'Always On' Powerbank without auto stanby.
Author
Discussion

Crackie

Original Poster:

6,386 posts

236 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all
Hello all, I'm hoping someone might be able to recommend a USB powerbank that has the option to stay powered on, irrespective of the current draw, rather than automatically go into standby. The product being powered only consumes a few microamps when dormant and pulls 125-150mA when operated via its PIR sensor.

Ideally there is a powerbank with an 'Always On' type function like the one here https://voltaicsystems.com/v15/ but with a higher capacity; I'm looking for 26800mAh if possible.

An inline dummy load like this one would solve the problem too but a powerbank with no auto standby would be a much better solution.
https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/usb-battery-pack-keep-...

Thanks in advance.

edit : Apologies for the spelling mistake in the thread title...…. getmecoat


Edited by Crackie on Wednesday 19th February 14:50

rxe

6,700 posts

97 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all
12v to USB adapter and a random 12v battery?

Eg:

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/12v-24v-recessed-tw...

+ a car battery gives you USB for ages. 11.4 v liion pack will be smaller!

Crackie

Original Poster:

6,386 posts

236 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
quotequote all
rxe said:
12v to USB adapter and a random 12v battery?

Eg:

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/12v-24v-recessed-tw...

+ a car battery gives you USB for ages. 11.4 v liion pack will be smaller!
Thanks rxe, that could be useful on a different project but isn't ideal for the application I'm working on now.

Since posting earlier I've been trying out any and every power bank I could lay my hands on. Three of the four I have in the house are too smart and have auto switch off however the low cost bank owned by my son works perfectly........from a functionality point of the view. The issue is that it has tiny capacity.

I need a dumb charger rather than a smart charger rather than a smart charger......with > 25000 mAh capacity.

My son's charger, the one that works, is the 1800mAh version of one of these https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMOPftFeTRE

Thanks again for the 12v info.

nyt

1,774 posts

144 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkSZ91ftqiI

This guy has the same issue as you.
There are a couple of power banks on the video that don't shut off but I have no idea whether you'll be able to buy them.

The cheap poundland power bank that he shows briefly might do for your needs. Its capacity is too small for his needs but might suffice for you.

If it helps, I solved a similar problem with a cheap solar panel from ebay and a small lead acid battery that I had lying around: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30W-12V-Dual-USB-Solar-...


hutchst

3,678 posts

90 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
I think, although I wouldn't swear to it, that auto-standby is an EU regulation.

You might find something on the online Chinese tat websales sites, if you don't mind your house burning down while you're out at the shops.

drdino

1,120 posts

136 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
Anker do some models with what they call "trickle charge mode", which essentially turns the powerbank permanently on and charges low current-draw devices. I had the issue of the bank switching off when I tried to top up some wireless earbuds and my Garmin Fenix; with the trickle mode turned on, these charge fine.

Crackie

Original Poster:

6,386 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
nyt said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkSZ91ftqiI

This guy has the same issue as you.
There are a couple of power banks on the video that don't shut off but I have no idea whether you'll be able to buy them.

The cheap poundland power bank that he shows briefly might do for your needs. Its capacity is too small for his needs but might suffice for you.

If it helps, I solved a similar problem with a cheap solar panel from ebay and a small lead acid battery that I had lying around: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30W-12V-Dual-USB-Solar-...
Thanks for the vid.....the Poundland unit appears to be the same as the one my son has ( see link in my previous post ) it works well and doesn't go to standby; unfortunately I need a far higher mAh capacity. I am looking at a solar solution too and will need both in the long term.

Crackie

Original Poster:

6,386 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
hutchst said:
I think, although I wouldn't swear to it, that auto-standby is an EU regulation.

You might find something on the online Chinese tat websales sites, if you don't mind your house burning down while you're out at the shops.
The amount of power used whilst an electrical product is in standby is covered by and EU reg. The Poundland type units, shown in a couple of the YouTube clips above , are CE and WEEE marked on their labels; presumably they've been tested accordingly.

Crackie

Original Poster:

6,386 posts

236 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
drdino said:
Anker do some models with what they call "trickle charge mode", which essentially turns the powerbank permanently on and charges low current-draw devices. I had the issue of the bank switching off when I tried to top up some wireless earbuds and my Garmin Fenix; with the trickle mode turned on, these charge fine.
That's great drdino, thank you. Sounds just like what I'm after. :tumbup:

I did a search on PH before starting this thread; Powerbanks have been discussed a couple of times on PH previously and the Anker 'Powercore' units came in for praise from many.

OlonMusky

708 posts

48 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
quotequote all
Crackie said:
drdino said:
Anker do some models with what they call "trickle charge mode", which essentially turns the powerbank permanently on and charges low current-draw devices. I had the issue of the bank switching off when I tried to top up some wireless earbuds and my Garmin Fenix; with the trickle mode turned on, these charge fine.
That's great drdino, thank you. Sounds just like what I'm after. :tumbup:

I did a search on PH before starting this thread; Powerbanks have been discussed a couple of times on PH previously and the Anker 'Powercore' units came in for praise from many.
Just a word of warning, not sure if this applies to Anker but some power banks (e.g. Aukey) do trickle charging for limited period of time, 2hrs in case of Aukey. So it's not permanently on.

GregorioG

1 posts

33 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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You are not looking for a power bank but for a UPS.

“Always on power bank” = UPS

It's the "right word for searching" damnation...