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

Tue Feb 20 14:04:34 PST 2024

You're correct (mostly) Dan.  Energy is Milli-amp hours, mAh, however.
You're right in the inefficiency, as the 10000 mAh battery packs I have
only supply 6000-7000mAh, some even less.
There are indeed USB cables that don't let data pass; you can't tell by
looking at them (someone correct me if I'm wrong); the documentation might
say power-only, otherwise you can try connecting them to your computer and
see if you can access the data on the device (you can't if the cable is
power-only).
-steve

On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 4:58 PM Daniel Silber <dasilber at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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