My alternative to a conventional external battery - Galaxy Note GT-N7000 Accessories

I've just switched from one of those standard Energiser XP jobs (which I think I got in an airport somewhere). It did the job, but only one USB port, and needed separate charger which was a pain.
What I've switched to is this:
http://www.intl-outdoor.com/double-usb-mobile-device-charger-318650-xml-t6-flashlight-p-365.html
Essentially, it is a stupidly bright flashlight (up to 800 lumens) with a couple of USB ports on the back.
It uses 3 x 18650 batteries (which I've learnt are very common Li-Ion batteries) - I bought the 3100mAh ones (http://www.intl-outdoor.com/panasonic-ncr18650a-3100mah-liion-batteryone-p-213.html) so it'll charge my note from flat about 3 times (or it'll charge an iPad from flat to full).
Quick side note here, if you do buy a batteries from the same store, don't buy the protected ones - the torch has protection circuitry in it, and the protected batteries are a little bit long (so you'd have to trim the battery springs to get them in). Fortunately, Hank spotted this before they shipped, changed my order and refunded the difference.
There is a lot of stuff on various forums about these 18650 batteries. A couple of places suggested that 'Redilast' ones might be good as well - I really don't know and wanted to order everything from the same place.
I really love it, in fact, I liked it so much, I just bought one for my father's birthday, and, think I will get the same for a friend of mine whose birthday is coming up.
Pros:
It has 2 USB ports on it
One of the USB ports is high capacity (10 Watts/2 Amps?) so my note charges really quickly (much faster than when connected to my laptop)
It charges over USB
It is a pretty damned good torch in its own right (with 3 power levels on the one I got, but there are other options at ordering time)
It stores a bucketload of power
The store I bought it from (linked to above - the guy's name is Hank) had really great feedback and customer service
Very solid build, would be hard to break (except for maybe muck getting into the USB ports)
It uses its internal batteries in parallel for even charge and discharge (which probably happens in most battery packs anyway?)
As battery capacities increase, I'll be able to swap out the old 18650s for higher capacity ones
Will charge note 3 times to full from flat
Will charge iPad to full from flat (which is useful to me )
Cons:
It is a bit chunky (fine for a bag, but too much for a normal pocket)
The port you charge it through is mini usb, not micro usb, so that's one more cable to carry (a hell of a lot more convenient that one more charger to carry though)
When you are using it to charge something, the LEDs on the back are lit up like a Christmas tree
I've not yet tried taking it through as hand luggage at the airport
Wishlist:
I wish it was waterproof and had a screw on waterproof cap for the end with the switches and USB ports
It'd be nice if there was a way of turning the LEDs off, while it is charging (maybe one click for on but flicker every 5 seconds, one more click for on, and one last click for off in the same way the the different power settings for the torch work on the main switch)
I also, separately, bought the following tough little cables to go with it. I keep them in a gridit, but a couple of rubber bands would keep them with the torch. I also recommend these. The microusb one I only use for charging the torch and the dog's GPS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-GC1...KXJQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339193117&sr=8-2
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Now I'll try and link in to the pictures on the website I bought it from.
Very curious to see what others think.
Kent.

i really am struggling to understand - is the torch actually useful to you or are you just using it as a portable usb charger?

A fair question. I primarily use it as a portable, easily recharged, usb charger. The very solid casing makes it a very robust portable USB charger. The extremely bright torch is just a very cool bonus (and it doesn't add *that much* weight or size

the one i would use is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Trent-I...MP50/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339194487&sr=8-3
how would that compare in terms of mah and weight?

I seriously considered one of those:
Price:
Trent vs USB torch with 3x3100 batteries
£37 vs about £50 (torch includes shipping, so probably add a fiver to the Trent)
11000mAh vs 9300mAh
Charges via extra charger vs Charges over USB mini
So, the Trent wins on price and capacity, but carrying an extra charger drives for each device drives me mad. The torch also has 2 USB ports - not a huge deal, but handy.
But - the torch feels very solid. I've never seen the Trent in the flesh so don't know. I'd be surprised if it was that tough though.
The torch makes things light up in the dark and gives me little nerdgasms whenever I get it out

looks like a good comparison - excellent choice

Im still sticking to my 2 year old Sanyo mobile booster...
have 2 x usb slots..
5000mAh...
for torch y not use apps for it?
cost around $65SGD here as currently there is a PC show going on.

