Thanks for your review! As lazy as I could be, I never read the manual. But it's a charger/powerbank, what could they write, I should read about? Well: long press for low power consumption for gadgets like fitness tracker, smart bracelets, tws headsets. Thank your for pointing at this feature! Btw, I have the PB2S and there is no adapter thing, it just works with 18650 and 21700.
I just ordered one of these from amazon, excited for it to arrive, and ordered two 21700 from sofirn, but for now i have a new use for my vape batteries, i quit vaping year or 2 ago
Julian tiny magnets to extend the battery brilliant. Just like how u used those metal corners to attach bananaplug sockets. Just what I did miss this time was you veryfing the amps the little powerbank told us it was using
I have one of those, when I pick it up it feels all tingly in my hand … so I don’t carry it around much, I do use it to power a usb light with no problems though.
The phone probably wasn't getting higher voltages over PD because USB-A doesn't have a way to detect whether a passive device is present, so the power bank still had to assume something was there even after you removed your light. Leaving the light unplugged should eventually cause it to time out at zero current and turn the USB-A port off, allowing high voltages again. USB-C can detect passive devices (with the CC pins), so it doesn't have this problem. And I assume (but do not know for sure) that the reason why two devices requesting 12V at the same time still got denied is because it does not want to assume that a device that requests a voltage would still want it if it got initially declined, but then becomes available later. (That's a reasonable assumption the vast majority of the time, but maybe someone has a device that for some reason can't handle it.) And I do not think there is anything in the PD or QC protocols for the power bank to take initiative and ask the device if it's OK with a higher voltage. So the only thing it can do is stay safe and give both devices 5V.
11:21 - this same happens to the "PB2S" (no L letter) , i was surprised i had over 3 Amps going on into one cell removing before one of the cell's, they wasted some potential for charging just 1 cell with rapid 3 Amps. To use this mode, you must have one additional cell on hand and the trick works
Might need to get a young person to check this for you, but I had an older 18650 xtar power bank that made a constant high-pitched squeal any time there were batteries installed. It definitely sounded like inductor squeal, and it wasn't that loud, but I could still hear it from across the room so I had to stop using it entirely. That and it it irked me that it was always "on", even though it's probably using only a very tiny standby current.
But, but,but...why is it impossible to find a power bank with real ups/pass through charging? I need a power bank with 2 port USB-C as a UPS for my lap top and my WiFi router(one for each)...
I don't think you will find it in "power bank" category, it would require some kind of a relay to meet "ups" requirements. Otherwise, constantly charging and discharging at the same time (pass through) - that would probably kill batteries pretty quickly.
They definitely sent you an updated model. When i purchased mine, it came with 0 batteries, and had no extra bits for 18650. The pogo pins were long enough to mount 18650 vertically, but there was no side-bar to keep them from slipping side-to-side.
I got the old version , too - had them for a couple years now. Got 21700s for them at a decent price from Jehu Garcia's site, JAG35. Shipping sucks, though, so you won't want to buy just one or two.
I’m actually a bit concerned about something… I thought this was identical to my other pb2s, and never took note of the “L” at the end! I came across this video because I was perplexed as to why it had, unlike the pb2s, which I thought was the same model, that accessory bracket. Because I had been using them both for 18650s (the bracket was in the way of 21700, and I came to this video to see if it was removable) I now wonder, could my use of the no bracket pb2s to charge 18650s be why some of my molicels have been dying on me?
Normally I would avoid mixing protected and unprotected cells, like I would avoid mixing aged cells with new cells as uneven charging is more likely to occur, and particularly in the case of unprotected cells, you risk reverse charging issues as they discharge, or overcharging issues. Those are not undocumented modes as such. It's software glitches because it doesn't allow for people changing cells mid charge, as this is seen as non-standard behaviour and not something most average people would do. Still, an interesting thing to have it do. Does it stay at that higher current when you leave the single cell charging for a period of time? When you force that higher current by removing a battery during charge, does it regualte properly when it reaches full charge? Does this device do balanced charging? How long do fully charged batteries last on 5V output compared to 9V output or 12V output for the same current?
In this case differing cells isn’t an issue. They’re in parallel. So no over discharging or reverse charging will happen. That’s an issue when places in series
I have two of those - an older version - and love them! Only use 21700's in mine, though. Great to have that much charge power in such a small device.
Looks like a very versatile device. Interesting that you discovered those undocumented modes. It pays to play!
Thanks for your review! As lazy as I could be, I never read the manual. But it's a charger/powerbank, what could they write, I should read about?
Well: long press for low power consumption for gadgets like fitness tracker, smart bracelets, tws headsets.
Thank your for pointing at this feature!
Btw, I have the PB2S and there is no adapter thing, it just works with 18650 and 21700.
I just ordered one of these from amazon, excited for it to arrive, and ordered two 21700 from sofirn, but for now i have a new use for my vape batteries, i quit vaping year or 2 ago
Julian tiny magnets to extend the battery brilliant. Just like how u used those metal corners to attach bananaplug sockets. Just what I did miss this time was you veryfing the amps the little powerbank told us it was using
I have one of those, when I pick it up it feels all tingly in my hand … so I don’t carry it around much, I do use it to power a usb light with no problems though.
