Now that I have some laptop-pull 18650s lying around I started looking at battery boxes. It’s easier with 4x or even 3x and 2x boxes because there are some recommendations on forum. But I don’t see any for 1x. I’d like to give one to my wife as she sometimes forgets to charge her smartphone. So I thought 1x18650 power box would be handy for her. Small and enough juice to charge the phone and make a call when needed.
I would like to keep it as inexpensive as possible.
I was looking at cheap boxes on Ebay. This for example:
Now I understand that battery in it will be rubbish and I would throw away it straight away. But is electronics any good? Maybe there are better alternatives.
I have a cheap one I need to finish a review on. Not reccommended though, unfortunately. The thin wire to the negative terminal looks similar to the one in your picture, and causes a big voltage drop. I fixed that, but the bigger issue is that the charge terminates ~4.05v.
There actually is a thread here on a 1x box that looks similar to the one in your photo, though there is no telling whether the pcb/ICs are the same. As I recall though, it had some problems with either overcharge, overdischarge, or both.
Thank Eas.
As for 4.05V. They say that it’s healthier for cells when they aren’t 100% charged. So maybe this is not a problem? Or 4.05V is too low after all?
I found some reviews of this box on foreign sites where they say that these particular boxes used to be good. But later producer decided to “optimize” and changed ETA9635 board to FM6316CE. Then it worsened.
Edit: found thread Eas mentioned. It confirms what I’ve read elsewhere. But I think I’ll just “risk and splash-out” on one of these If it’s FM6316CE based I might get a replacement PCB from FT or just throw it away.
I thought that someone will suggest ML-102. But I don’t think it’s “nice enough” for lady use. Besides, it may rip lining of purse etc. Then I’m in trouble :bigsmile:
It’s too low for me. In my mind, a 1 cell power bank is about compactness and convenience. I have batteries for the utility they bring, not to baby them.
Great review by the way…wonder if HKJ has reviewed, or can review these
Not the best by far…but with your awesome mod might help alleviate some of the odd shutoffs and low power output syndrome…wonder if some of those multiple battery packs would do well with replacing those crappy springs w/ some 22ga emitter wire we use here (or at the very least spring bypass them)
Julian Ilett on youtube did a video review as well
Ordered the one with red PCB. It has some shortcomings, like battery has to be soldered because there is no retaining spring etc, no USB cable is included. But hopefully usable PCB will make-up for that. We’ll see in about a month.
If it’s FM6316CE based I might get a replacement PCB from FT or just throw it away.
