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Xiaomi 20,000mAh Powerbank review & capacity test

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This is the newest Xiaomi powerbank offering, the 20,000mAh model with QuickCharge. It was released about 4 months ago, but I did not order and decided to wait for a price drop. Ironically, the price went up instead and bumped from $31.99 release price to $39.99 current price. Final price from banggood was $35.00 with the use of a coupon.

Specs:
-Rated capacity: 19,202/20,000mAh min/typ (68.47/72Wh)
-Rated output capacity at 5.1V/1A: 12,700mAh
-Efficiency >90% at 5.1V/1A
-6x LG cells, most likely LG 3,350mAh 18650F1 same used in the 10,000mAh version
-Output: 5V/3.6A total, 5V/2.1A max each port
-Input 5V/2A 9V/2A 12V/1,5A
-Weight: 338gr

Box & contents:
Simple cardboard box, it came with a short USB cable and user manual.I have several of that cable and they’re really nice, can easily handle 2A and any type of quickcharge.

Build quality and ports:
All-plastic construction, but it feels solid in hand. The finish is shiny and has tiny dots on the surface to improve the grip. It weight less than 2× 10,000 xiami power banks (207gr).

On the front, two USB output ports and one microUSB input. 4 LEDs indicate the remaining capacity.

A single button on the side to operate.

Specs shown in the back, most powerbanks don’t show these specs, because it could confuse regular users not familiar with the technical terms like “output capacity”.

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Charge test:
Using different chargers should give you different charge rates. Testing done with a YZXstudio usb power tester, without any kind of cooling. Powerbank was empty when the test started.

Samsung 5V/2A adapter: 5.14V/1.92A for 9.8W input

Samsung fast charge 9V 1.5A adapter: 9.2V/1.72A for 15.8W input. I only tested this 3 minutes and it did not drop.

Tronsmart 3-port 48W quickcharge adapter: fresh connecting with both devices at room temp, it draws up to 12.2V 1.72A for 20.4watts. (That’s a lot of power!) but then it drops and after a couple hours it stabilized at ~1.5A for 18.5W.

I left the powerbank to charge at this rate until full, and the hottest it got was 56°C external. I pulled out the usb cable and the metal of the usb connector was even hotter at 64°C. I’m sure the internal component gets really hot, don’t know if charging at this rate could affect the lifespan of the circuit.
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Charge test #1: 0-100% from a 12V quickcharge source:
Time: 6hr 45min
Input energy: 89.3Wh
Charge efficiency: 80% (72Wh/89.3Wh)

With all the heat that’s been generated, 80% charge efficiency is pretty good in my opinion. and this was utilizing the quickcharge chipset at the highest possible charge rate, if you were to charge this power bank at lower power, efficiency could be even higher due to less heat in the process, this is applies with nearly all electronic devices. Keep in mind that this is charge efficiency, how much energy required to charge the pack/actual energy of the pack.

Charge test #2: 0-100% from a 5V/2A source
Time: 9hr 50min
Input energy: 88.5Wh
Charge efficiency: 81%

Surprisingly the efficiency remained the same with a much lower charge rate.
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Discharge Test:

Discharge is done by using a USB load tester, it will be set 1A and 2A. These discharge devices are great for testing the maximum possible output of a power source, they are “dumb” in the sense that it it is simply a resistor that shorts the V-/V+ of the usb to burn the power. In this case mine uses 2× 10W1RJ wirewound resistors. I added some heatsink for more effective fan cooling.

To measure everything I’m using a modified Portapow premium USB power meter. It’s been modded with a 18650 and now it can operate for a week non-stop. A regular USB tester would get way too hot and I don’t want to put my expensive meter at risk.

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Discharge test #1 at 5V/2A:
Average discharge power: ~9.8W
Time: 6 hours
Output capacity: 11,837mA
Output energy: 59.3Wh
Efficiency: 83%

I expected a higher efficiency, at least 87%. Maybe the cells need a few cycles to achieve optimal capacity. Will test again with the same parameters.
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Discharge test #2 at 5V/1A:
Average discharge power: 4.87W
Time: 12hr 52min
Output capacity: 12,883mAh, rated 12,700mAh
Output energy: 64.5Wh
Efficiency: 89%

This powerbank is rated 90%+ efficiency at this rate, I got 89% (based on maximum typical capacity, not minimal).
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To make these numbers easier to read I made this chart, note that some test are still pending:

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Output coding:
Charging a Samsung S6 and an iPhone 6 at the same time did not show any problem. In the case of the samsung you see two different codings, this happens when the device being charged interferes with the identification due to the presence of signals on its own D+/D- lines. In simpler words, the device is “asking” for quickcharge but the power bank is only able to supply DCP 1.5A, this is fine as the maximum charge rate of the S6 is 1.7A with a regular 5V 2A adapter.

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So far I’m happy with this power bank. It can charge all of my devices, delivers rated capacity and the build quality is high and on par with other xiaomi products. I hope my review was useful to you…

Pending:
-A few more cycles to see if there’s change in capacity
-Discharge test at 5V 3A and charge test at 5V 1A
-Long term testing


Test/Review of Blitzwolf 4 port QC2 car charger BW-C5

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Blitzwolf 4 port QC2 car charger BW-C5

DSC_3360

Official specifications:


  • Input: DC 12-24V (Max)
  • QC 2.0 Output: 5V/2A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A (Max)
  • USB Port Output: 3*5V/2.4A
  • Power: 54W
  • Size: 86.7mm*45mm*21mm(3.41*1.77*0.83in)
  • Brand: BlitzWolf®

I got it from Banggood

DSC_3356

Blitzwolf uses a brown cardboard box without much text on the outside.

DSC_3357

The box contained the charger and a note.

DSC_3361

DSC_3364

DSC_3365DSC_3363

The QC output is the green usb connector.

DSC_3362



Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.06 watt at 12V and 0.12 watt at 24V
  • The usb 3 outputs are in parallel.
  • The 3 usb outputs are auto coding with Apple 2.5A as maximum.
  • The QC output is also auto coding in addition to QC
  • No individual port overload protection.
  • The QC output is turned off shortly when dropping down to 5 volt.
  • There is a blue led hidden between the middle two usb ports.


Load%20sweep%2011.6V%20%234
Load%20sweep%2014.6V%20%234
Load%20sweep%2024.0V%20%234

There is not much difference with varying input voltage, except 24V has lower efficiency. There is no individual port protection.

Load%20sweep%2011.6V
Load%20sweep%2014.6V
Load%20sweep%2024.0V

Running all 3 outputs in parallel there is a common overload protection at 8.5A, the lower efficiency for 24V disappears at higher load.

Load%20sweep%2011.6V%20QC5V
Load%20sweep%2014.6V%20QC5V
Load%20sweep%2024.0V%20QC5V

The QC output has protection, but at a fairly high level for a single port.

Load%20sweep%2011.6V%20QC12V
Load%20sweep%2014.6V%20QC12V
Load%20sweep%2024.0V%20QC12V

The QC 12V output is supposed to deliver 1.5A, it can easily do that and a lot more. At around 2.75A it drops out of 12V quick charge.

Voltage%20sweep%207.2A%20input%20current

With 7A output it needs about 1.5A at 24V and 3A at 12V.

Voltage%20sweep%207.2A

Output voltage is very stable with changing input voltage.

No%20load%20voltage%20sweep

Idle current is about 6mA.

Load%20test%207.2A


Temp2884

M1: 66,1°C, M2: 66,1°C, M3: 52,6°C, HS1: 67,4°C

Temp2885

M1: 60,4°C, M2: 47,1°C, HS1: 61,9°C

10ohm

At 0.5A with 12V input the noise is 5mV rms and 140mVpp.

5ohm

At 1A with 12V input the noise is 5mV rms and 130mVpp.

2ohm

At 2.5A with 12V input the noise is 4mV rms and 104mVpp.

0.7ohm

At 7A with 12V input the noise is 5mV rms and 94mVpp.

2ohmqc

At 2.5A quick charge with 12V input the noise is 5mV rms and 117mVpp.

10ohmqc12V

At 1A with 12V input the noise is 7mV rms and 79mVpp.



Tear down

DSC_3410

The top and bottom could be removed, the circuit board had a little bit of glue I had to break before I could remove it.

DSC_3411

As expected there is two inductors: One for the 3 normal usb output and one for the quick charge output. The chip partial hidden under the metal is the QC2 controller (F75299).

DSC_3419

There is hidden a dual buck controller (TPS51220) under the capacitor and a transistor under the inductor.

