Extra battery for smartphone. Portable battery for phone: models, rating, tips for choosing. Types of spare phone batteries

Choosing a backup battery for your phone

In the summer, we all go with family and friends for a picnic in the forest, to a pond, etc. At the same time, we often forget to fully charge our phone or go away for several days, and during our vacation the smartphone battery runs out. An unpleasant situation, isn't it? But there is no outlet nearby, and you are left without communication. What to do? You can, of course, buy a spare battery and replace it in such a situation. But now there is a lot. For example, these are the popular iPhones. And then, the spare battery is only suitable for the phone. What if you also have a tablet? In this case, a backup battery for your phone and other mobile devices will help you out.

The backup battery is a standard battery with a few differences. The main difference is that such batteries are universal. They can be used with any phones and tablets. Their use does not depend on the size or weight of the gadget being charged. The same cannot be said about spare models for specific phone. There are plenty of backup batteries available in stores.

They have different capacities, dimensions, design, functionality. On store shelves you can find large batteries that are comparable in size to a small laptop. Such batteries will provide several hours of laptop operation. And if you have music player, then you can choose a backup battery for it, comparable in size to a bank card.

Backup batteries are universal for the reason that they are not inserted inside the phone, but are connected to the power connector or USB port. Now there are practically no phones left on the market that have a separate power connector. On almost all devices it is combined with a USB interface. When discharged, the backup battery charges the standard battery of your phone or.

The process is incredibly simple and even a young child can handle it. You plug it in, charge it, and turn it off.

In addition to the versatility of backup batteries, an attractive combination of dimensions and capacity is worth adding to the asset. Often, a backup battery with the same size as a phone has 2 times the capacity.

There are also some inconveniences when working with a backup battery. One of these negative aspects is the different nominal power voltage of different phones and tablets.

Phones are mostly powered by 5 volts. Previously, when each phone manufacturer made its own original connector, there was still a problem with adapters. But now this problem is a thing of the past, since all gadgets have a USB interface.

Types of spare phone batteries

• It is worth saying a few words about the types of batteries that are used in the production of spare phone batteries. At different times, Ni─Cd, Ni─MH, Li─Ion, Li─Pol batteries were used for this. Let's look at how they differ: . This type of battery was used in mobile devices when they first appeared on the market. They have a low cost, a long service life (up to 1 thousand charge-discharge cycles) and can be stored for a long time without losing their performance characteristics. However, they have a pronounced “memory effect”, toxic cadmium in their composition and high self-discharge. Today, their use in phones has been abandoned, as well as in tablets, laptops and other consumer electronics
• . The EU even bans the production of nickel-cadmium batteries;
• . These batteries have a less pronounced “memory effect” and do not contain toxic components. But at the same time, they have high self-discharge, higher requirements for the charger and a shorter service life (about 500 charge-discharge cycles) than Ni─Cd. They were developed as a replacement for cadmium, but did not live up to expectations, giving way to lithium;
• lithium─polymer. These batteries are an improved version of lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to improved design and materials, these batteries can be manufactured in almost any shape and size. This allows manufacturers to make very thin and sleek phones. This type of battery has also found use in regular and spare phone batteries.

Important Features When Buying a Phone Backup Battery

When choosing a battery backup for your phone, there are several things to consider. In addition to those listed below, you need to take into account the battery manufacturer and the materials used in production. As for the manufacturer, decide for yourself whether you will pay extra for a well-known brand or get by with a simple and inexpensive device.

When choosing a material, consider how the backup battery will be used. If you are going to take it on an outdoor hike, then you should think about a metal case and protecting the battery from dust and moisture.