I plan to use one of these
Basically a box for 1-4x 18650 batteries. It should provide about 8000mAh on standard laptop cells, but I would expect it to be a bit lower with 2nd hand cells.
I have loads of these cells from dead laptop batteries. 4-6 in a pack.
Usually its only 1 or 2 bad cells in a pack, with so at least a few should still be usuable. I have about 12 lying around, with another 3 laptops with dodgy batteries!
The box provides 1Amp current at 5v. Perfect for charging Big Smartphones.
It can handle 2amp input for a quick charge, or lesser for a slower charge. You could use the standard Note charge with a female micro to male miniusb adaptor.
Plug it in a usb socket for a slow charge, hack a microusb cable and connect it to another 5v PSU, or directly to your computer PSU. Red and Black is 5V.
The electronics seem advanced enough to avoid over charging, under voltage of cells and overvoltage protection for the output. I am going to get one and will report back on exact outputs but it will take a few weeks from China.

Related

YooBao Power Bank 11200mAh

Anyone using this?
http://yoobao.co.uk/products-page/power-banks/yoobao-long-march-ii-power-bank-11200mah
I am planning to get this, hoping that I can make my Gnex run a full day of use, because currently, full charge and using MiLi Power Crystal doesnt even last 4 Hours of screen on time..
I've been trying to decide how to deal with the "power shortage" since getting the phone when VzW first released it (LTE version). Finally decided to get an external "power bank" like this and searched for alternatives to compare.
Worth reading a number of threads on these. Some brands really seem to disappoint, and others seem credible. I had settled on an 11,000 mah New Trent for about $76. A bit pricey, but I've used it a few times now, and love having a portable extended power source with me that doesn't require always having a fat phone in my pocket. I also read good things about the Yoobao you mentioned in your post -- no complaints that I could find.
I have no complaints about the New Trent -- but I think if I had it to do over, I might lean toward the Yoobao:
I haven't compared measurements carefully, but the Yoobao appears a bit more compact.
The power in port on the New Trent is a round jack -- while the Yoobao takes a standard micro USB power input. That would suggest it will take any of a number of standard chargers, can be charged easily off your laptop, etc.
The Yoobao has dual output ports -- 1a and 2a -- the New Trent has 1 output. Not a big deal, but if you want to charge 2 devices simultaneously, you'll need a splitter.
BTW: at 11,000 mah (assuming that figure isn't overly exaggerated) you're getting about 5 times the power that's available in the OEM extended 2100 mah battery. Add that to the internal battery, and even with heavy use you should get quite a bit of use before having to recharge the phone and power bank. I haven't pushed mine to the limit yet, but I've gone through a couple of days at a time of heavy use, using the external power bank to recharge the Galaxy Nexus, and have yet run down this combination.
In the end -- I think you made a good choice. I'd be interested to see your experience when you try it out.
Jon
I have received this yoobao, but I am not too sure if the gnexus can benefit from the 2A port this power bank has.. So i just leave it on the 1A port
Been using this for months now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet®-Du...Blackberry/dp/B000UH46YY/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_img_c
Great device, and even though I carry spare batteries on me, I tend to use this to charge instead. Looks really nice as well!
I have this one, it can charge the nexus full for 3-4 times.
cost me USD 64, you can charge it using miniUSB or MicroUSB, charging input upto 2100mAh, you can charge it faster by connection 2 adapters at the same time to cover the current upto 2100mAh.
output is two standard USB at combine 2100mAh.
The good thing about this battery pack is, i can use the supplied Standard USB to MicriUSB to charge the powerock and most of my mobile phones.
http://usb.brando.com/powerocks-stone-3-power-bank-7-800mah-_p02355c035d15.html
It looks pretty good. Does it feel sturdy? I'm also in the same boat especially with summer on the way. Plenty of trips coming =]
Ziocomposite said:
