Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&s=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

To be DIY I would need to homebrew it.

In message , Part Timer
writes
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...=UTF8&psc=1&s=
electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.
0
Yes, I've got a couple, a Teknet one that came from Amazon - IIRC about
6 Ah, couple of USB outputs, one 2.A, one 1A and a small no name one
from Ebay that lives in my bag as a handy phone boost occasionally.

The 2.1A output is useful for charger iPads etc.

Not much more to say really. We use ours quite a bit, camping, or when
out and about a lot. Useful if we use the smartphones GPS function as
that draisn the battery fast
--
Chris French

Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&s=electronics

I've used some Energizer packs in prototypes.

Things to watch:

How does the 'off switch' work? In the Energizer pack it detects something
being plugged into the output. That means if you leave it lying around with
a cable plugged in it will go flat, even if there's nothing on the other end
of the cable (in my case controlled by a mechanical switch).

What's the input charge current, and how long does it take to charge from
empty?

When you charge the pack, what output current can you draw at the same time?
The Energizer pack has a problem where the current in is less than the
current out (being drawn by the load), hence you can leave it on the charger
and it still goes flat.

Some of them have pathetically low output currents.

Getting battery status out of them is tricky (the LEDs on the top are OK but
quite coarse grained, and there's no programmatic way to read them).


I have some Anker packs that are on the todo list to fit in the next
version, but haven't got around to it yet. They still have 'soft' off
switches so I'm unsure whether they fix the off switch problem.

Theo

In message , Theo Markettos
writes
Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s
=electronics

I've used some Energizer packs in prototypes.

Things to watch:

How does the 'off switch' work? In the Energizer pack it detects something
being plugged into the output. That means if you leave it lying around with
a cable plugged in it will go flat, even if there's nothing on the other end
of the cable (in my case controlled by a mechanical switch).

snip

I have some Anker packs that are on the todo list to fit in the next
version, but haven't got around to it yet. They still have 'soft' off
switches so I'm unsure whether they fix the off switch problem.


The Teknet one I have, like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet®-Dua...ble/dp/B00A17X
VI0/

Has a button you push to turn it on. If it doesn't sense anything
charging it turns itself off after a few seconds. If you zoom in on the
Amazon picture you can see the button near the little grey coloured
strip on top (where the charge level LED's are)
--
Chris French

On Saturday 01 February 2014 23:45 Part Timer wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&s=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

To be DIY I would need to homebrew it.

Yes - full details on my blog, first item:

http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

In summary:

RAVPower RP-PB07 Power Bank (10.4Ah 1A/2A USB Outputs)

http://www.ravpower.com/ravpower-dyn...d-e-books.html


It works, it charges a Samsumg Note 3 (2A charging) *quickly* and it has
lots of capacity.

2 outputs (1x1A and 1x2A), similar price to yours.

HTH

Tim
--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal
coverage

On 01 Feb 2014, Part Timer grunted:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s
=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

I don't know anything about that particular model; but over the years I've
tried about 3 of these gadgets for my iPhone 3GS (the huge failing of that
phone being its short charge life). Each battry pack has caused the iPhone
to generate an error message about the charging device not being
appropriate or something; eventually I gave up on the idea. May well be my
phone that's the issue, but it's always worked fine in every other way and
needless to say Apple aren't interested with any 3-party device problems.

--
David

On 02/02/2014 00:34, Theo Markettos wrote:
Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&s=electronics

I've used some Energizer packs in prototypes.

Things to watch:

How does the 'off switch' work? In the Energizer pack it detects something
being plugged into the output. That means if you leave it lying around with
a cable plugged in it will go flat, even if there's nothing on the other end
of the cable (in my case controlled by a mechanical switch).

What's the input charge current, and how long does it take to charge from
empty?

When you charge the pack, what output current can you draw at the same time?
The Energizer pack has a problem where the current in is less than the
current out (being drawn by the load), hence you can leave it on the charger
and it still goes flat.

Some of them have pathetically low output currents.

Getting battery status out of them is tricky (the LEDs on the top are OK but
quite coarse grained, and there's no programmatic way to read them).


