I need a battery box/portable charger for my phone. I have seen the reviews on here, but I cant make up my mind. What are you using and why?
I have owned countless of these battery box power banks… my honest recommendation: they don’t even come close to the Miller ML-102 in terms on efficiency.
-With a single* 3400mAh Panasonic* the miller ml-102 manages to deliver 120% charge to the iPhone 6.
-The ruinovo battery box using two of this battery only delivers 170%.
-The ENB triple battery model delivers 210%.
-C3 model from gearbest delivers 85%.
-The “DIY Infinite” model also from gearbest has very inconsistent quality and stopped working before I could finish the test.
Based on my tests, there is really nothing that works as well as the miller. You can read my review here. . There is also a long thread about it here.
Wow thanks! I had never heard of that one before. It ain’t pretty but it seems to work.
The 4 x 18650 Coolook obviously has greatest capacity - my wife uses that during marathon sessions with her tablet, I carry the ENB around in case I need to use my Android phone as a Wifi Access Point for a days work and the Miller I give to people who I supply lights to.
The Miller ML-102 with 1 x 18650
HKJs test of the older model here: http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20Charger%20ML-102%20UK.html
Buy it here: http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001919/1137904-miller-ml-102-universal-usb-smart-charger-version
The new 2 x 18650 ENB
HKJs test of the older model here: http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20USB%20battery%20box%202x18650%20enb%20UK.html
But it here:http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10002784/1483300-enb-1a-1-2-18650-li-ion-battery-usb-emergency
The Coolook 4 x 18650
HKJs review here: http://lygte-info.dk/review/Review%20USB%20battery%20box%204x18650%20coolook%20PB-2000%20UK.html
Buy it here: http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10004471/1342501-coolook-pb-2000-2a-4-18650-dual-usb-output-mobile
Mine
http://www.fasttech.com/product/1457402
Functions I like :
variable voltage out 5V - 13V
With 1.6” LCD screen to indicate remaining battery capacity
I use the jin Heng 12A flashlight. Holds 3 cells. Has charger input and USB power outputs. And a rather nice, very easily mod-able flashlight.
I’m using the Ruinovo 3 cell pack and the build quality is absolutely amazing. I haven’t tried it, but you could probably drop this out off of a 3 story building and I’d bet it would still work.
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1424/10004450/1340502
How is the output on that?
Are any of them rated for 2.4A output?
Even for a high quality power bank 2.4A is very hard to achieve without the board overheating… I have one that puts out 2A and it almost burns when touched, and it is inside the plastic case.
I have a “DIY powerbank board” from FT that puts out 1.9A but it gets extremely hot and the efficiency drops to 65%!!
Might help our recommendations if you clarify what size you’re looking for (1-6 batteries)…
The one I reach for most often is a 2x unit, fasttech sku 1342700. I’ve also got one of their 2x ruinovas (sku 1340502), but the pcb flexes within the case when you plug/unplug, so I’m not that impressed. I’ve also got a 4x that is like (but by now probably not the same thing) FT sku 1280801, which is functional but heavy.
If you haven’t looked already, HKJ has more great reviews as linked in post #3.
I like the Ruinovo 4x18650 box. I like the aluminum case, though it scratches other devices, so I keep it in a Maxpedition Rat wallet.
I have the first enb 2x18650 and it works just fine.