal assistants. After all, this means that along with the same smartphone will have to carry and an auxiliary unit for charging. Especially in this respect, a powerbank with a solar battery is impractical, which, due to the accumulation panels, is rather large, and also requires being on the street. And yet there are cases when without an additional and independent source of energy can not do. It can be not only distant trips or hikes for the city, but also excessive stress on the smartphone on working days, when the charge ends within a few hours.