The phone probably wasn't getting higher voltages over PD because USB-A doesn't have a way to detect whether a passive device is present, so the power bank still had to assume something was there even after you removed your light. Leaving the light unplugged should eventually cause it to time out at zero current and turn the USB-A port off, allowing high voltages again. USB-C can detect passive devices (with the CC pins), so it doesn't have this problem.
And I assume (but do not know for sure) that the reason why two devices requesting 12V at the same time still got denied is because it does not want to assume that a device that requests a voltage would still want it if it got initially declined, but then becomes available later. (That's a reasonable assumption the vast majority of the time, but maybe someone has a device that for some reason can't handle it.) And I do not think there is anything in the PD or QC protocols for the power bank to take initiative and ask the device if it's OK with a higher voltage. So the only thing it can do is stay safe and give both devices 5V.
Yes, I think you're right.
11:21 - this same happens to the "PB2S" (no L letter) , i was surprised i had over 3 Amps going on into one cell removing before one of the cell's, they wasted some potential for charging just 1 cell with rapid 3 Amps. To use this mode, you must have one additional cell on hand and the trick works
Might need to get a young person to check this for you, but I had an older 18650 xtar power bank that made a constant high-pitched squeal any time there were batteries installed. It definitely sounded like inductor squeal, and it wasn't that loud, but I could still hear it from across the room so I had to stop using it entirely. That and it it irked me that it was always "on", even though it's probably using only a very tiny standby current.
Neat device. I think the percentages though are a little off. 3.8v is definitely not 30%. More like 50-60% depending on cell.
But, but,but...why is it impossible to find a power bank with real ups/pass through charging?
I need a power bank with 2 port USB-C as a UPS for my lap top and my WiFi router(one for each)...
(perferably full USB-C functionality on both ports)
I don't think you will find it in "power bank" category, it would require some kind of a relay to meet "ups" requirements. Otherwise, constantly charging and discharging at the same time (pass through) - that would probably kill batteries pretty quickly.
nahh, not if you could set it to at 80 percent(my home battery is aprax 100 Kwh)@@KrzysztofC-1
I have lots of 18650s and some 21700s and have seen those and thought about getting one but it was kinda expensive as i remember
They definitely sent you an updated model. When i purchased mine, it came with 0 batteries, and had no extra bits for 18650. The pogo pins were long enough to mount 18650 vertically, but there was no side-bar to keep them from slipping side-to-side.
I got the old version , too - had them for a couple years now. Got 21700s for them at a decent price from Jehu Garcia's site, JAG35. Shipping sucks, though, so you won't want to buy just one or two.
They come with no batteries. They just send extra bits to reviewers.
Just out of interest what protection does the item have for charging and discharging??? I was expecting a strip down so we don't have too🙂
I’m actually a bit concerned about something… I thought this was identical to my other pb2s, and never took note of the “L” at the end! I came across this video because I was perplexed as to why it had, unlike the pb2s, which I thought was the same model, that accessory bracket. Because I had been using them both for 18650s (the bracket was in the way of 21700, and I came to this video to see if it was removable) I now wonder, could my use of the no bracket pb2s to charge 18650s be why some of my molicels have been dying on me?
Normally I would avoid mixing protected and unprotected cells, like I would avoid mixing aged cells with new cells as uneven charging is more likely to occur, and particularly in the case of unprotected cells, you risk reverse charging issues as they discharge, or overcharging issues.
Those are not undocumented modes as such. It's software glitches because it doesn't allow for people changing cells mid charge, as this is seen as non-standard behaviour and not something most average people would do. Still, an interesting thing to have it do.
Does it stay at that higher current when you leave the single cell charging for a period of time?
When you force that higher current by removing a battery during charge, does it regualte properly when it reaches full charge?
Does this device do balanced charging?
How long do fully charged batteries last on 5V output compared to 9V output or 12V output for the same current?
In this case differing cells isn’t an issue. They’re in parallel. So no over discharging or reverse charging will happen. That’s an issue when places in series
I was doing the same thing you were (plugging and unplugging with diff arrangements) and it went up in smoke.
Your xtar powerbank started smoking‽😨
@@scbtripwire yep. I got a replacement but I don't use it no more as the coil whine and heat it generates boosting to 12v is unsettling.
@@eugeneputin1858 coil whine? :/
@@scbtripwire yes
Your xtar powerbank came with 2 batteries?
Edit: Ah, this was provided to you by xtar.
you got a Dixon with Bettys
nice litle video and not a buck boost in sight🙂
Well, there's buckers and boosters inside the thing no doubt :)
@@JulianIlett yes but not insight unless you strip it down so we don't have too🙂
£20, not too bad
So, what happens if you connect two of them via USB C?
Good point - I don't know. But my Ravpower can change state if you hold the button for 10 seconds.
Oooo...Nice! 😛😃