Peak power
Some electrical appliances (in particular, units with electric motors - refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.) consume significantly more energy at startup than after reaching the operating mode. For such a load, the peak power of the charging station must be taken into account - its indicator must be higher than the starting power of the load.
UPS function
Charging stations with
UPS function switch consumers to backup power from their own battery, acting as an uninterruptible power supply. In comparison with full-fledged UPSs, switching does not occur instantly, but with a certain delay (about 10-30 ms). To use this function correctly, you must first study the instructions for the charging station, which often describes the correct procedure for connecting the intended consumer devices.
USB A
Full-size USB A connectors are popular in computer technology, they are standardly used in adapter chargers for 230 V household networks and 12 V auto sockets. In charging stations, such outlets are widely used for charging gadgets.
- The total number of such ports can be very diverse (
1 USB,
2 connectors,
3 ports and even
4), since it allows you to connect for charging, and in some cases for power, various low-power devices -
smartphones,
tablets,
power banks,
lamps, etc. .
- The strength of the power. The maximum power output through the USB A connector to the device being charged. Note that different ports of the charging station can output different power (for example, 1.5 A and 2.1 A). In this case, the highest power strength is usually indicated.
— Power. The maximum
output power in watts (W) that the charging station is capable of delivering through the USB A connector to one charging device.
Wireless charger
In wireless charging mode, energy is transferred to the gadget being charged through an inductive surface, which is usually built into the upper plane of the charging station case. There can be one slot for
wireless charging or several of them are provided. The range of this technology does not exceed a few centimeters. However, this method of charging eliminates the fuss with wires and reduces wear on the connectors. One of the key disadvantages of this format is considered to be low power and, accordingly, slow charging speed.
Input port XT60
Power connector with two round connectors, used to replenish energy reserves in the battery cells of the charging station. For the most part,
the input port of the XT60 is for charging the device from solar panels using the appropriate cable.
Connecting an additional battery
Ability
to connect an external battery to the charging station to increase the overall energy consumption and, as a result, extend the battery life. This connection is fast and convenient. On the other hand, the battery takes up extra space on the outside, making the whole structure more cumbersome.
Battery capacity
Nominal
battery capacity, in fact - the amount of energy that is supposed to be stored. The larger it is, the longer the battery life of the charging station will be, all other things being equal. On the other hand, this parameter also affects the dimensions, weight and price of the battery, despite the fact that an energy-intensive battery is not always required. By the indicator of capacity in watt-hours, you can compare batteries with each other.
Charging cycles
The number of charge-discharge cycles that the battery can withstand without significant loss of performance.
In the process of operation, the batteries wear out, which causes their performance to suffer (in the first place, the capacity decreases). Battery life is usually measured in charge-discharge cycles. However, models with the same declared resource are not always equally durable in practice. Different manufacturers may interpret “significant loss of performance” in different ways: for example, one brand indicates the resource up to a 20% decrease in capacity (DOD > 80%), another - up to a 60% decrease (DOD > 40%) Behind the abbreviation DOD worth decoding Depth of Discharge, i.e. discharge depth. Therefore, when choosing, it makes sense to focus not only on pure numbers, but also on other sources - test results, reviews, etc. Also note that battery life can be noticeably reduced if the operating conditions are violated (for example, in case of overheating or hypothermia).
Charging time (socket) ≈
Time to charge the portable power station from a fully discharged state to 100% charge when using the power adapter from a household outlet. This refers to the original battery and standard charger.
