USB device designed to drain power?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
USB device designed to drain power?
I just got an Anker E4 2nd Gen battery. The manual recommends discharging and charging it at least once every 4 months. Since I mainly got it for a couple of upcoming long flights, I am thinking I could probably remember to plug in some power-sucking device to drain it once in a while. Is there some USB device designed to just suck power? Maybe a fan or light or something, I guess.
I realize I could just periodically plug my iPad and phone into it, but I'd probably forget...
I realize I could just periodically plug my iPad and phone into it, but I'd probably forget...
Last edited by gfunkdave; Mar 3, 2015 at 7:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 409
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
It'll take a looong time for that LED to drain the battery. But why buy an additional device? Just use this to charge your phone/ipad/whatever and let it run empty every once in a while. If you can't remember to do that you're not likely to remember to leave it on with the LED fr a few weeks.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: HNL
Programs: UA Premier 1K
Posts: 296
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
NiMH is what we moved from - they had a memory effect (though not as bad as the preceding NiCad technology). Virtually all consumer electronics batteries today at Li-ion. They don't have a memory, but leaving them dormant for extended periods causes them to lose capacity to hold a charge. I think it's something about lithium crystals appearing in the cells.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: HNL
Programs: UA Premier 1K
Posts: 296
I stand corrected. Thanks gfunkdave...
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,278
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,227
I have the 9.6Ah version. It's helped me out of a jam more than once. I've become a big Anker fan. The 40W (i.e. 8A) 5 port USB power supply is my favorite travel accessory.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
I've been using the 40W supply as my bedside charger - nice to have one device that charges everything I have at once.