Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, make our daily lives much easier. The problem is that we run out of battery and we don’t always have a plug at hand to charge our device.

So it will be better to anticipate with a power bank that will get us out of the trouble of running out of battery in the middle of a meeting or just when the sunset was perfect for a photo and the cell phone ran out of battery.

Before you buy your power bank, Belkin explains how they work and provides tips to consider so you can find the one that best suits your needs:

A power bank or a portable external battery are devices known by different names: external batteries, power banks, portable batteries, additional or reserve batteries, portable chargers or external chargers to name a few. These help to keep your devices with enough power, as simple as charging the battery at home, keeping it in your bag, backpack or pocket and connecting it to your phone or tablet when you need it.

Power banks come in all shapes and sizes: more compact for more limited fast charges for smartphones or larger to allow multiple charges or to charge tablets.

Use one that includes the necessary cables or with multiple ports to charge more than one device simultaneously.

Choose between a larger capacity solution and a slimmer, more portable solution so you can take it with you wherever you go.

How to choose the external battery

Size and power. First choose the size of the battery and by this it doesn’t just mean whether you can carry the battery in your pocket or handbag. The size also defines what current capacity it can store. Standard sizes range from 2,000 to 10,000 mAh or even 12,000 mAh. The higher the number, the greater the current capacity of the power bank, which translates into more recharges for your smartphone or the possibility of charging more demanding devices such as a tablet.

Current output. Technically the standard USB port on the EDC powerbank is compatible with any standard USB cable. However, current capacity may vary from model to model. For example:

• A 1 amp/5 watt power bank with a 1 amp USB port will charge your smartphone or tablet but it will do so slowly.
• 2.4 amps/12 watts will charge most smartphones at the maximum speed available for those devices. The latter is also called “optimal charging”, however if you connect two smartphones and a tablet to the battery it will charge both but probably not at the maximum possible speed.
• The 3.4 amp/17 watt battery provides the ability to charge two smartphones, or a smartphone and a tablet simultaneously at the highest possible speed.
• And a 4.8 amp/24 watt will be able to charge two tablets simultaneously at the maximum possible speed.

Another thing to consider is the number of devices you need to charge. Larger batteries, with more mAh, can have more than one USB port, this can be useful to charge two smartphones at the same time, for example for a friend to charge their phone a bit, or you can charge your smartphone and some headphones Bluetooth simultaneously. You can even charge a smartphone and a tablet if you choose a battery with enough mAh capacity.

The cables are important. The quality of your cable can help determine how quickly your power bank and connected devices charge. Higher quality cables will also protect your devices from overheating and damaging power spikes. Also, each power bank should include a cable to be able to fill it when it is empty. Normally this process requires a standard USB to micro-USB cable. Some power banks include one or more cables that are detachable, this makes it very easy to switch between them whether you want to charge your iPad or your phone.

External batteries are not infinite and sooner or later you will have to fill them up again. Before using your power bank you should check if it is necessary to charge it before the first use. External battery current inputs range from 1 to 2.4 amps. Most wall chargers supply up to a maximum of 2.4 amps. Some external batteries are provided with an LED indicator that will tell you how much current the battery has left before it runs out. This will let you know exactly when you need to recharge the battery.

As a concept the idea of ​​an external battery is great but is its use safe?

Some external batteries are carefully designed and have passed very rigorous quality tests to give the consumer complete peace of mind. In addition, they are marketed backed by very robust product guarantees. Some warranties protect the battery itself, and others cover the electronic devices you connect to it, like a phone, tablet, or smartwatch. Check the warranty before purchasing your battery since opting for a cheaper or fake product can end up being more expensive and even dangerous.