Portable Generator Power when off grid or emergencies

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Do Power Banks Ruin Your Phone? (How to prevent damage)

Do power banks ruin your phone? When used properly, a quality power bank will not harm your phone or prove any risk. Poor-quality power banks are another story, however. 

A poor-quality power bank can harm not only your phone but you, as well. Fortunately, by opting for a truly high-quality power bank, you can avoid these possibilities altogether. Learn what to look for to find a safe, high-quality power bank. Conveniently charge your devices on-the-go… and free of risk!

A power bank if not used correctly or poor quality can ruin and damage your phone. There’s also a safety factor to consider as well. Poor quality power banks have been known to explode and harm users. Always use a reputable brand of power bank.

Contents

Power Bank we like

Editors Choice
Anker 20,100mAh Portable Charger, Ultra High...
Make & Model
Anker PowerCore 20100mAh
Size
6.64 x 2.28 x 0.87 in
Weight
12.5 ounces
Number Outlets
2 X USB
Power rating
20100mAh
Time to fully charge
10hrs
Number time can charge a phone
iPhone 8 charges - Android 5 times
Editors Choice
Anker 20,100mAh Portable Charger, Ultra High...
Make & Model
Anker PowerCore 20100mAh
Size
6.64 x 2.28 x 0.87 in
Weight
12.5 ounces
Number Outlets
2 X USB
Power rating
20100mAh
Time to fully charge
10hrs
Number time can charge a phone
iPhone 8 charges - Android 5 times

Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Is A Power Bank?

A power bank is a portable charger. Most power banks can be recharged in multiple ways, like your standard wall outlet, a laptop USB, or even your car. This makes it nice and convenient to top-off your power bank. 

Once you’ve charged your power bank, it will contain an energy pool that you can access later on, when a device’s battery starts to get low. Power banks are limited to charging small devices, like your phone, however. 

Everything is battery-powered these days (Bluetooth headphones, phones, tablets, laptops, etc.), so a portable charger such as this can be a lifesaver!

When Can Power Banks Prove a Risk?

While power banks are not inherently dangerous, there are some cases in which they can prove a real risk. These are potential scenarios you will want to be aware of:

Low-Quality

The first risk is a low-quality power bank. Cheap power banks from nameless brands are all-too-often poorly made. While some phones handle this OK, others will experience damage not only to the phone battery but the charging port as well. 

Really low-quality power banks have even been known to explode in the pocket of their owners -which is clearly a health risk!

The Voltage is Too High or Too Low

So, do power banks ruin your phone? You will need to get a power bank with the proper voltage for what you want to charge, or it can prove a risk here as well. For example, if you are looking to charge your phone, go for a power bank with 5V. 4V would do nothing, or drain your phone, as it is simply too low. 

On the other hand, you can fry your phone with a 6V or other too-high voltage power bank!

You Are Overcharging Your Phone

Did you know, it’s possible to overcharge your phone with a power bank? As a matter of fact, you can accidentally overcharge your phone from any source of power, be it a wall outlet, your laptop’s USB, or a power bank!

Luckily, it’s easy enough to avoid overcharging your phone with a power bank. Simply wait to recharge your phone until it has reached a medium-low battery level. 

If you’re looking for something more powerful then read our PORTABLE POWER STATION article ↗️

What to Consider to Find the Best Power Bank

There are certain aspects you will want to consider when it comes to finding the best, top-quality power bank. These most important of these are the capacity, the number of outlets, and the outlet level.

A Balance of Weight and Power

The more power a power bank offers, the larger it will be, in general. You must find the right balance of weight and power. Does the power bank need to fit in your pocket? Can you keep it in a backpack, so the bank can be a bit larger? Obviously, you will want as much power as you can get while still sticking to your budget and size requirements overall.

An Authority/Reputable Brand of Power Bank

You will want to look for an authority/reputable brand of a power bank. These have proven their quality, unlike nameless or unusual brands, and their power banks will come with far less risk!

The Capacity of a Power Bank

The capacity of a power bank is measure by milliamp per hour, also known as mAh. The higher the mAh of a power bank, the more charge it will offer. Power banks with a higher mAh also tend to charge faster.

So, how many mAh should you have? The best, most effective power banks are typically between 3,000-5,000 mAh.

The Number of Outputs On the Power Bank

The best power have multiple outlets, so you can charge more than one thing at a time! This is something you will want to be sure to check for.

The Proper Output Level

As touched on earlier, power banks with a voltage level of higher than 6 tend to damage phones; those that are below 5V will not have enough charging power. When it comes to charging phones, 5V is ideal.

power bank
Charging mobile phone whilst hiking using a power bank

What Can You Do With Your Own Power Bank?

Power banks can be small and slim, or, the higher capacity power banks can be quite a bit larger. All power banks are quite mobile, however. Power banks can charge devices ranging from your cellphone to your laptop or mini TV. You can charge your camera, your tablet, Bluetooth headphones, and more. 

Folk will take power banks with them on the town, to school, for photoshoots… even hiking on the trail. At school, you will not have to worry about losing battery before your last class.

Your photoshoot can easily last from morning until the golden hour. You can significantly extend the life of your devices with your own quality power bank.

You May Want a Solar Charged Power Bank

If you are outdoors a lot, you might be interested in a solar-charging power bank. These often have both standard charge and solar charge options, so you can charge wherever you are! The only downside to solar charging compared to other charging methods is that it tends to take longer. Some solar power banks take a day or more. This can still come in very handy, however.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, power banks can be immensely useful. They are a new-gen solution for reliable, mobile power. Of course, not all power banks are equal. Make sure to invest in one that will easily meet your energy needs, without the risk.

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All the article on Oofgrid offer help and practical advice for using and purchasing a portable generator. However, We are enthusiasts and not qualified electricians. Always seek professional advice when working with electrical or Petrol appliances.