The Poundland pink daddy.

I've not made a video about that yet. I should do so, and maybe buy a newer one.

Big Clive

That's interesting because I did a charge test on their dual cell version today and it did come in at over 6000mAh.

Big Clive

Epson ecotank.

Big Clive

Hi Clive, I'm sure you've mentioned it before but what printer do you use?

Rich Nixon

Asda are currently selling their Onn single cell power banks in blue and pink for £2.50 each. A disassembly reveals a 20650 cell with a claimed 3350mAh rating, though I've not measured it myself. Perhaps worth a Big Clive inspection?

I don't know if the ones I have are the same model - though they sound similar. The ones I have produce an enormous amount of RF noise - some equipment simply will not run off of them, or run poorly. I'd be concerned about using something like that to run something like a router that might be sensitive to such noise. They're a bit more work as one has to add the connectors, but I found a much better filtered (and admittedly physically larger) boost circuit on BangGood I use for anything potentially sensitive. (Also, the voltage is adjustable with a trim potentiometer so dialing in the voltage one wants is simple.) $9 for 5 of them - the key search terms are XL6009 50khz. There are other similar models that are rated for even higher current.

I might get another to hack for a custom voltage. With an old DC jack, my multimeter and a USB power monitor, the Uniross battery charger is literally the limit for it. With the charger attached, the output voltage hovered about 11.5V at 720mA. The USB power monitor (plugged in to a wall USB socket rated 3.1A max) hovered about 5.15V 2100mA. Neither of my USB power banks rated 2.1A max output would handle the load (just cut out), so I reckon between this and how hot it ran delivering 700mA, 500 to 600mA is probably the maximum it can continuously deliver.

Seán Byrne

It invoked childish giggling if anything. 🙂

Well, you do have a history when the color Pink is involved. :)

Yeah, as soon as I said that I knew it would invoke smutty thoughts.

Big Clive

The circuitry inside looks pretty rugged. It's quite a big inductor operating at a very high frequency.

Big Clive

I pasted the keywords into youtube instead of ebay, found a russian "unboxing" video and then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-46fmEB0eM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-46fmEB0eM</a> where Julian takes it apart, identifies the circuit, and tweaks it to produce 9 volts.

"Going in at the rear end." 😁

With the 12V 5W bulb, the USB connector warmed up and the hottest spot was 38C after 10 minutes using an Infrared thermometer. Room temperature is 21C. I tried a Uniross 4xAA fast charger that requires 12V 700mA. It warmed up rapidly and I unplugged it when the thermometer reached 56C after just 2.5 minutes.

Seán Byrne

That's interesting. I was looking at similar USB to battery converters for a dual cell camera battery that also had the integrated boost circuit. Did it get warm under load?

Big Clive

Speaking of power banks and emergency power, I recently bought a USB 5V to 12V lead with a DC jack off an Amazon Chinese seller, so I could power my router off a power bank if the power goes out. At a first glance, the USB lead looks straight-through as the USB connector is just about the size of a typical USB stick and no dongle along the wire. Indeed many 12V routers will happily operate off 5V, but surprisingly this lead gives out 11.7V loaded with a 5W 12V bulb and has no issue powering my 12V ISP router, which will not work off 5V (already tried). This would be something worth taking apart. The keywords in the title are "SODIAL USB DC 5V To DC 12V 2.1mm X 5.5mm".

Seán Byrne

Flir E4 with firmware hack.

Big Clive

Many of the smaller powerbanks work like that. They keep 5V on the output, but only top it up when needed. Their quiescent current is usually really low.

Big Clive

These ones were in a different area in the local store. Next to racks of ex-hire DVDs and gaming accessories.

Big Clive

How about the current draw from the battery while the pack is not used.

Charles Bruckner

and tie inducter looks quite good

God 420

Coming over to U.K. next week to see 97 yr old mum. Might swing by a Poundland. I could use a decent power bank that will stay on with small loads.

I’d love to see a covert camera project for this unit. That would be fascinating.

Hi Big Clive, what thermal camera do you use??

He mentioned that without a load it will turn itself off, but with even a small load it will not. Not too shabby for a fiver.

Michael Thompson

Hmm, if it puts out 5V all the time (with the internal boost converter working), doesn't it discharge rather quickly when not in use?

I can only seem to find the smaller powerbank that has been around for ages in my local poundlands. Are these newer ones in a normal place in the stores?

I'm referring to the load itself with the fan on it.

You may have gone over it sometime before but could you do a short video on your load tester. Maybe a schematic to boot? If not I won't be upset haha.

I measured charge current versus time into the cells.

Big Clive

Wouldn't 4000mAh @ ~4.2V be roughly equivalent to 3300mAh @ 5V? Or did you measure the cell capacity directly?

Chris Parsons