What is important to know when using a power bank. How long does it take to charge an external battery?

So finally you have mobile charger(Power Bank).

Congratulations! Buy Power Bank in Ukraine- a very correct decision!

(If you are just thinking about such a purchase, where will you order)

Of course, you would like the charger to last as long as possible and keep your gadgets happy forever. To do this, you need to know some features of Li-Ion batteries and follow a few simple rules uses:

1. After purchasing an external battery, immediately charge it fully.

The ideal charging process (both the PowerBank and the battery of your phone/tablet) also includes the so-called “trickle” charging - charging the gadget for some time after the indicators show that the device is 100% charged, while the charge continues very weak current.

Special applications have been created for smartphones and tablets that recognize “drip” charging:

http://bit.ly/battery-doc - for Android

http://bit.ly/battery-doc2 - for Apple (the application is no longer available in the AppStore)

Previously, to find out when the “drip” charging was over, you needed special measuring equipment (ammeter, voltmeter - tester). How all this equipment works is known to a rather narrow circle of radio amateurs, and not everyone wants to delve into all these details (even for the sake of increasing the life of the batteries).

That is why they have become such a joyful and saving novelty for everyone.

With this little device you can see not only the voltage and current, but also the amount of Ah (amp/hour - the unit of capacity for all batteries) that has passed through USB tester. Therefore, you will always know what condition the battery of your phone, tablet or, since we are talking about Power Bank, is in. Power Bank capacity.

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Usually Power Bank charging The current is 1-1.5A. The closer to the end of charging, the lower the number of Amperes. “Drip” charging is 0.1-0.05A. To ensure that your battery has maximum capacity for as long as possible, wait until trickle charging is complete. As soon as your USB tester will show 0.00A - charging is completely completed and the device can be disconnected from the network.

2. In order for your Power Bank to reach its maximum capacity, you need to do 2-3 full charge/discharge cycles.

Also, if in the future the Power Bank begins to discharge faster than usual, it is worth repeating this cycle of 2-3 repetitions and thereby rewriting the battery statistics.

3. ALWAYS charge Li-Ion batteries to 100%!

Try never to stop charging prematurely - only after the battery is 100% charged. Yes, many will say that “modern Li-Ion batteries do not have a “memory effect.” Yes, manufacturers also claim this. But, based on our practice and experience, this is not entirely true: in Li-Ion batteries this effect is much less, but still present (this applies to phones and any other gadgets).

4. Do not completely discharge the PowerBank (to 0%)

Modern Li-Ion batteries that come with mobile batteries don't require this. Moreover, their constant discharge to 0% reduces their service life. Charge the Power Bank when it still has 10-20% charge.

In external chargers With a percentage indication of the discharge/charge level, this is very easy to find out; in devices with LED indication, you will have to do it “by eye”.

(devices with % indication can be found )

5. This point contradicts the previous one, but nevertheless it is also very important: completely discharge the battery from time to time (once every 1-3 months).

This allows you to reset the charge limits (upper and lower - calibrate the Power Bank).

6. If you do not plan to use the external battery for a long time, discharge it by about half.

Storing a fully charged (as well as a completely discharged) battery is very harmful to it and significantly reduces its service life.

7. Use only original mains chargers or those that have the required characteristics (if PowerBank It is recommended to charge with a current of 2A, then use a charger that gives 2A).

ABOUT network adapters It’s worth saying separately: They're in real trouble. Finding one that produces the declared current is a very difficult task. Even if you buy an expensive adapter in a company store, very often you will get not 1A, but 0.5A at the output. And that’s half the problem (it’s just that your phone/tablet will take 2-4 times longer to charge). It is much worse if in fact it produces a much higher current and does not smooth out significant voltage surges - this can already greatly reduce the battery life of your gadget, and sometimes even lead to its failure.

The problem is that if you don't have a USB tester, you have no way of knowing whether your charge is normal or not. The phone is charging - everything seems to be in order. This is exactly what unscrupulous manufacturers and sellers are counting on (the same can be said about cables - even if the charger produces 1A, the cable poor quality can lose up to 80% of the current, and you, again, will have no way of knowing about this without a tester).

