@@ Borak Henpon v10 : Powerbank Pilihan Anda?@@

Tashu · Post time 9-3-2015 12:20 PM

QUESTION :
- Am I able to charge my Powerbank using my SAMSUNG and APPLE single USB port wall charger adapter?

ANSWER :
This depends on the built quality of the PCB board in the powerbank. Every powerbank manufacturer differ from one to another thus we do not have a certain answer for this. As for dvalo iPowerstation 5200mAh and 8400mAh, we have tested charging both units using the given cable in the package and it is verified that the iPowerstations can be charged successfully using both of the wall charger as mentioned .

Tashu · Post time 9-3-2015 12:22 PM

Tech Explained - Power Bank Technology

Mobile devices have been lighting up the tech industry over the last few years. Industry report after report highlights increasing demand for mobile at the direct expense of the desktop. Mobile devices, by their very nature, are powered by batteries that have a finite runtime. Ever tried using your smartphone for a couple of days without charge? Travelled without keeping an iPad adapter handy?

The need to keep devices' batteries charged, especially when on the road, has led to an explosion in growth for a nascent technology: mobile rechargeable batteries (MRBs). Often smaller than a pack of cards and able to carry enough juice to charge mobile phones, music players and tablets, via USB, these oh-so-handy peripherals are considered must-haves for anyone with multiple mobile devices, especially for people who don't want to carry multiple chargers around.

Technology, quality, and capacities explained

MRBs can be defined by the battery type, capacity, and output. Most commonly, they are either based on lithium-ion (Li-ion) or lithium polymer (LiPo) technology - the latter tends to be lighter and more flexible in construction. In their most basic form, MRBs use a plastic or metal housing to conceal the battery inside, which is internally connected to USB header(s) that you plug devices into. A separate USB power inlet charges the battery from either the mains supply or via a computer.

As the majority of the cost of an MRB lies with the battery, it makes implicit sense to consider brands that you trust. The cheapest MRBs, usually produced by no-name manufacturers, tend to use batteries of unknown origin, while well-known companies are likely to use branded Samsung cells that have a longer cycle life, faster charging capability, and better safety characteristics.

Capacities are quoted in milliamp-hours (mAh), with higher being better, and one can calculate a constant measure of energy known as watt-hours (WHr) by multiplying the mAh figure by the battery's voltage. For example, a laptop battery running at 11.1V and having a 4,300mAh capacity will produce a steady 47.7WHr.

Do be aware that MRBs tend to define capacity solely by the mAh rating, though it's fairly straightforward to determine the WHr figure as most have a native voltage of either 3.6V or 3.7V. Physical battery and MRB size is inextricably linked to capacity. The smallest tend to have a capacity of below 2,000mAh and are barely larger than a pack of chewing gum while the largest can offer as much as 10,000mAh and are the size of a small digital camera. Putting the size into context, here are three PNY Power Pack MRBs - 2,600mAh, 5,200mAh, and 7,800mAh - next to an iPad and iPhone.

Tashu · Post time 9-3-2015 12:23 PM

The largest PNY PowerPack, rated at 7,800mAh, top-right, weighs just 123g and can easily be stowed away in a small bag. So just how much power can it provide?

Mobile device
mAh capacity
Apple iPhone 5S
1,570
Apple iPhone 4
1,420
Samsung Galaxy S4
2,600
Nokia Lumia 1020
2,000
Apple iPad Air
8,827
Google Nexus 7 (2013)
3,950

Well, even the smaller MRBs are able to charge most smartphones' batteries from empty, while the larger-capacity models can easily charge a Google Nexus 7 tablet or provide enough power to keep an iPad going for another nine hours or so.

Better MRBs, such as the two larger-capacity ones from PNY, have multiple outputs - usually 1A and 2A+ - to enable concurrent, faster charging for multiple devices. This is important if you need to charge both a smartphone and tablet at the same time.

Tashu · Post time 9-3-2015 12:24 PM

PNY, for example, has a digital readout on each Power Pack, letting the user know just how much charge is left in the battery - a handy feature that is not available on some of the competition.

Which MRB is right for you?

Capacity and budget dictates the choice of MRB. For the basic user, who finds that their smartphone is constantly running out of battery after a long day's texting or web-surfing, a 2,000mAh MRB is more than sufficient. Usually costing less than ￡20 and eminently pocketable, it's a must-have product for anyone with a mobile phone.

Stepping it up a notch, people who use their mobile phones all day, usually for work purposes, would be best-served by a mid-capacity MRB - something in the region of 4,000mAh, costing between ￡20-￡30. And for folk who need to charge tablets as well as smartphones on a regular basis opting for a 5,000mAh MRB makes a lot of sense.

