USB type C
USB type C ports are smaller than classic USBs, and they also have a convenient reversible design that allows you to connect the plug in either direction.
USB type C was originally designed to be able to implement various advanced features: increased power supply, fast charging technologies, etc.
Since the port is relatively new and quite powerful (there are
USB type C with a power of 60 W and even
100 W), the total number of such connectors is often limited to
1 port, less often
two).
- The strength of the power. The maximum power output through the USB type C connector to a charging device. Note that different ports of the charging station can output different power (for example, 1.5 A and 2.1 A). In this case, the highest power strength is usually indicated.
— Power. The maximum power in watts (W) that the charging station is capable of delivering to one rechargeable gadget. The high output power of the USB type C port allows you to speed up the charging process. However, the appropriate power must be supported by the device being charged - otherwise the speed of the process will be limited by the characteristics of the gadget.
Add. ports
Additional input connectors provided in the design of the charging station in addition to those described above.
Battery capacity
Nominal
battery capacity, in fact - the amount of energy that is supposed to be stored. The larger it is, the longer the battery life of the charging station will be, all other things being equal. On the other hand, this parameter also affects the dimensions, weight and price of the battery, despite the fact that an energy-intensive battery is not always required. By the indicator of capacity in watt-hours, you can compare batteries with each other.
Charging cycles
The number of charge-discharge cycles that the battery can withstand without significant loss of performance.
In the process of operation, the batteries wear out, which causes their performance to suffer (in the first place, the capacity decreases). Battery life is usually measured in charge-discharge cycles. However, models with the same declared resource are not always equally durable in practice. Different manufacturers may interpret “significant loss of performance” in different ways: for example, one brand indicates the resource up to a 20% decrease in capacity (DOD > 80%), another - up to a 60% decrease (DOD > 40%) Behind the abbreviation DOD worth decoding Depth of Discharge, i.e. discharge depth. Therefore, when choosing, it makes sense to focus not only on pure numbers, but also on other sources - test results, reviews, etc. Also note that battery life can be noticeably reduced if the operating conditions are violated (for example, in case of overheating or hypothermia).
Charging time (socket) ≈
Time to charge the portable power station from a fully discharged state to 100% charge when using the power adapter from a household outlet. This refers to the original battery and standard charger.
Charging power (solar panel)
The power in watts provided when charging a device from a solar panel.
The higher the charging power, all other things being equal, the less time it will take to replenish the energy reserves in the cells of the device's own battery. This section provides the maximum power value that the charging station can accept. Accordingly, this indicator is supposed to be taken into account when choosing compatible solar panels.
PSU
— External. Outdoor placement of the power supply requires additional space. However, most blocks of this type are quite compact in size and are equipped with “plugs” for sockets right on the case - in other words, the block is installed on a socket, and from there the wire stretches to the charging station. There are also external power supplies on the cable. Considering that you only need to connect the adapter while the device is charging, an external power supply is a very convenient solution.
- Internal. The built-in power supply does not take up space outside the charging station, however, it can increase the dimensions and weight of the device. The advantage of this arrangement is that the most common power wire goes from the housing to the socket, without additional equipment on it. At one end it is connected to the socket, the other end is connected to the input connector of the charging station.
Operating temperature
The temperature range in which the charging station normally operates in normal mode. Exceeding the specified norms in any direction leads to a rapid discharge of the battery, its accelerated degradation and other unpleasant consequences.