Sockets (230 V)
Total number of outlets with output voltage. This is, in fact, the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected to the charging station without the use of splitters, extension cords and carriers. Accordingly, weaker charging stations have
one or
two sockets in their submission.
Powerful charging stations already have three or
more sockets “on board”.
Wireless charger
In wireless charging mode, energy is transferred to the gadget being charged through an inductive surface, which is usually built into the upper plane of the charging station case. There can be one slot for
wireless charging or several of them are provided. The range of this technology does not exceed a few centimeters. However, this method of charging eliminates the fuss with wires and reduces wear on the connectors. One of the key disadvantages of this format is considered to be low power and, accordingly, slow charging speed.
DC input
DC connector for a distinctive round plug (like those used in many laptops) used to recharge the battery of the device. Note that
DC- in plugs may have different sizes, and chargers with such plugs may have different operating voltages. In practice, this leads to the fact that finding a suitable charger for a portable station is not easy, you need to be especially careful when searching.
Battery capacity
Nominal
battery capacity, in fact - the amount of energy that is supposed to be stored. The larger it is, the longer the battery life of the charging station will be, all other things being equal. On the other hand, this parameter also affects the dimensions, weight and price of the battery, despite the fact that an energy-intensive battery is not always required. By the indicator of capacity in watt-hours, you can compare batteries with each other.
Charging cycles
The number of charge-discharge cycles that the battery can withstand without significant loss of performance.
In the process of operation, the batteries wear out, which causes their performance to suffer (in the first place, the capacity decreases). Battery life is usually measured in charge-discharge cycles. However, models with the same declared resource are not always equally durable in practice. Different manufacturers may interpret “significant loss of performance” in different ways: for example, one brand indicates the resource up to a 20% decrease in capacity (DOD > 80%), another - up to a 60% decrease (DOD > 40%) Behind the abbreviation DOD worth decoding Depth of Discharge, i.e. discharge depth. Therefore, when choosing, it makes sense to focus not only on pure numbers, but also on other sources - test results, reviews, etc. Also note that battery life can be noticeably reduced if the operating conditions are violated (for example, in case of overheating or hypothermia).
Charging time (socket) ≈
Time to charge the portable power station from a fully discharged state to 100% charge when using the power adapter from a household outlet. This refers to the original battery and standard charger.
Charging time (solar panel) ≈
Time spent on a full charge when using the original panel in bright sunlight. In cloudy weather, the charging time of the device from the solar panel can be strikingly different downwards.
Charging time (cigarette lighter) ≈
The time required to fully (from zero to 100%) charge the battery, provided that power is supplied to the charging station from the car's cigarette lighter socket (12 V).
Charging time (socket + USB type C PD) ≈
Combined power supply from a household outlet and through a USB type C connector with Power Delivery support significantly reduces the time required to fully charge the battery of the device. The corresponding function must be supported by the charging station.
