I got this battery box from Fasttech (sku: 1340301).
Official specifications:
Battery Capacity (Mfg Rated): 3400 mAh
Battery Chemistry: Li-Ion
Battery Feature: Rechargeable
Battery Form Factor: 18650
Battery Rated Voltage: 3.7 V
Required Battery Count: 4
Brand: Ruinovo
Dimensions: Depth 22 mm, Height 98.9 mm, Width 77.7 mm
Weight: 113 g
T63 aluminum alloy hard anodized casing with surface wire-drawing treatment
Single chip control
Input: 1A (Micro USB), 2A (3.5mm)
Output: 1A (USB 1), 2.1A (USB 2)
Idle discharge: 0.350mA
The mobile power pack stops to discharge when the remaining voltage is about 3V
With 4-LED battery indicators
How does it look
I got the box in a envelop, it did not have any retail box.
The box was supplied with loose screws, a screwdriver, four o-rings and a usb/DC-connector cable. When some batteries has been filled into the box it is closed with the screws.
It can be ordered with different capacity of batteries or without any batteries, these batteries are not mounted in the box.
The front has two usb outputs, one marked Android, one marked Apple. The power input is a micro usb and a DC connector.
There is 4 leds to show charge state and a button to turn the output on.
It is a DIY job to put the batteries into the box. The batteries must be unprotected flat top batteries to fit.
The supplied screwdriver is used to unmount and mount the front.
Measurements
Blue leds will flash slowly with charge status while outputting current.
Blue leds will show charge status while charging, one will flash.
It will discharge batteries with 0.35mA, i.e. 4x3100mAh will last about 4 years.
The first blue status led will light when output is turned on, the second if battery voltage is above 3.55 volt, the 3. if battery voltage is about 3.73 volt and the 4. if battery voltage is above 3.87 volt.
When charging the output voltage is below 5 volt.
The two outputs are not in parallel, but uses different current limits.
Output marked with the Android symbol is coded as usb charger (DCP)
Output marked with an Apple symbol is coded as Apple 2.1A.
The box stays on for 25 seconds after the load is removed (A few mA is enough load to stay on).
This box is not designed for swapping in fresh batteries, only for replacing batteries when they are worn down.
The Apple output delivers a bit more than rated current and then shuts down, this looks good.
The USB standard output only delivers 1.4A, before shutting down. This is fine, but I would have preferred same current limit as on the Apple output.
A 2A test on the Apple output works fine.
Also with all four batteries. It can run for nearly 4 hours at full load and with good efficiency.
With 0.5A load the efficiency is above 90%, this is very good.
More battery capacity gives longer runtime.
And less battery capacity gives shorter runtime.
About 16 hours runtime with 0.5A load and four batteries.
At full load the nose is about 85mV, this is acceptable.
At 0.5A load the noise is down to 26mV on the Apple output.
The USB output has more noise (36mV).
Charging from the USB input shows a nice charge curve, it is basically a CC/CV, but the transition from CC to CV is slow, making the charge time considerable longer than necessary.
Charge time varies slightly with battery size.
Four batteries from usb takes about 14 hours.
Using the DC 5V 2A input increases the charge current and reduces the charge time to 9 hours. This speed of this charging could be improved significantly, somewhere between 7 and 8 hours must be possible.
Conclusion
This box is a good usb power box: It has support for both Apple and USB standard charging, it has a battery indicator and automatic turnoff. It will not drain the batteries when not used and you do not have to remember to turn the box off. Just remember that it is not easy to replace batteries.
It uses micro usb for charging and the charging current is limited for usage with a mobil phone charger. For "fast" charging another connector can be used.
Thanks HKJ for the review. If I would not have had the Jinheng 12A already as a power pack (and flashlight), I would immediately want this stylish and really compact one.
Thanks for that, I had been wondering about that unit. The 2A output meant it could charge my 10” Lenovo Tablet, so I had been contemplating that.
The thing that put me off was the hassle of swapping out the batteries. With the eNB power packs I prefer to swap the cells out for fresh ones when I come in the door, and charge the cells in my higher capacity charger. Fortunately I have found that the newer 3 cell eNB that FT has listed will charge the tablet.
I wonder if it would be possible to find tiny thumb screws to replace the existing philips head screws that this comes stock with.
I bought it on faith, thinking that it would be good, and it is. It is good to now read HKJ’s review to confirm that.
I was disappointed with the screws that are used to remove the face plates. They are not machine screws but rather sheet metal screws. That means they can only be screwed and unscrewed a limited number of times. Just knowing that detracts from the elegance of the unit. In my opinion, a very poor choice on the manufacturers part.
I ordered it from FastTech with 4 of the Panasonic 3400 mAh cells. The Apple output was the reason I got this one as it will charge an IPad at the 2 amp rate. There is enough capactity to bring up an IPad to full charge twice. I use a 1 amp micro USB charger or a micro USB cable connected to the the original IPad 2 amp wall charger. I believe the Apple 2 amp charger charges it at a 2 amp rate so is twice as fast.
The first thing I did after I installed the cells was attach little vinyl feet to the underside as I was uncomfortable with setting the unit on any surface because of the sharp corners.
Thanks for the review. I’ve been using this box for a while now. I didn’t see you mentioned that it can be bought without batteries. So far my only issue with this box is that it can scratch other devices if you’re not careful. Flopping around in my electronics bag, this thing took a nice gouge out of my TomTom GPS. But overall, I am happy with it and consider it part of my gear now.
Yes, of course, and I was just giving a bad excuse for not including this information in the review. I have changed the review and thanks for pointing it out.
It’s not easy to find on FT. They didn’t put “Ruinovo” anywhere in the product text so they probably don’t even realize it’s there. I originally found it by searching “DIY battery packs” I think. Either way, thanks for the good review!
great review HKJ as always and confirms my feelings I have for this unit since I bought it a couple months ago.
dchomak, great idea with the feet as that solves the only issue I have had with it…. that it slides around a little to easily on flat surfaces. I also wish to find a small pouch for it for its protection as well as anything next to it.
HKJ, I was wondering if you might be able to answer a question I have about this unit. Can you use both the charging ports at once to charge the battery pack up? The reason I ask is to cut down on time even more…. thanks!
I kinda find it funny but my fiancée has actually used it more than I have to charge her phone on the way to work when she has forgotten to charge it overnight.
I noticed it charged my Tablet whereas the 2 cell ENB did not, so there I was assuming it was 2A. But the listing clearly shows it is just 1A. Hope I did not confuse anyone, or especially cause anyone to consider buying it as a result of my bad information. Now I have to figure out why the 2 cell one will charge my tablet while the 2 cell will not.
So I guess this is one of the few power packs that puts out 2A?
And thanks all for the clarification posts on the pack not being suitable for swapping batteries, both from the standpoint on solder joints and sheet metal screws, and also regarding the case.
I am not going to check all my reviews, but here is one more that deliver 2A: http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20USB%20battery%20box%204x18650%20%235%20UK.html
Thanks for the review HKJ. Do you know if the device can be safely charged itself and be used to charge other devices at the same time? I have a trickle charge port in my car that only charges my phone very slowly (probably 500mA) and I’m looking for a “buffer” device which I would leave permanently plugged into the car charging port and which upgrades the charging capability to 1/2.1A. The “buffer” would get filled slowly by the car whenever I’m driving and release quickly (at least quicker than charged) when a device is connected. Hmm, another question is if it is smart to expose the batteries to frequent periods to 15 minutes charges on short drives without guarantee of a full charge. In your opinion, would the charging profile of the power bank handle this situation well?
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