Below are the main criteria for choosing a backup battery:

• charging current strength. If you are going to use the backup battery only to charge your phone, then 1 amp will suffice. If this spare battery will also power the tablet, then it is better to take a model with the ability to charge with a current of 1 to 3 amperes;
• battery capacity. This parameter affects how many additional hours of operation you will give to your phone. In most cases, a capacity of 4000 to 6000 mAh is sufficient. By the way, here is useful information about;
• a way to recharge the device itself. Try to choose a backup battery that can be charged from the mains and USB. But charging from the mains must be mandatory;
• battery indicator. A very useful battery backup for your phone. The indication can be made in the form of LED or digitally on a display. The latter option is preferable, but also costs much more;
• number of ports used. Here, of course, the more the better. But it’s unlikely that you will actually charge more than 2 devices, which means you won’t have to overpay for more ports. It is better to choose one with two ports that have different charging currents. Then 1 ampere will be for charging the phone, and 2 or 3 amperes for the tablet.

Features of choosing a spare battery for your phone

In addition to the above, it is worth paying attention to a number of points when choosing a spare battery. If you take these points into account, the service life of the device will be longer and operation will be easier.

We recommend purchasing backup battery models that have power buttons recessed into the body. If the power button does not protrude, you will not be able to press it accidentally. It's a good idea to get a device with additional features. For example, it could be a flashlight. It can be useful for searching for things in the dark.
As already mentioned, for those leading an active lifestyle, it is better to take spare batteries with a protected case. There are models that are protected from water and dust. These backup batteries for the phone will last much longer.

There are also more advanced backup batteries that include Wi-Fi modules and NAS Server. With the help of such devices you can distribute the Internet, save and “share” data. There are models with solar panels. This is a very useful thing. Somewhere in nature, away from a power outlet, you can charge the backup battery.

Examples of backup batteries for phones

Below are several models of backup batteries for your phone. Perhaps some of them will interest you.

This backup battery from Lumsing has 5 USB ports that allow you to charge your phones at 0.5, 1, 1.3 and 2.1 amps. That is, it will be possible to charge both small players and smartphones and tablets from various manufacturers. The capacity of this spare battery is 11000 mAh. This device has a very attractive price. In online stores you can find it at a price of $30-50.

The Lumsing External Battery Pack does not include a microUSB to USB cable. So you will have to buy it separately. But all kinds of adapters are included in the package. In principle, you can take a standard cable and use adapters to charge the device. The manufacturer reports that the output voltage is 5 volts. So that you can charge several tablets and phones at the same time.

An LED indicator is provided to indicate the level of charge of the spare battery. It consists of 4 light bulbs. The device has protection against overcurrent, overcharge, power surges, and short circuits.

The design of the Lumsing External Battery Pack, despite its minimalism, is very stylish. Backup battery button that starts charging the phone. The battery in the battery is of the lithium-ion type. The battery life is about 500 charge-discharge cycles. With dimensions of 94 by 82 by 28 millimeters, the mass of the backup battery is 416 grams.

Method 4. External energy storage with a solar battery

Another interesting option. As daylight hours begin to increase, it is timely to discuss the benefits of solar energy storage. You'll see how to make a portable charger that can be charged from solar energy storage panels.

We have to:

• Lithium-ion energy storage 18650 format,
• Case from the same drives
• 5V 1A voltage boost module.
• Charge board for battery.
• Solar panel 5.5 V 160 mA (any size)
• Wiring for connection
• 2 diodes 1N4007 (others are possible)
• Velcro or double-sided tape for fixation
• Hot melt adhesive
• Resistor 47 Ohm
• Contacts for energy storage (thin steel plates)
• A pair of toggle switches

1. Let's study the basic circuit of an external battery.

The diagram shows 2 connecting wires of different colors. Red is connected to “+”, black to “-”.

