Portable chargers and power banks are essential to function in daily life because they provide power to portable and mobile devices such as phones and tablets. Trying to read the output and current state of the charge for many of these devices is quite difficult however, and it can be tough to know if your portable charger is fully charged so you can unplug it and use it on the go for the rest of the day.
Having a portable charger run out of juice is one of the worst and most inconvenient things that can happen during the course of a day, which is why it’s important to know what level your charger is at. There are a few different variations of portable chargers and techniques and methods to know if they’re fully charged or still need some extra juice. This will be a brief but concise guide to knowing how charged up your portable charger is and if it’s safe and ready to use throughout the day.
Knowing How Much Charge Your Charge Has
There are a few different ways portable chargers communicate how much juice they have left within them. One of the most popular and frequent ways is a series of blinking lights depending on how much juice is left. Typically, if only one light is blinking, that means that the charger only has about a quarter of a charge left, if not less. If two lights are blinking, the charger is filled up between twenty-five and fifty percent, and if three lights are blinking it’s somewhere between fifty and seventy-five percent full. When all lights are blinking your charger is usually filled up, or at least three quarters charged.
At this point it’s probably safe to take it out of the charger and use it throughout the day even while on the go. All four lights being fully and consistently lit, not flashing, means your charger is fully charged and completely good to go.
In addition to this readout, many portable chargers have safeguards in place which help protect the batteries in cases of overcharging and overheating, so you can keep your portable charger or power bank in its outlet without fear of causing significant damage to said charger. Even with the safeguards in place, however, most experts recommend unplugging the charger after a few hours, so the device stays fully operational and there’s no risk of overheating your portable charger.
You can also find tables online which fully outline the power percentages your portable charger will be at in coordination with its readout. These tables are more helpful than generalizations and can be easily Googled depending on your charger’s make, model, and brand. When you unplug your power bank or portable charger from its outlet, its LED indicators will stop flashing. You’ll need to plug in the power bank again and press the main button once to get a readout of how much power is left in your device.
Multiple LED Indicators
For power banks or portable chargers with two indicator lights you’ll need to use a slightly different process. These power banks will usually have a red and blue light. Oftentimes, a steady blue light means the power bank is charging your device steadily and will finish soon. A flashing blue light means the bank should be charged soon while a flashing red light means the power bank is currently being charged by a power source and will not be able to charge your device until the power bank itself is fully charged. A steady read light means your power bank is fully charged and will not need additional charging in order to start charging the specified device.
Some power banks and lower-end portable chargers have no LED indicators. For these, you’ll want to consult the power banks’ individual manuals and read for yourself how often charging times take. You can also calculate the time needed to chare your device if the indicator is not present. If the LED indicators don’t glow and don’t seem to be functioning, you may need to replace the power bank and check manually to see how much juice your device has in it. LED indicators do occasionally go out but they’re a quick and affordable fix most times.
Streamline Your Schedule
Knowing how much juice is still in your power bank or portable charger and if it’s properly charging your device can help you attain peace of mind about how much power your device has and if you need to charge your power bank. Some power banks need to be charged frequently and take awhile to charge up fully, so having an indicator is a great way to know just how and when your power bank should be charged.
Checking the indicator frequently can also give you a good idea of how often your power bank should be charged without having to check the LED indicators. If you check back every hour or so for a week, you should be able to put together a rough estimate of how much power your power bank can hold and know if it’s enough to just charge it every night and leave it be during the day. Many power banks and portable chargers can’t charge devices while they’re being powered up, so it’s important to know just how much juice is left in your power bank or portable charger.
Avoid Overcharging
Again, it’s important to know how much of a charge your power bank can hold because leaving it plugged into an outlet for too long could damage the circuitry and hamper the performance of the power bank. While you can certainly leave it in and trust the safeguards which protect the batteries for an extended period of time, you won’t want to leave the power bank in for a longer time than you need to on a consistent and frequent basis.
To avoid overcharging and overheating your power bank and portable chargers, you should unplug them during the day if you’re away from the hoes and leave them in only at night, as charging your devices as you sleep is typically a great way to make sure they have enough charge in them to last throughout the day. Either way, It’s important not to leave power banks and portable chargers plugged in for too long as not to damage them easily.
Final Thoughts
Portable chargers and power banks are great for charging mobile devices, both at one time, like at night, and generally throughout the day. Newer and more expensive models have LED indicators which will tell you exactly how much juice is left in them with a series of flashing lights. It’s important not to overcharge these chargers as that could lead to overheating and the ruination of the device. Pay close attention to how long it takes for your devices to be charged in order to get a good feel for how long you should leave them plugged in, either all at once at night or generally throughout the day.