DSC_3412

There is not much interesting stuff on this side of the circuit board. A 0.01 ohm resistor (R010), this must be current sense.
Notice the circuit board trace where the wire is connected, the squiggle is supposed to be a fuse.

DSC_3413

DSC_3414

DSC_3415

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DSC_3417

Notice the led between the usb connectors.

DSC_3418

U2 is one of the auto coding chips.

DSC_3420

Here a corner of the other auto coding chip can be seen.

Being a 12/24V device there is no need to test with high voltages.



Conclusion

This is a car charger with four high power usb ports that will charger just about any usb device as fast as possible. With one port supporting QuickCharge it can charge some pads and phones extra fast. The only negative detail is that all ports are in parallel without any individual protection.

I will call it a good charger (If each output had been limited to about 3A I would have called it very good).



Notes

The usb charger was supplied by Banggood for a review.

Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of Blitzwold USB-C car charger BW-C3

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Blitzwold USB-C car charger BW-C3

DSC_3381

Official specifications:


  • Model: BW-C3
  • Input: DC 12-18V (Max)
  • USB Output: 5V/2.4A
  • Type-C Output: 5V/3A
  • Type-C Cable: 1M
  • Power: 27W
  • Size: 6.8*2.9*2.3cm

I got it from Banggood
I will not be testing the USB-C connector, but it is only 5 volt and is in parallel with the normal usb connector, i.e. exactly same performance as the large connector.

DSC_3378

Blitzwolf uses a brown cardboard box without much text on the outside.

DSC_3380

The box contained the charger and a note.

DSC_3383

DSC_3384DSC_3385

DSC_3386DSC_3387

DSC_3388

USB-C

The usb connector has 24 pins, usual only 12 is used. For this charger only the power pins and the USB 2 pins are used.



Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.04 watt
  • The 2 usb outputs are in parallel.
  • The 2 usb outputs are auto coding with Apple 2.5A as maximum.
  • No individual port overload protection.


Load%20sweep%2011.6V
Load%20sweep%2014.6V

I only tested the standard usb connector and stopped at 5A without seeing any overload protection. I expect it will be there, but at a higher current.

Voltage%20sweep%204.8A%20input%20current

With 4.8A output it needs about 2.3A at 12V.

Voltage%20sweep%204.8A

Output voltage is stable with changing input voltage.

No%20load%20voltage%20sweep

Idle current is about 3.5mA.

Load%20test%204.8A

A one hour test with 4.8A load was no problem.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp2895

M1: 44,1°C, M2: 40,7°C, M3: 38,4°C, HS1: 45,3°C

Temp2896

M1: 41,4°C, M2: 44,7°C, HS1: 48,2°C

10ohm

At 0.5A with 12V input the noise is 38mV rms and 225mVpp.

5ohm

At 1A with 12V input the noise is 20mV rms and 179mVpp.

2ohm

At 2.5A with 12V input the noise is 17mV rms and 131mVpp.





Tear down

DSC_3529

Here I needed to cut behind the aluminium due to the USB-C cable.

DSC_3530

Here is a inductor with two wires in parallel and it looks like a white fuse under the red wire.

DSC_3531

The big chip is a GS92A3 buck converter that can handle up to 8A. The maximum input voltage for the chip is 28 volt, that is a bit low for a 24 volt car and is probably the reason the adapter is only rated for 12 volt car systems.
The other chip is for usb coding, it can handle two usb usb connectors, i.e. it looks like the USB-C is handled like a normal usb connector, not with the power delivery standard.

DSC_3532

DSC_3533

DSC_3534DSC_3536


Being a 12V device there is no need to test with high voltages.



Conclusion

This car charger can deliver lots of power, in my opinion a bit too much for the usb cables, but it is still a good usb charger.



Notes

The usb charger was supplied by Banggood for a review.

Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of 60W 10 port usb charger W-838

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60W 10 port usb charger W-838

DSC_3173

Official specifications:


  • Plug: US/EU standard
  • Support: For iPhone, for iPad, for Samsung, for BlackBerry, for Android phone
  • Material: ABS
  • Color: Black
  • Output: 12A
  • Max Power: 60 Watts
  • Input: AC 100V-240V
  • Plug: EU/US/UK Supply
  • Max output for single USB port: 5V / 3.5A
  • Item size: 13.9 × 8.5 × 4.0cm / 5.5 × 3.3 × 1.6in (LxW x H)
  • Item weight (cable not included): 212.0g / 7.5oz

I got it from ebay dealer: uit-tek

DSC_3171

Being from ebay the shipment did not include any box.

DSC_3172

And accessories was only a mains cable.

DSC_3174

A lot of current markings on the ports, these markings are bogus and only works as decorations. All ports are exactly the same.

DSC_3175

The connector for the mains lead includes a unused earth connection.

DSC_3176

DSC_3178

DSC_3179DSC_3177



Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.8 watt
  • All ports are coded as Apple 2.1A
  • All port are in parallel.


60W%2010%20port%20%231%20load%20sweep
60W%2010%20port%20%235%20load%20sweep
60W%2010%20port%20%236%20load%20sweep
60W%2010%20port%20%2310%20load%20sweep

All port looks the same and there is no individual over current protection.

60W%2010%20port%20load%20sweep

Running all port in parallel I can draw 11A, not the rated 12A, but at least it has a total over current protection.

60W%2010%20port%20load%20test

I decided to run the one hour load test at 10A and it could handle that, but I am a bit worried because the output voltage is slowly dropping.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp2863

M1: 92,0°C, M2: 57,9°C, M3: 59,1°C, HS1: 103,8°C
HS1 is the two rectifier diodes and M1 is the mains transformer.

Temp2864

M1: 65,1°C, HS1: 91,8°C
HS1 is again the two rectifier diodes.

Temp2865

M1: 73,0°C, HS1: 91,5°C
HS1 is again the two rectifier diodes.

10ohm

The charger has a lot of peak noise, even at low load: 26mV rms and 420mVpp

5ohm

The noise increase with load: 36mV rms and 440mVpp

2ohm

More noise: 55mV rms and 510mVpp

1ohm

At 5A the noise is getting very bad: 115mV rms and 1380mVpp

0.5ohm

And 10A is even worse: 180mV rms and 2460mVpp



Tear down

DSC_3227

I only had to removing the four screws under the rubber feet’s and it was open.

DSC_3228

There is enough space to make a fairly clean layout. Between the mains input and the switch is placed a fuse. Behind the mains input us a common mode coil and a bridge rectifier. The heatsink that covers the input capacitor is used for the mains switcher transistor. There is mounted a single safety capacitor.
The two rectifier diodes are mounted on the other heatsink, looking at the thermo photos this heatsink is way too small. There is also a optical feedback.
If the two missing capacitors had been mounted the output would have looked better.

DSC_3230

DSC_3231DSC_3233


DSC_3232

The screw for the switcher transistor can be seen on the heatsink, this transistor must be mounted on the heatsink before the transistor and heatsink is mounted on the circuit board.

DSC_3229

There is not much to see on the bottom side. The mains switcher controller (IC1). Each usb port has its own coding resistors, i.e. it would have been easy to code them individually. It looks like the usb connectors are used as jumpers to transfer power around the board. The earth pin on the mains input is not connected.
Around the two rectifier diodes it looks like the circuit board has been rather hot, I suspect it is from my 1 hour test.

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DSC_3236

There is a nice isolation barrier on the circuit board, but it not wide enough. It must be over 6mm, but is close to 4mm in some places.

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On the topside it also looks bad, the heatsink for the two rectifier diodes are very close to the mains heatsink. Probably for that reason the diodes used are in a isolated package, but because the heatsink goes down to the circuit board there is very little distance from the pins on the diodes (That are low voltage side) to the heatsink (That can be connected to mains if you drop the charger).

The charger passed an isolation test with 2500 volt, but failed a 5000 volt test.



Conclusion

I like the idea with a small charger with many outputs and ability to charge any usb device, but this charger do not fulfil this, it gets too hot, cannot handle all devices with optimal current and is also unsafe.




Notes

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of YZXStudio Load ZL1000

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YZXStudio Load ZL1000

DSC_3640

Official specifications:


  • Maximum Power: 20W
  • Current Range: 0.06 – 2.50A (up to 3.5A by shorting the 2 solder pads marked “3” on the PCB)
  • Voltage Range: 3.5 – 16V Text on circuit board says 3.5 to 14 volt

I got it from ebay dealer f-t-2000, he is also known as Franky or 99centhobbies

There exist a couple of different loads for usage with usb devices, this one is adjustable, can handle a lot of power and can control different fast charge schemes.

