What You Need From a Power Bank

What You Need From a Power Bank

A power bank is a portable battery that allows you to keep your electronic devices charged when the device's internal batteries run low. A power bank can be small enough to fit in your pocket or large enough to keep a tablet or laptop fully charged while you are on the go. Power banks eliminate the need to carry a mains charger with you because they have the capacity to store energy for multiple recharges of your devices. Power banks come in a variety of shapes, sizes and capacities, so it is important to consider the features you need from one before buying.

The capacity of power banks is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) or watt-hours (Wh), and indicates how much energy the power bank can hold at full charge. A higher mAh or Wh rating means more power can be stored and re-used for charging your devices. Power banks also feature LED indicators to indicate when they are at full charge or need to be recharged, as well as safety cut-offs and other features to protect your devices.

There are various types of power banks available on the market, from basic, entry-level models to sophisticated high-capacity units that can even charge your phone wirelessly or convert solar energy into electricity. However, most power banks share the same core technology, and are rechargeable via USB connections and can be used to charge a range of devices.

Most power banks use rechargeable lithium battery technology, which can be in either Lithium-Ion or Lithium Polymer form. Some of the latest designs are even able to convert solar energy into electricity, using photovoltaic panels to trickle-charge their internal batteries. Some of the larger capacity power banks have more than one USB port, which allows them to charge more than one device at the same time - great for giving a boost to friends' phones on an outing or providing a quick charge to your smartwatch or Bluetooth earbuds while travelling.

Depending on their design and component quality, power banks can last for several months or longer between charges. This lifespan is impacted by how the power bank is treated, and it is important to not overcharge or use the power bank in extreme temperatures. It is also recommended to regularly check the power bank for signs of damage and don't cover it with metal objects that could short circuit the output. In general, most power banks can be cycled up to 300 times or more if cared for properly.