Lamont wrote:Ah ha keithy! Hows things?
Are you checking this muddy?
Yes, I have the Xiaomi 5000 paid $12. Won't charge my head torch though. The one I linked will. Manual double tap feature.
Want some modularity and myself probably wouldn't carry a 10000.
Would the 18650 be more energy efficient than the one I linked?
EDIT ps Looking at a pic on my second link it has 1865 stamped on it-would this indicate a 18650?
Not charging your head torch might be due to the low current draw from some devices. I have found my fitness band, some bluetooth headphones and watches have such a low current draw from the powerbank that powerbanks with automatic detection do not start charging, or shut off after a short while as it doesn't think it is charging a device at the low current.
Xiaomi have fixed this with newer powerbanks where you can do a double press of the button to charge low current devices. I think the new 10000mAh Powerbank 2 has the feature to charge low current devices for 2 hours when you double press the button.
Haven't tested out the Zmi one you linked, but the shape of it definitely suggests a cylindrical 18650 cell inside. The lithium polymer batteries are usually flat pouches like those in smartphones. But not having tested one of those ZMIs I can't say if it will be any more efficient. The newer Xiaomi powerbanks are claiming around 90% efficiency, I am yet to pick up one to verify their claims. I usually work on about 80% as my rule of thumb.
When I first went to Nepal in 2013 for a month, I took two 5000mAh powerbanks. Mainly to charge my GPS AA batteries, Sony camera and phone. Used a solar panel to top them up on acclimatisation days, but with strict rationing it was enough.
These days, the one of the newer 10000mAh powerbanks are lighter than two of my old 5000mAh powerbanks and can quick charge my devices, and can be quick charged themselves, which my older powerbanks could not. If I go really light, I might take a few 18650 cells and one of the DIY powerbanks to get around 5000-6000mAh for about 160g.
Ms_Mudd wrote:it is supposed to be 20,000mAh, but I think it was just a bit of misleading trickery with the advertising
Ah yes, if your powerbank was advertising 20000mAh but only weighed 240g, that is definitely porky pies. It likely will be less than half capacity, with the rest of the weight being the plastic enclosure and componentry.
The Xiaomi branded ones seem to be quite good value - they use good quality cells, and the newer ones can quick charge smartphones, and can be quick charged as well. My oldest ones are going back to 2015 and after testing in January still give me around 80% of their original capacity.
They can be quite reasonably priced too - for example, this one on ebay from a reputable seller, with 20% off "PLUSMORE" coupon is currently about $20 for the 10000mAh
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Xiaomi-1000 ... 2618233330