Last edit by: chx1975
Anker is a stable, reliable brand. They have a 6 port charger, a 5 port with QuickCharge 3.0 support, a 5 port with USB C support, a 2 port with both USB and QC 3.0. Their powerbanks are also popular with similar selection: there's a plain two port one, one with QC, one with USB-C.
Power bank wise, there's a RAVPower 20100 mAh power bank (RP-PB043) which can charge USB-C and QC 3.0 devices both and in turn can be charged by either.
Another important device is the MOGICS Bagel/Donut: two ports USB charger, plug shape converter and power strip, the Bagel universal, the Donut US only. Best all around electronics companion ATM.
Power bank wise, there's a RAVPower 20100 mAh power bank (RP-PB043) which can charge USB-C and QC 3.0 devices both and in turn can be charged by either.
Another important device is the MOGICS Bagel/Donut: two ports USB charger, plug shape converter and power strip, the Bagel universal, the Donut US only. Best all around electronics companion ATM.
2017: USB Travel Chargers and Power Supplies Thread
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
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2017: USB Travel Chargers and Power Supplies Thread
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/c...ne/x/4037595#/
Ok so there have been a few tech posts with adapters as the main theme.
this one seems to be the most interesting for me as its got both dedicated USB plus as well as direct charging for phones etc (iPhone and Nano/Micro USB)
the battery backup seems to be a nice touch too as even though i get lounge access most places the time i don't its always been dire to get electricity to charge devices. (and I'm not a fan of battery backups in bags)
Ok so there have been a few tech posts with adapters as the main theme.
this one seems to be the most interesting for me as its got both dedicated USB plus as well as direct charging for phones etc (iPhone and Nano/Micro USB)
the battery backup seems to be a nice touch too as even though i get lounge access most places the time i don't its always been dire to get electricity to charge devices. (and I'm not a fan of battery backups in bags)
#2
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Hard to say without actually seeing one, but I can see so many problems with this one...
The plugs are stored in the base, but they aren't integrated. To me, that's just waiting to be lost - and when you lose one, you're without power.
Especially in the US I just can't see it holding properly in many of the power points I come across - especially with the weight of 2 phones on top of it. And that's presuming you even have a socket on the wall which frequently you don't (a desk socket would normally work - depending on space - but plugging in the phones is going to be ugly). Maybe they've fixed this problem somehow, but I just don't see how. I have this problem frequently with my Netgear Trek travel router, and it's much lighter than this+a phone would be.
The cordless phone charging won't work in some countries - even where the plugs fit. eg, China is out - it's the same plug as Australia, but upside down.
Speaking of Australia, it's almost certainly illegal to use there (as as many other of these multi-country chargers) as it has an earth socket, but no earth plug to connect it to.
And finally, it's got a blue light (2 of them!). Seriously. Nothing lights up a dark hotel room like a blue LED
The plugs are stored in the base, but they aren't integrated. To me, that's just waiting to be lost - and when you lose one, you're without power.
Especially in the US I just can't see it holding properly in many of the power points I come across - especially with the weight of 2 phones on top of it. And that's presuming you even have a socket on the wall which frequently you don't (a desk socket would normally work - depending on space - but plugging in the phones is going to be ugly). Maybe they've fixed this problem somehow, but I just don't see how. I have this problem frequently with my Netgear Trek travel router, and it's much lighter than this+a phone would be.
The cordless phone charging won't work in some countries - even where the plugs fit. eg, China is out - it's the same plug as Australia, but upside down.
Speaking of Australia, it's almost certainly illegal to use there (as as many other of these multi-country chargers) as it has an earth socket, but no earth plug to connect it to.
And finally, it's got a blue light (2 of them!). Seriously. Nothing lights up a dark hotel room like a blue LED
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
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I shuddered from the idea: there is no support but the micro USB plug holding a phone upright. It's anyone's guess the first time the phone tumbles it's the Chargest or the phone that gets broken. I am not saying this https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....11dhlKXLiL.jpg is the bee's knees but at least it has more support.
Last edited by chx1975; Dec 10, 2016 at 12:33 pm
#4
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I don't believe the 3.9 x 3.7 x 1.5 inches, 3.5oz specs posted for that - seems way to high. The smallest 2 port, 4A+ I've seen is 1.57 x 1.57 x 1.12 in., 43.3g (1.5oz) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KWY73KI
#5
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Location: Denver, CO
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I don't believe the 3.9 x 3.7 x 1.5 inches, 3.5oz specs posted for that - seems way to high. The smallest 2 port, 4A+ I've seen is 1.57 x 1.57 x 1.12 in., 43.3g (1.5oz) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KWY73KI
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QTE09SY..._t1_B01KWY73KI
I wish the ports were perpendicular to the folding plug. I'd buy a few.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YVR
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Newegg flash deal https://flash.newegg.com/Product/9SIA5BM47B2722 of this http://zerolemon.com/product/type-cu...xel-c-nexus-5/ charger. The photo is not right but the description and the SKU is. Two micro, Two USB-C, 54W, two chargers in one. Interesting, especially at ten bucks.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
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Posts: 358
I've been using this one on my desk at home for the last couple of months. I took it with me to Romania on last months <500 sale, where it charged my USB-C laptop, phone, watch and Kindle.
