Review: USB battery box 4x18650 Coolook PB-2000

EDC Gear for Flashlight Carriers USB Power Devices
26

Hi to everyone, this is my first post. A totally newbie.

And thanks to HJK for this fantastic review, looks awesome but still don’t understand some of these statistics :~ , I had to learn more :bigsmile:

I’ve some question about this battery box. I’ve the same (but white color), and bought on ebay. When receive mine, I had a problem with B USB output.

The B USB can’t charge Apple devices, and as HJK comments, the problem seems that is not Apple coded. Explained to the seller the problem and he sends me another unit with the same problem |( . The seller is asking the problem to the factory and he told me that they don’t know what’s the matter, really?

But maybe is not a problem of the unit, and the unit only can charge Apple devices in A port and should recode B port to charge Apple devices at the same time.

HJK, it’s possible to recode B port? Now I have two battery box that I can’t use B port.

Thanks.

27

You can use port B for non-Apple devices.

If you can solder it is probably possible to recode port B.

First you must secure that there is no resistor on port B (Some devices does have that).

Then you must solder two thin wires from port A to port B (Note: I do not have any Apple devices and cannot test it).

If there is any interest I can make a illustration on the pcb photo.

28

Fasttech now have this Coolook in stock, with various combinations of battery.

29

I ordered but never received tha box from ebay. At least they refunded me.

Glad to hear that fasttech has it. Lately I’m buying exclusively from Fasttech. Nobody else compares. :slight_smile:

30

I almost forgot, but yes: I received one without the retail box. (Which is good, I guess. I can still make undercover reviews ;))

31

Is that a 5V 2A adaptor? How long to charge 4 * 3400mah cells? thx

32

Please make it!

33

Recoding A output to USB standard, i.e. not Apple:

Remove the four resistors wit a red cross and short the two points with the yellow line between.

34

Can I charge this from a wall outlet using an Apple ipad adapter?

35

I do not know anything about the ipad adapter and cannot tell you, maybe somebody else can?

36

Thank you!

37

I’ve been looking at this USB batter box , but can’t find any reviews.

38

Thank you for the excellent review!

Maybe you can answer a general charger/power pack question I have: My ZTE Engage smartphone is very picky about what will charge it. The two battery packs I have built already will charge the wife’s HTC One but not mine, my guess is because of something to do with the data pins. My power packs only use the + and - wires. So my question is about what certain chargers do to make the device it’s connected to think it’s connected to a computer, and how to know which chargers do that. Thanks!

39

Try checking the link in the "Notes" section of the review, at the bottom of that page is a table that might be useful.

40

This looks like a nice box, with different voltage outputs and display.

41

Hi HKJ, got some question about the USB power adapter that come with this box(purchased from fasttech)

What kind of coding does this one use?

I figured that they are 6.2 kΩ on both D+ and D- pulldown, 5.6 kΩ on D+ pullup and 10 kΩ on D- pullup.

Edit : Just cut some crappy USB cable and check it with DMM and yes, it’s Apple 2.1A coding. :slight_smile:

42

The best match is Apple 1A, but the voltages are slightly high for that. I do not know if a Apple product will accept it.

43

Sorry for late update, just cut some cable and check with DMM and the voltage match the Apple 1A coding (got 2.001V on D+ and 2.702 on D-)

Edit : I was wrong, it’s 1A as HKJ said

44

Thank you for these great reviews HKJ. It really helps to get an idea of what these products are so we don’t have to order blindly.

I have a question about using cells of different voltages in this or other boxes. Why is this not a good idea? Shouldn’t they balance each other out since they are in parallel?

Also, would using different types/rands of batteries within the same box be OK? (eg Sanyo UR18650FM and Panasonic NCR18650B)

And lastly, Any chance that you could review this USB battery box?
QIDIAN 3-Piece 3A 1-4*18650 Dual USB Output Mobile Power Pack Battery Charger Kit

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1420/10004461/1341401

Thanks a lot.

45

They will balance each other out, usual in a couple of minutes. To avoid this high cross current, it is better to start with about the same voltage on the batteries.

It is the same when charging in parallel, it is recommended that the batteries are close in voltage, before you start.

It will work, but you might not get the full advantage more batteries. With four of the same, they will always share the load. If you mix UR18650FM and NCR18650B, the UR18650FM will have the main load at the start and the NCR18650B will have the high load at the end.

Yes, there is a very good possibility. I have it in queue (That means that I have), but that queue is rather long at the moment, i.e. it will probably be more than a month, before I post a review.