DSC_3635

On the topside is a nearly noiseless fan and a multiturn trimpot to adjust the current with.

DSC_3636

This side has a lot of electronic on it. The load is a IRF3710 mosfet transistor, controlled from a MCP6002 dual OpAmp. The trimpot has a TL431 reference across it. There is also two voltage regulators, one for the fan and one for the electronic.
The “big” chip is a ATtiny24A microprocessor that controls the fast charge modes and keep an eye on maximum power level.

led

If you look closely on the board above, you will also find a small multicolored led, it has 3 leds inside. This led is used to signal different modes.

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DSC_3639

DSC_3641

Here it is together with a usb monitor that can show voltage, current, capacity and also usb coding.



Load testing

yzxStudio%20Load%20ZL1000%20voltage%20sweep

I used the limit from the circuit board (i.e. 14 volt). At the currents the load is stable with any voltage, when the current increases the power is limited and there is some variation in the current.

yzxStudio%20Load%20ZL1000%20voltage%20sweep%20min

Here is a close look at the minimum current, it depend on the voltage (May be due to the fan) and it is not completely stable.

yzxStudio%20Load%20ZL1000%20Load%20Test

Can the load handle full power for some time? I decided to test for 30 minutes. The current looks fairly stable, but why do the power drops at the high power level? A look in the log file showed the voltage had dropped a bit, but that is not possible, except if my equipment is overloaded (Current limit was at 3A and I was only drawing 2.5A)

Osc2

I put a current clamp around the wires and connected the scope. The current was above 3A sometimes. The circuit is oscillating.

Osc4

Testing a bit more at different current and voltage levels shows that the circuit is very sensitive, sometimes it will oscillate, sometimes not. The difference can be a hand around the wires. I did try this with 3 different power supplies, with all of them there were oscillations.

Temp2960

M1: 40,6°C, M2: 45,3°C, HS1: 54,1°C
This IR photo is after 25 minutes with 12.5 watt load.

Temp2961

M1: 39,6°C, HS1: 85,4°C

Temp2962

M1: 61,7°C, M2: 51,3°C, HS1: 75,4°C
This IR photo is after 25 minutes with 22 watt load.

Temp2963

M1: 49,8°C, HS1: 111,8°C
Everything is getting hot, this is the reason for the current change.

yzxStudio%20Load%20ZL1000%20Load%20Test%20zoom

Let’s take a look at how stable the load is, for this I have zoomed the current and power scales. I have about 0.1A drop in current, this is about 4%.
The two spikes on the curves are because I touched the wires and affected the oscillations.



Fast charge functions

Using the two buttons on the circuit board it is possible to activate smart charge modes.

QCtest

It can select a specific QuickCharge voltage or cycle between them either fast or slow. Above I have selected a fast cycle.
When the load is put into a QuickCharge charger the led will turn on and if one of the QC modes has been selected on the load it will switch the charger to that mode.
It do not support the 20V QC mode.

QC3test

Selecting QuickCharge 3 mode it is possible to step the voltage up/down from a QC3 power supply. I pressed the +/- buttons a lot for this chart.

PEup

In MTKPE mode it can send up/down requests to the charger.



Conclusion

For testing usb chargers and power banks this load is very interesting, it can handle the power and it can select fast charge modes.
The instability in the circuit can in some cases give misleading results.
I am not very happy with the trimpot or the small buttons on the back. I would have like the buttons at the edge of the circuit board, one on each side, this would have been much easier to use without looking at them (Display is on the other side when connected to a monitor). The trimpot requires a tool to adjust. It is also a good idea to do all adjustments before starting a test, it gets rather hot!

Even with the above issues I will call it a fairly good load and with way more functions than any other load on the market.

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Will34's Powerbank Reviews Thread

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Hi all, as many of you might know I have been doing some power bank reviews lately, so to keep everything in order I decided to create an All-in-one thread with all of my upcoming and some existing reviews. I just got some new testing devices that will help me take measurements more accurately, and I have come up with a new chart style to show the information as clear as possible.

Since this is just a very part time hobby as I do with flashlights, for now none of my reviews is a product sent by anyone so do expect it 100% unbiased. Wink I can’t explain it but I have this “weird” interest towards chargers, batteries and cables (or power devices in general), well… partly because they are related to my job, but let’s say there’s some fun when doing all these testings, much like modding flashlights even though I don’t need any more of them.

Hopefully my reviews can be helpful to you, and please feel free to ask anything related. Big Smile

————————————————————————

  1. Aukey PB-N37: 5,000mAh, single port 1×26650 compact powerbank.
  1. EasyAcc PB3350: 3,350mAh, single port 1×18650 compact powerbank.

Coming soon: Photive 9,000mAh rugged powerbank, YZXstudio 7th Gen 4-Cell powerbank, Letv 13,400mah, Anker powercore 13,400.

Test/Review of Blitzwolf 2 port car charger BW-C4

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Blitzwolf 2 port car charger BW-C4

DSC_3350

Official specifications:


  • Input: DC 12-18V (Max)
  • Output: 5V/2.4A *2
  • Power: 24W
  • Size: 61*28*28mm
  • Brand: BlitzWolf®

I got it from Banggood

DSC_3347

Blitzwolf uses a brown cardboard box without much text on the outside.

DSC_3348

The box contained the charger and a note.

DSC_3351

DSC_3352

DSC_3353DSC_3355DSC_3354

There is a blue led behind the small hole.



Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.03 watt
  • The 2 usb outputs are in parallel.
  • The 2 usb outputs are auto coding with Apple 2.5A as maximum.
  • No individual port overload protection.


Load%20sweep%2011.6V
Load%20sweep%2014.6V

It do not have any individual port protection and can deliver up to 8A. Efficiency is very good in the rated range (Up to 4.8A).

Voltage%20sweep%204.8A%20input%20current

With 4.8A output it needs about 2.3A at 12V.

Voltage%20sweep%204.8A

Output voltage is stable with changing input voltage.

No%20load%20voltage%20sweep

Idle current is about 2.5mA.

Load%20test%204.8A

A one hour test with 4.8A load was no problem.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp2892

M1: 37,3°C, M2: 36,5°C, M3: 38,6°C, HS1: 50,4°C

Temp2893

M1: 39,7°C, M2: 37,4°C, M3: 36,5°C, HS1: 45,6°C

Temp2894

M1: 43,9°C, HS1: 49,3°C

10ohm

At 0.5A with 12V input the noise is 21mV rms and 180mVpp.

5ohm

At 1A with 12V input the noise is 11mV rms and 130mVpp.

2ohm

At 2.5A with 12V input the noise is 12mV rms and 150mVpp.

1ohm

At 5A with 12V input the noise is 45mV rms and 168mVpp.




Tear down

DSC_3520

Cutting the front of the aluminium I could unscrew the circuit board and pull it out.

DSC_3521

The inductor has two wires in parallel to handle the current. The white part beside the spring looks like a fuse.

DSC_3522

The chip is a G5309 10A switcher, this explain why it can deliver about 8A.

DSC_3523

DSC_3524

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The chip marked U1 handles the automatic coding of the usb outputs. A small white part can be seen beside one of the usb connectors, it is the led.

DSC_3527

DSC_3528

Here the auto coding chip is easier to see.

Being a 12V device there is no need to test with high voltages.



Conclusion

This car charger can deliver lots of power, in my opinion a bit to much for the usb cables, but it is still a good charger.



Notes

The usb charger was supplied by Banggood for a review.

Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of YZXStudio USB meter ZY1263

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YZXStudio USB meter ZY1263

DSC_3850

Official specifications:


  • Input voltage: DC 3.5V-24V
  • Input current: +- 3A
  • Voltage resolution: 0.0001V (0.1mV)
  • Current resolution: 0.0001A
  • Cumulative capacity: 0-99999Ah; 0-99999Wh
  • Capacity resolution: 0.0001Ah; 0.0001Wh
  • Accuracy: Voltage 0.1%+2d; Current 0.2%+2d; Ah capacity 0.5%; Wh capacity 0.5%
  • Display: 1” 128×64 pixel LCD with backlight
  • Update rate: Every 0.36s
  • Idle current consumption: ~10mA/5mA (with backlight on/off)
  • Current shunt resistance: 10mOhm
  • Overall circuit resistive loss: ~42mOhm (including contact resistance on USB connectors)
  • Memory: FRAM, good for 10 billion write cycles
  • Memory operation mode: write on every update in cumulative capacity + load balancing technique

I got it from ebay dealer f-t-2000, he is also known as Franky or 99centhobbies

YZXStudio makes a series of usb meters with nearly identical specifications, there is also frequent software update with significant improvements. It is possible to install update, but it requires special tools and access to the updated software (The above shop sells the tool and gives access to the updates).

yzxCompare

This table compares some of the YZXStudio usb meters.