It looks pretty good. Does it feel sturdy? I'm also in the same boat especially with summer on the way. Plenty of trips coming =]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you asking about the yoobao or powerock, if it's the powerock, it's pretty small for what it is, and is good quality.
the size is about 3"*3"*1"
This is the one I wound up buying: New Trent IMP1000
http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-IMP...Z64Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332601942&sr=8-1
Probably overkill -- 11,000 mah, more than 5 times the juice that the Verizon OEM extended 2100 mah battery has. Works beautifully so far. I charged it up the first night, and have used it a few times when my Galaxy Nexus was getting low:
- in a conference room at a client during a multi-hour session at the end of a long day
- while waiting for a delayed plane to board, when all the "courtesy outlets" near the gate were in use
- while sitting on a couple of long flights and playing various games, reading cached / downloaded new and browsing a couple of docs from work -- hours with the display on
Also left the G-Nex plugged into it and charging while NOT using the phone during parts of my flights, and arrived at my destination with a fully charged phone -- nice!
Again - I haven't tracked the exact time, but with the items above, when I turn the New Trent on, all three charge indicators light up, indicating that it's still holding most of a full charge.
Nicely made, works extremely well, huge capacity -- a bit pricey.
Some comparison points that might make me choose differently if I were to buy again:
- this is a bit chunky: I CAN put it in my pocket, but it's big -- better left in a backpack most of the time. Next time I might opt for something in the 7,000 to 8,000 mah range if it can be closer in size to the phone itself (there are a few nice ones like that on the market in the $50 range).
- only one charging port: I have a Y-cable that let's me charge a couple of devices, but I'd lean toward a device with 2 ports next time
- power input on the device uses a small round jack / plug: jury out on this item. My first thought was that I'd prefer a micro-USB power input so it would be compatible with all my other cables, and I could potentially recharge it off my laptop. HOWEVER I noticed that the device recharges quite quickly, and wondered if perhaps the adapter and cable provides more juice to recharge the New Trent than a standard USB connection does... I'll explore this a bit -- if NOT the case, then I'd definitely lean toward a more standard micro-USB power input connection.
All in all, this has been great for the past month. Works perfectly, has saved me a lot of inconvenience, and has encouraged me to use all the features in my Galaxy Nexus rather than worrying about scrimping on power use. If you find yourself running out of juice or worry about this, I highly recommend getting either this one or some variant. I considered carrying spare internal batteries with me, but I'd rather not make a routine of popping the phone open constantly - much prefer just plugging in the extra power cable when needed, especially since it typically only needs to be in for perhaps 30 to 60 mins to "top off" the internal phone battery to get me through an demanding day.
I've had several different types of these, and New Trent seem to have the best quality, longest lasting ones I've found. I'm currently using the New Trent iCurve IMP70D 7000mAh. It's quite thin and easy to carry around. I can typically get 3-4 charges out of it. I love the dual charging ports, and the 2.1A port is nice to have for my tablet. It also charges with a standard micro USB cable, so that makes one less thing to carry around. In my opinion, it's the best combination of power, portability, and flexibility that they offer. I used it frequently when dealing with power outages and all day bus rides while living in Albania. Having it kept me sane on several occasions.
Ziocomposite said:
It looks pretty good. Does it feel sturdy? I'm also in the same boat especially with summer on the way. Plenty of trips coming =]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It fits into my jeans pocket perfectly, but I can put my Gnex and YooBao in the same pocket..
I got it for USD 64 from http://aysia.com.my/aysia-online-shopping-mall-1/it-products-electronics/yoobao/yoobao-power-bank-yb-642/yoobao-power-bank-yb642-1.html
Comparison in size between my old MiLi Power Crystal
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Review of Anker Astro Pro 14400 mAh external battery w/pics!!!