This is why we almost always recommend that our clients order a USB tester right away. This purchase will pay for itself more than once! Here you will find various : more expensive and cheaper, more and less informative. But no matter which one you choose, it will be one of the most useful and smartest purchases you make!

Speaking of network chargers:

For a long time we did not sell them at all precisely because of this: we could not find a reliable supplier who had good and (which is very important) constant quality. However, customers kept asking, and we never stopped looking. After many test purchases we managed to find it. Now you will find many high-quality original chargers . Among them -

8. Do not allow the PowerBank to overheat - both during charging and from external factors (heating radiator, direct sunlight, etc.)

If you do not neglect these tips, your Powerbank (as well as any other device) will serve you long and well.

A mobile battery will not surprise anyone now, due to the constant need to recharge electronic devices, such batteries have become an integral part of our lives and do their job quite well. You can now choose a battery based on shape, color, material and charge capacity, and all because a very large number of manufacturers represent products in this market segment. The Chinese company is well known for its inexpensive but high-quality goods and its love to finance and then buy promising production facilities, releasing their goods under its own brand. Xiaomi's assortment includes many portable batteries from 5000 mAh to 20,000 mAh, the latter will be discussed in this review.
Of course, the most important thing in the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh is the charge capacity it can hold, but at the same time, the manufacturer tried to make the battery look good and be functional. The delivery set is very simple, in a small box you can find the battery itself, USB cable and documentation.
Dimensions of Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh are 141.9 x 73 x 21.8 mm, weight 338 grams, the body is made of plastic, on the top there are two 2.1A USB outputs and a micro USB connector for charging the device. On the right, upper side of the battery there is a charge check button; when pressed, four LEDs located above the micro USB connector are activated; there are no other controls on the case. Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh has smoothed corners, the front and back sides are textured, and the side edges are smooth, at the bottom, on the front side there is the MI logo, everything is simple and concise.
If in its previous batteries the manufacturer used aluminum as the body material, then in in this case The use of plastic is quite justified; it has made it possible to reduce the already considerable weight of the device. Of course, plastic is less reliable, but even with it, the battery looks beautiful, and there are no complaints about the build quality. Thanks to the textured panels, Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh fits securely in your hand and does not slip.
In its batteries, Xiaomi has long been using well-proven elements from LG and Samsung, so the Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh is no exception; inside it has six lithium-ion batteries from LG and advanced electronic filling. Electronic unit Texas Instruments protects batteries from overload, regulates the voltage when charging the battery, and can independently turn off all processes if a situation arises that could damage the device. While charging other devices, Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh regulates the voltage, prevents the device from being overcharged, automatically turns on when the USB cable is connected and turns off when charging is complete. In general, Xiaomi tried to make the most fool-proof device possible.
As stated manufacturer Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh has a maximum efficiency of 93%, which is a very good indicator for a device of this class, and the minimum actual capacity is 12700 mAh. The engineers also worked on the charging process; the documentation states that the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh should be charged to 100% in 7 hours, but for me this figure increased by almost an hour.
Portable battery became my constant companion not only when traveling, but also in everyday life, as a person with two smartphones and a bunch of additional electronics that require charging, I gradually reached a capacity of 20,000 mAh, before that there were batteries of 10,000 mAh, 12,000 mAh, 16,000 mAh , I even wrote about some of them in.
IN Xiaomi operation Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh is extremely simple, you just need to connect the USB cable to the device that requires charging and the process starts, turning it on and off doesn’t concern you anymore, it’s completely automatic and you quickly get used to it. Thanks to the high output power and voltage control inside the battery, smartphones charge faster than from a wall outlet and it doesn’t matter whether one or two devices are connected at the same time. Thanks to the large battery capacity, you can easily charge your laptop and phone at the same time, without fear that the battery will be depleted by the end of the evening.
On long trips and travels, I had to charge the Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh about once every three days; if the schedule is less stressful, then almost once a week. But, one way or another, this battery is always in my backpack and is always ready to help me or my friends.
With such a large assortment, everyone will be able to choose a battery according to their own parameters. For me, the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 20000 mAh combines several advantages at once: functionality, large total capacity, 2 USB connectors, smart filling and, most importantly, affordable cost, weight and size devices have already faded into the background.