How does it look

DSC_3857

DSC_3851

DSC_3853

DSC_3855

Notice the small button, it is used for all the functions.

DSC_3852DSC_3854

DSC_3927

Welcome screen, it is shown when power is applied, in software v2.9 and above it can be disabled.

DSC_3908

The first screen, it shows V, A, Ah and time, the “1” is selected memory bank.

DSC_3909

Next screen shows Wh and W, instead of Ah and time.

DSC_3910

This screen shows usb coding and voltage. From voltage and current the resistance of the load is calculated and shown. It also shows the trickle current threshold, only current above this value is summed (Value is configurable). The temperature is the internal MCU temperature.
Note: Sometimes the display will show two usb codings, because it cannot determine which one is valid.

DSC_3911

A chart of current and voltage, sample rate can be configured.

DSC_3932

These usb meters are very easy to open, there is only 8 screws to remove.

DSC_3930

DSC_3931

LCD display with a led in the frame.

DSC_3928

DSC_3929

I am guessing a bit with these chips: 7133 is a 3.3 volt regulator, CBVV is a 18 bit ADC with build in amplifier, FM24CL is the FRAM memory. DALE R012F is the series resistor that is used to measure current over.
The microprocessor is hidden beneath the flex cable.



Measurements

voltage

The voltage display is very precise with no current flowing (Both voltage and current can be calibrated by the user, I have not changed the calibration, but the dealer may have).
Note: At 3.5 volt the meter restarted all the time.

current

The current display is also very precise and will not change with voltage.


  • The tested usb meter uses software V2.8+
  • The voltage readout is within 0.005 volt when unloaded (Very good).
  • When loaded the voltage will be closest to the usb input voltage.
  • Current is within 0.003A.
  • The usb meter uses about 10.7mA current with backlight on, 5.6mA with backlight low.
  • The internal resistance is about 0.09ohm (This includes both connectors).


Temp3014

M1: 35,5°C, HS1: 38,6°C
THe above IR photo was taken after 30minutes with 3A, during that time the voltage readout changed 0.2% and current readout 0.03%



Conclusion

This is a very precise usb meter with many interesting functions. I only have one problem with it: it often ignores button presses (This might be fixed in the latest software version).



Notes

For these USB meters I used very precise equipment (Keithley: DMM7510, 2280S, 2460).

How do I make the test

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/


Test/Review of YZXStudio USB meter ZY1265

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0

YZXStudio USB meter ZY1265

DSC_3871

Official specifications:


  • Input voltage: DC 3.5V-24V
  • Input current: +- 3A
  • Voltage resolution: 0.001V (1mV)
  • Current resolution: 0.0001A
  • Cumulative capacity: 0-99999Ah; 0-99999Wh
  • Capacity resolution: 0.0001Ah; 0.0001Wh
  • Accuracy: Voltage 1%+2d; Current 0.2%+2d; Ah capacity 0.5%; Wh capacity 1.5%
  • Display: 1” 128×64 pixel LCD with backlight
  • Update rate: Every 0.36s
  • Idle current consumption: ~11mA/6mA (with backlight on/off)
  • Current shunt resistance: 10mOhm
  • Overall circuit resistive loss: ~42mOhm (including contact resistance on USB connectors)
  • Memory: FRAM, good for 10 billion write cycles
  • Memory operation mode: write on every update in cumulative capacity + load balancing technique

I got it from ebay dealer f-t-2000, he is also known as Franky or 99centhobbies

YZXStudio makes a series of usb meters with nearly identical specifications, there is also frequent software update with significant improvements. It is possible to install update, but it requires special tools and access to the updated software (The above shop sells the tool and gives access to the updates).

yzxCompare

This table compares some of the YZXStudio usb meters.



How does it look

DSC_3865

DSC_3867

DSC_3869

Notice the small button, it is used for all the functions. There is also a micro usb input connector.

DSC_3866

DSC_3868DSC_3870

DSC_3918

Welcome screen, it is shown when power is applied (it can be disabled).

DSC_3919

The first screen, it shows V, A, Ah and time, the “0” is selected memory bank.
The MCU temperature is also shown here.

DSC_3920

Next screen shows Wh and W, instead of Ah and time.

DSC_3921

This screen shows usb coding and voltage. From voltage and current the resistance of the load is calculated and shown. It also shows the trickle current threshold, only current above this value is summed (Value is configurable). The temperature is the internal MCU temperature.
Note: Sometimes the display will show two usb codings, because it cannot determine which one is valid.

DSC_3922

This screen is used to calculate cable resistance, to use it a constant current load is required.
First do a measure without the cable, hold down the button to set the reference. Then add the cable between the usb power source and the usb meter. The display will show the resistance.

DSC_3923

A chart of current and voltage, sample rate can be configured.

AndroidLoga

This usb meter can have a build in bluetooth transmitter, this makes it possible to record logfile on a smartphone. Using bluetooth will disable the backlight, this makes the display a bit difficult to read.
I would have prefered more values in the log, most important time, but also Ah, W and Wh would be nice.

DSC_3938

These usb meters are very easy to open, there is only 8 screws to remove.

DSC_3935

DSC_3937

LCD display with a led in the frame.

DSC_3934

The bluetooth module. This adapter can be bought with or without it mounted. There is also some very small pogo pins.

DSC_3936

I am guessing a bit with these chips: SE8533 is a 3.3 volt regulator, CBAY is a 18 bit ADC with build in amplifier, FM24CL is the FRAM memory. DALE R012F is the series resistor that is used to measure current over.
The microprocessor is hidden beneath the flex cable and handles the voltage ADC.



Measurements

voltage

The voltage display is fairly precise with no current flowing (Both voltage and current can be calibrated by the user, I have not changed the calibration, but the dealer may have).

current

The current display is very precise and will not change with voltage.


  • The tested usb meter uses software V3.0
  • The voltage readout is within 0.13 volt when unloaded, the culpit is the 20V readout. Around 5 volt it is within 0.01 volt.
  • When loaded the voltage will be closest to the usb input voltage.
  • Current is within 0.0005A.
  • The usb meter uses about 11.7mA current with backlight on, 6.8mA with backlight low and 17.2 with bluetooth connected.
  • The internal resistance is about 0.083ohm (This includes both connectors).


Temp3013

M1: 37,1°C, HS1: 40,0°C
The above IR photo was taken after 30minutes with 3A, during that time the voltage readout changed 0.02% and current readout 0.007%



Conclusion

This is a very precise usb meter with many interesting functions. In many cases the lower voltage resolution and precision is not very significant.



Notes

For these USB meters I used very precise equipment (Keithley: DMM7510, 2280S, 2460).

How do I make the test

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of YZXStudio USB meter ZY1266

$
0
0

YZXStudio USB meter ZY1266

DSC_3858

Official specifications:


  • Input voltage: DC 3.5V-24V
  • Input current: +- 3A
  • Voltage resolution: 0.0001V (0.1mV)
  • Current resolution: 0.0001A
  • Cumulative capacity: 0-99999Ah; 0-99999Wh
  • Capacity resolution: 0.0001Ah; 0.0001Wh
  • Accuracy: Voltage 0.1%+2d; Current 0.2%+2d; Ah capacity 0.5%; Wh capacity 0.5%
  • Display: 1” 128×64 pixel LCD with backlight
  • Update rate: Every 0.36s
  • Idle current consumption: ~11mA/6mA (with backlight on/off)
  • Current shunt resistance: 10mOhm
  • Overall circuit resistive loss: ~42mOhm (including contact resistance on USB connectors)
  • Memory: FRAM, good for 10 billion write cycles
  • Memory operation mode: write on every update in cumulative capacity + load balancing technique

I got it from ebay dealer f-t-2000, he is also known as Franky or 99centhobbies

YZXStudio makes a series of usb meters with nearly identical specifications, there is also frequent software update with significant improvements. It is possible to install update, but it requires special tools and access to the updated software (The above shop sells the tool and gives access to the updates).

yzxCompare

This table compares some of the YZXStudio usb meters.



How does it look

DSC_3859

DSC_3861

DSC_3863

Notice the small button, it is used for all the functions. There is also a micro usb input connector.

DSC_3860

DSC_3862DSC_3864

DSC_3917

Welcome screen, it is shown when power is applied (it can be disabled).

DSC_3912

The first screen, it shows V, A, Ah and time, the “0” is selected memory bank.