1. It is not recommended to solder the contacts to the lithium-ion battery, so we will put terminals in the housing and secure them with hot glue.
2. The next task is to place the voltage increase module and charging board for the battery. To do this, we make holes for the USB input and USB output 5 V 1 A, a toggle switch and wiring to the solar panel.
3. We solder a resistor (resistance 47 Ohms) to the USB output, on the reverse side of the module that increases the voltage. It makes sense for iPhone charging. The resistor will solve the problem with the very control signal that starts the charging process.
4. To make the panels easier to carry, you can attach the panel contacts using 2 small female-male contacts. Alternatively, you can connect the main body and panels using Velcro.
5. We place a diode between 1 contact of the panel and the energy storage charge board. The diode should be placed with the arrow pointing towards the charge board. This will prevent the solar panel from draining the storage battery.

IMPORTANT. The diode is placed in the direction FROM the solar panel TO the charge board.

How many charges will this Power Bank last? It all depends on the capacity of your battery and the capacity of the gadget. Remember that discharging lithium drives below 2.7 V is highly undesirable.

As for the charge of the device itself. In our case, we used solar panels with a total capacity of 160 mAh, and the battery capacity was 2600 mAh. Therefore, under the condition of direct rays, the battery will charge in 16.3 hours. Under normal conditions - about 20–25 hours. But don't let these numbers scare you. It will charge via miniUSB in 2-3 hours. Most likely, you will use the solar panel when traveling, hiking, or long trips.

Finally

Choose the method that suits you best and build your own portable battery. This thing will definitely come in handy on the road or while traveling. There are a lot of advantages of the device: it has a unique appearance, and also a way to get the power that will satisfy your needs. Using a portable battery you can charge not only phones, but also tablets, wireless headphones and other small gadgets.

By what criteria choose a portable “battery”, what to look for when ordering and purchasing? Short and succinct instructions for yourself, a friend, a friend, a grandfather and a neighbor. If they gave you a link here, it means they really want to help you;)

Why do you need an external battery?

How often have each of us encountered the battery on our favorite smartphone running out at the most crucial moment? With the development of technology, this question has become rhetorical. Just ten years ago, few people could be surprised weekly time battery life apparatus. You won't see this now.

As a rescue in a situation "Battery low" and the guests of my story today were invented - external batteries. What are these things and what do they eat them with?
*they are not eaten

How does an external battery work?

External battery– it’s like an internal battery, only external (your Captain Obvious). Several batteries are soldered to a small controller board, to which, in turn, connectors are attached for charging our gadgets and the battery itself. The reliability of the entire structure depends mainly on the use of high-quality components and compliance technological process in production.

From this follows the main rule - do not buy extremely cheap portable batteries. In the vast majority of cases, they will be assembled as crookedly as possible, from the lowest quality components. I’ll tell you a little later about the minimum price a high-quality external battery can have.

Main characteristics of a portable battery

Their three, these are the ones you should pay attention to when choosing (and only then look at the design).

1. Capacity

The most important characteristic that determines how long a battery can provide energy to a particular device. To put it simply, this is the operating time of the battery without additional recharging. It is measured in ampere hours, in our case – in milliampere hours (mAh, mAh).

Basic rule: for comfortable use, the capacity of the external battery must be at least 2 times more than the battery capacity of the device being recharged.

For example, the iPhone 6 has a battery capacity of 1 810 mAh. In order not to be afraid of being left without communication for a day when constantly using a smartphone, you should choose a battery for it 3 500-4 000 mAh. This is guaranteed to be enough for one full battery charge.

Golden mean batteries with a capacity of about 6,000 mAh can be considered for comfortable use of a smartphone for several days. A capacity of more than 12,000 mAh is extremely versatile and is suitable for users of smartphones and tablets, including at the same time.

2. Current strength when discharging

The standard is a connector with a current of 1 A for charging smartphones and 1.5 - 2 A for charging tablets. In simple terms, the current in the battery indirectly affects the charging speed of the connected device.

In this case advice already two. First, keep an eye on matching battery current and your smartphone manufacturer's specifications. The best indicator for this will be the included charger. For example, with Apple iPhones puts a charger with a current of 1A. With iPad – already 2A.

Accordingly, it is advisable to charge the iPhone from the 1A port in your battery, and the tablet from 2A.