If your smartphone's charge is close to zero by the middle of the day, or you constantly have two phones in your pocket, you travel a lot and always carry several gadgets with you, then a rechargeable battery is what you need, be sure to pay attention to it. Today, the battery can be ordered in many stores, including auctions on eBay, where the cost of the device varies between 30 and 45 dollars.

The Xiaomi brand is famous for domestic market primarily thanks to smartphones. But the company does not stop there and is constantly expanding the range of its devices. IN this review we will talk about the external Xiaomi battery Mi Power Bank 20000.

Design

With the release of this model, the manufacturer made certain innovations and experiments. Thus, it is worth noting the departure from the aluminum body. Preference was given to a plastic base, which made it possible not only to increase the overall aesthetics and attractiveness of the device, but also to reduce its weight.

The body color is white with a glossy perimeter. Fingerprints are not visible all over the base. Even with long-term use, including in hiking conditions, there are no problems with appearance not observed. The plastic is quite durable and durable external influences, so you don’t have to worry about scratches and defects.

Ergonomics and connectors

The Mi Power Bank also pleases us from an ergonomic standpoint. Even when used on the go, it holds firmly and securely in your hand. The build quality does not cause any complaints - everything fits well, there are no backlashes, and no deflections of the body were noticed. The dimensions are optimal for this capacity - they are identical to the dimensions of a 5.5-inch diagonal smartphone, which makes it possible to place it on top of the charger when connected.

The power button is located at the top of the right side, service data is reflected on the bottom edge, at the top there is room for two USB ports and a microUSB, which is located between them. Visualization of the state of the capacitance is carried out using pre-installed diodes. It is worth saying that the screen in this model would clearly not be superfluous - it could display not only charge indicators, but also other data regarding the operation of the device. True, its implementation would entail an increase in the cost of the device.

Equipment

This Xiaomi battery operates on the basis of lithium-ion batteries located inside. Each of them has a capacity of 3350 mAh, there are six in total.

Charging is possible either one or two USB ports simultaneously. Each of them is capable of delivering a current of 2.1 A. An important aspect is that exceeding the total current strength in two ports and leaving the value beyond 3.6 A is unacceptable.

The device independently determines the type of device integrated with it, adjusting the parameters of the output current to it in an individual mode. A rather convenient and useful innovation, which not only eliminates problems with independent adjustment of parameters, but also prevents connected devices from failing.

The voltage level for each port demonstrates excellent stability regardless of the loads placed on it. The indicator here goes somewhat beyond the declared 5 V, although this was done deliberately and is quite typical for high-power charging units. There is no need to worry about harm to the charging gadget - the manufacturer has foreseen this aspect and taken care of comprehensive protection.

It's nice to have overvoltage protection. Moreover, it acts both at the input and at the output. Monitoring is also present short circuits, as well as the functioning of battery components. A typical kit, which for devices of this type is a kind of standard and a rule of good form.

It should also be noted that there is an option for quick charging. Previously it was missing, but this model has Quick Charge 2.0. implemented and allows charging with the least amount of time. But it only concerns the power bank itself; in relation to integrated devices and devices, this function is not relevant. Well, we can only hope that the manufacturer will listen to the wishes of users and solve this problem. Moreover, there are more and more devices supporting Quick Charge.

But the possibility of transit charging is implemented here on highest level. The essence of the technology is that even when charging the power bank itself, it charges all devices connected to it without any problems.

Application

Thanks to its impressive capacity, this external battery will be able to special problems and efforts to charge even the most powerful smartphones in existence today. And to replenish the tablet’s power, you can use it without any questions – the capacity is quite enough for this.

The device also demonstrates good results when interacting with laptops, provided that they support charging via USB. For example, a brand new MacBook, according to the manufacturer, can be charged 1.2 times.