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Type-C-...ds=anker+usb-c
Lesson learned? Bring a single USB wall-wart too, for those quick charges in airports / lounges / coffee shops / etc. Sometimes it's too much of a pain to haul out the brick and the plethora of cables.
Second trip this month was a road trip to San Diego, in which I took the same kit, plus an iPhone wall-plug for the quick charges. This went much better. Still, two chargers instead of four, and I could still plug everything in at once.
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Type-C-...ds=anker+usb-c
Lesson learned? Bring a single USB wall-wart too, for those quick charges in airports / lounges / coffee shops / etc. Sometimes it's too much of a pain to haul out the brick and the plethora of cables.
Second trip this month was a road trip to San Diego, in which I took the same kit, plus an iPhone wall-plug for the quick charges. This went much better. Still, two chargers instead of four, and I could still plug everything in at once.
#8
Suspended
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I've been using this one on my desk at home for the last couple of months. I took it with me to Romania on last months <500 sale, where it charged my USB-C laptop, phone, watch and Kindle.
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Type-C-...ds=anker+usb-c
Lesson learned? Bring a single USB wall-wart too, for those quick charges in airports / lounges / coffee shops / etc. Sometimes it's too much of a pain to haul out the brick and the plethora of cables.
Second trip this month was a road trip to San Diego, in which I took the same kit, plus an iPhone wall-plug for the quick charges. This went much better. Still, two chargers instead of four, and I could still plug everything in at once.
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Type-C-...ds=anker+usb-c
Lesson learned? Bring a single USB wall-wart too, for those quick charges in airports / lounges / coffee shops / etc. Sometimes it's too much of a pain to haul out the brick and the plethora of cables.
Second trip this month was a road trip to San Diego, in which I took the same kit, plus an iPhone wall-plug for the quick charges. This went much better. Still, two chargers instead of four, and I could still plug everything in at once.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat, Nexus
Posts: 358
Newegg flash deal https://flash.newegg.com/Product/9SIA5BM47B2722 of this http://zerolemon.com/product/type-cu...xel-c-nexus-5/ charger. The photo is not right but the description and the SKU is. Two micro, Two USB-C, 54W, two chargers in one. Interesting, especially at ten bucks.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat, Nexus
Posts: 358
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Two comments on this as Anker finally provides a pass-through charging battery: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K702S66?pldnSite=1.
1) I think this device sounds more interesting to a larger population if the recharging capacity went above 10,000 (which I think will happen soon);
2) While 1) is probably universally appreciated, I personally prefer the charger to work like items 2 and 7 in the wiki--with a cord plugging into the charger so that I can run it from a hard-to-reach electrical outlet that might make a direct plug wall outlet type somewhat inconvenient.
Anker's pretty good about putting out more powerful variants on an idea and I don't know any reason why they'd limit this technology to direct plug devices. When that comes out, I might have to replace all my current Anker devices.
1) I think this device sounds more interesting to a larger population if the recharging capacity went above 10,000 (which I think will happen soon);
2) While 1) is probably universally appreciated, I personally prefer the charger to work like items 2 and 7 in the wiki--with a cord plugging into the charger so that I can run it from a hard-to-reach electrical outlet that might make a direct plug wall outlet type somewhat inconvenient.
Anker's pretty good about putting out more powerful variants on an idea and I don't know any reason why they'd limit this technology to direct plug devices. When that comes out, I might have to replace all my current Anker devices.
Last edited by lwildernorva; Jan 17, 2017 at 4:18 pm
#12
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Not sure whether you meant https://smile.amazon.com/Anker-Power.../dp/B01K702S66 this but I will presume so. If that 4.2 ounces is true for a weight of an 5000 mAh battery + charger that'd be bloody impressive.
#13
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Not sure whether you meant https://smile.amazon.com/Anker-Power.../dp/B01K702S66 this but I will presume so. If that 4.2 ounces is true for a weight of an 5000 mAh battery + charger that'd be bloody impressive.
#15
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BTW, currently showing as unavailable on Amazon with a "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock" message. And the Anker site does not list this device.
Makes me wonder. . .