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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214 posts

Master Geek

#1600155 28-Jul-2016 13:03

bcourtney:

nakedmolerat:

bcourtney:

They've just arrived this morning. Not had a chance to do anything other than unpackage them. Such nice looking products.

which one do you get?

The Astro E5 16750mAh and the Astro E7 26800mAh

My PowerCore 20100 and 13000 got denied by YouShop - was gutted

CapBBeard

211 posts

Master Geek

#1600166 28-Jul-2016 13:34

Sweet thanks for the update! I might have to make an order myself in that case. Great to know!

Doh, just saw Dolts response .. maybe not :o

bcourtney

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#1600212 28-Jul-2016 15:17

Dolts:

bcourtney:

nakedmolerat:

bcourtney:

They've just arrived this morning. Not had a chance to do anything other than unpackage them. Such nice looking products.

which one do you get?

The Astro E5 16750mAh and the Astro E7 26800mAh

My PowerCore 20100 and 13000 got denied by YouShop - was gutted

Was this recently? I take it it was through YouShop USA? The YouShop site states that it allows batteries up to 100Wh per battery. Anker's products specifically all fall under this limit

Dolts

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Master Geek

#1600286 28-Jul-2016 16:42

Yes, YouShop USA. They stated the goods were too dangerous.

littleheaven

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#1600287 28-Jul-2016 16:46

You can get a 10,050 Anker PowerCore+ from TradeMe but it's not cheap. http://www.trademe.co.nz/mobile-phones/accessories/external-battery-packs/auction-1129759081.htm

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

CapBBeard

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Master Geek

#1600291 28-Jul-2016 17:09

YouShop seem fairly inconsistent with what they will and won't ship, it feels like it almost depends on who ends up with your parcel.

My wife has had crazy trouble getting water based non-aerosol spray fragance bottles through. One order they're fine, the next they're not. Upon questioning, we get some vague canned response around alcohol (which it did not contain), then on pressing, aerosols (which it was not, it simply had a mist pump, the actual bottle was not pressurised at all). All we could get out of them was vague references to the IATA list, with no mention of any specifics. I would've loved to have gone and done my research but unfortunately it appears that gaining access to the IATA source document requires payment of a few hundred dollars.

In the end if something is restricted that's fine, but there seems to be no consistency in the application of any rules, and ambiguous information around what the particular issues are. I'm not 100% on the IATA definition of aerosol but an unpressurised bottle that happens to have a mist pump instead of a cap surely doesn't qualify?

Check this exchange out:

You mentioned that the "aerosol items" could not be shipped. The items are not aerosols, they are low pressure pump-spray / non-aerosol packaged liquids. They are not pressurised in any way and do not contain any sort of propellant. It is essentially just a manual spray bottle.

Thank you for your reply. The word you used was pressure, which is exactly why aerosols are prohibited.

I realise this is a little off track from Li-ion batteries but throughout the whole exchange CS just seemed to have very little acknowledgement of anything we were saying. I'm happy to be proven wrong but wow it was the single most painful CS experience I've ever had.

This feels like the same scenario all over again. It shouldn't be a gamble whether or not your order will make it through, it should be clear cut once and for all, one way or the other.

maoriboy

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#1643293 30-Sep-2016 13:11

Bringing up an old thread... Anyone know if it is possible to import a 20,000mah powerbank from places like AliExpress?

Something like this one on Trademe, but cheaper

AUkey 20000mAH power pack

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richms

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#1643323 30-Sep-2016 14:07

Yes, bought many powerbanks off there and all arrive fine just thru NL post to my PO Box. HK and china post are not letting many things get shipped, batteries of any type being one of them which is why some things I bought with a real time clock on them, the seller opened and removed the coin cell from them and left an appologetic note inside that they have to remove them to post them.

If they do not arrive, it is the senders problem, you just get a refund from aliexpress which is why they are all flocking to NL post now, as they seem to have the flights that make lithium shipments allowable.

I am hesitant to get any QC powerbank now after getting ones that do not have a per-cell battery management in them, so could easily have the cells go out of ballance after some time. The traditional all the cells in parallel seems to be a safer way, but you have no idea how they are configured from the fancy pictures and descriptions used, and there is nowhere really reviewing them in-depth.

Richard rich.ms

tehgerbil

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#1643324 30-Sep-2016 14:09

Also don't forget to buy it today! Although I can't see AliExpress complying with the online GST coming into effect tomorrow...

richms

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#1643336 30-Sep-2016 14:15

I thought that was only for online services, and the $60 thing was still in place for anything physical coming into the country? In anycase 15% extra will not make much difference and I might get motivated to finally making a ltd and registering for GST.

Richard rich.ms

maoriboy

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#1643341 30-Sep-2016 14:20

Yeah, pretty sure the 'Netflix' tax is for online services like.... well Netflix, itunes etc.

and @richm. Good point about it being the shippers responsibility. I'll just give it a go and can always request a refund if it doesn't come through.

neb

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#1643497 30-Sep-2016 19:48

richms:
Yes, bought many powerbanks off there and all arrive fine just thru NL post to my PO Box. HK and china post are not letting many things get shipped, batteries of any type being one of them which is why some things I bought with a real time clock on them, the seller opened and removed the coin cell from them and left an appologetic note inside that they have to remove them to post them.

They're also quite creative about how they get them in, I bought some 18650Bs (the real thing, not one of the infinite number of fakes) and they packed them inside dummy torch cases for shipment, apparently you can send torches with batteries included but not the bare batteries themselves. Sort of like it's OK to carry a laptop with 18650s, but not the cells themselves.

Stu

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#1648298 10-Oct-2016 08:48

@richms et al, is this likely to be close to the 20000mAh claimed, and what are the chances they'll deliver direct to me in NZ?

Cheers!

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sbiddle

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#1648314 10-Oct-2016 09:02

maoriboy:

Bringing up an old thread... Anyone know if it is possible to import a 20,000mah powerbank from places like AliExpress?

Something like this one on Trademe, but cheaper

AUkey 20000mAH power pack

Damn I can't believe somebody was willing to pay so much!

I've purchased lots of Anker products for people on GZ previously while in the US but it's too much effort now that battery packs all need to be in carry on only.

I picked up a Ravpower and Aukey charger to compare with my Anker and initial impressions of the Aukey isn't that great.

richms

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#1648435 10-Oct-2016 11:45

Mi is a good brand, and I saw one where they actually put the mAh at 1 amp/5v on the device too, so they will show you what you can get out of it which is a good sign.

The ones to avoid are the generic cases you can see on aliexpress for a few bucks, but with cells already in them. Great chance they are random salvaged untested laptop cells or just placeholder lumps of whatever or in one video I saw bags of sand to make up weight and there is only 1 cell in it so that it will turn on and charge etc.

Many places will just cancel an order with anything lithium in them now. Their carriers dont all do NZ and the cart isnt setup to reflect that. gear best now show nothing to nz with batteries in them prettymuch.

Richard rich.ms

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