The choice in favor of this device will be justified and preferable when going on vacation or on a long trip. It is capacious, but at the same time very compact. But those who plan to use it in the home/study/work format should take a closer look at less spacious and cheaper models.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Talking about strengths, the following can be noted:

• High-quality assembly;
• High-quality materials and components;
• Excellent ergonomics and tactility of the case;
• Small dimensions and moderate weight;
• Transit charge option;
• Availability of Quick Charge 2.0.

As for the shortcomings, there were also some:

• Not the best implementation of charge indicators;
• Lack of display;
• Fast charging is not available for connected gadgets.

Specifications

And at the present stage it is used everywhere. Of course, it also needs charging regularly. If you purchase a power bank, how to charge its correct and what is the charging method better - this will always be important to know.

How can you charge a power bank using different methods?

A large number of these are now being produced. portable devices. To understand how to charge correctly power bank of this or that model, you need to carefully read the . Please note that different models charging with certain features and nuances.

The most popular method is charge power bank just from the network. In order to connect power bank to the network, it is possible to use telephone chargers. Considering that the average time during which the device will be fully charged is 4-5 hours, it is better to leave it online at night and turn it off in the morning.

Sometimes novice users ask, Which The best charging method is network or using USB -cord from the computer? Any direct connection to the network will help “power” your device much faster than USB -port. Although practice shows that for many, connecting a power to a computer is much faster and easier. To charge the power bank from a PC, you just need to connect the supplied cord to the computer.

As for the popular question about whether it is possible charge the device in the sun - You should not make such mistakes if your power is not equipped solar battery. Such devices can be found on sale, but they are not cheap and are much less common than standard models.

If you have a device such as a “cigarette lighter” in your car, it is possible to directly power your power. In this case, charging occurs when the car starts moving. By the way, there is another method that for some reason is still not very actively used.

You can quickly recharge the power bank from the mobile phone itself - models with the ability to use them as an external battery device have already appeared on sale.

Determining whether the power bank is charged

How to understand that the power bank is charged? Finding out the charging percentage when using standard power supplies is easy thanks to the divisions or numbers that show the quantitative percentage of charge. When power bank fully charged, the indicator light begins to blink, or the number 100 appears on the display (depending on the device model). On simple external batteries everything is much simpler due to the fact that there are only two indicator lights.

When the power bank is fully charged, the system will automatically disconnect it from the mains power.

Power bank charging time

How long does it take to charge a power bank? The average time is 4-5 hours. Although there are already models on sale that require a minimum time of 3.5 hours to fully charge. For example, power bank xiaomi pro capacity of 10,000 mAh (we'll talk about it below). It used to be that the larger the battery capacity, the slower it charges. But now new production technologies make it possible to minimize this disadvantage.

It is recommended to always charge the power to 100%, completely. When this indicator has already been reached, you should not rush to disconnect the device from the network. You need to hold it for about another hour so that it receives the necessary drip charging using low currents. It is she who contributes long-term preservation and maintaining the maximum level of power bank capacity. By the way, there is a special application on the Internet designed to track the drip charging process. It is suitable for both Android-based smartphones and Apple.

Do I need to charge a new power bank?

There are many different opinions on this matter. Some say that this is not of fundamental importance. However Manufacturers recommend charging a new power bank completely , taking into account the time allotted for “drip” nutrition chargeable low current devices.

Many online sources say that the power banks, which are now supplied with all models of power banks, do not have a “memory effect”. But practice shows that this is not always the case. If you look at it objectively, lithium batteries still have a “memory effect”. But it is less pronounced than with older batteries. Therefore, you should run the new power through several charge-discharge cycles immediately after purchase.

Do not completely and deeply discharge the power bank. : Li-ion batteries are very sensitive to this. Make sure that your device is not discharged more than 10-20%.

A full charge-discharge cycle can be carried out no more than once every two to three months. This will help adjust the operation of the power bank so that the capacity of its batteries is maintained at an optimal level.

Which charger is right for you?

Both manufacturers and experts unanimously agree that for this you should always use only the charger that fits the power, matching its technical characteristics. You should not skimp on chargers and purchase temptingly cheap models that can cause the power bank to fail.

Why is the power bank not charging?

If the power bank is not charging and has stopped working, the reason may be that it is equipped with a controller that is not very high quality. There can be two options here: either the device simply “blinks” but does not work, or the power bank does not turn on - that’s all. What to do in this case and is it possible to fix the power?

