From ANKER Power Bank, America’s Leading USB Charging Brand

– Faster and safer charging with our advanced technology

– 20 million+ happy users and counting

– 99% Positive Amazon Feedback

Anker on amazon.com.au

This is how Anker is advertised on Amazon Australia, one of the most trusted and internationally recognized power bank brands. In this article, we will analyze Anker’s journey and the keys to his success.

Current list of Anker external batteries

Currently, we can find 15 external batteries of the Anker Power Bank brand in Amazon Australia that cover a wide range of needs for all users:

MODEL		mAh
Anker Quick Charge Powercore+ 26800		26800	More info and Price
Anker 20000Mah Portable Charger Powercore 20100		20000	More info and Price
Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger		13000	More info and Price
Anker Power Bank, PowerCore 26800mAh		26800	More info and Price
Anker Upgraded with Poweriq Powercore Speed 10000 Qc		10000	More info and Price
Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD Green		10000	More info and Price
Anker Powercore 10000 White		10000	More info and Price
Anker Powercore 10000 Black		10000	More info and Price
Anker PowerCore Select 20000		20000	More info and Price
Anker Powercore+ 20100 USB-C		20100	More info and Price
Anker 20000Mah Portable Charger Powercore		20000	More info and Price
Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000		10000	More info and Price
Anker PowerCore Select 10000		10000	More info and Price
Anker Power Bank, PowerCore 26800mAh		26800	More info and Price
Anker PowerCore+ 26800mAh Quick Charge 3.0		26800	More info and Price

These are Anker’s external batteries available on Amazon Autralia. 

Testing Anker Power banks

In the following table you can see some interesting data from the results obtained in our analyzes for Standard Recharge / Discharge (5V) in power banks of the Anker brand :

• Nominal capacity and stored energy
• Recharge time
• Actual capacity and energy obtained in the discharge
• Discharge efficiency

You can get more detailed information by visiting this section .

Model	Rated Capacity	Rated Energy	Charging Time	Actual Output Capacity	Output Energy	Conversion Rate
A1261	10,000mAh	38.50Wh	4.99h	6,263mAh	31.91Wh	82.88%
A1109	5,000mAh	18.50Wh	3.50h	3,298mAh	16.86Wh	91.14%

Currently, we have analyzed 2 of Anker’s 15 external batteries . Do you want us to analyze any specific model? Leave us your comment at the end of this article!

The more that you read, the more things you will know…

• Xiaomi Power Banks – Discover Xiaomi external batteries

Steven Yang: from Google engineer to Anker founder

The history of the Chinese brand begins with its foundation in 2011 by Steven Yang , who, until then, worked as a software engineer at Google’s facilities in California.

When he moved to Shenzhen, China, Yang founded Anker , taking that name from the German word ” anker ” which means anchor .

Initially it was dedicated to the manufacture of peripherals in general, however, in 2012, it decided to specialize in the mobile charging sector , that is, chargers, cables, replacement batteries, external batteries …

Anker’s growth has been exponential, in fact, in recent years the brand has managed to consolidate a group of sub-brands (under the name of Anker Innovations ) that, little by little, seek to expand into other markets : a clear example is the sub-brand Soundcore dedicated to the world of audio.

Strong brand = solid results: the keys to Anker’s success

Anker is one of the brands that has dedicated itself the most to presenting products that, in their entirety, try to be perfect : that the sensation since the box is opened is that of a product that is worth even more than what you paid for.

Of course, Anker’s key to other brands that follow a similar business model ( AUKEY’s case ) is that he does not limit himself to making a product that is inexpensive without paying too much attention to design , but rather seeks coherence between everything.

In addition, Anker is not only dedicated to assembling an external battery, but they have designed their own fast and intelligent charging technology ( PowerIQ ) compatible with the most widely used protocols on the market: Quick Charge,  Power Delivery.

In its latest version, PowerIQ 3.0 , it is designed to supply up to 100W of power and claims to charge some mobiles on the market faster than with other fast charging protocols:

This mentality of well-defined ideas, more than clear objectives, in addition to betting heavily on their own , has made Anker a reliable brand, synonymous with durability and solidity .

♻️ Another Anker virtue is that it is one of the brands that most cares about the environment ♻️

I already have an Anker power bank: what do you need to know?

Both the  after-sales service  and the  guarantee  are two aspects that cannot be left out if you want to buy a product that is reliable and durable; In the case of Anker you must take into account the following:

Technical service	At this address you can get in touch in the way you prefer with the brand.
Product guarantee	Automatically 18 months (can be extended 6 months more) anywhere. Here you can learn more detailed information.
Product registration	If you want to keep up to date with the Anker products you have, then register on the brand’s website and add the products you have purchased. You can also check them .
Manual	You can access online versions of the Anker product instruction manuals you have or plan to buy 😉.
Are you a fan of the brand?	Then do not stop following her on her social networks ( Facebook , Twitter , Instagram ,Youtube ), follow her blog , or subscribe to her newsletter.

