Use a Power Bank to charge a Laptop

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Use a Power Bank to charge a Laptop

3puttssuck

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#251035 5-Jun-2019 18:33

Been looking all over the net and can’t seem to get a good idea if it’s possible.
Will this.....
http://swiss-mobility.com/powerpacks/powerpack-18000
charge this....
https://www.asus.com/nz/2-in-1-PCs/ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-S-UX370UA/Tech-Specs/
TIA team

Handle9

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#2252285 5-Jun-2019 18:36

Nope. You need a battery with a USB C PD port.

mike

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#2252299 5-Jun-2019 18:56

I have this and it works great:
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/BAPCYG71117/Cygnett-CY2220PBCHE-USB-Type-C-20000mAh-Power-Bank

You can get a bigger one too:
https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/cygnett/cygnett-chargeup-pro-27000mah-power-bank/361660/

Jase2985

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#2252302 5-Jun-2019 18:58

something like an Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD should work

Jase2985

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#2252304 5-Jun-2019 19:02

i would be careful with any powerbank over 26800mah as it puts you over 100Wh and may be confiscated when traveling

3puttssuck

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#2252310 5-Jun-2019 19:23

Thanks for the suggestions above guys. All look great but out of budget, unfortunately.

I may look for a compact travel charger. The one that came with the machine is set up in my home office in a way that it's a pain in the arse to unroute it each time I travel, 3 times a month.

For some reason, I tried several times to reply via quoting on the above posts but it didn't work. Odd?

zyo

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#2252324 5-Jun-2019 19:55

Dicksmith/Kogan sells one 26800 PD battery pack (kogan branded) for 59 + shipping. From the spec it seems to be quite capable of doing all the USB PD 3.0 voltages.

You can also get a 20000mah Xiaomi one from aliexpress if you prefer a branded one.

sbiddle

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#2252392 5-Jun-2019 21:02

Simple answer is yes you can - but charging laptops via USB-C can be a little complex. The charger you linked will not work.

Any charger needs to be USB-C PD (some cheaper USB-C chargers and power banks may have USB-C but lack Power Delivery). It also needs to support a 19V/20V PD power profile to work. As an example there are USB-C chargers and powerbanks out there that will output a maximum of 30W PD which means they will supports 5V/9V/12V/15W to a maximum of 15W @ 2A (30W) but such a device will not power many laptops that need 19V/20V to work such as yours.

My HP Elitebook as an example needs 20V @ 2.25A (45W) PD to charge and will fast charge with 65W (20V @ 3.25A). Some Chromebooks only need 15V PD to work.

I have one of these Omars powerbanks https://www.amazon.com/Omars-Portable-Delivery-Compatible-Nintendo/dp/B07CMLVR6C that outputs 20V @ 2.25A (45W) which charges my ELitebook. It would also charge your laptop.

The Cygnett charger linked above is the same device, I also have a 10,000 Omars with USB-C but it only outputs 15W PD. Cygnett also sell this same OEM unit with their branding.

Just be aware if you're going to invest in a high capacity powerbank you'll also need to invest in a high quality charger for it. It takes a long time to charge a 20,000 mAh battery pack unless you're feeding it with a USB-C PD charger. Try and charge a 20,000 mAh unit like the Omars / Cygnett with a regular charger and you'll be looking at around 15 hours to charge it.

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zezayer

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#2252397 5-Jun-2019 21:17

You need a powerbank that has a USB-c port and says it offers power delivery (PD) at 30watts or more.

Most USB-PD powerbanks are aimed at phones and only charge with a max of 18w, they will charge your laptop very slowly and only when it is turned off. Not recommended.

Higher wattages will charge your laptop faster if it is able to (Your laptops charger is 45w USB-PD).

I use this for my laptop: https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers-tablets/accessories/portable-power-banks/smaak-smkpb-vt-qc20-voltage-20100mah-notebook-power-bank-black/prod169664.html

You can use your laptop charger to charge the powerbank via usb-c PD.

If your looking at buying a new plug-in charger you're also looking for the same requirements (USB c charger with USB-PD at 30w or more). I use this https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SURMBE1036/mbeat-MB-CHGR-PD45-Gorilla-Power-45W-USB-C-Power-D

Hope that helps.

sbiddle

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#2252620 5-Jun-2019 22:27

zezayer:

You need a powerbank that has a USB-c port and says it offers power delivery (PD) at 30watts or more.

OP will probably need a 45W powerbank. A 30W charger or powerbank will only deliver a 15V PD profile at best (15V @ 2A), and won't deliver a 19V / 20V PD profile. It's unlikely their laptop will power up on something that only delivers a 15V PD profile.

scoobydoo

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#2294614 12-Aug-2019 10:38

My laptop is a Dell XPS 13, the input is 30W = 20V / 1.5A.