The second tip concerns primarily tablet owners Apple: You need a 2A portable battery. Don't even look at 1A, it's simply not strong enough to power the huge battery in your iPad. To find out the amperage before purchasing a battery, simply look at the markings next to its USB port. In 99% of cases everything is clearly written there.

3. Size and weight

Golden Rule: the higher the capacity and the more ports, the larger there will be a battery.

There are again two pieces of advice. First - choose a battery to suit your regime using a smartphone or tablet. It’s one thing to be a fragile girl who just wants to sit on social networks and chat with a guy for one or two hours. And it’s completely different when a stern bearded man – a lover of hiking and bard songs – wants to listen to these songs in the forest, also with clips on YouTube, for two or three days. A small and portable battery is enough for a girl, but a bearded man should immediately buy a “tank” with 15 thousand mAh, no less.

Second tip - don't be fooled by the huge capacity battery in a small or amazingly cheap device. This does not happen and will never happen. Stay realistic.

All other “goodies”, such as the presence of a flashlight, a solar battery, a shock-resistant case, etc., are not necessary for daily use (although sometimes useful), and only add an extra penny to the price of the product. The only really necessary option is a battery charge indicator, but almost all models have it, so we won’t focus on it.

So, which external battery would be ideal for a modern gadget? To play games, watch a movie, and not be left without communication for several days...

• Capacity: 6,000 mAh for a smartphone and from 12,000 mAh for a tablet;
• Current strength: one connector for 1A, or two connectors for 1A and 2A;
• Weight no more than 250 grams (but if you are a stern bearded man, then this is not so important);
• Necessary options: charge indicator and power button recessed into the body.

Everything else is up to you, there are a lot of different design solutions and interesting options.

Minimum price for a quality battery

Let's look at a high-quality battery from one well-known manufacturer. Capacity – 10 400 mAh. Many people consider this battery a reference, and it’s hard to argue with them. Its approximate price consists of:

• 4 Samsung ICR18650-26F batteries – $20.
• Electronics, assembly and packaging – $5-10.
• Logistics and seller’s interest – $5-10.

Total – $30-40 or about 1200-2000 rubles(at the current exchange rate). This figure may fluctuate, but the point is different...

A 10,000 mAh battery from eBay for 600 rubles is too much good to be true. Not to mention 20 thousand mAh for the same money - and other nonsense that Russian buyers willingly believe in, flaunting “savings” left and right. Don’t be fooled by cheap prices, trust products from well-known brands, read reviews and, above all, think. It's the most important.

Do you have enough battery capacity on your smartphone or tablet? If yes, then we are very happy for you. But if you regularly find yourself in a situation where “it’s only 19:00, but your smart phone is already at zero,” we recommend purchasing an external battery. What they are, what to look for, and how to choose the right battery - read our article.

Just some 10 years ago, anyone mobile phone it held a charge for up to 10 days without any problems, and situations with a “sudden” discharge were rare, and as a rule were the result of a faulty battery. Today, the owner of a smartphone capable of living for more than 10 hours in active use mode is looked at with admiration and envy, and the habit of carrying a charger with you, or keeping several (at home, in the office, and in the car) looks just as normal, like morning coffee. Yes, progress. Yes, new technologies. But how many times have we been left without communication? important point due to a dead smartphone?

Of course, you can continue to use the archaic “dialer” from Nokia or Philips, which needs to be charged once every 2 weeks. Or you can buy yourself a magical device that is indispensable for the owner of a modern phone: an external battery.

External battery, what is it?

External battery, or PowerBank is a portable power source that can “feed” all your gadgets. Structurally, it resembles a regular battery portable device: batteries, of which there can be from 2 to 10, are connected to the controller board. On the same board there is a connector for USB connections cables from gadgets. And all this is wrapped in a durable (or not so durable) case. Compatibility with all possible devices is achieved through the use of a universal USB 2.0 port, to which you connect the cable from your smartphone, tablet, MP3 player, camera, and any other device that supports USB charging.

