21/06/2022
SYLGRAFIX TECH INSIGHT: Your Power Bank Can Damage Your Phone
Most Nigerians who spend a lot of time on their phone will tell you that having a power bank is a non-negotiable necessity. With the lack of stable electricity across the country, and the daily inconvenience of spending hours in traffic for those who live in the big cities, having a power bank provides many with the possibility of charging their phones on the go or when there is no electricity available. But as with everything, when used excessively and wrongly, a power bank can cause great damage to your phone. We are sure you are wondering how this is possible. Don’t worry we’ll explain.
Are All Power Banks The Same:
The answer to the question above is no. There are two types of power banks currently available. Some power banks are made with Lithium-ions cells, while others are made with Lithium-Polymer cells. Lithium-ion cell power banks have a higher energy density, are usually cheap, and also bulky in size. However, power banks containing Lithium-ion cells lose their charging capacity after a short time. Lithium-Polymer are expensive, but they are safer, and unlike Lithium-ion, they don’t lose their actual charging capacity within a short space of time. Lithium-Polymer power banks also take less time to charge.
Due to the lack of proper regulatory standards, locally made Lithium-ion cell power banks are in wide circulation. Some of these power banks are poorly designed, with no voltage control mechanisms to ensure the power banks is safe for use. When these types of power banks are used over a long time, they would not only ruin your phone battery, but may also damage certain components on your phone circuit panel. Good quality power banks often have advanced systems built in to protect your smartphone or other device from overcharging, overheating, over-current and overvoltage. However, as a result of the poor state of the Nigerian economy, many phone users often end up buying cheap power banks with inflated mAh capacity.
How To Choose The Best Power Bank For Your Phone:
1. Capacity: The capacity of a power bank should always be more than the capacity your phone requires. For example, a 2200 mAh power bank wouldn’t be able to fully charge a phone with a requirement of 3000 mAh. Likewise, a power bank with 6000 mAh would be able to charge your phone fully two times.
2. Output Specification: How much output your phone needs should also synchronize with the output the power bank gives out. The standard output should be 5 Volts for phones. Any power bank that outputs 5 volts or higher will extensively damage your phone’s circuits by overloading it more than it can handle. Any power bank that gives a voltage of 4.2V or lesser will drain your phone battery instead of charging it.
3. The Number Of Outputs: Some power banks have 1 output outlet; some have 2, and so on. Choosing one depends on how many devices you would need to charge at the same time.
SYGRAFIX TIP: Avoid using your power bank to overcharge your phone. Using a power bank to constantly keep your phone at 100% charge will gradually damage the battery, which will lead to your phone not being able to retain its charge for long. We will also advise that you purchase your power banks from an authorized store.
