Protect yourself from power shortages. A powerbank for every pocket!

BLACKOUT - we hear this word more and more often in Poland. Sudden blackouts, power outages, power plant problems. Although not so long ago everyone claimed that there was nothing to worry about, it is worth taking a realistic look at the situations. Electricity is the basis for the operation of every household, and electricity is the basis for proper functioning. Virtually every appliance runs on electricity. And if there is no electricity, our house practically stops functioning. It used to be thought that power outages were a topic that did not concern Poland. However, it now appears that this topic is getting closer. Is it already a blackout?

Probably all of us have found ourselves in such a situation, when we are away from home and our phone or tablet has a few percent battery charge and is about to turn off. And of course we don't have access to an outlet to charge it. With the help we come power banks! That is, a compact portable device that stores electricity and allows us to charge various electrical devices, then when we do not have access to a standard power source, such as an electrical outlet.
All the more so in the current energy crisis and with a black out looming, it makes sense to stock up on a portable power bank. And it's best to do so while the products are still available on the market, because there may come a time when they may run out or be horrendously expensive.

There are almost as many power banks on the market as there are smartphones and tablets. Of course, most of them perform the same function - charging electrical devices - but their capabilities vary. Depending on the number and type of devices you want to charge, you should consider several factors that will help you choose the best powerbank for your needs.

1. capacity: perhaps the most important selection criterion is just the capacity, or how many milliampere hours (mAh) of energy they store in their own battery. Most power banks are in the range of 10,000 to 30,000mAh, but there are also larger ones: 50,000 and even 70,000mAh. The greater the number of devices you want to charge from a powerbank, the more capacity you will need. And importantly! Also keep in mind that about 30 percent of the theoretical battery capacity is lost in the form of heat and resistance.

2 Ports: of course, equally important is the number and type of ports we have available. With several output ports, you can charge several devices simultaneously. But you need to pay attention to the type of ports (USB-C, USB-A, Lightning, Micro USB, etc.), as well as the power and current they provide. This information gives you an idea of how fast your phone or tablet will charge and what kind of cables you will need.

3. size: in general, most portable battery chargers are small in size. But there are a range of other sizes, shapes and weights of powerbanks. It's worth considering where and when you plan to use portable chargers. If you want one that will fit in your pocket or hand, then you should look for a powerbank that is slim, cylindrical or particularly compact and lightweight.

4 Charging time: A portable battery charger is only useful when it is best to charge itself. You need to check how long it takes to fully charge the powerbank. The higher the capacity, the longer the charging time. However, the best portable battery chargers have fast input ports for fast charging, or two input ports, so our powerbank can be charged with two cables at the same time, in half the time.

5 Price: And another argument that is taken into account when buying a powerbank is, of course, the price. On the plaster we can find many solutions in different price ranges. Portable chargers with a capacity of 10,000mAh can be bought for as low as about 10USD, larger ones with a capacity of 20,000 - 50,000mAh can be obtained for about 30 - 70USD. It is also worth remembering that in addition to the extra capacity, you will pay more for a powerbank with multiple high-speed ports.

You should also be aware that the capabilities of each powerbank are determined by its technical parameters. It is worth getting acquainted with them in order to freely navigate through the offers of various manufacturers. Knowing the basic differences in technical parameters, it will be much easier to make the right decision and match the right device to our needs.

What is a mAh?

Milliamper hour - mAh - the capacity of a powerbank is expressed precisely in these units. The higher the value, the longer the device will last on a single charge. It is also worth remembering that some batteries are not always single-cell. It may happen that the device has the information "5000 mAh 2 cell". This means that the battery has two batteries, so its capacity is 10,000mAh.

Current intensity

Current intensity is expressed in amperes (A). In general, a current of 1A is enough to charge a smartphone. A much better choice will be a powerbank that can charge with a current of 2A. It will charge a smartphone battery much faster and will definitely charge a tablet. It may happen that charging devices with 1A current may not meet the manufacturer's recommendations and will certainly be very time-consuming.

Lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery?

Portable powerbanks, just like smartphones, come with a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery. Of course, powerbanks have much larger batteries than phones or tablets. It is worth knowing that the life span, weight and size of both batteries are similar. But despite this, there are a few differences.

What is the main difference in use? Well, if our phone is charged frequently, but we rarely connect it to the mains charger, then it is better to choose a powerbank with a lithium-polymer battery. And if we use the powerbank only occasionally, in emergency situations, then choose a device with a lithium-ion battery.

It should also be taken into account that cheaper models are not so richly equipped. Mostly they have only one USB-A port and an obsolete microUSB connector. Of course, this comes with certain limitations such as charging only one device with a maximum power of 10W. Evidently, it is worth choosing a model that is equipped with more than just one connector. We live in such times that in addition to a smartphone we charge many other devices like wireless headphones or electric toothbrushes. Powering multiple devices at once is extremely useful when traveling. Another interesting solution is the powerbank, which comes with various types of cables, allowing us to connect virtually any device (USB-A, USB-C, microUSB, Lightning)

As I mentioned earlier, in parallel with the development of technology, the need for electricity is growing. On the other hand, in the absence of it, the powerbank allows our smartphone or tablet to continue functioning when it is at the end of its discharge. It is also worth mentioning that the powerbank will prove useful as a gift for anyone who uses mobile devices. Okay, so once we know what to look for and what to pay attention to, we can confidently start shopping. In the store www.batna24.com we can find powerbanks from top manufacturers. It is enough in terms of specific needs to choose the right model. A few recommended models are presented below.

Author:
Leszek Blaszczyk