I have some Anker packs that are on the todo list to fit in the next
version, but haven't got around to it yet. They still have 'soft' off
switches so I'm unsure whether they fix the off switch problem.

Theo

Agreed - I got a 1300 mAH Anker one.

I would like a much more definite, physical on/off switch. Keep finding
it on when it should be off and sometimes it seems to switch itself off
when it should be on! I sometimes use it for GPS on a Nokia phone and
find that it has switched itself off and allowed the phone to get
critically low.

It does work with iPads as claimed.

Four LEDs is not an adequate display for charge.

It also strikes me that it would be so useful if they incorporated the
ability to act as USB hubs and memory stick ports. Maybe even allow an
SD or micro-SD to be inserted into them and act as a memory stick
themselves? Should be possible with virtually no change in size or, I'd
hope, cost!

Whatever you do, make sure your pack can itself charge from USB
(e.g.micro-USB input as on my Anker). Ones that have their own external
charger are complete PITA.

--
Rod

Theo Markettos wrote:
Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&s=electronics

I've used some Energizer packs in prototypes.

Things to watch:

How does the 'off switch' work? In the Energizer pack it detects something
being plugged into the output. That means if you leave it lying around with
a cable plugged in it will go flat, even if there's nothing on the other end
of the cable (in my case controlled by a mechanical switch).

What's the input charge current, and how long does it take to charge from
empty?

When you charge the pack, what output current can you draw at the same time?
The Energizer pack has a problem where the current in is less than the
current out (being drawn by the load), hence you can leave it on the charger
and it still goes flat.

Some of them have pathetically low output currents.

Getting battery status out of them is tricky (the LEDs on the top are OK but
quite coarse grained, and there's no programmatic way to read them).


I have some Anker packs that are on the todo list to fit in the next
version, but haven't got around to it yet. They still have 'soft' off
switches so I'm unsure whether they fix the off switch problem.

Theo


Also, be aware thay the mAh capacity quoted is often that of the
internal Li battery, not the presented 5v output. Remember to account
for the inverter efficiency and the step up (3.8-5v) current drop.
Expect not much more than half the quoted mAh capacity at the 5v out.

Also, I've found with these that they don't always signal to the device
correctly that more than 500mA is available (if it is) resulting in
extended charge times. AFAIK, the means by which this achieved isn't
well standardised. Shorting the data lines works for some but the
battery packs do not always do this.

HTH

Chris K

On 02/02/2014 10:07, Lobster wrote:
On 01 Feb 2014, Part Timer grunted:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s
=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

I don't know anything about that particular model; but over the years I've
tried about 3 of these gadgets for my iPhone 3GS (the huge failing of that
phone being its short charge life). Each battry pack has caused the iPhone
to generate an error message about the charging device not being
appropriate or something; eventually I gave up on the idea. May well be my
phone that's the issue, but it's always worked fine in every other way and
needless to say Apple aren't interested with any 3-party device problems.


Its an iphone, you can bet that apple detect the charger is not made by
them and refuses to work.
They do that with most of their stuff and manufacturers have to work
around it and it stops working when apple decide to change it in a
software update.

On 02/02/2014 17:24, dennis@home wrote:
On 02/02/2014 10:07, Lobster wrote:
On 01 Feb 2014, Part Timer grunted:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s
=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

I don't know anything about that particular model; but over the years
I've
tried about 3 of these gadgets for my iPhone 3GS (the huge failing of
that
phone being its short charge life). Each battry pack has caused the
iPhone
to generate an error message about the charging device not being
appropriate or something; eventually I gave up on the idea. May well
be my
phone that's the issue, but it's always worked fine in every other way
and
needless to say Apple aren't interested with any 3-party device problems.


Its an iphone, you can bet that apple detect the charger is not made by
them and refuses to work.
They do that with most of their stuff and manufacturers have to work
around it and it stops working when apple decide to change it in a
software update.

I've not had a problem recently (using a 4S), although my old iphone 3GS
used to complain. I was never quite sure if that was down to cable or
charger though - nowadays I use tried/tested cables.