DSC_3913

Next screen shows Wh and W, instead of Ah and time.

DSC_3914

This screen shows usb coding and voltage. From voltage and current the resistance of the load is calculated and shown. It also shows the trickle current threshold, only current above this value is summed (Value is configurable). The temperature is the internal MCU temperature.
Note: Sometimes the display will show two usb codings, because it cannot determine which one is valid.

DSC_3915

This screen is used to calculate cable resistance, to use it a constant current load is required.
First do a measure without the cable, hold down the button to set the reference. Then add the cable between the usb power source and the usb meter. The display will show the resistance.

DSC_3916

A chart of current and voltage, sample rate can be configured.

AndroidLoga

This usb meter can have a build in bluetooth transmitter, this makes it possible to record logfile on a smartphone. Using bluetooth will disable the backlight, this makes the display a bit difficult to read.
I would have prefered more values in the log, most important time, but also Ah, W and Wh would be nice.

DSC_3939

These usb meters are very easy to open, there is only 8 screws to remove.

DSC_3941

DSC_3943

LCD display with a led in the frame.

DSC_3940

The bluetooth module. This adapter can be bought with or without it mounted. There is also some very small pogo pins.

DSC_3952

I am guessing a bit with these chips: SE8533 is a 3.3 volt regulator, CBAY is a 18 bit ADC with build in amplifier, FM24CL is the FRAM memory. DALE R012F is the series resistor that is used to measure current over.
The microprocessor is hidden beneath the flex cable.



Measurements

voltage

The voltage display is very precise with no current flowing (Both voltage and current can be calibrated by the user, I have not changed the calibration, but the dealer may have).

current

The current display is very precise and will not change with voltage.


  • The tested usb meter uses software V3.0
  • The voltage readout is within 0.005 volt when unloaded.
  • When loaded the voltage will be closest to the usb input voltage.
  • Current is within 0.002A.
  • The usb meter uses about 11.2mA current with backlight on, 6.3mA with backlight low and 16.5 with bluetooth connected.
  • The internal resistance is about 0.095ohm (This includes both connectors).


Temp3011

M1: 37,7°C, HS1: 40,3°C
The above IR photo was taken after 30minutes with 3A, during that time the voltage readout changed 0.2% and current readout 0.003%

I have played a bit with the cable resistance function, it uses ohms law and is as precise as possible. How precise that is depends on how stable the voltage is, how stable the current is and how stable the connection resistance is. With my lap grade equipment I can get within a few mOhm (1/1000 ohm), for that test I did not even change usb connection (That alone can be 30mOhm). With more normal equipment I would not expect better than 30-100mOhm. Even with that tolerance it is very useful to get rid of bad (High resistance) usb cables.



Conclusion

This is a very precise usb meter with many interesting functions. With both good precision and external logging in can be used for testing usb equipment.



Notes

For these USB meters I used very precise equipment (Keithley: DMM7510, 2280S, 2460).

How do I make the test

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of YZXStudio USB meter ZY1270

$
0
0

YZXStudio USB meter ZY1270

DSC_3873

Official specifications:


  • Input voltage: DC 3.5V-24V
  • Input current: +- 3A
  • Voltage resolution: 0.0001V (0.1mV)
  • Current resolution: 0.0001A
  • Cumulative capacity: 0-99999Ah; 0-99999Wh
  • Capacity resolution: 0.0001Ah; 0.0001Wh
  • Accuracy: Voltage 0.1%+2d; Current 0.2%+2d; Ah capacity 0.5%; Wh capacity 0.5%
  • Display: 1” 128×64 pixel LCD with backlight
  • Update rate: Every 0.36s
  • Idle current consumption: ~11mA/6mA (with backlight on/off)
  • Current shunt resistance: 10mOhm
  • Overall circuit resistive loss: ~42mOhm (including contact resistance on USB connectors)
  • Memory: FRAM, good for 10 billion write cycles
  • Memory operation mode: write on every update in cumulative capacity + load balancing technique

I got it from ebay dealer dz-stuido.

YZXStudio makes a series of usb meters with nearly identical specifications, there is also frequent software update with significant improvements. It is possible to install update, but it requires special tools and access to the updated software.

yzxCompare

This table compares some of the YZXStudio usb meters.



How does it look

DSC_3872

I got it in a small metal box with a Chinese (I assume) manual, because the user interface is basically the same as all other YZXStudio meters I did not have any problems using it.

DSC_3874

DSC_3876

Notice the small button, it is used for all the functions. There is also a micro usb input connector.

DSC_3878

DSC_3875

DSC_3877DSC_3879

The top usb connector has local auto coding, i.e. when using this the power coding on the power supply is ignored.
The bottom usb connector has data connection from the input connector, any usb voltage shown on the display is for this connector and the usb input connectors.

DSC_3904

Welcome screen, it is shown when power is applied (it can be disabled).

DSC_3899

The first screen, it shows V, A, Ah and Wh, the “0” is selected memory bank.
It do also have space for the MCU temperature.

DSC_3900

Next screen shows W and ohm, instead of Ah and Wh.

DSC_3901

This screen is used to calculate cable resistance, to use it a constant current load is required.
First do a measure without the cable, hold down the button to set the reference. Then add the cable between the usb power source and the usb meter. The display will show the resistance.

DSC_3902

This screen shows usb coding and voltage. The time has been moved to this screen. It also shows the trickle current threshold, only current above this value is summed (Value is configurable). The temperature is the internal MCU temperature.
Note: Sometimes the display will show two usb codings, because it cannot determine which one is valid.

DSC_3903

A chart of current and voltage, sample rate can be configured.

DSC_3905

In the configuration it is possible to select between a couple of predefined color palettes.

AndroidLoga

This usb meter can have a build in bluetooth transmitter, this makes it possible to record logfile on a smartphone.
I would have prefered more values in the log, most important time, but also Ah, W and Wh would be nice.

DSC_3945

These usb meters are very easy to open, there is only 8 screws to remove.

DSC_3951

DSC_3950

The TFT display with a frame that contains the background light.

DSC_3946

The bluetooth module. This adapter can be bought with or without it mounted. There is also some very small pogo pins.

DSC_3948

I am guessing a bit with these chips: SE8533 is a 3.3 volt regulator, SE8550 is a 5 volt regulator, CBKW is a 18 bit ADC with build in amplifier, FM24CL is the FRAM memory. DALE R012F is the series resistor that is used to measure current over. 32F030F4P6 is the microprocessor. 2635 could be a usb auto coding chip.



Measurements

voltage

The voltage display is fairly precise with no current flowing (Both voltage and current can be calibrated by the user, I have not changed the calibration).

current

The current display is also fairly precise and will not change with voltage.


  • The tested usb meter uses software V3.0
  • The voltage readout is within 0.014 volt when unloaded.
  • When loaded the voltage will be closest to the usb input voltage.
  • Current is within 0.005A.
  • The usb meter uses about 12.2mA current with normal brightness, 8.5 when dim and 21 with bluetooth connected.
  • The internal resistance is about 0.12ohm (This includes both connectors).


Temp3009

M1: 35,5°C, HS1: 41,2°C
The above IR photo was taken after 30minutes with 3A, during that time the voltage readout changed 0.2% and current readout 0.1%

I have played a bit with the cable resistance function, it uses ohms law and is as precise as possible. How precise that is depends on how stable the voltage is, how stable the current is and how stable the connection resistance is. With my lap grade equipment I can get within a few mOhm (1/1000 ohm), for that test I did not even change usb connection (That alone can be 30mOhm). With more normal equipment I would not expect better than 30-100mOhm. Even with that tolerance it is very useful to get rid of bad (High resistance) usb cables.



Conclusion

This is a very precise usb meter with many interesting functions. With both good precision and external logging in can be used for testing usb equipment.
The larger and always on display (even with bluetooth enabled) makes it easier to read. The auto coding output can be used as a quick fix when power supply and device do not match, but getting another power supply is a much better solution.



Notes

For these USB meters I used precise equipment (Keithley: DMM7510, 2280S, 2460).

How do I make the test

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of BlitzWolf 18W QC3 BW-S5

$
0
0

BlitzWolf 18W QC3 BW-S5

DSC_3588

Official specifications:


  • Model: BW-S5
  • Tech: Power3S Qualcomm QC3.0
  • Total Power: Rated 18W (24W Max)
  • Input: AC 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.5A
  • Output: QC2.0 Mode: 9V/2A 12V/1.5A (Max)
  • QC3.0 Mode: 3.6-6.5V ~3A 6.5-9V ~2A 9-12V ~1.5A
  • Size: 55 X 46 X 24 mm / 2.17 X 1.81 X 0.94in
  • Color: White, Black
  • Weight: 65g±10g
  • Certification: FCC, Qualcomm QC3.0, DOE VI

I got it from Banggood

DSC_3561

I got this charger in a fairly plain cardboard box. The square one is the US version, the other one is the EU version.

