As the productivity of mobile devices increases, so does the demand for their power supplies. A standard battery for a phone or smartphone can support the gadget's performance for 2-3 days under medium load conditions. Obviously, this will not be enough if you plan a week-long trip to nature or a trip in which it may not be possible to recharge. For such cases, special devices called powerbank are provided - a portable charger that has a large capacity to power the same smartphones, tablets, cameras, etc.
What is a powerbank?
Externally, such devices resemble the same handsets 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 for finishing the case increases strength, and the first - facilitates the design of the powerbank. A portable charger of this type is only outwardly different from conventional mobile batteries, but it is manufactured according to the same principles. Typically, the filling is a Li-ion element, which is small in size and has a sufficiently high capacity.
However, there are different versions of such drives. The standard version is the one that allows you to charge tablets and smartphones at home via the USB interface. But there are also special modifications, which include the D-Lex Powerbank model - a portable launcher and charger intended for use in the car. This drive is powered by a 12 V car power supply and, thanks to two USB outputs, allows you to charge 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 start the engine.
Main characteristics
When choosing storage batteries, two operational indicators should be taken into account - directly the capacity and charging current. To begin with, it is worth considering the capacity, which averages from 10,000 to 20,000 thousand mAh. For example, one of the best representatives of the segment, the Xiaomi Power Bank device of the Mi modification, provides the user with 16,000 mAh. But here it must be borne in mind that dividing the capacitive potential by the volume of the target battery does not at all give an idea of the complete recharge cycles of the battery. To understand the actual possibility of servicing a mobile device, for example, it is necessary to cut about 30-40% of the received capacity.
As for the current strength, 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. A tablet or a productive camera may also require 3 A. It is advisable to focus on the recommendations of the device manufacturer and select a powerbank for this value. A portable charger with the wrong current can also do its job, but the energy efficiency of this process will be reduced.
Xiaomi models
This manufacturer is a leader in the segment, successfully competing with market giants in the form of Apple and Samsung. Although the Chinese developers do not offer anything fundamentally new, releasing quite traditional and already standardized solutions. The simplest Xiaomi product from this family can be called a 5000 mAh modification. This drive has a modest size of 12.5x5.9x1 cm and a small weight of 156 grams. That is, the device is smaller than many of today's smartphones. More importantly, the Xiaomi Power Bank at 5000 mAh has flat batteries provided with modern surge protection. User interaction with the device is facilitated by the LED indicator of the charge level. If we talk about the shortcomings, then they can safely be attributed to only one single USB-port.
GP Powerbank Series
A rather unusual line, whose representatives can not be called full-fledged powerbank devices. GP models are more likely to be in an intermediate niche between rechargeable drives and chargers. Such devices are designed to recharge the batteries and some versions of batteries separately from the phone. At the same time, the GP Powerbank device itself must be connected to a 220 V outlet during maintenance. The fundamental difference from full-fledged drives is the lack of the possibility of an autonomous charge via USB. Nevertheless, such devices find application. In particular, the GP PB420 modification allows you to simultaneously charge 4 AA and AAA nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Solar PowerBank 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 stopping factors that prevent the mass production from starting. Nevertheless, the Solar PowerBank device with a solar battery has made significant progress in this direction, offering users a new approach to energy supply.
This is an external storage battery, the supply of which does not require a 220 V outlet. The capacity of the 20,000 mAh device is replenished due to solar energy, which makes the device almost free to maintain. But there are also disadvantages to such powerbank models. A portable charger can only be energized in good weather and summer. The rest of the time, you will have to turn to the standard system for filling the container from the outlet.
User's manual
To start working with the drive, you need to connect the target device to the USB interface. The energy filling process will start automatically. The current status of the serviced battery will be indicated by an indicator on the drive’s display. Again, do not forget that the socket for this procedure is not required in this case, since powerbank is a portable charger. How to charge multiple batteries with different amperage? As a rule, models in which several USB outputs are provided provide current of different strengths to each circuit. A common example of a three-channel device is a configuration with 1, 2, and 3 A ports.
Conclusion
Despite the obvious benefits of portable drives of this type, using them as universal assistants is not always convenient. After all, this means that along with the same smartphone you will have to wear an auxiliary unit for charging. Especially in this respect, a powerbank with a solar battery is impractical, which, thanks to the accumulation panels, has rather large dimensions, and also requires being outdoors. Nevertheless, there are times when an additional and independent source of energy is indispensable. This can be not only long trips or trips out of town, but also excessive loads on the smartphone on weekdays, when the charge runs out within a few hours.