It is a nuisance how so much of apple stuff is locked down, though.

--
Cheers, Rob

In message , RJH
writes
On 02/02/2014 17:24, dennis@home wrote:
On 02/02/2014 10:07, Lobster wrote:
On 01 Feb 2014, Part Timer grunted:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s
=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

I don't know anything about that particular model; but over the years
I've
tried about 3 of these gadgets for my iPhone 3GS (the huge failing of
that
phone being its short charge life). Each battry pack has caused the
iPhone
to generate an error message about the charging device not being
appropriate or something; eventually I gave up on the idea. May well
be my
phone that's the issue, but it's always worked fine in every other way
and
needless to say Apple aren't interested with any 3-party device problems.


Its an iphone, you can bet that apple detect the charger is not made by
them and refuses to work.
They do that with most of their stuff and manufacturers have to work
around it and it stops working when apple decide to change it in a
software update.

I've not had a problem recently (using a 4S), although my old iphone
3GS used to complain. I was never quite sure if that was down to cable
or charger though - nowadays I use tried/tested cables.

It is a nuisance how so much of apple stuff is locked down, though.

My wife has a 3GS, and there is an old iPod around the house, they both
will charge from various things, including my battery pack, different
mains charger, laptops car charger etc. . and we don't anymore have a
kosher apple cable or charger.

The iPhone in particular does complain sometimes, but have never been
quite sure what exactly it was unhappy about. Sometimes it has been the
lead,
sometimes it complains and we unplug it from the charger and then plug i
again and then it's happy etc. I think they are just a bit fussy about
soething or other. But I've seen no evidence that it is locked down
--
Chris French

In message , Chris K
writes
Theo Markettos wrote:
Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ie=UTF8&psc=1&
s=electronics

I've used some Energizer packs in prototypes.

Things to watch:

How does the 'off switch' work? In the Energizer pack it detects something
being plugged into the output. That means if you leave it lying around with
a cable plugged in it will go flat, even if there's nothing on the other end
of the cable (in my case controlled by a mechanical switch).

What's the input charge current, and how long does it take to charge from
empty?

When you charge the pack, what output current can you draw at the same time?
The Energizer pack has a problem where the current in is less than the
current out (being drawn by the load), hence you can leave it on the charger
and it still goes flat.

Some of them have pathetically low output currents.

Getting battery status out of them is tricky (the LEDs on the top are OK but
quite coarse grained, and there's no programmatic way to read them).


I have some Anker packs that are on the todo list to fit in the next
version, but haven't got around to it yet. They still have 'soft' off
switches so I'm unsure whether they fix the off switch problem.

Theo


Also, be aware thay the mAh capacity quoted is often that of the
internal Li battery, not the presented 5v output. Remember to account
for the inverter efficiency and the step up (3.8-5v) current drop.
Expect not much more than half the quoted mAh capacity at the 5v out.


I'm pretty sure mine gives more than half, but no, not the full capacity
out, but then I never expected it to.

Also, I've found with these that they don't always signal to the device
correctly that more than 500mA is available (if it is) resulting in
extended charge times. AFAIK, the means by which this achieved isn't
well standardised. Shorting the data lines works for some but the
battery packs do not always do this.

Indeed, but seems to a problem with all sorts of usb charging things
--
Chris French

In message , polygonum
writes
On 02/02/2014 00:34, Theo Markettos wrote:
Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ie=UTF8&psc=1&
s=electronics

I've used some Energizer packs in prototypes.

Things to watch:

How does the 'off switch' work? In the Energizer pack it detects something
being plugged into the output. That means if you leave it lying around with
a cable plugged in it will go flat, even if there's nothing on the other end
of the cable (in my case controlled by a mechanical switch).

What's the input charge current, and how long does it take to charge from
empty?

When you charge the pack, what output current can you draw at the same time?
The Energizer pack has a problem where the current in is less than the
current out (being drawn by the load), hence you can leave it on the charger
and it still goes flat.

Some of them have pathetically low output currents.

