Things to Know before Buying a Portable Battery Pack

Being able to use the laptop at home is a given, but when it comes to going out and traveling to faraway places it becomes another story.

We have already talked about external batteries for mobile phones, but for a computer the demand for electricity is greater, so it is necessary to look for a more efficient product. The laptop has a battery life that is often given for moderate computer use.

As soon as you have to use software that consumes more memory and graphics resources, autonomy can quickly sink to the depths of your battery and leave you alone in front of a computer that is turned off.

To avoid this problem, there is an alternative solution to the classic plug, which is to use what is called a portable power bank.

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We refer to a system that can independently extend or recharge your computer’s battery without the need for an Electric power outlet.

This system obviously uses lithium-ion batteries to store precious electrons, making it possible to have an alternative power source available.

Things to Know before Buying a Portable Battery Pack

The energy requirement of a computer is greater than that of a mobile phone, so it is necessary to focus on various technical elements that allow fast and quality recharging.

It should be noted that we do not directly use the energy of the external battery, but we will go to recharge our computer.

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For this reason, we have established several points that seem essential to us during your selection. At the end of this review we have established our selection of external batteries that seem to us to correspond to a relevant choice.

1. Battery Storage

It is still the first element to pay attention to when buying this type of accessory. It is expressed in milliamps per hour and also in watts.

For a laptop, it is advisable to choose a product with a minimum of 25,000 Mah. There are very powerful external batteries capable of having more than 100,000 Mah.

One piece of advice is to know the capacity of your computer’s battery to have at least one Full loadcharge with external battery.

2. Output Voltage

It is a fundamental element in the choice of your external battery. In fact the output voltage must be adequate to the input voltage of your computer.

In the worst case it can be lower which will slow down the charging, but on the other hand it shouldn’t be higher.

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In some models there is the possibility of modulating this output voltage to suit the laptop. If you are a beginner and you are afraid of making a mistake when charging your laptop or MacBook, we recommend that you choose a device that has a 220V female socket so that you connect the plug directly to the battery.

3. Number of Ports

This is an essential point that will allow you to connect the maximum number of peripherals to the external battery.

We often find USB ports, USB-C to connect Smartphone or small devices like GO PRO. But to connect your laptop, you need to provide a DC outlet or conventional plug.

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We must check the output voltage to ensure a charge that does not damage the laptop. As we have seen before, in case of doubt, it is advisable to connect the laptop charger directly to the external battery that is equipped with this type of plug.

4. Output Voltage

This choice is in line with what was just said about the output voltage of your external battery.

It should be noted that most of our computing devices use direct current (DC) which allows for a low output voltage. So for example a Smartphone will use a 5-volt charger with 1 or 2 Amps to recharge its capacity.

Therefore, the use of alternating current will allow the 220-volt load to be sent directly to the output of the external battery.

To do this, your device must have a standardized mains socket. Here, for example, is a photo of a device designed for this purpose.

You should know that having a classic plug in power bank opens the doors to charging various devices other than laptops.

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We can imagine charging your drone directly from this socket. Obviously, the capacity of the external battery will not be able to charge more depending on the device.

For example, a DJI mini 2 drone batteries will have a capacity of 2250 Mah and with the Omars charger you can make almost 10 full recharges.

5. Size and Weight of the Device

Here you have a criterion that depends on the use you want to give it. It should be noted that the larger the battery capacity, the heavier it will be.

Even for a trip we will take care of choosing an external battery of around 1 kilo that represents on average a 25000 Mah battery that makes a full charge in a MacBook approximately.

Very large models like titanium lithiumnite that offer 124,800 Mah will weigh about 6 kilos but offer 462 WaH.

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You immediately understand that how you want to use it will have an impact on the size and weight of the tool. The price will also change depending on the capacity of the device.

Frequently Asked Question

Can we take an external battery on the plane?

It depends on the model and also on the airline, but it is often preferable to insert the external battery in checked baggage for collection on arrival.

Can we connect an external battery to the solar panels?

Yes, and no, it depends on the product because it must be compatible with solar panels. The Raiden model or the Tanker can be connected directly to a solar system, which offers many more possibilities.

Is it possible to charge a device at the same time while charging the external battery?

Depending on the product purchased, it is necessary to have what is called the “Thought Pass” mode that allows both a charge of your computer and an external battery charge.

This function is even more practical in solar panels because you have the energy of the sun at the same time that it restores your device while charging your Smartphone or tablet.

Can we plug a coffee maker into a battery AC outlet?

So if the capacity of your coffee maker does not exceed what the battery can supply, it is possible. To do this, you need to make sure that your battery can supply the necessary current.