This is a review of Anker Astro Pro 14400 mAh external battery: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NGLTZQ/
I think when you get into capacity of 14400 mAh you are no longer in external battery territory but rather "portable power bank" section. I have reviewed a number of different external batteries before, but this one offers something different. In addition to your standard usb outputs you also get a selectable 9V/12V DC output to power up your other devices.requiring voltage other than 5V.
Obviously with a higher capacity you will also see a heavier weight and bigger dimensions of the external battery. This Astro Pro clocks at about 385 grams and dimensions of 150 mm x 82 mm x 21 mm. It will not be pocket friendly, but surprisingly it still feels portable enough to throw into your backpack or just a bag on a go. As a matter of fact, the battery feels very rugged and solid, something that might give you a piece of mind when you are traveling. The whole body of the battery has a rubberized non slim finish, similar to Thinkpad laptops. The top has a reflective design which opens up to 4 vertical blue LED indicators (each one corresponding to 25% of battery capacity) and a power button.
The charging input comes from AC wall adapter which charges your battery relatively fast considering 12V/1.2A input. This is not your typical 5V input because this battery is designed to provide 12V/9V output in addition to 5V, so you need a higher voltage to begin with; 9V and 5V are derived from 12V internally. As I mentioned you can select either 12V or 9V DC output with a switch on a side. That output will provide 2A of output current. The same with both 5V USB outputs, each one will be able to supply 2A of current and can be used simultaneously. According to Anker, Output 1 is designated for Apple products and can charge even iPad 4 w/retina. Output 2 should be able to accommodate any Samsung tablet/phone or any other smart phone/tablet. For Note 2 - you can use either of the ports. For other smartphones or tables - you are covered with either one of these ports.
And speaking of full coverage. You get a lot of different connector types to cover most of your needs. The coiled heavy duty USB cable with it's selection of tips should cover most of the common micro-usb, mini-usb, apple, and cheaper tablets, while DC output cable has plenty of tips to cover laptop, netbook, camcoders, digital cameras, and other devices. Yes keep in mind - this will come VERY handy when you want to charge your Digital camera or DV recorder when you are outside and run out of juice. You also get a stretchable storage pouch which fits Astro Pro and cables. Keep in mind, 14400 mAh rating will have to be de-rated 30% down which is typical for EVERY external battery because of conversion through 5V usb connector going to your smartphone or other device.
Overall, if you are a looking for a more universal and versatile external battery to charge your phone and other digital devices (camera, dv, etc.) on the go - this will be a great solution to consolidate everything in one piece which is still portable. As usual, Anker offers 18-months warranty they really stand behind, a big plus!
Here are the pictures of this beast:
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pretty cool however i think the Astro E4 is better as it can charge faster and i realize this has two 2.0amp ports however for price over performance i think for 15$ less you can have slightly less mAh. I know this is aesthetically better but here you go
http://www.amazon.com/Anker-13000mA...F8&qid=1369337456&sr=8-1&keywords=anker+13000
Absolutely agree, if you are looking for smart phone only charger E4 is the best value right now. But in situation when you need more than just usb charging port - this one is great with it's extra 9V/12V output. I know most of the people abandon their regular cameras and digital video cameras in favor of phones, but we still use our dv camera at home and it needs 9V to charge it. So in that situation when you are running low on battery you can both charge the dv camera and phone on the go away from power outlet.
vectron said:
Absolutely agree, if you are looking for smart phone only charger E4 is the best value right now. But in situation when you need more than just usb charging port - this one is great with it's extra 9V/12V output. I know most of the people abandon their regular cameras and digital video cameras in favor of phones, but we still use our dv camera at home and it needs 9V to charge it. So in that situation when you are running low on battery you can both charge the dv camera and phone on the go away from power outlet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just use the battery charger from my camera. Its a nice product for some people I just see it as an over peiced option when youcan use something for less with an adapter if you felt like it is all.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app