The principle of operation is simple: first you charge the PowerBank itself from a 220V network (you can also via USB from a computer, but from the network it will be much faster), then connect your smartphone or tablet to the battery with a cable. PowerBank begins to release accumulated energy to the connected device. At the end you get a charged smartphone/tablet.

There is an even less common modification - the so-called battery cases. They are put on the device and also perform a protective function. But they have a big, as for me, minus - they are made only under specific model smartphones, and are more expensive than their portable counterparts.

Advice: Do not buy very cheap PowerBanks. As a rule, they not only do not correspond to the capacity stated on the packaging, but are also very poorly assembled. This means their lifespan will be very short.

How to choose the right external battery for phones or smartphones?

In order not to waste your money and buy a good PowerBank, you need to be guided by the three main characteristics of these devices when choosing.

Total battery capacity

The most important parameter that determines the lifespan of a battery on a single charge. The larger the capacity, the more energy the rechargeable device will receive. Capacity is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh, mAh), and is indicated both on the packaging and on the PowerBank itself.

Advice: container for comfortable use external source The power supply must be at least twice the capacity of the battery in your device.

For example, at Samsung Galaxy S5 battery with a capacity of 2800 mAh. Accordingly, for this device you should choose a PowerBank with a capacity of 5600 mAh and higher. This way you are guaranteed to get 1-1.5 full charges of your smartphone.

If you have not only a smartphone, but also a tablet, you need to focus on the total capacity. For example, a smartphone is 2000 mAh, a tablet is 4400 mAh. The total capacity is 6400 mAh, which means the capacity of the external battery must be at least 10000 mAh.

Current supplied to the USB connector

As a rule, this parameter is indicated on the complete charger from your device. For smartphones, players, and cameras, the standard current is one ampere (1A), for tablets - 2A. This does not mean that you cannot charge your smartphone from a 2-amp connector. You can, charging will even happen faster. But it is better to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid device failure.

Advice: When choosing an external battery, give preference to one with a current of 2A. Even if you don't have a tablet now, that doesn't mean you won't have one in, say, 3 months.

There are some models that have 2 located on the body at once USB connector: one for 1A, the second for 2A, respectively. If you find such an option, and the build quality/manufacturer is not of concern, feel free to buy it.

Size, weight, appearance

Everything is simple here. The larger the battery capacity, the greater its weight and size. Choose PowerBank for your use case. If you need additional power only periodically, for example, in urban conditions, or if you forgot to charge your smartphone before leaving home, then a battery of 2-5 thousand mAh should be enough for you (depending on the capacity of the smartphone’s battery). If you travel regularly, carry your entire fleet of gadgets with you, and actively use resource-intensive applications, then we recommend paying attention to energy monsters from 10,000 mAh and above.

Advice: Do not believe the claimed high battery capacity in a device with compact dimensions. This, of course, is science fiction, and you will simply be wasting your money.

Portable batteries have many more additional features: built-in flashlight, solar charging panel, protected case, etc. These “buns” are not so necessary for everyday use, but you will have to pay a lot extra for them. Therefore, pay attention to their presence only if you cannot live without them.

What is the minimum cost of a good PowerBank, or how not to lose money?

The cost of any product consists of the cost of components, the cost of assembly and packaging, logistics, manufacturer’s margin and seller’s margin. External batteries not an exception. The average cost of a factory PowerBank is +/- $20. Let’s add here the costs of logistics and the seller’s interest, and we get a price tag of $40. Of course, there are much more expensive examples, but $40 - average cost high-quality external battery.

Advice Note: When ordering a battery from eBay, AliExpress, or other similar international marketplaces, do not be tempted to buy a 20,000 mAh battery for $19.99. This is 100% deception. If you're lucky, there will be about 5000 mAh. The same applies to manufacturers unknown to you and famous brands at a very low price.