During power cuts you need to charge phones and sometimes power a router or a lamp. Power banks and portable power stations are used for this.
A power bank
A compact battery for charging smartphones, tablets, headphones. Its capacity is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh).
A rough calculation: a smartphone has a battery of 3,000–5,000 mAh. A 10,000 mAh power bank will charge a phone roughly 1.5–2 times, because part of the energy is lost in conversion.
A power station
A larger battery with AC sockets and several USB ports. Measured in watt-hours (Wh). It is enough to power a router, a lamp, a laptop and even small appliances.
What to consider when choosing
- Capacity. Proportional to running time.
- Power. How many watts it can deliver at once.
- Ports. USB-C, USB-A, a 220 V socket.
- Fast charging. Shortens the time to charge the device itself.
- Safety. Protection against overheating and short circuits.
- Weight and size.
How to use it
Charge the power bank in advance. Do not leave it in the sun or near heaters. Use original or good-quality cables.
Tip
For a router it is better to choose a power station or a special uninterruptible power supply. Check that the voltage suits your device.