Would getting an afore-mentioned powerbank work safely, even though 20V / 1.5A isn't part of the spec'd ratings?

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/BAPCYG71117/Cygnett-CY2220PBCHE-USB-Type-C-20000mAh-Power-Bank

Or would I need to find a powerbank that specifies that exact Voltage/Amp combination rating?

TIA

sbiddle

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#2294618 12-Aug-2019 10:55

scoobydoo:

My laptop is a Dell XPS 13, the input is 30W = 20V / 1.5A.

Would getting an afore-mentioned powerbank work safely, even though 20V / 1.5A isn't part of the spec'd ratings?

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/BAPCYG71117/Cygnett-CY2220PBCHE-USB-Type-C-20000mAh-Power-Bank

Or would I need to find a powerbank that specifies that exact Voltage/Amp combination rating?

TIA

The PD spec should negotiate down to the 20V 1.5A profile fine. The voltage profiles listed on the specs are the maximum it can deliver, the PD spec has different profiles and will autonegotiate. I actually thought most of the XPS13's were actually 45W max for charging.

I have one of those Powerbanks (it's the same as the Omars I listed above but NZ pricing hurts), they're a great device. Just be aware you will want a 30W USB-C PD charger to charge it otherwise it will take ages, but you've presumably got one of those anyway for your laptop.

scoobydoo

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#2294626 12-Aug-2019 11:08

sbiddle:

The PD spec should negotiate down to the 20V 1.5A profile fine. The voltage profiles listed on the specs are the maximum it can deliver, the PD spec has different profiles and will autonegotiate. I actually thought most of the XPS13's were actually 45W max for charging.

I have one of those Powerbanks (it's the same as the Omars I listed above but NZ pricing hurts), they're a great device. Just be aware you will want a 30W USB-C PD charger to charge it otherwise it will take ages, but you've presumably got one of those anyway for your laptop.

Thanks for the speedy reply.. I was hoping you'd confirm.. I've seen other posts / product you've made on the subject.

The OEM charger is 30W with the following profiles 20V/12V/5V ~ 1.5A/2A/2A. I have also used it to charge my S8 which seems to work but I don't leave it for too long.

I'm also in the process of getting a new phone as well (either Note10+ or S10+ (more than likely S10+)) so I want to make sure I can future-proof myself by getting something capable for everything, which will include a good wall charger. I found your ZeroLemon charger review from July last year.. does that device still hold true 12 months later or would you suggest something along the same lines that can be found locally to avoid the shipping?

sbiddle

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#2294654 12-Aug-2019 11:34

scoobydoo:

sbiddle:

The PD spec should negotiate down to the 20V 1.5A profile fine. The voltage profiles listed on the specs are the maximum it can deliver, the PD spec has different profiles and will autonegotiate. I actually thought most of the XPS13's were actually 45W max for charging.

I have one of those Powerbanks (it's the same as the Omars I listed above but NZ pricing hurts), they're a great device. Just be aware you will want a 30W USB-C PD charger to charge it otherwise it will take ages, but you've presumably got one of those anyway for your laptop.

Thanks for the speedy reply.. I was hoping you'd confirm.. I've seen other posts / product you've made on the subject.

The OEM charger is 30W with the following profiles 20V/12V/5V ~ 1.5A/2A/2A. I have also used it to charge my S8 which seems to work but I don't leave it for too long.

I'm also in the process of getting a new phone as well (either Note10+ or S10+ (more than likely S10+)) so I want to make sure I can future-proof myself by getting something capable for everything, which will include a good wall charger. I found your ZeroLemon charger review from July last year.. does that device still hold true 12 months later or would you suggest something along the same lines that can be found locally to avoid the shipping?

The ZeroLemon is still a good charger (and you can buy it locally at Noel Leeming where it's branded Satechi) but I now use this as my main charger at home https://www.amazon.com/PEPPER-JOBS-Delivery-Compatible-Nintendo/dp/B07T1917G3 as it's dual USB-C so I can charge my phone and laptop at the same time and have moved to USB-C cables rather than USB-A to USB-C.

scoobydoo

207 posts

Master Geek

#2294711 12-Aug-2019 11:54

sbiddle:

The ZeroLemon is still a good charger (and you can buy it locally at Noel Leeming where it's branded Satechi) but I now use this as my main charger at home https://www.amazon.com/PEPPER-JOBS-Delivery-Compatible-Nintendo/dp/B07T1917G3 as it's dual USB-C so I can charge my phone and laptop at the same time and have moved to USB-C cables rather than USB-A to USB-C.

Cheers for that info, very good