Want to buy a Power Bank - Any recommendations?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Want to buy a Power Bank - Any recommendations?

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#1589931 11-Jul-2016 20:46

I've had good success with Pineng brand stuff, got a 6.6aH and a 20Ah in that brand. I picked up a few 16aH xiaomi packs off eBay as gifts and have had positive response.

richms

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#1589941 11-Jul-2016 21:21

Ive bought a couple of QC2.0 capable ones off aliexpress , one was great, one was pretty bad. I actually got 2 of the bad ones, one failed so I opened it and it has 4 18650 cells in series with no battery management on it, so its the sort of thing where the cells will go out of ballance after a few cycles and with no protection per cell could easily take one cell over the 4.3ish v threshold where bad stuff starts to happen when charging.

The better one has 6 cells in it in a series/parallel config it would appear, and has at least got connections between the cells so it might be managing them properly

Richard rich.ms

Gordy7

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#1589944 11-Jul-2016 21:29

Anyone looked at LiFePO4 jump starters? ... Such as this example from Aliexpress...

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/12800mAh-Car-Jump-Starter-with-LiFePO4-Baterry-for-4-0-Liter/32576994809.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.5u0VdQ&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_10,searchweb201602_4_10037_10017_405_404_407_10033_406_10032_10040,searchweb201603_8&btsid=1a5aacca-9a87-4eec-8b33-3eae15a720dc

LiFePO4 batteries are supposed to be a lot safer than Li-Ion polymer batteries...

Gordy

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Finch

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#1589949 11-Jul-2016 21:45

So is there really nothing in NZ which has a USB C Port?

Jeez.

Gordy7

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#1590211 12-Jul-2016 11:30

Finch:

So is there really nothing in NZ which has a USB C Port?

Jeez.

Just buy a power bank with a USB A socket and get a USB A to USB C cable.

Your $10 to $20 power banks from the Warehouse are not going to fully recharge your phone.

You will need a power bank with at least 12000mah to give you 3x plus charges.

You have and expensive Nexus 6p... Spend some money on suitable accessories :-)

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

Linuxluver

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#1590227 12-Jul-2016 11:52

Finch:

Hi guys.

I want to buy a Power Bank for my phone, Nexus 6P, so it has USB C.

Does anybody have any recommendations on anything? Will a cheap $10-$20 one from the Warehouse do the trick or is something more expensive needed?

Thanks!

My Nexus 5X came with a micro-USB to USB-C adaptor....so I can charge it up with anything. It's small. Check your packaging? Hope you didn't toss it out? (If Huawei provided one).

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Finch

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#1590261 12-Jul-2016 12:26

Linuxluver:

Finch:

Hi guys.

I want to buy a Power Bank for my phone, Nexus 6P, so it has USB C.

Does anybody have any recommendations on anything? Will a cheap $10-$20 one from the Warehouse do the trick or is something more expensive needed?

Thanks!

My Nexus 5X came with a micro-USB to USB-C adaptor....so I can charge it up with anything. It's small. Check your packaging? Hope you didn't toss it out? (If Huawei provided one).

Wow. Completely forgot about this. Thanks heaps. Will now go and buy a Power Bank, will look into buying a USB C Supported one when they arrive here in NZ so long as they aren't too expensive.

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#1590283 12-Jul-2016 13:14

Here is a power bank with USB C... Expensive and out of stock :-(

http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?itemID=436739

Gordy

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sbiddle

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#1590292 12-Jul-2016 13:27

richms:

Ive bought a couple of QC2.0 capable ones off aliexpress , one was great, one was pretty bad. I actually got 2 of the bad ones, one failed so I opened it and it has 4 18650 cells in series with no battery management on it, so its the sort of thing where the cells will go out of ballance after a few cycles and with no protection per cell could easily take one cell over the 4.3ish v threshold where bad stuff starts to happen when charging.

The better one has 6 cells in it in a series/parallel config it would appear, and has at least got connections between the cells so it might be managing them properly

It's ironic the Chinese are making such crap products - yet they're the only ones checking them at airports.

