Thread: Power banks

Originally Posted by LOC

i've picked up one of these Ravpower 32,000mAh power banks, mainly to use on camping weekends with the kids but probably will use for drive in or fly in trips. like Anker it is one of the better known brands https://www.ravpower.com/32000mah-ex...2.0-black.html

i also have a Promate 15,600mAh power bank which has been used a lot on work and outdoors trips and would highly recommend. it is quite a bit smaller and covers at least a few days of lighting etc for hunting trips. got it from trademe a couple of years ago for about $80 and i see you can get it now from this shop a bit cheaper https://www.elive.co.nz/promate-1560...p?ref=pricespy

after hits and misses with solar panels i'd rather take in bigger capacity batteries than try to generate solar on the hill. depends on the length of trip

Yep, exactly my slant on it - for a few days trip take a large capacity PP, maximise load/light output efficiency if you haven't already. If carrying a solar panel treat it as a top up bonus only - if weather is overcast you cannot rely on them.

I run a 10w BP solar system for keeping my tractor battery trickle charged so have a very good feel for panel outputs on overcast days.

@LOC your Ravpower 32000maH unit looks a bloody good unit. Missed that one when I was looking.

The other reason I went for pricier was hopefully better quality batteries (and not fire bombs inside). Mine has Jap Panasonic.

Also some of the cheaper units have optimistic ratings. I also have a 6500maH unit bought as a result of a favourable review in an NZ gun mag. It is a POS. It will not charge an Apple device I think because the output volts drop too low - the Apple charges for about a minute then comes up with an incompatible charger message. This with the PP fully charged. It also has a self contained solar panel - absolutely useless as well.

For heading out into the sticks I would much rather pay a bit of a premium than buy a cheapie. Probabaly lots will now tell me how well their cheeapies have served them......

Originally Posted by zimmer

@LOC your Ravpower 32000maH unit looks a bloody good unit. Missed that one when I was looking.

The other reason I went for pricier was hopefully better quality batteries (and not fire bombs inside). Mine has Jap Panasonic.

Also some of the cheaper units have optimistic ratings. I also have a 6500maH unit bought as a result of a favourable review in an NZ gun mag. It is a POS. It will not charge an Apple device I think because the output volts drop too low - the Apple charges for about a minute then comes up with an incompatible charger message. This with the PP fully charged. It also has a self contained solar panel - absolutely useless as well.

For heading out into the sticks I would much rather pay a bit of a premium than buy a cheapie. Probabaly lots will now tell me how well their cheeapies have served them......

Have had exactly the same experience with cheaper no name brands. Won't bother again with them. One lot i bought at best only charged 8% of what it was claiming on the box. Had a solar topped one too and i think from memory it managed about 13% of its claims on the box!

Took the risk at the time as they were reletively cheap, certainly wouldn't do so again! Also note most of the cell phones that were catching fire in the news a little while back had imitation replacement batteries purchased of ebay! Case of buyer beware!!!