Review: cheap 18650 mobile power bank

Nice review, thanks for the great work :slight_smile:

do you have a method for opening this? i got the impression it was a more or less permanent locking design

Link to the powerbank?

Also need HKJ to do some voltage/current tests, see if it holds up at 1A clean or drops off like some of the other cheaper power banks...but very very nice they put the charger/setup up circuitry into one IC...most excellent!

Found link at Banggood

Coupon code BLF does apply!

FYI

Small flat screwdriver or plastic lever will do fine. Plastic is quite sturdy and won’t be easily damaged…

Currently on action at BIC

http://www.buyincoins.com/item/35357.html

BIC4ELECTRO 6% coupon is valid…

Oh even better! Darn good price!

I’m thinking at ordering this or Miller 102 V5 mainly for backup power for my phone and 3DS. Which one has better circuitry?

This one...the miller just like any of the other single cell portable power banks have 2 separate circuits, one for charge of the Li Ion battery in the pack, then one for the boost output for 5vdc, this one both are contained in one chip, 1A both directions (probably less due to inefficiencies and heat loss)

Unless they have new miller chargers that have something similar...

Like this one (the latest V5 Miller charger)

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1421/10001919/1137904

  • Single TP4056 IC for battery charging
  • Single PT1301 IC for charging devices

I was tempted to order one of each of 6 colors from BIC. At $2 each, even just the cell holder portion is worth it.
However, I resisted the urge and only ordered 1 each of black, white and pink.
See, I CAN control my addictions :smiley:

I had 10 in the basket and hovering over the buy button then remembered my wife put the kabosh on my spending till payday, already bought 4 at $1.00 more expensive at banggood



I have a BUNCH of panasonic laptop pulls (thanks 18sixfifty) and itching to try em out, I have two super cheapo tube ones that just can’t hack it and end up going dead because they leave a draw on the battery all the time (plus the batteries suck anyway!)

Just imagine a "mod" and putting this on a 4x parallel 18650 battery pack!

looks good.

Initially I had over a dozen in my cart with the intention of gifting these all out but then I thought -> “I’d better order just one to start out.”

Being one handed I’m not sure how much trouble I might have getting this thing open. Better to just try one out now. I can always order a bunch later if it’s a go.

Thanks for the nice review on this!

AZ

Order two of them to try out. Thanks for the review on these.

They do come with lid open so it’s not an issue…

So V5 is using 2 separate ICs while this one using the same IC for both tasks?

Can anyone recommend some good batteries to put in these? Ideally something under $6? Thanks!

Yes, per the data sheet, it eliminates two separate channels worth of electronics and soldering

I am planning on using laptop pull panasonics (or sony [the red ones])

Decent enough and can handle 1A charge and has enough mAh to actually be worth it

Panasonic laptop pulls? Link?

That is great 411. The coast looks clear to order more then…

thanks!
AZ

Excellent review, what can we buy if we only have protected cells, like the 3400 Panasonic?