From small pocket-sized devices to robust units that can charge your car without the blink of an eye, external rechargeable batteries, also known as power banks, are available in a wide range of applications.
However, they all have one thing in common – they give the user the freedom to go where the heart desires, without worrying about being able to charge different devices and without risking losing touch with the outside world. Experts from the Kesko Senukai Latvia sales network tell you how to assess which external charger is better for your lifestyle.
What exactly does an external charger do?
An external charger is a portable battery that stores a certain amount of power during charging, which can then be transferred to other devices with a USB cable. This is the main difference from conventional chargers: a normal charger connects the appliance to an electrical outlet and feeds it immediately, but the external charger stores energy, so there is no need for a socket and an electrical connection when charging the appliances.
Although external chargers are most commonly used on a daily basis to charge smartphones and laptops, the external charger can actually charge anything that runs on batteries and can be plugged into a USB cable. This extra rechargeable battery can be taken anywhere – both when traveling in harsher conditions (today, external chargers are made with some resistance to shocks, moisture and dust) and in everyday use. It is only to be remembered that it may only be carried in hand luggage on aircraft.
How to evaluate the parameters of an external charger?
There are several important factors to consider when choosing the right external charger for your lifestyle: device size and weight, charging capacity and speed, battery charging time, and number of connections.
Before you buy an external charger, it is important to understand what you will be using it for. If you know for sure that sometimes you want to charge your phone on a Friday night to call a taxi, a hundred-gram, medium-capacity charger that can be conveniently put in your handbag will suffice.
The most important parameter is the performance of the charger. The battery capacity of the external charger is measured in mAh or milliamp-hours and is usually specified in the device’s technical specifications. The higher the number, the larger the capacity of the device, the less it needs to be charged, and the more times it can charge other devices. One full charge of the phone will take about 4000-5000 mAh. So, if the extra power source is for single use only, any external charger with a capacity of 5,000-20,000 mAh will work. The smallest devices are likely to be able to handle only one device, while the more powerful ones can charge two or even three at a time. Most standard models charge your smartphone in about 90 minutes. The standard external charger itself can be fully charged in 1-2 hours.
Wireless external chargers are also available. It needs a USB cable to store power, but then they charge mobile phones wirelessly. Unlike USB power chargers, which are limited by the type of cable, wireless chargers can be used universally on all mobile phones, with only a slightly longer charging time than connecting the device to a charger with a cable.
Own power plant
If you need a larger capacity power source for an extended period of time, an external charger with a capacity of at least 40,000 mAh is a safer choice. The largest energy banks can store up to 75,000 mAh, which will be enough for multiple recharging. True, they are also quite impressive devices that will not put in your handbag – some of the larger ones can weigh up to 10 kilograms.
These chargers can usually charge multiple devices at the same time, with the most powerful models – up to 10 different devices with different types of sockets. The charger itself, despite its powerful capacity, recovers energy storage amazingly fast: it can be charged an average of 80% per hour.
Purchasing such a device will involve a larger investment, but it will pay off in return, enjoying the independence it provides, which is unbeatable. It is truly a real energy bank that can be used in both the desert and the evergreen forests.
Solar batteries – also for charging devices
One of the trends in sustainable farming that is becoming increasingly popular around the world is the production of energy from renewable natural resources, including the sun. These trends are also relevant in the technological environment – just as solar panels supply buildings with electricity, a smartphone or laptop can be charged with an external charger, the battery of which stores solar energy.
To use this charger efficiently, it is best to leave it in direct sunlight. It will take an average of 25-50 hours to fully charge. However, the charger, like any solar cell, will color the energy even if the sun does not shine so brightly. These chargers are especially suitable for those who spend a lot of time in nature and go on long hikes. Not without reason, they are usually manufactured with an impact-, moisture- and dust-resistant housing, built-in flashlight / SOS lighting, and the ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously.
A solar charger with a 5 W solar panel will charge your mobile phone in an average of 2.5 to 3 hours, and a 20 W panel will charge an average of less than an hour if the charger uses 80-100% of the specified power.
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