The mobile manufacturer Xiaomi is also present in the power bank market and has several models that we will describe below. But first, let’s learn a little more about its main characteristics and how they differ from the competition.

Design and quality components: the keys to the success of the Xiaomi Power Bank

It could be said that the design of the Xiaomi Power Bank is one of the most popular in the external battery market.

Its characteristic minimalist design , which plays with geometric shapes, generally unicolor, has established a reference that has even become one of the most copied by other brands in the sector, in addition to suffering numerous counterfeits in its models.

All Xiaomi PowerBank are covered by an anodized aluminum casing that protect them from corrosion, shock and scratches. In addition, each casing is made of a single piece of aluminum, thus giving the powerbank an elegant and careful appearance.

It is not only the design of its external batteries that makes Xiaomi famous, but also its  great performance, thanks to the quality of its components and protection systems:

Its models incorporate a  control chip with 9 layers of protection built by Texas Instruments that optimize recharging and discharging, achieving an efficiency of up to 93% , which allows transferring a large part of its energy while charging devices.

Also, they use lithium batteries from providers like LG and Panasonic  with an energy density of up to 725 Wh / L for a smaller and more compact size of power banks.

Now yes, we present you all the models of external batteries from the manufacturer Xiaomi and where to buy them original , but before we recommend that you read our tips to buy a power bank  to really know which one fits your use needs to choose the capacity (mAh) correct:

Xiaomi Zmi No.10 Pro 65W 20000mah

One of the qualities that ZMI has is that it knows how to give elegance to a product: the Powerpack Pro 20K is an example of this.

This 20,000 mAh external battery is based on its younger brother, the Powerpack 20K , taking advantage of a model that is attractive in itself, although adding a much more striking color combination :

Electric blue prevails in the body of the power bank, complemented by a shade of darker blue on the edges and topped with golden touches both on the ZMI logo and on the button on the side.

The distribution of the ports is identical to the previous model:

With a bi-directional USB-C port in the center and 2 USB-A ports with Quick Charge 3.0 technology on both sides. In addition, it maintains the function as a USB hub .

But what does “Pro” do to the Powerpack Pro 20K? In addition to its design, its USB-C port , which supports 45W input in Power Delivery, now its output is capable of supplying up to 65W of power! Then expanding its compatibility to more than 50 laptops .

Xiaomi Power Bank 5000 mAh

Xiaomi offers us in its entry range a perfect companion to take anywhere, thanks to its ultra thin design of only 9.9 mm thick, being one of the thinnest on the market.

This model ( NDY-02-AM ) continues without undergoing a major renovation thanks to its competitive price , its reliability and the possibility of satisfying users who are looking for a cheap product that is capable of complementing the charge level of their mobile at a higher speed. than acceptable (2.1A) .

To its compact design is added a solid construction that brings together all the interactive components on one of its edges, from left to right we have the power button, which is followed by 4 charge level indicator LEDs – each one represents 25% of the total capacity -; right after the micro USB input and USB output.

As for the technical characteristics, this power bank has a capacity of 5000 mAh but due to the voltage conversion it is less. For this model, Xiaomi guarantees a real capacity of 3300 mAh .

In addition, it has a single USB output port capable of supplying a maximum current of 2.1A and a micro USB input port that supports up to 2A, allowing 100% recharging in just 3.5 hours if a charger is used. 10W (5V / 2A).

Xiaomi Power Banks 10000 mAh

In the following table you can see a comparison of the current models of 10,000 mAh of the Xiaomi brand:

specs	My 2S 10000mAh	My Pro 10000mAh	My Wireless 10000mAh	Mi 3 10000mAh
Model	PLM09ZM	PLM01ZM	PLM11ZM	PLM12ZM
Capacity	10000mAh (37Wh)	10000mAh (38.5Wh)	10000mAh (37Wh)	10000mAh (37Wh)
Actual capacity	6500mAh	7100mAh	6000mAh	6000mAh
Type Input Port	Micro-USB	USB-C	USB-C	Micro-USB + USB-C
USB input	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)
# Output Ports	two	one	two	one
USB Output	5.1V / 2.4A, 9V / 1.6A, 12V / 1.2A	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1,5A	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1,5A + Wireless Charge: 5V / 2A	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)
Total potential	15W	18W	18W	18W
Fast charge	QC 2.0	QC 2.0	QC 3.0 + PD	QC 3.0 + PD
Wireless Charging	✘	✘	✔	✘
Low Power Charging	✔	✔	✔	✔
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Dimensions	147 × 71.2 × 14.2 mm	128.5 x 75 x 12.6mm	100 x 74 x 23.5mm	150 x 70 x 14mm
Weight	218g	223g	250g	250g

My Power Bank 2 10000 mAh

It was not long after the launch of the second version of the 10,000 mAh Mi Power Bank ( model NDY-02-AN ) when Xiaomi decided to launch a new version baptized as Mi Power Bank 2, which, as its name indicates, was not a simple substitute for the previous model, but a change towards more consistent standards to what the power bank market demanded.

