Time to ramp up your marketing with custom power banks and USB charging devices from Preferred Business With everyone using smart phones and tablet computers these days, we find ourselves needing a more power to keep our devices alive and kicking. The result? A dead device when you need it the most. Why not give a promotional gift that won’t be put in a draw and used with eagerness. Preferred Business offers custom printed charging devices with your logo that you can offer as a giveaway at a tradeshow or event or to a prospective customer.
What is a Power Bank and what can they charge?
Portable Power Banks are comprised of a special battery in a special case with a special circuit to control power flow. They allow you to store electrical energy (deposit it in the bank) and then later use it to charge up a mobile device (withdraw it from the bank). Power Banks have become increasingly popular as the battery life of our beloved phones, tablets and portable media players is outstripped by the amount of time we spend using them each day. By keeping a battery backup close by, you can top-up your device(s) while far from a wall outlet.
The Power Banks we’re talking about are good for almost any USB-charged devices. Cameras, GoPros, Portable speakers, GPS systems, MP3 players, smartphones and even some tablets can be charged from a Power Bank – practically anything that charges from USB at home can be charged from a Power Bank – you just have to remember to keep your Power Bank charged, too!
What types of Power Banks are there?
There are three major types of Power Bank found on the market today:
- There is the Universal Power Bank. They come in many sizes and configurations which can be tailored to your device requirements and to your budget.
- The Solar-Charged Power Bank. They have photovoltaic panels which can trickle-charge the internal battery when placed in sunlight. Solar charging isn’t fast, so they can usually charge via cable as well.
- The third type of Power Bank is the older-style battery phone case. While they can be handy, this type of Power Bank has very narrow device compatibility
How do I charge a Power Bank?
Most commonly, a Power Bank will have a dedicated input socket for receiving power. This power can come from a USB socket on your computer, but may charge faster when using a wall socket adapter. We most often see Power Banks use a Mini or Micro-USB socket for charging, and full-sized USB sockets for discharging. On very rare occasions, Power Banks can use the same socket for input and output, but this is rare and should not be assumed of any Power Bank, as trying to force power into an output can damage the battery. Always check the manual for specific instructions if you’re not able to find a clearly marked input socket.
Depending on the capacity of the Power Bank and its current charge level, it can take quite a while to fill up. For example, a 1500mAh rated Power Bank should take about the same time as your typical smartphone to charge. For larger banks, this time can be doubled, tripled or quadrupled. Most Power Banks have both an LED indicator to show when they are at capacity, and a safety cut-off to prevent overcharging and overheating. Whenever possible, remove the Power Bank from charge when it is full, or at least avoid leaving it connected long-term after its full. Ambient temperature and power flow will also affect charge times, so it’s best to keep it topped off regularly.
How long does a Power Bank last?
This is a bit of a loaded question. There are two important life expectancies to consider:
- The number of charge/discharge cycles a Power Bank can reliably perform in its lifetime.
- How long a Power Bank can retain its charge when not in use.
The answer to point one can differ between models of Power Bank, their internal components and the quality of their manufacturing. We try not to stock Power Banks which have fewer than 500 charge cycles in them. This would allow you to charge a device from the Power Bank every day for a 1.5 years before it started to lose its ability to hold charge long-term. Better and more expensive Power Banks can last longer, while smaller and cheaper units may fall short depending on their treatment. Power Banks are generally not used daily, so they often last much longer than 18 months in real-world usage patterns.
Point two depends on the quality of the controller circuitry and battery cells. A good Power Bank can hold charge for 3 to 6 months with minimal loss. Lower quality Power Banks may struggle to retain a useful charge more than 4 to 6 weeks. In this regard, you get what you pay for, and if you need a long-term emergency power supply consider increasing your budget to ensure you’re not going to be caught short. Most Power Banks will slowly lose charge over time, to a degree influenced by the environment and their treatment. For example, leaving a Power Bank in the car where the temperature can fluctuate greatly over time can shorten its lifespan.
How many times can a Power Bank charge my device?
Our figures are based on a formula which assumes an average device capacity of 1500mAh, a device power level of no less than 20%, and an 80% Power Bank efficiency rating. Many Power Banks boast efficiency ratings up to and over 90%, but we find that real-world usage in Australian climates typically ends up with an 80% efficiency rate. We also like to err on the side of caution to give you a conservative estimate rather than make outrageous claims. Generally, the bigger the Power Bank and the smaller the device you’re charging, the more goes you get. Other factors can also improve or limit the discharge potential of a Power Bank, so look after them and they’ll work better for longer.