Getting battery status out of them is tricky (the LEDs on the top are OK but
quite coarse grained, and there's no programmatic way to read them).


I have some Anker packs that are on the todo list to fit in the next
version, but haven't got around to it yet. They still have 'soft' off
switches so I'm unsure whether they fix the off switch problem.

Theo

Agreed - I got a 1300 mAH Anker one.

I would like a much more definite, physical on/off switch. Keep finding
it on when it should be off and sometimes it seems to switch itself off
when it should be on! I sometimes use it for GPS on a Nokia phone and
find that it has switched itself off and allowed the phone to get
critically low.


You can't turn mine off as such. plug something in and press the button
and it starts charging. It turns itself off when you unplug the device.
Turn it on with nothing attached and it turns off again after a short
time


--
Chris French

On Sunday 02 February 2014 17:24 dennis@home wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On 02/02/2014 10:07, Lobster wrote:
On 01 Feb 2014, Part Timer grunted:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s
=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

I don't know anything about that particular model; but over the years
I've tried about 3 of these gadgets for my iPhone 3GS (the huge
failing of that
phone being its short charge life). Each battry pack has caused the
iPhone to generate an error message about the charging device not
being appropriate or something; eventually I gave up on the idea. May
well be my phone that's the issue, but it's always worked fine in
every other way and needless to say Apple aren't interested with any
3-party device problems.


Its an iphone, you can bet that apple detect the charger is not made
by them and refuses to work.
They do that with most of their stuff and manufacturers have to work
around it and it stops working when apple decide to change it in a
software update.

I would not be surprised. I have a 12v 2A double USB car adaptor/charger
(ciggie lighter plug format). One USB is marked iPhone, the other
Samsung.

Oddly my Samsung Note 3 charges just as fast (AFAICT) in either.

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal
coverage

Part Timer wrote:
Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&s=electronics


I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

To be DIY I would need to homebrew it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Bat.../dp/B005NN6YPO

---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com

On 02/02/2014 18:40, chris French wrote:
In message , RJH
writes
On 02/02/2014 17:24, dennis@home wrote:
On 02/02/2014 10:07, Lobster wrote:
On 01 Feb 2014, Part Timer grunted:

Does anyone here have a USB battery pack similar to this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&psc=1&s

=electronics

I would welcome any comments, good or bad.

I don't know anything about that particular model; but over the years
I've
tried about 3 of these gadgets for my iPhone 3GS (the huge failing of
that
phone being its short charge life). Each battry pack has caused the
iPhone
to generate an error message about the charging device not being
appropriate or something; eventually I gave up on the idea. May well
be my
phone that's the issue, but it's always worked fine in every other way
and
needless to say Apple aren't interested with any 3-party device
problems.


Its an iphone, you can bet that apple detect the charger is not made by
them and refuses to work.
They do that with most of their stuff and manufacturers have to work
around it and it stops working when apple decide to change it in a
software update.

I've not had a problem recently (using a 4S), although my old iphone
3GS used to complain. I was never quite sure if that was down to cable
or charger though - nowadays I use tried/tested cables.

It is a nuisance how so much of apple stuff is locked down, though.

My wife has a 3GS, and there is an old iPod around the house, they both
will charge from various things, including my battery pack, different
mains charger, laptops car charger etc. . and we don't anymore have a
kosher apple cable or charger.

The iPhone in particular does complain sometimes, but have never been
quite sure what exactly it was unhappy about. Sometimes it has been the
lead,
sometimes it complains and we unplug it from the charger and then plug i
again and then it's happy etc. I think they are just a bit fussy about
soething or other. But I've seen no evidence that it is locked down

I think Apple kit is notoriously fussy about needing genuine cables -
more so with lightening cables. But they're also locked down in other ways.

Hardware - graphics cards, scanners, hard disks. Now, the iMacs are
glued together.

Software - I'm not so bothered about the slight faff when using
non-Apple software. It's more lack of native support for files I like to
use (avi, say).

All of this may make the machines more reliable, better made/designed
and easier to use - and expensive. But still.

--
Cheers, Rob