Now, what new features did this model introduce?

Recharge / fast charge. Xiaomi has incorporated Quick Charge 2.0 technology  to the input and output port, that is, it can be recharged in just 4.20 hours if we connect it to a QC2.0 fast charge charger ; If recharged with a conventional 10W charger (5V / 2A), the charging time would be 6.20 hours, minimum.

Also, it allows you to charge QC2.0 compatible devices in less time , thanks to its quick charge output: 5V / 2A, 9V / 2A and 12V / 1.5A, which adjusts to the connected device and provides a maximum of 18W .

Charging at low power. Another new feature that Mi Power Bank 2 implements is its Low Power Charging system , that is, the charging at low power of devices such as Bluetooth headphones or smartbands.

As they explain on the official website, pressing the Power button twice will supply a lower current (60-25 mA) for these devices.

Thinner. The new model is much more compact at just 14.1mm thick compared to its predecessor at 22mm. In contrast, its length has been increased from 91 mm to 130 mm.

Better performance Another improvement achieved is its real capacity of 6900 mAh, being 10% more than the previous model that provided an output of 6250 mAh.

What did Xiaomi fail this time?

It does not incorporate another charging port , which keeps it “falling short” for those who need simultaneous charging of devices.

My Power Bank 2S 10000 mAh

The 2S model , also announced as 2I, is proof that the Mi Power Bank 2 had a shortcoming that was essential for many of the users: the lack of a second output port for simultaneous charging of devices.

It seemed that Xiaomi, at least in the field of power banks, always left something to be desired:

Despite the aforementioned inclusion of the second USB-A output port, no significant changes were made at the technological level -QC2.0 is maintained- nor was there an improvement in the real capacity of the battery that, contrary to increasing, it dropped to 6500 mAh .

In addition, these modifications caused the power bank to increase a couple of grams in terms of weight, as well as a slight growth in its dimensions.

Should this model be considered a failure? Absolutely not, it is a power bank that competes perfectly in the current market , although it gives us the feeling that Xiaomi could have obtained a much better result.

My Power Bank Pro 10000 mAh

The emergence of USB Type C into the world of mobile phones was a small technological revolution and Xiaomi read the message very well: the Pro model is another variant of its 10,000 mAh power bank, designed to work with the most modern mobile devices :  compatible with USB Type-C  for  faster charging .

What is new with the My Powerbank Pro?

In addition to incorporating all the features of the previous 10000 mAh ranges, the Mi Power bank Pro includes a USB Type-C port , suitable for charging the phones that appear in the technological arena with this type of connector.

The  USB Type-C has been introduced gradually in the market and serves as an option to replace the USB micro standard.

Another novelty that it offers compared to its predecessor, is that this Pro edition boasts a smaller thickness, due to the fact that it measures 12.58 mm, which is equivalent to 42% thinner than the previous model.

The Mi Powerbank Pro supports Quick Charge 2.0 , this allows it to supply a maximum power of 18W , which translates to faster charging of the devices connected to it.

Xiaomi representatives made an analogy with charging the Mi Note Pro, taking 2 ½ hours with a 5V / 2A power bank, but with the Pro it only took 1 hour and 50 minutes.

It is also capable of charging devices that need less current, such as the popular Mi Band . Just by pressing twice the button that turns on this device, it will automatically change charging mode.

My Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh

With the arrival of the power banks with Qi wireless charging, the giant Xiaomi also jumped on the bandwagon and soon launched its own model on the market:

The PLM11ZM model  is an external 10,000 mAh capacity battery equipped with a Qi wireless charging module and 2 USB output ports, one type A and the other type C, compatible with Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery fast charging protocols. .

Wireless charging is capable of supplying up to 10W (5V / 2A) and does NOT interfere with the rest of the charging processes, that is, we can charge three devices at once , using the USB-A and USB-C ports and the base wireless.

In addition, the contact surface for wireless charging is made of non-slip material , in order to avoid accidents.

Of the rest, as we have said, in the Xiaomi PLM11ZM model that has 6000 mAh of real capacity (at 5V / 3A) we have all the protection systems (against short circuits, overvoltage, etc.) that Xiaomi offers in its power banks as well as with the most basic functionalities such as the charge level indicator lights.

My Power Bank 3 10000mAh

This renewed Xiaomi external battery incorporates characteristics of all the versions that precede it (Mi Power Banks 2, 2S, Pro / Pro 2), by incorporating both a USB-A and a USB-C (input / output) port .

Another novelty of this external battery is that it  incorporates the Power Delivery protocol together with the Quick Charge quick charge:

Both the USB-A port and the micro USB port are compatible with Quick Charge , while the USB-C port is compatible with Power Delivery , with 18W being the maximum power capable of supplying.

The change on a physical level is not drastic, however, the stylization of the edges, as well as the available combinations,  all-black  or  silver the body with the upper and lower areas in black,  make this new power bank look to the fashion, although it does not leave aside that minimal touch – classic – of the Chinese manufacturer.