If the device stops charging at all and cannot charge even if it is plugged in longer than usual, this means that the controller simply “does not see” the remaining charge level and does not start the battery “to start”. For such a controller, the energy inside the battery simply does not exist.

Therefore, for the future: never discharge “budget” Chinese devices to zero, but make sure that they have at least a minimum amount of charge left. The controller cannot detect the remaining energy level in the battery, so the power bank cannot turn on and function fully.

In this case, there is no point in keeping it on charge for a long time: the controller will still not start it without an additional stimulus. This is what is most common cause why the power bank is not charging. This problem can be solved in a simple way: you need to remove the discharged battery from the device and briefly connect the power wires to the contacts. It is necessary for the battery to be charged “directly” a little. This energy is quite enough to “launch” it. And do not be afraid that this method will render the battery unusable. Practice shows that many power sources that were charged in this way did not fail and even began to work better.

If you don’t have suitable wires at hand, but have an unnecessary electronic lighter, you can borrow the wires from it after tinning them first. Then the power body is carefully disassembled with a knife, and the battery itself is removed. You don’t have to touch the board; handle it as carefully as possible so as not to damage it. Connect the wires to the contacts, and the power source can be a new AA battery, to which the wires are actually connected.

Keep the power bank battery on such an impromptu charge for thirty minutes. After this, the controller should “see” the charge of the battery. When this happens, proceed to charge the device as usual. You can put the case back together using simple superglue.

Power bank model from Xiaomi: breakthrough in charging time

Not long ago a new power bank was released by the famous Chinese company"Xiaomi" which can be charged in no more than 3.5 hours. At the same time, its declared capacity is 10,000 mAh. This device has a universal cable with which you can properly charge not only the X itself. iaomi power bank pro, but also any other gadget suitable for it. This power supply supports fast charging function, or fast charge 2nd generation. He not only fast charges the gadget connected to it, but also charges itself. This is how the entire power bank is charged in 3.5 hours.

A universal cable with which you can charge the power bank itself, has the ability to connect to type C- port, network or computer. If you need to charge any device that has a Type C port, insert this port into USB power bank - and charge it. In case you need to charge a device with micro USB-output, but there is no cable from it, just remove the large attachment and get a micro USB-adapter. When purchasing such a power supply, we purchase a universal cable with an adapter, as well as a function automatic selection voltage.

Progress does not stand still. There are Xiaomi power banks with much larger capacities.

Thus, if you have a power bank, how to charge it is correct and how much time is needed for this becomes quite clear, and the appearance on the market of new, more “advanced” models can significantly reduce the actual charging time - if the device has significant indicators of actual capacity. In order to carry out the charging process correctly, do not forget to use the recommendations that the manufacturer always gives in the attached instructions.

Xiaomi PowerBank 20000 mAh (YDDYP01)

• Input voltage: 5V/2A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A
• Battery capacity: 19020/20000 mAh (3.6V)
• Either of the two USB ports provides 5.1V/2.1A output
• Simultaneously, both USB ports provide 5.1V/3.6A output
• Stated minimum effective capacity: 12700 mAh
• Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 support (for battery charging)
• Battery full charging time: about 6 hours (9V/2A)
• Operating temperature range: -20 degrees – +60 degrees
• Dimensions: 142 x 73 x 21.8 mm
• Weight: 338 grams

The company's most powerful external battery at the moment (summer 2016) with a capacity of 20,000 mAh has appeared a little later version 16000 mAh, but there are a lot of differences between the two accessories. In this article I will briefly talk about all the features and capabilities of the new “battery”.

First important point– design and materials of the case. Previously, Xiaomi produced batteries in aluminum cases. This is great from the point of view of design and perception of the device - the batteries look expensive, stylish, and high quality. However, in practice, aluminum for an external battery is more of a minus than a plus. Firstly, it's excess weight. For example, the aluminum Xiaomi PowerBank 16000 mAh weighs 350 grams, and the plastic Xiaomi PowerBank 20000 mAh weighs 338 grams. With a larger battery capacity, the accessory itself is even lighter! Secondly, it is necessary to buy a cover. Without a cover, the “aluminum brick” in the backpack must be carried in a separate pocket so that it does not scratch or damage all the objects around it.