(Review) Lepow Moonstone 6000mAh portable powerbank

Weighs at only 8.8oz, it pack's 6,000 mAh battery in a small package, enough to charge your mobile phones and more. Perfect for everyday use, longer trips and emergency situations.
initial thoughts on unpacking.
comes in a pretty nice carry case pouch.small compact easy to carry around in your pocket, or bag. comes in many colors such as green apple,bright yellow,red rose,gloss black,and white pure ivory.i choose gloss black.
Features:
high-end Li-Polymer cell batteries with capacity of 6,000mAh (S3 battery is rated as ~2,100mAh)
Two power outputs (1.2A and 2.1A) for two different charging speeds, charging your device while charging the moonstone can be done at the same time.other power banks i have tried could not accomplish these two feats at the same time.
Compatible with any cell phone, or tablet with micro USB connection, such as Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc.In theory you could even use it with any usb powered device as long as you have the proper usb cords.
specs below
Input:
DC 5V
Output: USB1: DC 5V/1.2A; USB2: DC 5V/2.1A
Battery capacity: 6,000 mAh
Dimension: 3.2 x 3.2 x 0.4 inches (81.28mm x 81.28mm x 1.016mm)
Weight: 8.8oz (249.476gram)
the moonstone can hold charge for up to 6 months.
charging up the moonstone takes about 8hrs overnight.
cracking it open we find 2 3000mAh slim batteries wedges in series on top of each other.
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this battery is a beast. It packs a quit decent capacity in a small convenient package which is fairly compact and light. Simple to use there is a single button on the top that, when depressed.shows a light bar scale of the charge
I will be updating this thread over the next week with real world results and usage details. myself along with my wife both owning galaxy S3's,as well as a few asus tablets.will have ample different device types to charge and check functionality on.so far it took about 2hrs to fully charge my s3 from 1%. still have 3 bars left on the battery bank out of 4.
bottom line This is a straightforward device - if you're looking for a way to extend your phones battery life while out and about,this does exactly what you need.small sleek and portable. With all of the portable battery options out there, the Moonstone 6000 stands out due to its unique design and valued accessories.The carrying case is a nice touch, and the extra USB cable that can be easily rolled up is even nicer. I highly recommend this battery charger to anyone looking for a small portable power source.
see pics.
not quit sure what the stickers were about or the key. but i figured out the fish is a usb cable wrap. pretty cool.
upon on boxing everything it came with minus the nice draw string felt carry bag.
i got bored after the review. I decided to do some customization to the case after i had it open for the battery pics.so i vinyl wrapped it. so now it looks like he has a tie when it charges. lol
Amazon Storefront: http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/lepow
current deal on the Moonstone 6000 in Apple Green: Reduced to $29.99 from $59.99
And starting next Monday (11/25) until Black Friday, it will be decreased even more to: $24.99 from $59.99
sample provided for review.
manufacturers would you like your product reviewed? contact me......
$24.99 is a very good price for 6000 mAh battery. And with other goodies, definitely a great value.
Is that usb stick included in there? How about that suction pad, does it work with moonstone attached to it and stuck to a flat surface? I have noticed that shape of moonstone is not flat, more like a pebble. Just wondering if the extra suction pad is intended to secure it to a surface? Also, not sure if you can run free Galaxy Charging Current app (i know its free for Note 2, S4, Note 3, but not sure if you have to pay to use it for S3) or maybe any other apps or read it from your Rom the actual charging current?
vectron said:
$24.99 is a very good price for 6000 mAh battery. And with other goodies, definitely a great value.
Is that usb stick included in there? How about that suction pad, does it work with moonstone attached to it and stuck to a flat surface? I have noticed that shape of moonstone is not flat, more like a pebble. Just wondering if the extra suction pad is intended to secure it to a surface? Also, not sure if you can run free Galaxy Charging Current app (i know its free for Note 2, S4, Note 3, but not sure if you have to pay to use it for S3) or maybe any other apps or read it from your Rom the actual charging current?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just checked charge. Fast charge placed at 1.13a normal was around 896ma. That's to my s3.says it has adaptive charge to protect phone circuit. I'll try. You tablet tomorrow All the stuff pictured came with it. Ya the suction pad works well. The USB stick is actually a microsd adapter. I'll pot more updates after a full week of testing with it.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Putting out some good juice today time from 10‰ till full and charge rate. Pretty good.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
This adaptive charging on this bank is sweet
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[Review] Poweradd Pilot C 10,000mAh Powerbank