All of this is helped by its dimensions,  15 x 7 x 1.4 cm , of which its thinness stands out  , an element that differentiates it from its direct predecessors.

Xiaomi Power Banks 20000 mAh

Next, we go with the Xiaomi higher capacity models, ideal to share the load with family, friends or whoever you want.

Even once, a Reddit user joked that he could put together several of these power banks and compete with the Tesla Powerwalls for a lower price.

Here you can see a comparative table of the latest Xiaomi versions of 20,000 mAh available :

specs	My 2 20000mAh	My 2C 20000mAh	Mi 3 20000mAh
Model	PLM05ZM	PLM06ZM	PLM07ZM
Capacity	20000mAh (77Wh)	20000mAh (74Wh)	20000mAh (74Wh)
Actual capacity	14000mAh	13000mAh	12600mAh
Type USB Input	Micro-USB	Micro-USB	USB-C
USB input	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5V / 2A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5V-20V (45W max)
# Output Ports	two	two	two
USB Output	5.1V / 3.6A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5.1V / 3.6A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max)	5.1V / 2.4A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A (18W max) PD: 5V-20V (45W max)
Fast charge	QC 3.0	QC 3.0	QC 3.0 + PD
Low Power Charging	✔	✔	✔
USB HUB	✘	✘	✘
Material	ABS	PC + ABS	PC + ABS
Dimensions	135.5 x 67.6 x 23.9 cm	149.5 x 69.6 x 23.9 cm	15 × 7.3 × 2.7cm
Weight	330.5g	328g	440g

My Power Bank 2 20,000 mAh

The  20,000 mAh Xiaomi Power Bank 2 was commissioned to replace the first version of the 20000 mAh model ( PLM04ZM ), now what are the differences between one and the other?

At first glance, thanks to its minimalist aesthetic, the change in size is almost negligible, although it is more compact and light in this new version , however, the great leap is in its characteristics:

Although it maintains the same capacity of 20,000 mAh , this new version incorporates a more compact LiPo cell battery compared to the previous version (Li-ion) and even stores more  energy (77Wh vs. 72Wh). Furthermore, this power bank has a real capacity of 14000 mAh  at the output (5.1V).

As you may have noticed from the specifications, it supports the Quick Charge 3.0 protocol on both ports simultaneously, allowing you to charge your mobile as fast as if you were using the original charger.

In addition, the micro USB input port is also compatible with Quick Charge and can be recharged in less time with the use of a compatible charger.

This power bank supports simultaneous charging / discharging ( Pass Through Charging ) , that is, you can recharge your Xiaomi power bank while you are charging your mobile.

You can also charge devices that do not need as much power, such as a smartband or a smartwatch, thanks to the Low Power Charging system , which is activated by pressing the Power button twice .

Xiaomi Power Bank 2C 20000 mAh

At first glance the PLM06ZM model  looks just like the 20,000 mAh Mi Power bank, in fact it inherits features from it, but it is not exactly the same. We could define it as the premium version of the original.

Paradoxically, the battery returns to have a capacity of 74 Wh, being its  real capacity of 13000 mAh , on the other hand, it  also supports quick charge Quick Charge 3.0 bidirectional.

Regarding its dimensions and weight it does not change too much, with similar figures (see the table below), this 20,000 mAh power bank weighs only 10 grams less, that is, 328 grams .

As for its construction, it is made of a combination of plastic: PC and ABS , which provides greater resistance to shocks and allows good protection against heat. It also includes the 9 protection systems like the rest of Xiaomi’s external batteries.

In the same way, as we have seen in the new models, by long pressing the power button , you can activate the Low Power Charging function , with which you can safely charge small devices, such as smart bracelets or smartwatches. As usual, it includes 4 LED lights that each correspond to 25% of the power bank charge level.

My Power Bank 3 Pro 20000 mAh

One of the greatest virtues that the Chinese company has is its ability to launch products that are located at an almost unbeatable price-quality ratio; This update of its 20000 mAh external battery (model  PLM07ZM ) is proof of this.

Initially, the physical aspect is slightly changed as far as morphology is concerned, however,  Xiaomi now wants to bet on an all black style   instead of the  all white  that characterized all its previous 20000mAh models –  which we were used to .

Validity of the previous model + Vanguard of the charging protocols:  not only the physical aspect was renewed in this external battery, although as it happens with the exterior of the power bank, inside it we see  common elements with its predecessor such as the QC3.0 compatibility, two USB-A ports or Low Power Charging mode .

The jump between it represents the appearance of the USB-C port  that is between the two USB-A ports, since, being compatible with Power Delivery technology , it is  capable of supplying up to 45W , which makes it a  power bank with Ability to charge devices that require more power like a laptop .

Likewise, elements such as bidirectional charging, protection systems and simultaneous charging and discharging, as well as LED lights indicating the level of charge of the external battery are also available in the new model  PLM07ZM  from Xiaomi that, however,  exceeded in weight to its predecessor, standing at around 440 grams .