Plastic housing white, smooth on the edges and textured on the front and back surfaces, makes Xiaomi PowerBank 20000 lighter and more practical than the 16000 mAh version. It’s not scary to carry it in a backpack without a case, take it in your hand and, connecting it to a smartphone, use it in this mode. Yes, the battery cannot be called compact, but for its capacity it is of quite normal dimensions.

If you compare the 20,000 mAh with the 16,000 mAh version, the difference in size will not be too noticeable, except that the width of the case in the new accessory is noticeably larger.

On the battery case there are two USB outputs and one input for microUSB. Port parameters for charging devices: 5V/2.1A or, if you use two ports at once, a total of 5V/3.6A. The accessory supports Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 fast charging technology for the microUSB port, that is, the battery itself can be charged relatively quickly, in about 6-7 hours from scratch. Unfortunately, QuickCharge support does not apply to USB outputs.

The effective battery capacity is 12700 mAh. Xiaomi always indicates this parameter on the cases of its batteries, which, in my opinion, greatly simplifies life for users. According to the manufacturer, the full battery capacity is enough to charge from zero to 100 percent:

• Apple iPhone 6 – 7 times
• Apple iPad mini – 4 times
• Apple MacBook– 1.2 times

To be honest, I have never been able to calculate exactly how many charges of one device I carried out using this battery before it was completely discharged. As a result, it turns out that I charge the devices for several days, and when I see that there is only one capacity LED left in the battery, I simply put it on charge. On short trips, up to 3-4 days, you don’t have to charge the battery itself at all; its charge is more than enough to recharge a dead smartphone or several devices a couple of times during the day.

There are four indicator lights and a button to view the battery charge. The solution is far from the most convenient, to be honest, especially for a 20,000 mAh battery, but over time you get used to it. Charging of devices begins immediately after you connect the cable to the battery and device, this is convenient. I have come across batteries where to start charging you still need to press a button on the body of the accessory, so I note this point.

On the official website mi.com the battery costs 150 yuan (1,500 rubles). For this money, the purchase is more than cool: a universal, practical device with the ability to charge two smartphones, or a tablet, or a laptop at once (if there is an adapter and a supported voltage). In Russia, Xiaomi PowerBank 20000 costs an average of 2,500 rubles and more. We can say that this is expensive compared to the official price, but, on the other hand, batteries of similar capacity from other manufacturers are usually one and a half to two times more expensive (or more).

In conclusion, I want to show you another potentially interesting external battery. It's called OmniCharge. The project is currently raising funds on Indiegogo. The battery is planned to be released in two versions, 13600 mAh and 20400 mAh, respectively, there will be two body sizes. Declared fast charging both input and output, universal charging port different devices through connecting the plug to the battery itself, a voltage switch, as well as a convenient OLED screen where all necessary information: from the current available capacity, voltage for connected devices to the temperature of the batteries inside the case. The thing should turn out to be interesting, however, the OmniCharge for 20400 mAh will cost “only” $250 (about 16,000 rubles), so this is a slightly different category, and this accessory is definitely not a competitor to the Xiaomi Powerbank 20000.

Bonus track. Not long ago, Xiaomi began selling one cool accessory on its website; it will turn out to be incredibly useful for everyone who often travels on business or is simply accustomed to convenience, comfort, and having everything as it should be. This thing is called Xiaomi Mi 4 USB Charger and is a small charging unit with an Asian/American plug (Type A) and four USB outputs.

Unit parameters: 100-240V, 5V/7A (for a total of four ports) or 5V/2.4A maximum for one port (that is, the accessory allows you to charge Apple products at the same speed as original chargers Apple devices). The box weighs only 110 grams, takes up minimal space and replaces four charging units, for example, for smartphones and tablets. The chargers themselves are also always compact, but, you see, it is more convenient to take one universal charger and four cables than to carry a set with separate chargers. The main thing in this case is not to lose the accessory on the road.