Battery type
The type of own batteries installed in the power bank.
Lithium-ion(Li-Ion) or
lithium-polymer(Li-Pol) batteries are most commonly used today. Other options are less common — solutions based on
nickel-metal hydride(Ni-Mh) batteries, as well as on LiFePO4 type cells. In addition, a rather promising development has appeared relatively recently — graphene batteries; however, as of early 2021, they are just beginning to be introduced into mass production. Here are the main features of each of these varieties:
— Li-Ion. Lithium-ion technology allows you to create quite capacious batteries of small dimensions and weight. In addition, such elements are easy to use (the main operating parameters are regulated by the built-in controller), have a high charge speed and are practically not affected by the "memory effect" (reduction in capacity when charging an incompletely discharged battery). The main disadvantage of lithium-ion batteries is a rather narrow range of permissible ambient temperatures. This is not a problem in urban usage, when the power bank is used mainly indoors and is carried in a pocket or in a bag; but for less favorable conditions (such as long hikes in the cold season), it is worth choosing models with good thermal insulation. You can also find information that lithium-ion batteries are prone to fires and even explosions; however, this is usually due to
...failures in the embedded controllers, and these controllers are also constantly being improved, and nowadays the risk of such an accident is so low that it can actually be neglected.
— Li-pol. Further development and improvement of the lithium-ion technology described above; the main difference is the use of a solid polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid one (hence the name). This made it possible to achieve even greater capacity without increasing the dimensions, as well as to reduce the potential for fires and explosions during abnormal operation. On the other hand, lithium-polymer batteries are somewhat more expensive than lithium-ion batteries and are even more sensitive to temperature disturbances.
— Ni-Mh. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are distinguished by their reliability and a wide range of permissible temperatures, however, with the same dimensions, they are inferior in capacity to lithium-ion (and even more to lithium-polymer) batteries, and they also require certain specific operating rules to be observed. In addition, it is worth noting that Ni-Mh technology is well suited for removable batteries. It is in this format that such batteries are most often used: power banks of the Ni-Mh format are usually adapters with slots for several replaceable elements of a standard size (for example, AA). In this case, usually, several corresponding removable batteries are included in the kit, however, if desired, they can be replaced with other elements — these can even be disposable batteries from the nearest store. Such an opportunity can turn out to be very useful if the power bank is out of juice at an unfortunate moment, but there is no way to charge it; in addition, worn-out batteries can be replaced with fresh ones without changing the entire device.
— Li-FePO4. Another modified version of the Li-Ion batteries described above, the so-called "lithium iron phosphate". The advantages of such cells over classical lithium-ion ones are, first of all, a stable discharge voltage (until the energy is exhausted), high peak power, long service life, resistance to low temperatures, stability and safety. In addition, due to the use of iron instead of cobalt, such batteries are also safer to manufacture and easier to dispose of. At the same time, they are noticeably inferior to the classic lithium-ion ones in terms of capacity, and they are more expensive, which is why they are rarely used.
— Graphene. Batteries based on graphene — a carbon film one atom thick. The battery itself consists of a set of such films, between which silicon plates are laid, and lithium cobaltate or magnesium oxide is used as an anode. This design provides a number of advantages over the earlier batteries described above. First, graphene technology provides a high charge density, which allows you to create capacious and at the same time light and compact batteries. Secondly, for the production of such batteries, fewer rare resources are needed than for the same lithium ones; and the production itself is more environmentally friendly. Thirdly, such batteries are not prone to overheating and explosions when overloaded or damaged. On the other hand, graphene power supplies take a long time to charge and are not durable. However, this technology is still developing, and in the future it is likely that these shortcomings will be eliminated — completely or at least partially.Full charge time
The time required to fully charge a battery discharged “to zero”. Features of the charging process in different models may be different, respectively, and the time required for this may differ markedly even with the same capacity.
Fast-charging batteries tend to be more expensive. Therefore, choosing this option makes sense if you do not have much time to replenish your energy supply — for example, for hiking. However, keep in mind that charging at full speed may require a charger that supports certain fast charging technologies (see below).
It must also be said that in most modern batteries, the charging speed is uneven — it is highest at the several first percent from zero, then gradually decreases. Therefore, the time required to replenish the energy supply by a certain percentage will not be strictly proportional to the total claimed charge time; moreover, this time will depend on how much the battery is already charged at the time the procedure starts. For example, charging from 0 to 50% will take less time than from 50 to 100%, although both there and there we are talking about half the capacity.
