Portable chargers

InsideSoap · 30-12-2013, 18:42

Are these safe to use to charge devices (specifically for me iPhone and iPad) or can they damage the battery in some way? I have a portable Anker charger which I use with my iPhone when I am in London or in work so I can carry my phone around with me while it's charging. I wanted to get a higher capacity one which Anker say will give one full charge to an iPad Air.

I ask only because I read a few reviews on Amazon which said the charger damaged the phone but then there are thousands of 5 star reviews out there so not sure what to think. They are incredibly handy though and it would be good to charge my iPad whilst on the move.

Three · 30-12-2013, 20:07

Apple sell some third party chargers via their own website so someone of them are atleast okay.

qasdfdsaq · 30-12-2013, 20:19

Anything can damage the battery if it fails in an awkward way. How likely is it though? Very very unlikely.

alan1302 · 30-12-2013, 20:34

Is this the kind of thing you are talking about:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/13000mAh-Por.../dp/B00CTK6SLE

No reason for them to cause a problem - it's basically the same as plugging your phone into any other kind of charger just that this one allows you to charge when you are away from a plug socket.

ney · 30-12-2013, 20:48

I been using this one for almost two year now and it seems good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Mob...attery+charger
It has come down in price a little since I got mine.

Darren

natbike · 31-12-2013, 12:43

I've tried a fair few of these now. The one I like best is:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Compact-.../dp/B00CTK762E

The Powerocks Stone 3 was very good (and Apple approved) if you don't mind the bulk:
http://www.examiner.com/review/power...ry-pack-review

They shouldn't be able to do damage (unless faulty) as they provide the same output as a wall charger. Most have protective circuits etc.

None of the ones I've tried has caused any damage to my equipment and I use them daily.

The Duracell is very basic and you can easily do better size/weight/capacity/price wise.

Trsvis_Bickle · 31-12-2013, 12:53

You might hear the odd sob story about malfunction but let's face it, there's always some dolt in the amazon reviews who's probably used it incorrectly.

I think portable chargers are great. Lots of us have more than one device when we're out and about and, for the sake of 100g, it makes sense to have a bit of back-up power with you.

I've been using this for a year or so and it charges my ipod, Android Nexus 5 and ipad:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerGen-Ext...rtable+charger

It includes a torch, 2 cables and all the connectors you're likely to need (not the latest apple one, though).

natbike · 31-12-2013, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trsvis_Bickle

I've been using this for a year or so and it charges my ipod, Android Nexus 5 and ipad:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerGen-Ext...rtable+charger

I have one of those and other than the size (it's not big, just not suitable for my requirements) it is a great example.

qasdfdsaq · 31-12-2013, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trsvis_Bickle

You might hear the odd sob story about malfunction but let's face it, there's always some dolt in the amazon reviews who's probably used it incorrectly.

Even legit, original batteries and chargers used properly in the highest of safety scenarios still blow up occasionally - just look at Boeing's 787.

The Sack · 31-12-2013, 17:58

I have used this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000UH46YY?psc=1 on a verity of devices over the last couple of years and its always been fine

The Sack · 31-12-2013, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Even legit, original batteries and chargers used properly in the highest of safety scenarios still blow up occasionally - just look at Boeing's 787.

2 caught fire and then it may have been the surrounding electronics that caused it, no Dreamliners suffered an exploding battery.

qasdfdsaq · 31-12-2013, 18:07

Dunno about you but this battery looks pretty blown up to me:
http://static4.businessinsider.com/i...esentation.jpg

Also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_...ttery_problems
"The heavily burned battery from JA829J after it suffered thermal runaway"

What most people call a battery blowing up usually is exactly thermal runaway. Especially when you consider it was forceful enough to significantly deform the solid metal casing around it.

InsideSoap · 31-12-2013, 21:22

Thanks for the replies

I currently have an Anker charger so would probably get a larger one for my iPad due to the warranty and customer service offered by them. I guess if there was anything wrong with the chargers then Apple etc would recommend against them.