Testing Xiaomi Power banks

In the following table you can see some interesting data from the results obtained in our analyzes for Standard Recharge / Discharge (5V) in power banks of the Xiaomi brand :

• Nominal capacity and stored energy
• Recharge time
• Actual capacity and energy obtained in the discharge
• Discharge efficiency

Model	Rated Capacity	Rated Energy	Charging Time	Actual Output Capacity	Output Energy	Conversion Rate
PLM02ZM	10,000mAh	38.50Wh	5.71h	6,646mAh	33.84Wh	87.90%
PLM09ZM	10,000mAh	37.00Wh	6.02h	6,358mAh	31.82Wh	86.00%
PLM01ZM	10,180mAh	39.19Wh	6.82h	7,117mAh	35.46Wh	90.48%
PLM10ZM	5,000mAh	18.50Wh	2.69h	3,019mAh	15.17Wh	82.00%
PLM03ZM	10,000mAh	38.50Wh	5.62h	7,198mAh	35.47Wh	92.13%
PLM07ZM	20,000mAh	74.00Wh	8.05h	14,534mAh	71.06Wh	96.03%
PLM11ZM	10,000mAh	37.00Wh	4.38h	6,496mAh	32.92Wh	88.97%

Currently, we have analyzed 7 Xiaomi external batteries . Do you want us to analyze any specific model? Leave us your comment at the end of this article!

If you need to buy a power bank, but one of your priorities is that it takes up very little space in your pocket, bag or luggage case, then you are looking for a Slim Power bank or an Ultra Slim Power Bank.

The ideal would be to carry a portable battery of dimensions and thickness similar to our mobile so that its great utility does not become, rather, a nuisance.

For this reason, we have analyzed the market for external batteries in search of models with a  more compact design .

Let’s start!

What is an Ultra Slim Power bank?

Probably, the abbreviation for lithium polymer -Lipo- sounds, especially since today’s mobiles use this type of batteries.

Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries are safer, more compact and efficient, and are capable of storing more energy in less space than conventional Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

Although 18650 type Li-ion batteries are still used in power banks, they are more often found in small-capacity, cylindrical-shaped models.

Instead, many manufacturers now use lithium polymer batteries, obtaining power banks of greater capacity and less thickness.

The more that you read, the more things you will know…

• Anker Power Banks – Discover Anker external batteries

How have we classified them?

Following the use of lithium polymer batteries, the Slim Power Bank concept arises.

As the term itself indicates, an Ultra Slim power bank is a portable battery whose main characteristic is to be extremely thin .

Of course, keep in mind that the concept of Ultra Slim does not imply that it is light, that is: the weight of the power bank will depend on the capacity of its battery , although they will always be less heavy than power banks with Li-ion batteries .

After having analyzed many models on Amazon, we established a criterion to classify if a power bank was Ultra Slim based on its capacity-thickness ratio :

• 13000 – 20000 mAh : <= 15mm
• 6000 mAh – 13000 mAh : <= 13 mm
• 5000 mAh or less : <= 10mm

In addition, we concluded that  the Ultra Slim power banks with 5000 mAh turn out to be the most practical to carry in your pants pocket due to their light weight and dimensions.

These models, along with those of 10,000 mAh , stood out for being similar in thickness and size to a 5 ″ or 6 ″ smartphone. However, the 20,000 mAh power banks  may be too heavy to carry.

However, everything will depend on the use that you are going to give to an Ultra Slim power bank: for daily use or for trips, for example, if you are going on a trip you may be more interested in carrying a power bank of greater capacity and that bulks little in the backpack or suitcase.

Based on our selection criteria and taking into account the weight and size of the power banks, we have selected the best Ultra Slim models that you can find on Amazon:

If you have a car or motorcycle, having a jump starter is practically an essential accessory.

It is impossible to predict when your car will play tricks on you. Sometimes the battery simply refuses to start once the car is parked. Without a doubt, it is a frustrating situation and too familiar for experienced drivers.

Imagine that you go out with your family to the countryside and park it a bit far to enjoy a walk in nature to the fullest. However, when you return, you find yourself with an unpleasant surprise: when you try to start the engine you do not hear anything other than that typical sound of a flat battery .

Even if you have the cables to start the battery in the trunk, you realize that there are no cars within a 100 kilometer radius. So you can’t start the car. There is no other option but to call for help.

To avoid this type of situation, the ideal would be to have at your disposal a battery jump starter or Jump Starter . These devices are capable of starting a car without having to rely on help from other people.

Therefore, it becomes a very useful accessory to keep inside the vehicle and be used at any time.

Best Jump Starters (2020)  🚩

Next, you have a list of the car starter models that we recommend on Amazon based on what we have explained during this Guide.

The more that you read, the more things you will know…

• Best Wireless Charger for Mobile in Australia – Buying Guide 2020
• Best Solar Phone Charger – Buying Guide 2020

What is a Jump Starter? Types

A Jump Starter is a rechargeable portable battery designed mainly to start a vehicle in addition to allowing charging electronic devices (mobiles, camera, bluetooth speakers …) through one or more USB ports as a traditional power bank would do .