I flew back from China last week. All batteries have to be taken in carry on and not checked luggage. During screening these have to go through separately and all battery packs are physically examined by screeners for any signs of being deformed. Nobody else is doing this, yet the risk of lithium ion batteries catching fire on a plane is a very real world one.

blackjack17

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#1590310 12-Jul-2016 14:08

I have something similar to this

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=BAPASU0001&name=ASUS-ZenPower-Power-Bank-10050mAh-Gold-Compact-Lig

the one I have is this one but pbtech nolonger seems to sell it

http://www.mi.com/en/pb10000/

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

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#1590340 12-Jul-2016 14:54

sbiddle:

It's ironic the Chinese are making such crap products - yet they're the only ones checking them at airports.

I flew back from China last week. All batteries have to be taken in carry on and not checked luggage. During screening these have to go through separately and all battery packs are physically examined by screeners for any signs of being deformed. Nobody else is doing this, yet the risk of lithium ion batteries catching fire on a plane is a very real world one.

Also there is a limit on the capacity on them, so the habit of overspeccing by absurd amounts over there has come to be a problem and now they are under rating the mAh on the packs instead.

Richard rich.ms

bcourtney

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#1590627 12-Jul-2016 22:19

CapBBeard:
I love Anker but it's always a pain shipping them over here; I always get the 'this item does not ship to...' message.

How are you guys ordering them? I have imported some of their stuff with YouShop previously, though have heard of them tightening up around batteries etc lately.

I've put through an order for 2 different Anker models on Amazon today. Getting them shipped through YouShop so will let you know how it goes. YouShop USA states that batteries can't exceed 100Wh per unit and all Anker models come in under this (as seperately stated on the Anker website specifically for air travel).

Fingers crossed.

Dolts

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#1590643 12-Jul-2016 22:28

bcourtney:
CapBBeard:

I love Anker but it's always a pain shipping them over here; I always get the 'this item does not ship to...' message.

How are you guys ordering them? I have imported some of their stuff with YouShop previously, though have heard of them tightening up around batteries etc lately.

I've put through an order for 2 different Anker models on Amazon today. Getting them shipped through YouShop so will let you know how it goes. YouShop USA states that batteries can't exceed 100Wh per unit and all Anker models come in under this (as seperately stated on the Anker website specifically for air travel).

Fingers crossed.

I did this earlier today as well, was a bit wary when I read YouShops terms, hope mine goes through.

Linuxluver

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#1590791 13-Jul-2016 08:16

sbiddle:

richms:

Ive bought a couple of QC2.0 capable ones off aliexpress , one was great, one was pretty bad. I actually got 2 of the bad ones, one failed so I opened it and it has 4 18650 cells in series with no battery management on it, so its the sort of thing where the cells will go out of ballance after a few cycles and with no protection per cell could easily take one cell over the 4.3ish v threshold where bad stuff starts to happen when charging.

The better one has 6 cells in it in a series/parallel config it would appear, and has at least got connections between the cells so it might be managing them properly

It's ironic the Chinese are making such crap products - yet they're the only ones checking them at airports.

I flew back from China last week. All batteries have to be taken in carry on and not checked luggage. During screening these have to go through separately and all battery packs are physically examined by screeners for any signs of being deformed. Nobody else is doing this, yet the risk of lithium ion batteries catching fire on a plane is a very real world one.

Air NZ ask if you have any lithium batteries in your suitcase and tell you to carry them in the carry-on only. I suspect they also check via the x-rays after you drop the bags off before loading the plane.

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#1590809 13-Jul-2016 09:02

I've ended up being a mule for Anker products for a number of GZ users on my last few trips to the US. I'm not back over there until the end of Sept but an tempted to bring some more stuff back if it's not available here then.

I met with the Anker guys in Aussie in May at CeBIT and they said they expected Anker products to be in AU and NZ retailers within the next few months.

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