Things to remember while buying a Power Bank

08th May 2016
Things to remember while buying a Power Bank

Gaurav Dureja, Director and Co-founder, Ambrane India provides some useful hints for power bank buyers

It’s no surprise that in the connected world we live in, the most useful and important gadget of them all has got to be a powerbank. These days battery technology  often does not measure up to our needs and we often find ourselves out and about, stuck with the dreaded red battery indication.
The portable power bank has come a long way since the early days. However the problem is that in this market, there is a plethora to choose from that come in all shapes, sizes and for every use known to man. So how do you know what’s good when price is not the biggest determining factor? Here’s the list of key things to remember while buying a power bank :
To begin with, the most crucial  specification is the capacity of the power bank. The capacity is measured in mAh  or Milli Ampere hurs. We suggest bigger is always better; go for the highest mAh you can afford. It's always better to have extra juice rather than run out mid charge. So always check the battery capacity of power banks and compare it with your smartphone’s battery capacity.
People looking to charge multiple devices simultaneously,  need to opt for a power bank with two or more slots. But with the increase in slots, the price of the power bank increases as well.
Pay attention to the type of cells — Lithium-ion or Lithium-polymer —always prefer high quality Li-ion cells.
While making your buying decision do ensure that you buy from a reputed brand. Many times, cheap power banks — the type available on the streets — do not list the correct mAh capacity or the proper current draw. These batteries could also explode due to heating from over charging.
For improved safety and performance, buy a model that comes with over voltage protection (OVP), over charge protection (OCP) and over-temperature protection (OTP) that ensure its longevity against spurts in current, and overheating during charging and discharging.
Stay Happily Charged!
May 9 2016