Although it is popularly known as a jump starter, really, what it does is start a vehicle and not, not surprisingly, the battery. It is so named to distinguish it from a battery charger that does recharge the battery without starting the vehicle.

When the vehicle is started, the alternator starts, which provides enough energy for all the electrical components of the vehicle to work and at the same time recharges the vehicle’s own battery.

In this way, after keeping the vehicle running for a time, when we stop the engine, it will be able to start with its own battery without the need to use the starter again.

One of its great advantages is that it allows us to start our car at any time and place without the need to resort to an auxiliary vehicle, for this reason, it becomes an ideal accessory for the car that will avoid problems in an emergency situation.

Battery starters are obviously not all the same, there are several types that have specific technical data and are compatible with different vehicles .

Before buying one, it is necessary to verify that the product in which we are interested adapts to all our demands and functions that we regularly fulfill with our car.

According to its dimensions, we highlight 2 types of jump starters:

Portable Jump Starter

They are small and compact starters, that can be transported in a practical way, even in the glove compartment of the car , and have a shape that is vaguely reminiscent of an external hard drive for PC.

Despite being extremely compact , these starters guarantee remarkable power and a fairly high autonomy to carry out numerous emergency starts.

Carry Case Jump Starter

The Carry Case-type models, on the other hand, have larger dimensions and are commonly equipped with a carrying handle, as can be seen in the photo below. Some also incorporate an air compressor in case of having a slightly deflated wheel.

Generally, this type of battery starters offer superior power to portable starters and are ideal for use in large vehicles : vans, trucks, boats, buses …

How to charge a Jump Starter?

In the past, a starter used to incorporate a DC charging port (DC Input) and was recharged by means of a specific charger or power adapter (included in the purchase).

Optionally, it could also be recharged by connecting it to the cigarette lighter of the vehicle with a compatible charger.

Later, new generations of starters with micro USB and USB type C charging ports appeared .

Its main advantage is that they can be recharged with any USB charger (such as that of the mobile itself) instead of using a specific one that, in addition, if lost or damaged, would be more difficult to replace.

Although any starter with a USB charging port is recommended, models with USB type C are preferable for 2 reasons:

1. It acts as an input / output port: on some models, in addition to recharging the starter, the USB-C port can be used to charge other devices with a USB charging port: mobile, camera, headphones, speakers …
2. Faster charging (starter and / or devices) : In general, the USB-C port supports more power (15W) than a micro USB port (12W max). It is also compatible with the new technology of fast charging Power Delivery (18W).

Our recommendation is to choose a starter with a USB Type-C charging port  and check that it is input / output . Optionally, include the Power Delivery (PD) protocol for faster recharging.

Features of a jump starter

We are going to identify the technical specifications of a starter to know how to choose the model that best suits the needs of each one (price, capacity, peak current …) and is compatible with our car:

Battery capacity (mAh)

A car jump starter incorporates a 3.7 volt (V) rechargeable battery at a specified capacity expressed in milliamps-hours (mAh).

The capacity indicates the amount of energy (Wh = V x Ah) that the starter has to start the vehicle and / or charge our devices when we use it as a power bank.

In the example in the image we see that the Tacklife T8 starter has a capacity of 18000 mAh (or 18Ah), therefore, the stored energy is 66.6Wh (18Ah x 3.7V).

It is important to note that a starter with more or less capacity does not determine if a vehicle will start or not, it will only depend on the starting current that it is capable of supplying.

In general, the more capacity a battery jump starter has, the more times we can start our car or the greater number of charges we can carry out on our devices (mobile, tablet, camera, speakers …) without having to recharge their battery completely again.

However, it is advisable that the starter battery is above 60% of its capacity to ensure the vehicle starts .

Peak current and starting current (A)

Both the peak and starting currents are 2 fundamental characteristics when choosing a starter for our car, as we will explain below.

The peak current ( peak current ) is the maximum instantaneous current that can provide the starter in a short period of time (<1 s) to start the engine of the car.

In the event that the car does not start instantly, this current decreases to a constant value that the starter can hold for a few more seconds (3-5s) to try to start the engine. This value is known as inrush current ( starting current ).

In this case the Tacklife T8 starter reaches a peak current of 800A and maintains a starting current of 500A and 250A for 3 and 5 seconds respectively.

While the  peak current of  a starter can vary  between 300A and 2500A , the  starting current is always less than the peak current and even on some models there will be a big difference.

How to choose the right starter for my car? 🚘

First of all, it is important that we familiarize ourselves with the specifications of our car battery . Normally, these are usually indicated on the battery itself (it is also possible to find them on the manufacturer’s website):

In the image above we can see the specifications of a Tudor brand battery :

As we have seen, the CCA broadly indicates the starting power of a battery . The higher its value, the easier it will be to start the vehicle.

As a general rule, when choosing a starter we should check the value of the cold cranking amp (CCA) that indicates the battery of our car and look for a starter that is capable of supplying a higher peak current. 