Hi all,
Continuing on my new found hobby of tech reviewing I wanted to share with you my thoughts on some Poweradd products I've recently got my hands on.
Unboxing
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The powerbank comes in a fairly well packed black box with a few product details on the front and back. On the font it lists
Quick Charge with no memory effect
USB charge
High capacity
easy operation
safety protection system
The last one - safety protection system - is really key for me seeing as im planing on plugging in my £500 smart phone and my tablets and camera into this thing so im putting a lot of trust in it and that makes me feel a bit more at ease!
Not wanting to go on too much about the packing, but it does feel like a really well made packet that the powerbank comes in that really just added to the feel of high quality, it didnt arrive in just a plastic bag with no instructions so i do feel safe trusting my valuables to it!
On the back of the packet it lists a few more details, it uses a Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 10,000mAh (37Wh)!. The weight is listed as 8.68 ounces with a +/- 0.35 ounce variance. I was a bit disappointed not to see any promises of how many recharge cycles this thing would last for written onto the box.
Ok so lets open this thing up finally!!
inside the box is just the powerbank, a Microusb lead and a small set of instructions. Little disappointed that there isnt a little pouch or something to keep the thing in as you see with some of the Ravpower powerbanks. Also the Micro USB lead felt excessively long at about 1m I use these things in my pocket to charge my phone in my pocket so the extra cable felt a little excessive but on the plus point it does reach the outlet on the floor so not too worried about that.
The powerbank its self feels quite chunky (1.26 inches thick) but its sturdy. The weight is noticeable and isnt central in the small box, feeling like the majority of the battery is down the bottom end. It fits into your hand quite snugly. The body is made from a thick feeling strong plastic with a a textured body making it easy to hold (although giving my camera a nightmare to foucs on the body! ) I've tried to get my fingers into any gaps in the body to try and pry apart to do a bit more of a teardown and it feels like basically it wont come apart without destroying it so it does feel very well put together.
Moving round the powerbank there are 2 USB outlets on the top and a Micro USB inlet. The 2 USB outlets have 1 dot or 2 indicating the amount of juice they supply from the powerbank and also meaning that you can charge 2 devices at once!
USB1 is rated at 5V, 1A
USB2 is rated at 5V, 2.1A
the 2.1A slightly confused me as most devices are 500mA, 1A or 2A, not sure why the extra 100mA was felt needed and it made me feel a little nervous charging my S4 which is rated 5V, 2A (I wasnt worried it would explode but i just want sure about the long term effect on the battery.)
The input Micro USB is rated at 2A (yay) meaning you can charge this thing up pretty quick as 10,000mAh will take a while to charge on 500mA PC USB.
Moving round to the side there is a single button which can be used to show the amount of power in the device. There are 4 blue LEDs on the front to signify levels of charge. A little disappointed that there is no LED light option as you get on some of the powerbanks which can be handy when fumbling in the dark as I often find myself when camping!
So thats the product!
In summary:
Positive points
+Massive capacity
+2 USB ports with different rating
+can charge 2 devices at once
+2A input so quick charge
+Feels well put together
+uses micro USB (long live the standard cable!)
+LEDs to show battery capacity
Negative points
-feels a little chunky, im ok with the weight given the capacity but the thickness almost excluded is from jeans pocket storage
-no LED torch
-USB lead supplied is a little long
-weight is off center - a minor point really but makes it feel end heavy to hold.
-No supplied storage pouch! Feels like PowerAdd missed a trick with supplying a cheap little bag to make this feel like even more of a premium product.
-The USB cable supplied is charge only so cant be used for data, feels a little mean
Overall im fairly happy with this and it feel rugged enough for my camping trips away or to be slung in a backpack and not worry about it coming apart or breaking.
My Score out of 5:
:good::good::good::good:
Hope everyone found this useful. I'll upload a video review shortly when i get my camera working. Feel free to ask me any questions.
:good: nice and conplete review, pity nobody has taken notice
Sent from my LG-E400 using XDA Free mobile app

Review of Anker Car Jump Start battery (400A) and Portable Charger (10k mAh) w/pics!