DSC_3585DSC_3586

The box contained the charger and a instruction sheet.

DSC_3588

DSC_3591

DSC_3589DSC_3590

DSC_3592

DSC_3593

DSC_3594DSC_3595




Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.06 watt at 230VAC and 0.04 watt at 120VAC
  • Usb port coding usb charger (DCP), QuickCharge 2 and QuickCharge 3
  • Minimum QuickCharge 3 voltage is about 3.9 volt.


BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20load%20sweep

The charger is rated for 3A at 5 volt and the overload protection trips at 3.5A, this looks fine.

BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20QC9V%20load%20sweep

At 9V it is rated for 2A, but can deliver 3.2A before it drops to 5 volt.

BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20QC12V%20load%20sweep

At 12V it is rated for 1.5A, but can deliver 2.4A before it drops to 5 volt.

BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20QC9V%20120VAC%20load%20sweep

With 120VAC mains the current limit is slightly lower, here it stars dropping out at about 2.8A, but do not quit completely before 3.5A

BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20QC12V%20120VAC%20load%20sweep

At 12V it is the same for both 120VAC and 230VAC.

BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20QC12V%20load%20test

No problem with rated load for one hour.

BlitzWolf%2018W%20QC3%20BW-S5%20QC12V%20120VAC%20load%20test

Here I am above rated load, I am using 2A at 12 volt, but the charger handles it fine.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp2949

M1: 47,4°C, M2: 50,8°C, M3: 38,6°C, HS1: 57,7°C
The hot spot here is the transformer.

Temp2950

M1: 49,1°C, HS1: 51,3°C

Temp2951

M1: 52,6°C, M2: 49,5°C, HS1: 53,7°C
HS1 is the rectifier.

Temp2952

M1: 50,9°C, HS1: 57,4°C
Again HS1 is the rectifier.

Temp2953

M1: 50,6°C, HS1: 53,4°C


Temp2982

M1: 55,4°C, HS1: 63,9°C
This test is done at 120VAC with 2A on 12V, i.e. the charger is overloaded.

Temp2984

M1: 52,5°C, HS1: 67,0°C
This test is done at 120VAC with 2A on 12V, i.e. the charger is overloaded.
It is no big surprice that the traformer gets hotter when the power is increased.

10ohm

At 0.5A the noise is 19mV rms and 330mVpp.

5ohm

At 1A the noise is 12mV rms and 216mVpp

2ohm

At 2.5A the noise is 24mV rms and 317mVpp.

5ohm9V120VAC

At 1.2A 9V with 120VAC supply the noise is 18mV rms and 250mVpp.

I did try a couple more, they where all around the same as the ones show above.



Tear down

DSC_3662

This charger was to easy to open, I just had to break the mains pins sideways with some pliers.

DSC_3663

The input has a fuse and a common mode coil. There is also a inductor between the two mains capacitors. The blue capacitor is the safety capacitor.
All the switching and feedback is handled with one large IC (U1 SC1271K) and synchronous rectification with Q1.

DSC_3665

DSC_3666DSC_3668

DSC_3667

DSC_3664

One this side of the circuit board there is the bridge rectifier (DB1) and the QC3 controller (U2 SC0163). Notice R12 (R030), this is probably used for current sense.

DSC_3669


DSC_3670

The safety distance looks good.
Testing with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

The QuickCharge 3 function do not deliver more power, but allows finer adjustment of the voltage, the idea is to reduce the heat generated in the phone and this way make it possible to charge faster.
This looks like a good charger with QC2 and QC3 support.



Notes

All measurements are done with the white US version at 230VAC, except where otherwise noted.
The usb power supply was supplied by Banggood for a review.

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of Flypower 1A PS08B050K (Enerpower)

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Flypower 1A PS08B050K (Enerpower)

DSC_3727

Official specifications:


  • Input: 100-240VAC 50/60Hz
  • Output: 5.0V 1000mA

I got it from Enerpower

DSC_3726

DSC_3729

DSC_3732

DSC_3731DSC_3733DSC_3728




Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.08 watt
  • Usb port coding is usb charger (DCP)


Flypower%201A%20PS08B050K%20load%20sweep

The overload protection kicks in at 1.5A.

Flypower%201A%20PS08B050K%20load%20test

There is no problem supplying 1A for one hour.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp2991

M1: 43,8°C, M2: 42,9°C, HS1: 75,0°C
HS1 is the transformer.

Temp2992

M1: 56,5°C, M2: 45,0°C, HS1: 62,9°C
Here HS1 is the rectifier diode.

Temp2993

M1: 37,8°C, HS1: 49,3°C

Temp2994

M1: 42,8°C, M2: 41,5°C, HS1: 74,7°C
Again HS1 is the rectifier diode.

Temp2995

M1: 63,2°C, HS1: 69,2°C
The two hot spots are the transformer and the rectifier diode.

10ohm

Noise at 0.5A load is 13mV rms and 370mVpp

5ohm

Noise at 1A load is 18mV rms and 370mVpp



Tear down

DSC_4064

Putting pressure on the charger in my vice did open it.

DSC_4065

The chargers uses a resistor as a fuse and has a discrete bridge rectifier, between the two mains capacitors there is an inductor.
There is also a inductor between the two output capacitors.
This circuit do not use any opto feedback and to not have a safety capacitor between mains and low volt side.

DSC_4067

The two inductors can be easily seen from this side.

DSC_4068DSC_4070

DSC_4069

DSC_4066

U1 is the mains switcher IC.
D7 is the rectifier diode, the white stuff is probably to get better heat transfer to the case.
Notice the missing resistor below the usb connector, they are for models with Apple coding.

DSC_4071

DSC_4072

There is fairly good isolation distance between mains and low volt side.

Testing with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

A fairly standard 1A charger, no problems and no fancy functions.



Notes

The charger was supplied by Enerpower for review.

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of Simsukian 2A SK22G-0500200Z (Enerpower)

$
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0

Simsukian 2A SK22G-0500200Z (Enerpower)

DSC_3735

Official specifications:


  • Input: 100-240V,50/60Hz
  • Output: 5V 2A

I got it from Enerpower

DSC_3734

DSC_3736DSC_3737

DSC_3738

DSC_3740DSC_3741

DSC_3739DSC_3742



Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.17 watt
  • Usb port coding is Apple 2.1A


Simsukian%202A%20SK22G-0500200Z%20load%20sweep

The overload protection kicks in at about 2.3A.

Simsukian%202A%20SK22G-0500200Z%20load%20test

There is no problem supplying 2A for one hour.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp2986

M1: 62,5°C, M2: 49,3°C, M3: 38,5°C, HS1: 64,4°C
M1 must be the rectifier diode.

Temp2987

M1: 48,1°C, HS1: 64,4°C
Here HS1 is the rectifier diode.

Temp2988

M1: 56,1°C, M2: 34,3°C, HS1: 57,9°C

Temp2989

M1: 55,6°C, M2: 36,6°C, HS1: 67,8°C
HS1 must be the transformer.

Temp2990

M1: 63,0°C, HS1: 66,1°C
Both M1 and HS1 must be the transformer.

10ohm

Noise at 0.5A load is 16mV rms and 420mVpp

5ohm

Noise at 1A load is 21mV rms and 400mVpp

2.5ohm

Noise at 2A load is 25mV rms and 460mVpp


Tear down

DSC_4073

I could not pop it open in my vice, but had to cut it open.

DSC_4074

Input has a resistor as fuse and their is a inductor between the two mains capacitors.
This design has a safety capacitor, but no opto feedback.

DSC_4077DSC_4078

On the first picture the mains switcher transistor can be seen between the mains capacitors and the transformer.
On the second picture the input resistor is in the green tube and the part with the colored bands is the inductor.

DSC_4079DSC_4080

The blue part is the safety capacitor.

DSC_4075DSC_4076

The black paper is an important part of the safety in this compact charger.
BD1 is the input bridge rectifier, IC1 is the mains switcher controller.
D3 is the rectifier diode.
The coding resistors are placed around the usb connector.

DSC_4081

DSC_4082

The isolation distance good, but the black paper is needed.

Testing with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

A good standard charger, there no problems and no smart functions in it.



Notes

The charger was supplied by Enerpower for review.

