I’m looking for a so called lipstick powerbank.
I know Anker makes great 3500 and 5000 versions.
But what I’m looking for are empty ones I can use the many 18650 (and 21700) cells I have in.
It’s very easy to find ones for 18650’s (on Chinese sites), but I’m looking for something with high efficiency.
The output must be at least 2A @ 5v
So:
- 18650 powerbank case.
- High efficiency.
- 2A out.
Chargers: 1xBasen BD01 5/5, 1x Gyrfalcon All-88 4/5, LiitoKala: 3x100 3/5, 2x202 3/5, 1x402 3/5., MiBoxer C4-12 3/5.
Flashlights: DQG Tiny III 26650 5/5, DQG Tiny III 18650 5/5, FiTorch MR35 3/5, Haikelite SC26 HD 3/5, Lumintop Tool AA/AAA 4/5, Nitecore LA10, Skillhunt H04FRC 4/5, Sofirn C01 BLF 3200k/5600k 2/5, Zebralight H600Fc 3/5.
Powerbanks: Romoss 30000 4/5, xiomi 1000 4/5, Xtar PB2 4/5, Xtar PB2S 5/5
In my view by far the best power bank to fulfill these specs is:
ThruNite C2 Mini
I think I got mine on Amazon, and it seems to far exceed anything I have come across in terms of build quality, looks, versatility and power output V/A. It’s quite pricey though. There are a couple of informative videos on YouTube.
Good luck with your search.
But I’m confused by the conflicting test results:
Good: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/55240
Bad: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/51680
Chargers: 1xBasen BD01 5/5, 1x Gyrfalcon All-88 4/5, LiitoKala: 3x100 3/5, 2x202 3/5, 1x402 3/5., MiBoxer C4-12 3/5.
Flashlights: DQG Tiny III 26650 5/5, DQG Tiny III 18650 5/5, FiTorch MR35 3/5, Haikelite SC26 HD 3/5, Lumintop Tool AA/AAA 4/5, Nitecore LA10, Skillhunt H04FRC 4/5, Sofirn C01 BLF 3200k/5600k 2/5, Zebralight H600Fc 3/5.
Powerbanks: Romoss 30000 4/5, xiomi 1000 4/5, Xtar PB2 4/5, Xtar PB2S 5/5
Well, the later of the two reviews says:
and from the discussion in the review, it sounds like they continued to improve the performance over several releases.
That explains the difference. AND that I more urgently need glasses than a power bank
The product seems to be discontinued. It’s still available at some places bundled with a flashlight. I found one place that sells in separately, but no version number…
Edit:
On the site that still sells them the PB has SN:ZM0100988 on it.
On the negative review it shows SN:ZM0100508
Nothing visible on positive review
Assuming the SN is really that, instead of a type, the PB did sell well or the shop that has them is stock has the old version.
Chargers: 1xBasen BD01 5/5, 1x Gyrfalcon All-88 4/5, LiitoKala: 3x100 3/5, 2x202 3/5, 1x402 3/5., MiBoxer C4-12 3/5.
Flashlights: DQG Tiny III 26650 5/5, DQG Tiny III 18650 5/5, FiTorch MR35 3/5, Haikelite SC26 HD 3/5, Lumintop Tool AA/AAA 4/5, Nitecore LA10, Skillhunt H04FRC 4/5, Sofirn C01 BLF 3200k/5600k 2/5, Zebralight H600Fc 3/5.
Powerbanks: Romoss 30000 4/5, xiomi 1000 4/5, Xtar PB2 4/5, Xtar PB2S 5/5
ZoomieFan -Just make sure you get the v3 and by the sounds of it you should do it asap. I did notice that there were not to many about on sale.
How do you tell the difference?
V3 understood.
But how I know if the description of the product doesn’t state it?
Chargers: 1xBasen BD01 5/5, 1x Gyrfalcon All-88 4/5, LiitoKala: 3x100 3/5, 2x202 3/5, 1x402 3/5., MiBoxer C4-12 3/5.
Flashlights: DQG Tiny III 26650 5/5, DQG Tiny III 18650 5/5, FiTorch MR35 3/5, Haikelite SC26 HD 3/5, Lumintop Tool AA/AAA 4/5, Nitecore LA10, Skillhunt H04FRC 4/5, Sofirn C01 BLF 3200k/5600k 2/5, Zebralight H600Fc 3/5.
Powerbanks: Romoss 30000 4/5, xiomi 1000 4/5, Xtar PB2 4/5, Xtar PB2S 5/5
Aye, there’s the rub. How would you know which version they’re selling? How would they know?
I can’t recommend the Thrunite C2 mini. The V1 is one of the best single 18650 I’ve tested in terms of fast charge/discharge and recommended it to some of my caving buddies. Unfortunately, out of the 4 (I think v2), 2 of them stopped working in less than a month. My V1 also stopped working. Same with armytek handy C1, stopped working after a few months.
I’d still recommend nitecore F1 for reliability. Despite the slower charge/discharge, it has the ability to charge almost any size li ion, works well with usb solar panels and mine is around 3 years old and still reliable.
Maybe that of the F1 is better.
Chargers: 1xBasen BD01 5/5, 1x Gyrfalcon All-88 4/5, LiitoKala: 3x100 3/5, 2x202 3/5, 1x402 3/5., MiBoxer C4-12 3/5.
Flashlights: DQG Tiny III 26650 5/5, DQG Tiny III 18650 5/5, FiTorch MR35 3/5, Haikelite SC26 HD 3/5, Lumintop Tool AA/AAA 4/5, Nitecore LA10, Skillhunt H04FRC 4/5, Sofirn C01 BLF 3200k/5600k 2/5, Zebralight H600Fc 3/5.
Powerbanks: Romoss 30000 4/5, xiomi 1000 4/5, Xtar PB2 4/5, Xtar PB2S 5/5
Thanks for the recommendation of the Nitecore F1 handling solar charging.
I’d recommend the XTAR PB2S.
It takes 2 18650 or 21700 cells and can charge them and work as a power bank. Works with USB-C and it supports quick charging. It just manages a 26650 cell too with the cover off, so it’s a pretty good all round 2 bay charger too. It wouldn’t work with a shorter cell though. I’ve used it with a solar panel (it restarts fine) and to charge things at tens of mA too.
There’s a few reviews on it if you want to know more.
XTAR have a couple of others in the range too
https://www.xtar.cc/product/PB-Series-6
And the 4xAA BC4 charger/powerbank if you wanted the same for AAs (doesn’t do 14500s).
DavesTechReviews.com / Big list of Luminus SBT90.2 flashlights / Mega throwers and flooders / Anduril Thermal Calibration Config / Converting Candela to Throw / My reviews on 1lumen (managed by ChibiM, not me)
Email:
<my BLF username>@gmail.comI love my PB2S too, I take it with me on road trips and camping because Ill be carrying a ton of 18650s anyway and I can use it as both a charger and power bank.
I would avoid getting the PB2, I am not sure about the PB2C as its quite new but the PB2S makes more sense imo.
reviving and older thread. I had my eyes on the PB2S for a while, but procrastinated. I didn’t know about the PB2C until your post. Tempting for a 18650-only charger / power bank. I guess the PB2C is half the price because it lacks any of the display info. Maybe less complexity is a good thing? I’m seeing a lot of reviews of the PB2S saying it failed after a short time.