Mobile rechargeable batteries are the must-have accessory to anyone who carries a smartphone or tablet on a regular basis. Ensuring that you don't run out of power at a critical moment, more so when not close to a mains power supply, these handy devices make for the perfect gift.

Tashu · Post time 9-3-2015 12:27 PM

What is a "Power Bank" ?
A power bank means a bank which have a lot of power? Haha. Hell no. It's a portable battery bank  that provides energy to keep your gadgets "alive" whenever you need to. The standard capacity of power bank range from 500mAh up to 30000mAh (which I highly doubt. Why? Read on)

If you Google "power bank" , you will see thousands or millions of hit. Reason being, almost all the manufacturer in China are producing power bank! Reason? It's currently the highest demand accessories for smartphones and tablets. And to win the Rat Race, they even sell fake power banks or over claims the capacity of the power bank!

Today, I will share on how to choose a power bank.

Battery
Like I mentioned, power bank is a device that contained batteries. Currently in the market, there are few types of commonly use batteries in power.
Korean batteries (Samsung)
Japanese batteries (Sanyo, Panasonic)
Chinese batteries (china OEM)

The quality of Li-Ion battery differs.
Branded made-in-Japan (eg. Sanyo, Panasonic) one normally has capacity of at least 3100mAh, and comes with 1 year warranty. They have higher price too and won't be chosen to make the cheap power bank selling in the Internet stores. Normally sold in brand such as Sanyo Eneloop power bank in premium store.

Branded made-in-Korea (eg. Samsung) one is quite reliable too. Part number could be ICR18650-30A, ICR18650-28A, ICR18650-26F, ICR18650-26D, ICR18650-24E, ICR18650-24F, ICE18650-22F, etc. 30F means capacity is 3000mAh, 22F means capacity is 2200mAh, and so on. Normally used by Samsung in their own power bank which are sold in Authorized Samsung Store / we store. Find it in www.connect2u.my

Samsung OEM made-in-China Li-Ion battery has 4 grades. The highest A01 grade normally reserved for Samsung own use, while A02, A03 and A04 are made available for customers. Part number could be ICR18650-20, ICR18650-22, ICR18650-24, ICR18650-26, etc. If a power bank claimed to use Samsung batteries, the batteries inside are probably the A02~A04 type. Normally used by Manufacturer to increase the quality of the power banks as its more reliable than the china OEM batteries.

Certain unbranded made-in-china battery were found to have only 1600-1800mAh but also put in the 18650 code and claimed to have 3000mAh. The cheap power banks probably are using this kind of Li-Ion battery. You can find most of these selling in most discounted website such as dealmates, groupons, ebays, Lelong, mudah and various forums.

So the next time you planning to get a power bank, you can ask about the type of battery. Next, the battery capacity.

This is the part that confuses a lot of people. In the market, you can find up to 30,000mAh. Problem is, if a battery can only store up to 3,000mAh, how many do you think they will need to put in a 30,000mAh Battery Pack? 10 batteries? Now, show me a power bank that can store 10 batteries and you will still buy.

So, what comes to your mind? The over claimed the capacity. Ya. And most people fell for it. It's so nice to have a 30,000mAh with to only RM99 to RM129. "Mana mau cari?"

You have doubt on what I said? You think I am just sour grape cos I do not own a big capacity power bank, right? Read on...

Calculation of the Capacity
For your information, although you have a 30,000mAh batteries, due to the leakage and voltage conversion, you can only use about 80% of the maximum capacity. Which means, for a 30,000mAh, you only have around 24,000mAh to charge your devices. But again, 24,000mAh is already a very high capacity and allowed you to fully charge more than 2 times for your iPad or 10 times your galaxy S3. But how many times your power bank can charge? You try and let me know? Full charge means from 0 to 100%.

Battery capacity:
Galaxy S3 - 2100mAh
Galaxy S4 - 2600mAh
Galaxy Note - 2500mAh
IPhone 5 - 1450mAh
iPad 4 - 10,000 mAh

For an iPhone 5, with a 30,000mAh capacity power bank, you should able to fully charge at least up to 15 times! But most of us only able to charge let say 3-4 times?

Your next Question. Then how come my power bank weight as heavy?
My answer? Nah, I can't give you a definite answer unless you open up the power bank but you will end up voiding the warranty, if any.

You think it's a prank? Yes it is. From the manufacturer it is. This is taken by one if the unlucky owner from Taiwan who bought his power bank in china. The source of articles will be posted at the end of this topic.

So, ladies and gentlemen, hope this will help you on making decision on your next power bank. As much as we wanted to get the most value for our money, this are some of the areas I would like you to  consider.