How do you charge a power bank?

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Hoe laad je een powerbank op?

A power bank is always handy, whether you are on the road, traveling or when your smartphone runs out of power quickly. With a full power bank you will never be without power. But before you can charge devices with it, you first have to charge the power bank itself. This is easy to do, but there are still different inputs and cables that you can use. One cable is faster than the other and of course you also have to make sure that you use the right input and the right cable. In this blog you can read more about how to charge a power bank and what type of cables you need and what is the fastest way to charge your power bank.

How do you charge a power bank?

Charging a power bank works basically the same as charging your smartphone. You connect the power bank to a power source, such as a USB adapter , laptop or a wall socket with a USB or USB-C port, using a cable on the power bank's input. Most power banks have one or more charging ports, usually indicated by the word "input". You will often also see small LED indicator lights that indicate how much power the power bank currently has.

How to charge a power bank in 4 steps:

  1. Connect the correct cable to the charging port of the power bank.
  2. Connect the other end to a suitable power source. For example, a USB or USB-C adapter (power block) plugged into a wall socket or a laptop).
  3. Check if the LED light is flashing or increasing, this means the power bank is charging.
  4. Wait until all lights (green) are on or until the power bank indicates that it is charged.

Looking for a power bank?

Different cable and port types

Powerbanks have different ports that need to be connected with a specific cable and connector. Below we describe them and give a visual representation per type.

USB-A
Also called standard USB. Compatible with many cables, such as USB-A to Micro-USB or USB-A to USB-C.

USB-C
Modern cable and input that many devices within the EU must switch to. USB-C is therefore often used in new power banks. USB-C supports fast charging (often 18W or more). USB-C supports the charging standard USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) and is the most important fast charging standard via USB-C. Used for Apple Fast Charge, Samsung Super Fast Charging and OnePlus Wrap Charge, among others.

Lightning (for Apple users)
Older iPhones (iPhone 12 and older) and iPads (9th generation and older) still have an Apple Lightning connector. You can charge these via a power bank with a USB-C to Lightning or USB to Lightning cable. A USB-C to Lightning cable activates the USB Power Delivery protocol for extra fast charging of Lightning devices.

Micro USB
This is a common standard for older power banks, the disadvantage is that it charges your power bank relatively slowly and is sensitive to wear. We always recommend choosing a power bank with a USB-C connection, so that you can quickly charge your power bank.

What does each gate look like?

View our power banks here

What should you pay attention to when fast charging a power bank?

Choose a fast charging cable, preferably a USB-C to USB-C cable . And combine it with an adapter of at least 18 Watts. This way you get the best performance from charging.

Pay attention to the specifications of the input (port) of the power bank. You can often find these on the product itself or in the manual. Not every power bank supports fast charging. For example, if the input of a power bank can charge a maximum of 10W, there is no point in using a 65W fast charger.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to charge a power bank?

The charging time of a power bank depends on the charging power, capacity and the charger/cable you use. Roughly speaking:

10,000 mAh

  • 5W (5V/1A) --> 6-8 hours
  • 10W (5V/2A) --> 4-5 hours
  • 18W (USB-PD/QC) --> 2-3 hours

20,000 mAh

  • 5W (5V/1A) --> 12-16 hours
  • 10W (5V/2A) --> 7-10 hours
  • 18-22.5W --> 4-6 hours
  • 45W --> 2.5-4 hours

For fast charging of your power bank we always recommend using a good quality USB-C to USB-C cable and a fast charger with sufficient wattage (e.g. 18W, 30W or more).

Can I charge my phone while the power bank itself is charging?

This is also called pass-through charging and is not supported by every power bank.

If you are looking for a power bank that supports pass-through charging, pay close attention to the specifications and read the description carefully. Fortunately, all power banks in our range are equipped with pass-through charging.

Is it safe to leave the power bank on the charger overnight?

Yes, this is safe as long as you use a quality certified power bank, cable and charger. Such as the charging products from MOJOGEAR . Certified power banks automatically stop charging when they are 100% charged. Check carefully if the power bank has built-in security chips against:

  • Overheating
  • Overloaded
  • Short circuit

Also always check whether the power bank has the CE safety mark.

Want maximum safety? Then charge during the day or at times when you are nearby.

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