[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] any recommendations on portable travel chargers?

Tue Feb 20 13:58:01 PST 2024

Hello Denise,

I'll kick in my own two cents: I like a battery that is about the size of
my cell phone, that way I can use a rubber band to hold the two together
and charge the phone while using it. I also like a built-in LED flashlight
when traveling.

If you're not in a big hurry, I don't think the rate of charging matters
much. You just want your backup powerbank to have enough energy
(milliwatt-hours) to charge up your battery once or a few times. I'm no
expert, but I imagine that the process is not 100% efficient, so you don't
get out the full battery capacity.

On another issue, I'm no expert, but I have some USB cables that don't
transmit data, just power (from the rectangular USB-A outlet to the port on
your phone). I would imagine that such cables cannot be used to hack into
your phone, so would be a lot safer to use on a public charger. If I am
wrong about this, someone who knows please correct me.

- Dan Silber

On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 1:21 PM Denise via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:

> I’m starting to think it’s too much trouble to go away with the iphone!  ;
> )  … almost
>
>
>
> Ok; so for iphone 11 promax, I just read they are ‘capable of PD fast
> charging around 18w – 22w’
>
> Charges 50% in half hour.
>
> So I guess this means I should get a charger/battery pack that is 22watts
> (or 18 watts?) or higher, right?
>
> Higher is wasted but not ‘bad’; and lower: I won’t get the fastest charge,
> correct?
>
>
>
> I can’t wrap my head around all the wires & cord yet.
>
> I guess I could start with the charger and then move onto that later.
>
>
>
> And if I don’t care about the number of times; ignore the mAh.
>
> Hope I got that right.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> denise
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Steve Isenberg <smisenberg at gmail.com>
>
> Sorry to confuse you.
>
> Yes, battery pack to charge (recharge) a device when no electricity is
> available.
>
> Once the device is charged, you put the battery pack away.
>
> How long you'd hold it depends on (a) how much charge you want to put on
> the device (is 50% enough? or do you want 100%) and (b) how long it takes
> for your device to charge up to that level.
>
> Fast recharge is device-dependent.  Check your device to see if it accepts
> a fast charge (e.g., 50% in 30 minutes) and what would be needed for this *(e.g.,
> 20W or 30W charger).  Then check the battery pack and see if it can support
> the fast charge.*
>
> Yes, mAh is how many times it can charge.
>
> In a hotel or airport, you'd use your USB charger (see my picture with two
> white USB chargers) or your battery pack.  Not the hotel's or airport's USB
> ports.
>
>
>
> For a complete recharging solution for your iphone, I'd suggest
>
> * Battery pack.  Eg, the Miady ones I'd suggested.
>
> * Cables. I'd suggested a 1' and a 3' and I gave reasons for both.
>
> * USB charger, like the picture of 2 white ones I'd shown in previous
> email.  There are some that provide 3 or 4 USB ports and this might be
> helpful (it is for me).
>
> I bring all this and I also include a 6' electrical extension cord (in
> case the electrical outlet isn't nearby).
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> -steve
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 12:05 PM Denise <denise at rcn.com> wrote:
>
> Oh boy; now my head is swimming! Above my pay grade.
>
>
>
> I thought you use the battery pack to “recharge” the iphone; when no
> electricity available, right?
>
> And isn’t that ‘fast’? so once you recharge it, you put the pack away?
>
> So you wouldn’t be holding it in your hand very long?
>
> What should I be looking for (what spec?) for a fast recharge?
>
> It looks like the mAh affects how many ‘times’ it can charge, and not the
> speed, correct?
>
>
>
> And in a hotel or airport, you would always use a ‘usb blocker’; and this
> doesn’t typically come with the charger, right?
>
> Usually bought separately?
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> denise
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Steve Isenberg <smisenberg at gmail.com>
>
> Denise,
>
> As I said, I have two 3-connector cables: microUSB (for Kindle), lightning
> (for iPhone/iPad), USB-C (for future iPhone that uses USB-C and other
> devices I have that need USB-C).
>
> I have a short one (about 12") and a longer one (about 3').
>