Remember that a vehicle requires more starting power in a cold environment and its battery may not provide it if it is old or heavily discharged.

The Importance of Starting Current

The peak current ( peak current ) of a starter is an instantaneous value which can be supplied for a few tenths of a second, for example:

If we have a starter that can supply 1200A peak current and a car needs 350A peak current , then the starter would be able to start the car instantly.

However, if the car does not start instantly because it requires several seconds , the current that can be supplied by a starter constantly decreases considerably, that is:

The starter can deliver an instantaneous current of 1200A and maintain a constant current of 250A for at least 3 seconds.

This constant current of 250A is the so-called starting current .

Therefore, if the car initially requires a peak current of 350A to start and a constant current of 300A for 3 seconds, this starter would NOT be able to start the car because it can only provide a starting current of 250A (although it can initially deliver 1200A peak)

Once the starter has been selected based on the peak current, the next step would be to check the starting current ( Starting Current ) that it can hold for a few seconds and keep the one that best suits the needs of our vehicle.

The problem is that some starter manufacturers do not indicate it  and others make mention of it without indicating the seconds that can maintain that current.

On the other hand, each particular car demands a different starting current and is normally difficult to know, since the manufacturer does not usually indicate this in the vehicle manual:

• Normally a car with a diesel engine demands a starting current higher than 300A .
• On the other hand, a car with a gasoline engine is well below that figure, and depending on the architecture of its engine, the required starting current could be less than even 200A .

How many times can I start my car?

When we buy a starter, it is common to want to know how many times our vehicle will be able to start.

However, we are sorry to tell you that there is no universal answer as it depends on many factors, including:

As you will have seen, there are many factors that influence to know exactly the number of times that a starter can start our vehicle.

Although the truth is that, if its load is above 60%, it will give us several attempts to start.

Our advice is that, once we have successfully started our vehicle, always carry out a full recharge so that it is ready the next time we need it.

In addition, it is recommended to perform a full recharge every 3 months if we have not used it before.

How to use a battery starter?

Regardless of the model you are going to buy, the instructions for using a starter are practically the same. We wanted to prepare a small general guide to explain how to use it:

Security

Before starting to use your battery starter, it is important to take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety, that of the car battery and the rest of the equipment. Since starting your car requires the use of electrical voltage, you must be careful at all times.

But don’t worry, although there are electrical risks associated with starting your car, using a portable battery starter is much safer than starting it by connecting it to another car’s battery.

Before starting your adventure with a battery starter, keep in mind the following safety precautions for good practice:

1. Make sure your vehicle and battery starter are completely off before beginning the battery starting process.
2. Take the keys out of the ignition to make sure that all parts of the vehicle are turned off for the first step.
3. Never connect the red (+) and black (-) clamps to each other , or allow them to connect through an electrical conductor. You could cause a short circuit and the portable starter may stop working. (Although most already have short circuit protection)
4. Check that there are no flammable liquids or elements near your car or the battery starter during the process.

First steps

1. Turn off both your vehicle and the battery starter.
2. Next, connect the jump leads to the device itself.
3. While the vehicle is still off , take both ends of the starter cables in your hands. You should have a red end and a black end, in the form of tweezers.
4. Connect the red clip (+) to the + terminal of the car battery.
5. Connect the black clip (-) to the – terminal of the car battery.
6. Make sure that the clamps are firmly attached to the battery posts, so that when the car starts, they do not come loose and cause a short circuit when they come into contact with each other.

Starting the starter

After checking that the calipers are in the correct position, you can start the battery starter, but still don’t start your car.

The portable starter must be turned on first to “stimulate” the flow of electricity from the device itself to the car battery. You will need a short time interval so that everything is ready for the car to start.

Engine start

Then start your vehicle. This will allow the battery starter to send a current flow to your car battery that will normally start the vehicle’s engine in no time.

Since the starter acts like a supercharged portable battery and is designed to provide short bursts of power in large quantities. However, running the starter for a long time will prevent the starter from working properly later.

You only have to actuate the vehicle’s starting contact for a maximum of 5 seconds. As soon as you turn on the ignition, the starter motor starts to act, due to the burst of energy that the starter sends to the starter motor through your car battery.

At this point, the portable starter is providing its maximum amount of power possible.

Therefore, it is best to operate the starter motor only in short bursts to match the starter power, giving the necessary starting voltage and current for the vehicle engine to start.

If you try to operate the starter for 5 seconds and the vehicle’s engine still doesn’t start , don’t try to keep starting the car for an extended period. Wait about 3-5 minutes between attempts.

If you continue to try the car’s engine, you will put too much power on the portable starter, which can lead to overheating or a short circuit, causing permanent damage to it.

Make another 5-second attempt after the starter is ready to supply all of its power again. The vehicle’s engine should start after a few more attempts.

If it still does not start, we will see later what to do in these cases.

Remove cables

Once your car is started successfully, you must turn off the battery starter. Then remove the black (-) wire first, then the red (+) wire .