Features
Additional functions and features provided in the design of the power bank. Such features may include, but are not limited to,
an info display, a
USB hub mode, a photocell for
solar charging, a lighting source (
flashlight or
lamp), and a
shock -resistant body. Here's a more detailed description of each of these options:
— Info display. Own display installed on the power bank body. As a rule, it has a simple LCD matrix capable of displaying 2 - 3 characters and, in some cases, individual special icons. However, even such a screen provides a lot of additional information, makes it easier to manage the power bank and monitor its status.
— USB hub. Possibility of working as a USB hub (splitter). In this mode, the external battery’s own USB connectors act as USB inputs of a PC or laptop to which the power bank is connected. The connection itself, as a rule, is also carried out using the USB standard, and the battery can be charged. This function is convenient primarily because it allows you to use one USB port simultaneously to charge the power bank and connect a peripheral device (or even several). However, it does not hurt to make sure that the power supply of this port is sufficient to provide all these functions; and the charging speed may be quite slo
...w. If the power bank is fully charged, it can also be useful as a classic USB hub: to increase the number of ports available for connecting peripherals, and also as a kind of remote USB extension cable (for example, if there is a free USB port only on the rear panel of the system unit, which is difficult to get to).
- Flashlight. In this case, a flashlight means a built-in light source of relatively low power, usually directional (as opposed to the lamp described below). Such a source performs an auxiliary function; it can be useful, for example, for illuminating the road at night, for short-term illumination in a dark room (basement, cellar), etc.
- Lamp. Built-in light source, usually in the form of an oblong panel of several LEDs; such a panel can be made folding. Unlike flashlights (see above), lamps provide not directional, but diffused light, which has a shorter range, but covers a larger space. Such lighting can be useful, for example, for reading, for illuminating a room during a power outage, and even for creating a certain atmosphere.
- Shock protection. Enhanced protection against impacts and shocks. The specific degree of such protection may vary; it should be clarified according to the official characteristics; however, most models in this category are capable of at least transferring a fall from a height of about 1 - 1.2 m onto a flat hard surface without consequences. Well, in any case, such devices will be more resistant to mechanical stress than conventional ones. It is also worth noting that shock protection in modern power banks is most often combined with protection from dust and moisture (see above), although there are exceptions to this rule.
— Charging from the sun. Possibility of charging the power bank from the sun or other bright light source. To do this, a corresponding device is installed in the body - a solar battery (photocell). This function can be especially useful during a long stay away from civilization - for example, on a hike. And although the efficiency of solar panels in general is not very high, when exposed to bright light for a long time, you can accumulate quite a lot of energy.Waterproof
The presence
of waterproof on the body of the device. This paragraph also usually shows the specific level of such protection according to the IP standard. The two digits in the IP designation indicate levels of protection against adverse factors. In this case, waterproof is indicated by the last digit, but the first characterizes the level of resistance to dust and other contaminants. In modern powerbanks, you can find the following levels of protection against contamination:
5 — dust resistance (dust can get inside in small quantities that do not affect the operation of the device);
6 - dustprooof (dust does not penetrate inside at all).
Lower levels of protection are not indicated in powerbanks (such a case will no longer be dustproof, and there is no need to specify its characteristics). However, there are models where the first digit is replaced by an X — for example, IPX6. This means that this device has not been certified for dust protection, although in fact, the level of such protection may be quite high.
As for waterproofing, the options here could be:
— 2. Minimum level — protection from drops and splashes at an angle of up to 15° from the operating position of the device (usually with the screen facing up). Allows you to withstand moderate rain without strong winds.
— 3. Protection against drops at an angle of up to 60° (moderate rain with strong wind in the screen-up pos
...ition).
— 4. Protection against splashes from any direction (rain with strong wind, regardless of the position of the body).
— 5. Protection from water jets from any direction (showers, storms).
— 6. Protection from waves and strong water jets.
— 7. The minimum level that allows us to talk about water resistance. Allows you to endure short-term (up to half an hour) immersion underwater to a depth of 1 m.
— 8. Possibility of long-term (30 minutes or more) immersion to a depth of more than 1 m, with constant work in a submerged state. Specific depth and time limits may vary.
— 9. Protection from high-temperature water jets (possibility of intensive washing with hot water under high pressure).
In general, a higher level of protection, on the one hand, provides an additional guarantee in case of unfavourable situations, on the other hand, it affects at least the price, and often also the dimensions/weight of the device. We also note that the waterproof case can also be made shock-proof — this is not necessary but is often found in models designed for use in extreme conditions.