> If you buy a battery pack with included cables, then you are locked into
> keeping the battery pack (it's heavy) close to the phone, so the thing
> you're holding up to your ear is much heavier.  Using a longer cable or a
> longer lightning cable, you can put the battery pack in your pocket (or as
> my wife does, in her purse) and use the phone, cable attached, without the
> extra weight.
>
>
>
> For example
>
> three-pack one foot multi charging cable $10:
> https://www.amazon.com/Braided-Charger-Compatible-Tablets-Samsung/dp/B08HGSVJS1/
> (I paid more when I bought this in 2021!)
>
> two-pack 4 foot multi charging cable each with 2 lightnings $7:
> https://www.amazon.com/Charging-Braided-Multiple-Connectors-Compatible/dp/B0BQF1HQVQ/
>
>
>
> The wattage of the charger (e.g., 20w) is only important if your device
> can use the extra wattage, iPhones are needing about 5 watts, I think.  The
> important part about the battery pack is its amp-hour capacity (measured
> mAh) as that is its charging capacity.  *A 10000 mAh can charge your
> iphone more times than a 5000mAh charger*.  We use 10000mAh and it's
> working well for us.
>
>
>
> Traveling in or out of the US is a matter of considering how to recharge
> your battery pack and iPhone, hence you'd need a wall socket adapter
> (socket is different in Europe and England that in US) and you'd need to be
> sure that the USB adapter handles 120v and also 240v.  Most do this.
>
> Note that most adapters don't change voltage so be careful not to plug
> your 120V device into a 240V socket unless it can handle the dual voltage.
>
>
>
> A USB blocker.  This prevents data from being taken from your phone when
> you plug it in to charge it.
>
> *Not needed if you only charge your device using the battery pack.  (I do
> this whenever I'm not at home.)*
>
> Not needed if you plug your charging cable into your portable USB wall
> charger.  Picture from Amazon.
>
> If you're plugging your charging cable into some USB connector (as
> provided on airplane, airport, mall, etc) then just as the cable can be
> used to sync your device at home, the cable can be used by someone else at
> the airport, airplane, etc to grab data from your device.
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> -steve
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 10:06 AM Denise <denise at rcn.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks Steve!
>
> You bring up an interesting point: iphone vs. non iphone charging. This
> would never need to plug into a non iPhone; but I hadn’t thought of that
> issue. I thought you buy these units separately (for either an iphone or
> android, etc.) I didn’t realize they can work for more than one different
> type of device. I don’t know much about them as you can see.
>
>
>
> I kind of like the idea of an ‘intrinsic cable’ (built in) cable; which I
> assume you mean this sort of thing:  built in to make it easy so you
> don’t need to keep track of an extra cable? I like that. as long is it’s an
> iphone cable. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen in a description if the
> cables are always for iphone; maybe they are.
>
>
>
> And sounds as if I don’t really need to worry about “mAh” range?
>
>
>
> And you said you carry a cord with 3 plugs; is that just to accommodate
> both iPhone and android? Is there an advantage to all those cords while
> traveling?
>
> Thanks
>
> denise
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Steve Isenberg <smisenberg at gmail.com>
> It's basically a decision based on (a) how much you want to spend, (b) how
> heavy you can handle, and (c) how often you'll be using it.
>
>
>
> For what it's worth, I bought the Miady 2-Pack 10000mAh dual USB Portable
> Charger, it's $20 minus 10% so it's $18 for the pair.
> https://www.amazon.com/Miady-10000mAh-Portable-Charger-Charging/dp/B07XFBN7HX/
>
> I'm using one and my wife is using the other. I have found that although
> they claim "10000mAh" it's really in the 6000mAh range; which is sufficient
> for multiple iPhone and iPad charges.
>
>
>
> I wouldn't buy one that plugs directly into the iPhone as that means you
> can never use it to charge a non-iPhone.
>
> Some come with intrinsic cables; the one I'm mentioning doesn't.  I carry
> a 1 foot cord with three plugs (lightning, micro usb, and usb-c) and
> another 3' cord with three plugs; these can be used or charging the battery
> as well as charging the iphone.
>
>
>
> Look at the offerings, and the reviews, and the price.
>
> Good luck,   -steve
>
>
>
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