Anyone in NZ selling decent battery USB chargers?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Anyone in NZ selling decent battery USB chargers?

RileyB

247 posts

Master Geek

#138517 7-Jan-2014 18:00

Has anyone seen anywhere in NZ selling decent USB battery chargers? I find can find heaps of good ones overseas but none will ship them because of the battery.

(something like this)

Preferably after something with 2 USB ports and 15000mAh's

robjg63

4096 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#962660 7-Jan-2014 19:32

Try putting "usb external battery pack" into pricespy.co.nz
Maybe this would work on the gz price comparison link. But wont work on my Android tab....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#962673 7-Jan-2014 19:37

You could use Youshop:

"Some electronic items containing lithium-ion batteries can be sent through YouShop. A lithium-ion battery must not exceed 20 Wh/cell, or 100 Wh per battery/pack."

100Wh at 5V = 20,000 mAH

Niel

3267 posts

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Trusted

#962814 7-Jan-2014 22:18

KevinL: You could use Youshop:

"Some electronic items containing lithium-ion batteries can be sent through YouShop. A lithium-ion battery must not exceed 20 Wh/cell, or 100 Wh per battery/pack."

100Wh at 5V = 20,000 mAH

That is the standard IATA limits for air freight. When you go over the limits then you need HazMat procedures and personnel. Issue is most freight companies still would not touch Li-Ion. However, 10x 40Wh cells sent from Thailand to my house via EMS were left at my door by Courier Post... What the sender does not declare, no one cares about. I was not too worried since it was LiFePO4 cells properly packaged, but as soon as a carrier sees "Li" they get scared.

You can never have enough Volvos!

RileyB

247 posts

Master Geek

#962836 7-Jan-2014 22:59

KevinL: You could use Youshop:

"Some electronic items containing lithium-ion batteries can be sent through YouShop. A lithium-ion battery must not exceed 20 Wh/cell, or 100 Wh per battery/pack."

100Wh at 5V = 20,000 mAH

I messaged Youshop as they were my first idea, I got this reply:

Good afternoon Riley,

Thank you for your email regarding sending a battery pack with a 15000mAh rating through our YouShop service.

Unfortunately we are only able to sent items with a rating of 1020mAh through our YouShop service, and I have attached the link below for your information.

http://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/youshop/shopping-with-your-youshop-address/dangerous-prohibited-items

If you have any further questions, please reply to this email.

Thanks for contacting New Zealand Post.

Kind regards,

Gayle
Customer Service Representative

Gave pricespy a try and couldn't find anything over 5000mAh, thanks for the suggestion though. Have been keeping an eye on trademe and found one rated at 12000mAh but I'm a bit worried it' has a highly overstated rating as its cheaper then most of the 5000mAh units.

Good afternoon Riley,

Thank you for your email regarding sending a battery pack with a 15000mAh rating through our YouShop service.

Unfortunately we are only able to sent items with a rating of 1020mAh through our YouShop service, and I have attached the link below for your information.

http://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/youshop/shopping-with-your-youshop-address/dangerous-prohibited-items

If you have any further questions, please reply to this email.

Thanks for contacting New Zealand Post.

Kind regards,

Gayle
Customer Service Representative

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#962838 7-Jan-2014 23:03

I'd write back and ask how she arrived at the 1020mAH figure - that seems ludicrously low, and I'm pretty sure others have used Youshop before (freitasm?)

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#962839 7-Jan-2014 23:04

1020mAh = 5.1 Wh at 5V, which is barely 20% of the per cell limit and 5% of the battery/pack limit.

richms

28168 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#962840 7-Jan-2014 23:08

KevinL: You could use Youshop:

"Some electronic items containing lithium-ion batteries can be sent through YouShop. A lithium-ion battery must not exceed 20 Wh/cell, or 100 Wh per battery/pack."

100Wh at 5V = 20,000 mAH

The cells are not 5v, 3.6v rings a bell for things like that.

You have no idea of the construction of the pack. it could be a single cell or multiple in parallel so you might not get away with the 20Wh part of it if it is a single cell - that is under 8Ah assuming 3.6V

Richard rich.ms

Equinox IT

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KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#962844 7-Jan-2014 23:18

richms: The cells are not 5v, 3.6v rings a bell for things like that.

You have no idea of the construction of the pack. it could be a single cell or multiple in parallel so you might not get away with the 20Wh part of it if it is a single cell - that is under 8Ah assuming 3.6V

According to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mylimeade/limeade-blast-18000mah-ultra-high-capacity-battery/comments?cursor=3076718 the specs for those devices are:

L130X (13000mAh)- 48.1Wh / unit (lithium weight = 3.9g)
L150X (15600mAh)- 57.72Wh / unit (lithium weight = 4.68g)
L180X (18000mAh)- 66.6Wh / unit (lithium weight = 5.4g )

They're also using ~3000mAH 18650 lithium ion cells, well under the youshop guidelines.

RileyB

247 posts

Master Geek

#962854 7-Jan-2014 23:28

Sent another message to Youpost to clarify their calculations, also sent an email to limefula to see if they have any retailers other then Amazon, or of they will sell directly, as they were shipping them overseas during the kickstarter.