30-12-2013, 18:42	#1
InsideSoap Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Summer Bay Posts: 5,891	Portable chargers Are these safe to use to charge devices (specifically for me iPhone and iPad) or can they damage the battery in some way? I have a portable Anker charger which I use with my iPhone when I am in London or in work so I can carry my phone around with me while it's charging. I wanted to get a higher capacity one which Anker say will give one full charge to an iPad Air. I ask only because I read a few reviews on Amazon which said the charger damaged the phone but then there are thousands of 5 star reviews out there so not sure what to think. They are incredibly handy though and it would be good to charge my iPad whilst on the move.

30-12-2013, 20:07	#2
Three Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,114	Apple sell some third party chargers via their own website so someone of them are atleast okay.

30-12-2013, 20:19	#3
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Anything can damage the battery if it fails in an awkward way. How likely is it though? Very very unlikely.

30-12-2013, 20:34	#4
alan1302 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Yorks Posts: 6,180	Is this the kind of thing you are talking about: http://www.amazon.co.uk/13000mAh-Por.../dp/B00CTK6SLE No reason for them to cause a problem - it's basically the same as plugging your phone into any other kind of charger just that this one allows you to charge when you are away from a plug socket.

30-12-2013, 20:48	#5
ney Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area Posts: 10,704	I been using this one for almost two year now and it seems good. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Mob...attery+charger It has come down in price a little since I got mine. Darren

31-12-2013, 12:43	#6
natbike Forum Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 475	I've tried a fair few of these now. The one I like best is: http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Compact-.../dp/B00CTK762E The Powerocks Stone 3 was very good (and Apple approved) if you don't mind the bulk: http://www.examiner.com/review/power...ry-pack-review They shouldn't be able to do damage (unless faulty) as they provide the same output as a wall charger. Most have protective circuits etc. None of the ones I've tried has caused any damage to my equipment and I use them daily. The Duracell is very basic and you can easily do better size/weight/capacity/price wise.

31-12-2013, 12:53	#7
Trsvis_Bickle Inactive Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 8,940	You might hear the odd sob story about malfunction but let's face it, there's always some dolt in the amazon reviews who's probably used it incorrectly. I think portable chargers are great. Lots of us have more than one device when we're out and about and, for the sake of 100g, it makes sense to have a bit of back-up power with you. I've been using this for a year or so and it charges my ipod, Android Nexus 5 and ipad: http://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerGen-Ext...rtable+charger It includes a torch, 2 cables and all the connectors you're likely to need (not the latest apple one, though).

31-12-2013, 13:08	#8
natbike Forum Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 475	Quote: Originally Posted by Trsvis_Bickle I've been using this for a year or so and it charges my ipod, Android Nexus 5 and ipad: http://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerGen-Ext...rtable+charger I have one of those and other than the size (it's not big, just not suitable for my requirements) it is a great example.

31-12-2013, 15:54	#9
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Quote: Originally Posted by Trsvis_Bickle You might hear the odd sob story about malfunction but let's face it, there's always some dolt in the amazon reviews who's probably used it incorrectly. Even legit, original batteries and chargers used properly in the highest of safety scenarios still blow up occasionally - just look at Boeing's 787.

31-12-2013, 17:58	#10
The Sack Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: S6 1SW WTID UTO FTB Posts: 6,327	I have used this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000UH46YY?psc=1 on a verity of devices over the last couple of years and its always been fine

31-12-2013, 18:04	#11
The Sack Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: S6 1SW WTID UTO FTB Posts: 6,327	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq Even legit, original batteries and chargers used properly in the highest of safety scenarios still blow up occasionally - just look at Boeing's 787. 2 caught fire and then it may have been the surrounding electronics that caused it, no Dreamliners suffered an exploding battery.

31-12-2013, 18:07	#12
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Dunno about you but this battery looks pretty blown up to me: http://static4.businessinsider.com/i...esentation.jpg Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_...ttery_problems "The heavily burned battery from JA829J after it suffered thermal runaway" What most people call a battery blowing up usually is exactly thermal runaway. Especially when you consider it was forceful enough to significantly deform the solid metal casing around it.

31-12-2013, 21:22	#13
InsideSoap Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Summer Bay Posts: 5,891	Thanks for the replies I currently have an Anker charger so would probably get a larger one for my iPad due to the warranty and customer service offered by them. I guess if there was anything wrong with the chargers then Apple etc would recommend against them.

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Portable chargers