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of Nohon 3C double usb charger

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Nohon 3C double usb charger

DSC_4020

Official specifications:


  • Input: 100-240VAC 50/60Hz
  • Output: 5.0V 2.4A
  • Model number: TC-029

I got it from a reader

DSC_4013DSC_4014

DSC_4021DSC_4022DSC_4025

DSC_4023DSC_4024




Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.06 watt
  • Usb outputs is auto detect with Apple 2.4A as maximum.
  • Usb outputs are in parallel

Nohon%203C%20double%20usb%20charger%20top%20load%20sweep
Nohon%203C%20double%20usb%20charger%20bottom%20load%20sweep

Each output can deliver 2.5A, very nice overload protection for a 2.4A output.

Nohon%203C%20double%20usb%20charger%20load%20sweep

The total power is also 2.5A, i.e. this charger can only handle one high current device at a time.

Nohon%203C%20double%20usb%20charger%20load%20test

I could draw 2.4A for 1 hour without any problems.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp3068

M1: 52,9°C, M2: 45,8°C, HS1: 64,9°C
HS1 is the rectifier diode.

Temp3069

M1: 50,9°C, HS1: 73,0°C
HS1 must be the switcher transistor.

Temp3070

M1: 57,3°C, M2: 52,3°C, HS1: 81,0°C
HS1 must be the switcher transistor.

Temp3071

M1: 56,6°C, HS1: 62,2°C

Temp3072

M1: 51,7°C, HS1: 69,2°C



10ohm

Noise at 0.5A load is 14mV rms and 170mVpp

5ohm

Noise at 1A load is 14mV rms and 154mVpp

2.5ohm

Noise at 2A load is 19mV rms and 177mVpp




Tear down

DSC_4280

With my vice I could press it open. This is two circuit boards against each other.

DSC_4281

On this circuit board there is a large rectifier diode (D2) and a usb auto coding chip (U2).

DSC_4283

The other circuit board is the mains side, it has a bridge rectifier, a switching transistor and a switch controller IC (Partial hidden under the yellow tape).

DSC_4282

The safety cap is mounted between the two circuit boards.
Notice the black plastic shield, it is used to isolate between mains and low volt side.

DSC_4284

Transformer and plastic shield.

DSC_4285

Again the safety capacitor can be seen and the plastic shield.

DSC_4286

Unsoldering the circuits boards from the mains plug and unsoldering one of the safety capacitors connections, makes it possible to open the two circuit boards.
There is a fuse and a inductor on the mains circuit board.

DSC_4287

Here it is without the plastic shield, notice the two output wires from the transformer with thick isolation.

DSC_4289

Here I also removed the thick layer of isolation tape.

DSC_4288

Another view on this side of the circuit boards.

DSC_4290DSC_4293


DSC_4291

Here the fuse can be seen near “L” connection, it is hidden in black heat shrink.

DSC_4292

DSC_4294

The plastic shield.

DSC_4295

Good isolation distance here.
The distance between conductive parts on mains and low volt side must be at leat 4mm in air. Due to the complex construction it is difficult to see if it maintains it everywhere, but I believe it does.

Testing with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.


Conclusion

This compact usb power supply looks good, stable output voltage, auto coding, fairly low noise and good safety, but it can only handle one power hungry phone at a time.



Notes

I got the usb power supply from a reader for review.

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/


Test/Review of USB Load resistor 1A-2A (2xGreen resistor)

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USB Load resistor 1A-2A

DSC_4394

Official specifications:


  • Color: Green.
  • Resistance: 1A, 2A
  • Size: approx. 80 *18*11mm
  • when the switch adjust to 1A, the green LED light (There is no green led or dual color led)
  • when the switch adjust to 2A, the red LED light

I bought from ebay dealer: finetech007

The most interesting detail about this type of load is how hot they get, some power resistor has a working temperature between 200°C and 300°C when fully loaded.

DSC_4387

This type of load is very simple, two big power resistors, one permanently connected, the other controlled by the switch and a led to show if there is any power supplied to it.

DSC_4388

DSC_4389

DSC_4391

DSC_4398

DSC_4390DSC_4392



Load testing


  • This type of load is only designed for 5V input.
  • Current change during 30 minutes with 1A load is 0.013A, i.e. 1.3%
  • Current change during 30 minutes with 2A load is 0.029A, i.e. 1.5%

USB%20Load%20resistor%201A-2A%20usb%20output%20voltage%20sweep

Being a resistor the current will depend on voltage.

USB%20load%20resistor%201A-2A

As expected the load current and power is stable with a resistor, except for a small drop due to temperature.

Temp3093

M1: 74,2°C, M2: 99,2°C, M3: 70,8°C, HS1: 213,5°C
One resistor gets fairly hot.

Temp3094

M1: 66,0°C, M2: 69,3°C, HS1: 112,4°C
The tinned area on the back will equalize the temperature, but do not really radiate any heat.

Temp3097

M1: 255,9°C, M2: 253,5°C, M3: 139,1°C, M4: 115,7°C, HS1: 275,6°C
Two power resistor this close will heat each other and gets very hot.
The correct way to mount power resistors is a bit above the board with some distance between. These resistors are only running at half their rated power, but they cannot get rid of the heat.

Temp3098

M1: 100,3°C, M2: 101,7°C, HS1: 160,1°C
Again the radiation from the backside is limited.



Conclusion

The load works as expected and is an easy way to test usb power banks (together with a usb meter), but this model really need an external fan to supply lots of cool air.
It is a very bad idea to touch it when it is working.



Notes

Expect very similar performance from all resistive loads with two round green 10W 5ohm resistors.

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Xiaomi 10000 power bank QC Pro review and dissassembling

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I got the new Xiaomi 10000mAh power bank, its a slim powerbank which can be charged and discharged via the Quickcharge standard.

The battery came in a typical nice paperbox with a “rub free anti counterfeit logo”. Also with the power bank came one of the nice flat 300mm long microUSB cables and a micro USB to USB type C.


I really like it this way because i only need one cable for the new and also for the older phones and stuff.

Specs and test results:

What I really like about the xiaomi power banks is the nice quality, the design and that they write the real world specs on their products.
This 10000 mAh power bank is marked as 7100mAh@5V/1A =>35.5Wh
my measurements were 7280mAh@5 V/1A&2A =>36.4Wh
Also interesting to see that they specify the battery voltage as 3.85 V (measured 4.37V when full and 3.3V on empty shutdown).
Also they specify input and output possibilities as 5V 2A; 9V 2A; 12V 1,5A also confirmed through my measurements

9 V Quick discharge 3650mAh measured Voltage 8,3V/2A =>30Wh

12 VQuick discharge 2880mAh measured Voltage 11.2V/1.51A=>32Wh

I also tested several phones and Ipad all was charged with the same amount as the original chargers.
Charging the power bank with an Ipad charger only gives1.5A(instead of 2A), some other USB outlets let it also only charge with below 2A. With a QC charger the thing worked perfectly and charges indeed very Quick with the full current.

What really is great(and new) about this new Version are the following things:
Quick charge input and output
USB type C input
real charge through with UPS(Uninterruptible Power Supply): there is no disconnection if the input is disconnected like it was on all previous power banks, also the bank works as a buffer allowing a higher output than input.
double click the button allows low current devices to be used, previous models switched themself offf below 0.07A, so the dimmable USB LEDS didn’t worked in moonmode and also it wasn’t possible to charge small batterys on smartwatches and rc helicopter so well.

Especially the charge through feature was kind of buggy on all the previous Xiaomi power banks, this one works perfectly together with my solar cell. It works as a buffer like someone might expect it. The older versions never worked well for that.

Comparison between different models shows clearly how slim this one is.

Teardown
I was glad that they chosed this time the same case construction as the older models. Bottom and top plate are glued with adhesive tape, 2 screws on the bottom, after that the innards can be pushed out:

backside of innards:

Battery: LISHEN SP4858102SH-C 3.85V

Side view: you can see two parallel cells and a ntc temperature sensor in between

PCBtop, similiar to other xiaomi power banks, just the LEDs are a bit brighter

PCBbottom

no need to zoom in on above image…i did that for you Wink
ICs from left to right are:

ABOV 1204UB 1546N


BQ 25895m
I²C Controlled Single Cell Fast Charger with MaxChargeTM Technology for High
Input Voltage
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1960343.pdf


S61088A TI 571 C353

TPS61088 10-A Fully-Integrated Synchronous Boost Converter
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tps61088.pdf


The power bank came from Banggood and it was 100%genuine.