This is a review of Anker Car Jump Start Battery and a Portable Charger. http://www.ianker.com/product/A1501011 , available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T2GT9L4/
After reviewing so many different Anker batteries, I'm more used to writing about their products that can save your phone. Here is the first one for me - a product from Anker that can actually save your car and perhaps turn into a real Life Saver if you are stuck in the middle of nowhere! After so many snow storms, last few months have been rough here on East Coast. As I mentioned in my previous Astro E7 review, I usually prepare for the winter with extra bags of salt, a few canisters of gasoline for our portable generator, and making sure all my external Anker batteries are fully charged! But one thing I didn't account for was my 8 year old original car battery that gave me trouble early one morning when temperature dropped below zero. Thank God it was in our driveway next to my wife's car, so I had access to jump start it, but a thought crossed my mind if I would have been away at work, stuck in the empty parking lot. I ended up replacing my car battery about a month ago, and when found out that Anker is releasing a jump-start battery for the car - I requested a review sample to learn more about this fantastic product. I do have to admit that I didn't get a chance to use this battery to actually jump start the car because you do need a car with a dead battery for that test. But I wanted to review this battery based on what it's capable of. Just think of it as insurance, something you have to invest into once to protect you in the future.
Let me first start with a packaging, something everybody will appreciate since it's a sturdy hard plastic case with a molded handle and two locking latches – a case intended to be stored away in a trunk of your car for emergency use. Even before you open it up, you know right away this is a tool box, not a toy. Once opened, you will see a top cover with a foam lining and a plastic form-fitted tray at the bottom partitioned with sections for the battery, jump start cable, and charging cables. Such partitioning is very important because you don't want anything to rattle or slide inside of the case when you are driving. In addition to the battery itself, you have a variety of cable accessories including 15V/1A wall charger, 15V/0.8A car charger, usb to micro-usb charging cable, jumper cable attachment, and a very comprehensive Manual/Guide.
Unit itself is a 10,000 mAh battery. If you need to quickly charge it up, using slow 5V input charger will not be enough. Utilizing 15V input reassures that your Anker battery will be fully charged and ready in no time! Also while keeping it in the car, the battery will stay "fresh" for about 3 months in standby, but you have to be sure to periodically check and charge it up if necessary. As a matter of fact, convenience of both wall and car chargers will give you a flexibility to be able to charge this battery even when you are driving. Once fully charged, you can always check the capacity by pressing Power button and checking 4-led indicator on the side. Right next to this led indicator you have 2 usb charging ports, rated at 1A and 2.1A, to be used for emergency charging of your smartphone or tablet. Next to that you have 15V/1A input port, and 12V/200A jumper cable port covered by a rubber flap to keep contacts clean and dust-free.
The battery housing is made out of sturdy plastic with rubbery side grips all around it. The size of the housing is not exactly pocket friendly measuring about 7.3" x 3.3" x 1.7" and with a weight of about 385g, but as I mentioned before this battery is intended to be stored inside of the case in your car trunk. It's clear this battery was designed with durability being its higher priority. Another very useful element of the design is a front facing powerful LED light. It gets activated with a long press of a power button to start with a solid light, and switched to slow and fast blinking with a follow up short press of the power button; another long press turns it off. The light is very bright and can come handy in different emergency or even everyday use situations.
Even so this is very capable high capacity rugged battery with a wide angle super bright LED, a real star of this product is Jump Start cable! Operation is VERY simple. First you need to be sure you have at least one solid LED indicating 25% of charge still available. Attach Jumper Cable, easy to do since one of the tips is keyed so connector goes in only one way, connect clamps to the corresponding car battery terminal (also easy since cables are colored red and black), wait for booster cable green light indicator (sensor located in series with a ground cable), and start your engine! Upon start up, battery should be able to provide 200A of the current with an in-rush peak current of up to 400A for a short duration of 3 seconds. Make sure to disconnect jumper cable clamps after about 30seconds of operation so you don't drain the battery. This is a very easy and convenient way to jump-start your car without depending on another car with a jumper cable next to you!
Overall, I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't want to get this jump start battery for every car in your family. It's true that car batteries don't fail as often, but for a piece of mind keeping this battery in your car is priceless! Besides jump starting your car, this is a fully capable 10,000 mAh external battery with dual 2.1A/1A outputs to charge your phone and/or your tablet, and also to provide an emergency light. And if you are or someone next to you in trouble with their car battery, using Anker Car Jump Start battery will be the easiest and the cleanest way to mitigate this problem! This one definitely gets my high recommendation!
Here are the pictures.
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When you tested this was the battery completely drained on the vehicle? I'm impressed with the compact size that it is capable of jumpstarting a vehicle. Nice review

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