If it’s the first time you have bought a power bank, you might have some questions on how to use it. And this makes sense. Don’t worry, though, as you’ll get the hang of it before you know it.
A power bank is a compact device you can use for charging your laptop, phone, tablet, smartwatch or any other type of gadget. The power of the unit varies, and usually, when you’re planning to purchase one, you should consider your needs. A power bank can come in handy especially if you use a lot of devices and you travel a lot.
Read the User Manual
Before using a new electronic device, you should always read the user manual. Although the use of a power bank is simple and straightforward, this doesn’t mean you should ignore the manufacturer’s recommendations. User manuals are targeted specifically to the device you are using.
Even if some of the info you might find in the manual doesn’t overlap with what you’re about to read here, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Charging It for the First Time
This is the very first thing you should do – charge the power bank. The device should come with a charging plug. You might also need a wall charger for plugging into the outlet. That’s because it calculates the time needed for a complete charge.
Still, most power banks on the market are equipped with USB charging cables. So, most likely, you will charge it as you normally charge your smartphone.
It’s important to avoid overcharging your power bank. If you didn’t know this until now, note that it can seriously damage the device. This is why after plugging it in, you should check the charge indicators from time to time.
But what are the actual consequences of overcharging a power bank? Overcharging will make the device overheat to a higher temperature than normal. A power bank that normally charges at a heat of 32 degrees Fahrenheit will consume 6 percent of its capacity in a year’s time. Still, if the same unit charges at 77 degrees, then it will waste 20 percent of its capacity in the same period.
Power banks don’t have a 100 percent charge, and this is due to safety reasons. Also, depending on the manufacturer, the power bank you get might either be fully charged or partially charged. This is why you should check the indicators to determine the charging level of the unit. If you notice that it already came fully charged, you can continue with the next step. Also, when you recharge your power bank for the first time, it might take up to 5 percent more than normal.
Most devices are equipped with 4 indicators that point out the level of charging. Each led stands for 25 percent power, on average. So, when the device is fully charged, you’ll only see 95 percent power. This has to do with the fact that different battery cells are equipped with distinct capacities.
Using the Power Bank for the Very First Time
After seeing all the four lights on the power bank, you know that the device is fully charged. What do you do next? Unplug it, obviously. Once you do that, you can use the power bank to charge your phone.
Usually, there is at least one USB port, but there are also devices that come with more than one outlet for discharging electricity. You might want to utilize ports with 1 Amp for charging phones. As for ports with 2 Amps, you could use them for charging tablets.
This doesn’t mean that the 2 Amps ports aren’t compatible with phones. The thing is that it can be a bit too fast for some phones. Over the course of time, doing this repeatedly could harm the battery life of your smartphone. Still, if you do this only on occasions, you don’t have to worry about a thing.
As for laptops, they need 12 volts power for charging. Meanwhile, most power banks come with 5 volts of power. This is where the specific type of device you bought comes in. There are power banks that come with more power, which can be used for charging laptops as well as other portable devices. The thing is that they might not be as space-efficient as other models.
Most manufacturers advise utilizing the USB cable that originally came with your smartphone.but statezen power bank come with own cable.
What do you do if your power bank doesn’t seem to work? This may be due to two things. Perhaps you didn’t charge it accordingly. Or you have gotten a faulty device.
You should know that a power bank with an empty battery will take a while until it is fully charged. If the manufacturer’s instructions in the manual don’t seem to help and your unit still isn’t working, you might want to call the customer support service of the firm.
Some Maintenance Tips
After using the device for the very first time, there are still some tips you should note if you want to prolong its lifespan. Maintaining a device has a lot to do with its durability.
You should avoid letting the battery reach less than 20 percent. As soon as you notice that it has hit 20 percent, you should recharge it. If you ever leave your device for a long time, you should then charge it to about 50 percent.
Also, you should keep it in a cool environment to avoid overheating and maintain it properly.