Conclusion
I got the power bank for free from banggood, this is the link I should provide in the review:
http://goo.gl/oIUhWS it is no affiliate link, but it is kind of a tracking link so that they can see if my review is it worth, so please click it plenty that they might send me another product for a review.
Coupon xmbp10 gives 10% rabate.
Link unshortened for the curious…

The power bank is better than any of the previous xiaomi power banks(which were fantastic to their time). Especially the new low current feature and the UPS mode are super nice. The capacity is enough to recharge an ipad air2 once or most phones several times. But on the cons side the price is higher than the older models with 18650 in it which were really cheap..this one here still has a good price/value ratio because of all the features, but you have to think about what you need. I for example will use it in my Blitzwolf solar charger where the 16000mAh and 20000 models always nagged me.

Test/Review of USB Load resistor 1A-2A usb output (Discharger3) (2xWhite resistor)

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USB Load resistor 1A-2A usb output (Discharger3)

DSC_4393

Official specifications:


  • USB male load 1A / 2A switch selection
  • 10W 5R cement resistor, no odor
  • PHR foot switch selection 1A or 2A

I bought from ebay dealer: trade021

The most interesting detail about this type of load is how hot they get, some power resistor has a working temperature between 200°C and 300°C when fully loaded.

DSC_4381

This type of load is very simple, two big power resistors, one permanently connected, the other controlled by the switch and a led to show if there is any power supplied to it.
I cannot guess what the purpose of the usb output is, adding more load is not really necessary.

DSC_4382

DSC_4383

DSC_4396

DSC_4397

DSC_4384DSC_4385



Load testing


  • This type of load is only designed for 5V input.
  • Current change during 30 minutes with 1A load is 0.009A, i.e. 0.9%
  • Current change during 30 minutes with 2A load is 0.028A, i.e. 1.4%
  • The usb output has a working data connection to the input.

USB%20Load%20resistor%201A-2A%20usb%20output%20voltage%20sweep

Being a resistor the current will depend on voltage.

USB%20load%20resistor%201A-2A%20usb%20output

As expected the load current and power is stable with a resistor, except for a small change due to temperature.

Temp3095

M1: 56,7°C, M2: 65,8°C, M3: 84,0°C, HS1: 156,1°C
One resistor gets fairly hot.

Temp3096

M1: 73,7°C, M2: 53,8°C, M3: 44,4°C, HS1: 149,4°C
The backside of the circuit board is also hot and is helping radiating the heat.

Temp3099

M1: 190,7°C, M2: 153,5°C, M3: 94,1°C, M4: 87,8°C, HS1: 204,5°C
With both resistors active they get rather hot, because they are heating each other.
The correct way to mount power resistors is a bit above the board with some distance between. These resistors are only running at half their rated power, but they cannot get rid of the heat.

Temp3100

M1: 73,3°C, M2: 60,0°C, M3: 86,5°C, M4: 129,9°C, HS1: 225,3°C



Conclusion

The load works as expected and is an easy way to test usb power banks (together with a usb meter), but this model need an external fan to supply lots of cool air especially when both resistors are used.
It is not a good idea to touch it when it is working.


Notes

Expect very similar performance from all resistive loads with two white square 10W 5ohm resistors.

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Test/Review of Power cube

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Power cube

DSC_4010

Official specifications:


  • Four mains outlets
  • Dual USB Ports: 2A 5V
  • Product weight : 0.612 kg
  • Product size (L x W x H) : 7.4 × 7.4 × 7.4 cm / 2.91 × 2.91 × 2.91 inches

I got it from gearbest.com, but I could also have got it locally.

DSC_3976DSC_3977DSC_3978DSC_3979

DSC_4004

The pack contains the power cube, a mounting bracket with double-sided sticky tape and a multilingual instruction sheet.

DSC_4005

Mounting bracket uses one of the sockets.

DSC_4006DSC_4007

DSC_4008DSC_4009

The power cube exist in multiple versions, both with and without extension cord and with or without usb output.



Measurements


  • Power consumption when idle is 0.15 watt
  • Usb output is coded as Apple 2.1A
  • All outputs are in parallel.
  • Earth is not connected to usb shield.


Power%20Cube%20top%20load%20sweep
Power%20Cube%20bottom%20load%20sweep

About 2.5A on each output, this looks fine for a 2.1A rated device.

Power%20Cube%20load%20sweep

Sadly the outputs are in parallel and the 2.1A is for both outputs together.

Power%20Cube%20load%20test

I could draw 2.1A for 1 hour without problems.
The temperature photos below are taken between 30 minutes and 60 minutes into the one hour test.

Temp3055

M1: 43,7°C, M2: 44,3°C, HS1: 51,8°C

Temp3056

M1: 38,6°C, HS1: 52,5°C

Temp3057

M1: 43,5°C, HS1: 45,5°C

Temp3058

HS1: 46,3°C

Temp3059

M1: 62,8°C, M2: 51,1°C, HS1: 73,0°C
HS1 is the transformer getting hot. M1 is the rectifier diode.

10ohm

Noise at 0.5A load is 55mV rms and 714mVpp, generally a lot of peak noise.

5ohm

Noise at 1A load is 78mV rms and 661mVpp

2.5ohm

Noise at 2A load is 107mV rms and 803mVpp



Tear down

DSC_4266

The plate covering the screws could be removed, it used clips.

DSC_4268DSC_4269

The sockets and wire assembly can slide out (with some pressure) when the cube is open, But I would have to desolder the orange wires to do it.

DSC_4270DSC_4271

There is a resistor as fuse at the input, a inductor between the two mains capacitors. U1 is the switcher. The blue capacitor is the safety capacitor and D7 is the rectifier diode.

DSC_4278DSC_4273

D1 to D4 is the mains bridge rectifier build with diodes.

DSC_4274DSC_4275

DSC_4276

DSC_4277

The small circuit board with usb connectors has 4 coding resistors, the two usb connectors shares them.

DSC_4279

The distance between mains and low volt side is very good with the slot (Distance must be minimum 4mm).

Testing with 2500 volt and 5000 volt between mains and low volt side, did not show any safety problems.



Conclusion

I am not that impressed with the power cube concept, I do not like wires in all directions.
I am even less impressed with the usb output, it has a lot of noise, fixed Apple coding and only power enough for one (high current) device at a time.
The usb output is safe and works acceptable, but gets fairly hot when fully loaded.



Notes

Index of all tested USB power supplies/chargers
Read more about how I test USB power supplies/charger

My website with reviews of many chargers and batteries: http://lygte-info.dk/

Suaoki 10,000mAh Solar Power Bank Quick Review

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Another Suaoki review, great quality cheap brand

I recently bought a couple of Suaoki items, one being this mini lantern, these were not provided by Suaoki but bought personally by me!

I went for this power bank due to the size and solar charging.

Obviously to charge this power bank fully from solar power would take forever, so it does have a USB in charging at 2A
but the solar power is useful to top up the battery. But i suppose you could put the bank on your car dash all day to give it a bit of juice!

Led light is useful (High-Flash) Colour temp is about 5500-6000K

Comes with a carabiner to hang off most places

so far I’m liking the bank, very nice quality and well built, the black and orange looks great, they all do it in black/green.

Price £11.99 Next day delivery (amazon prime)

Manafacturer Specs:
High Capacity Battery: the 10,000mAh battery can be charged by an external source through USB, and is monitored by 4 LED lights that let you know the battery’s status while it’s charging or in use
Solid Build: a hard-plastic case ensures that the product will be protected from minor drops or spills, meaning it won’t fail you on your typical day to day outings
Dual USB: a 1A and a 2.5A USB output let you charge two electronics at once, and are suitable for tablets, smartphones, or any other gadgets
Solar Support: charging from the unit’s battery can be supplemented with the built-in solar panel during the day, giving you even more power on your adventures. Plus, the convenient 4 LEDs will let you know if the unit is drawing solar power
Light Your Way: double-tap the power button to activate the built-in light and press it again to make it flash, perfect for when you’re trying to find your way in the dark

Battery: 10,000 mAh, Lithium-Ion
Solar Panel: 1.5W
Inputs: Micro USB
Outputs: USB 1A and 2.1A
Full Charge Time: ~6 hours
Product Dimensions: 161×79×18 mm (6.34×3.11×0.71 in)
Product Weight: 260g (.57 lb.)

Pictures below:

! photo IMG_3194_zpsecunwpad.jpg!

! photo IMG_3195_zpscayjjxr9.jpg!

! photo IMG_3197_zpsy7pg1tgn.jpg!

! photo IMG_3198_zpshbptgghg.jpg!

! photo IMG_3199_zpsuei2wdsg.jpg!

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