Remember that your battery starter works best when it’s fully charged, so be sure to recharge it as soon as possible, even if it didn’t drain your battery since the last time you used it to start your car.

What to do if the car still doesn’t start?

If your car still won’t start after 5 or more attempts to reset the battery, there are a few things you can do to try to fix this situation:

The first thing is to turn off the starter and then fix the position of the clamps on the terminals of the car battery . Sometimes they may be too loose or not in the correct position.

Try placing the black clamp (-) on another part of your car body instead of attaching it to the negative battery post.

It moves the clamps rotatably to literally squeeze them against the battery posts.

If neither of those options works, your battery may have died . Possible reasons may be corrosion and acid leakage  or popped electrodes inside the battery itself.

At this point, the best thing to do is to find a towing service that will take your car to the technical service.

In this Guide we will talk about the solar phone charger, an essential accessory in Australia for nature lovers that will allow you to charge your mobile anywhere without depending on plugs or a portable charger, you will only answer to our beloved Australian Sun.

But before to start, these are the Top 3 Solar Power Bank for Mobile in Australia selling in Amazon.com.au

The more that you read, the more things you will know…

• Laptop Power Bank – Buying Guide 2020
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• Anker Power Banks – Discover Anker external batteries

Why should you buy a portable solar charger?

The truth is that we are dealing with a useful accessory for people who travel, make excursions, hiking trails … since, due to its compact size and practical use, it is the ideal solution for those looking for a portable charger.

By relying solely on the sun, it is possible to save time when charging your mobile phone or other devices (cameras, speakers …) while you move from one place to another with the solar charger behind you, without needing a plug, each time it is more an attractive accessory for users.

As a small inconvenience, it is necessary to know that most solar chargers do not include an internal energy storage battery (such as a powerbank), therefore, it is recommended to correctly expose the sun’s rays on the panels of the solar charger so that the charge mobile is faster.

How does a solar phone charger works?

A solar charger is made up of one or more solar panels . Each solar panel or plate is made up of small photoelectric cells , usually silicon (material suitable for transmitting electrons) and can be of high quality monocrystalline or polycrystalline, with lower quality and inferior results.

One of the biggest limitations provided by these solar panels, in addition to the material used to manufacture them, is the low amount of energy they collect per individual cell.

That is why it would be necessary to use large panels (which would be impractical in our case) or, what is usually done, connect several small panels in parallel that are later deployed to capture more solar radiation.

Types of solar panels: Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline

When deciding on a solar panel, most users ask themselves this question : which is the best?

If we want to know, we must bear in mind that the performance of a solar panel will decrease as the temperature increases.

Therefore, there is no perfect solar panel for every day. If we perform an annual average, we will have a better performance in a monocrystalline solar panel in the months of low solar radiation and worse in the months of higher radiation, to give an example.

The solar chargers of the brands we recommend work with monocrystalline panels  from the manufacturer SunPower  that have an efficiency in their panels greater than 20%.

Therefore, when deciding on a solar charger , what is really important is that we look for the one with the best price, quality and use needs, without giving more importance than necessary if the panel is made of material or another.

What does the power (W) indicated on a solar charger mean?

The power , measured in watts (W), of a solar charger is the one that corresponds to its panel or the sum of all the small solar panels that make it up. The higher the power, the more number of panels and, therefore, the larger the size of the solar charger .

Now, one thing is the power it is capable of giving and another very different thing, is what it supplies in its output:

Manufacturers often limit the output power, that is, the solar charger does not offer all the power that its panel (or set of panels) is capable of delivering. This is done primarily for safety (to avoid excessive overheating) and to extend the life of the panel itself .

In addition, there will always be another reduction in power depending on the conditions of use of the charger: angle of incidence of the sun’s rays, cloudy days, etc …

According to the power, which solar charger should I buy?

The higher the output power of the solar charger the faster the connected devices will charge , since the USB ports will have a greater capacity to meet the power demand of each connected device.

However, there are two key factors to consider:

Solar power bank vs Solar charger

Although both products fulfill the same function, a solar power bank has certain differences that may be more interesting to the user:

Flexibility

With a power bank with a solar panel you can store the solar energy in an internal battery  to later use it to recharge your devices.

As you can see, this allows us to have  greater flexibility than using a solar charger:  since you would have to connect the device to be recharged at the same time during the solar exposure of the charger.

Power and charging time

1) The drawback of external solar batteries is their charging time , the solar panel they incorporate is very small, that is, they have a reduced area of ​​exposure to the sun that would imply many hours for a full charge of the battery.

However, they can also be recharged like any power bank through the micro USB port.

This same problem happens when you go to recharge a device with the power bank through its solar panel:

2) If the power bank does not have energy stored in its battery and you have to resort to charging it through the “mini” solar panel, then the time to charge the device will be much longer than with a solar charger , which, as we have commented, is the which is why they use large solar panels and provide greater power (W).

FAQs about Solar Phone Chargers