Some power banks include a power button, whereas many do not. While turning on a power bank with a physical button is quite simple, power banks without a power button may appear puzzling to some users.
How to turn a portable charger on and off
Some power banks have a power button; on the other hand, some don’t have any buttons. Therefore, we discuss these two types separately. The power button allows manual control on charging while power banks with no button start and stop charging automatically. Although both types come as standard gadgets, most people prefer having a power button.
- Connect the charger cable to your power bank
- Connect the other side to your USB-powered device
- Press the power button to start charging
Some power banks take a few seconds to turn on to make sure you didn’t press the button accidentally.
- Press the power button again to turn off the power bank and stop charging your phone.
Even if you forget to press the power button after disconnecting your phone or any other device, the power bank will shut down after a while. These portable chargers have controllers that can tell if the battery is not charging another device. The standby period varies from a few seconds to minutes, depending on the manufacturer and model.
These devices use a control circuit that detects load when you connect a device to the power bank. Also, when your device is full, the charging rate will drop below the defined threshold, and the power bank cuts the current.
- Plug your charging cable into the power bank.
- Connect your device
- The power bank will start charging your device automatically.
- Disconnect your device when its battery becomes full. A slight drop in the battery percentage will activate the power bank until it runs out of energy.
- Disconnecting your device or cable will remove the load, and the controller will stop the current flow. Thus, there is no need to turn off such portable chargers.
Why is my portable charger not turning on?
Power banks are your first and foremost insurance policy. However, your power bank might stop working properly for many reasons. Let’s troubleshoot for different scenarios that prevent your power bank from turning on.
Having no charge
Your power bank might be out of charge. Double-click the power button. If the indicator lights flash together a few times and then turn off, the battery is empty. When you start charging the power bank, the indicator lights should start flashing.
Faulty power bank
If you have left the power bank charging for a few hours and it still doesn’t turn on, try these methods:
- Change the charging cable
- Use an adaptor or wall socket, not a laptop USB port, for example.
- The power bank’s circuits might be damaged, and you have to contact the manufacturer for a warranty or repairs.
Faulty charging cable
Another point worth mentioning is the fact that both the charging cable and the cable used to connect the device to the power bank can become faulty over time and may need to be replaced. This is a common issue that will lead to a power bank not receiving any charge even though it’s connected to the wall charger.
The battery is dead
Occasionally, the battery is the primary cause of failure, and the internal circuitry is in good condition. This scenario can occur as a result of the power bank being overcharged or over-discharged. Additionally, the battery may have reached the end of its lifespan if it has exceeded 2500 charge/discharge cycles. It’s also worth mentioning that the lifespan of a battery depends on its quality, usage habits, and environmental conditions
In case of a dead battery, the only alternative is to purchase a new power bank and recycle the old one.
Why is the power bank turning off automatically?
As mentioned earlier, the control circuit cuts off the power supply when it detects no load connected to the batteries. Additionally, if your device is fully charged, the portable battery will stop charging and turn itself off. However, sometimes the power bank shuts down abnormally.
In this case, you connect a device to your power bank; it starts charging for a moment, then it shuts down. Here are some possible reasons:
- Make sure that the power bank has some charge.
- Check the charging cable. It might be loose at the end, or the wire might be damaged.
- Some power banks do not support devices that charge with low-power input, such as smartwatches. Try a different device to see if the power bank works appropriately.
- Extreme temperatures trigger the controller to shut down the power bank. If your portable charger is hot, let it cool down before charging your device.
If the problem persists, send the external battery to the manufacturer for repairs or replacement. It is worth noting that a faulty battery will illuminate the indicator lights, but it can’t produce and keep a stable output. Therefore, the controller blocks the current to avoid damaging your phone.
How to charge your power bank for the first time
There are many concerns when you buy a new gadget. Like, how to charge it, or does it work properly, etc. So, let’s talk about charging your power bank for the first time. Power banks and other rechargeable batteries are typically charged to about 50% before shipping. Therefore, when you get your power bank, perhaps you would prefer to charge it up to 100% before testing it.
Despite the common rumors, charging up the device for the first time is optional. It does not affect the lifespan of the power bank, although some manufacturers may recommend a full charge before first use as a standard procedure.
- Connect the cable to your power bank. The charging cable is usually connected to the power bank with a USB
- port.
- Connect the other end to a USB socket or a power adaptor.
- Your power bank will start charging automatically. However, if your power bank has indicator lights or a display, you could notice that the lights start blinking.
- Check your power bank to see when it becomes full.
Does a power bank automatically stop charging once it’s full?
Modern power banks have circuits that detect battery percentage and stop charging the battery when full. Furthermore, if the controller fails to cut the excessive power influx, another parallel integrated circuit will protect the battery. On the other hand, counterfeit products or low-quality power banks can overcharge themselves.
What are the signs of overcharging
- Your device becomes hot when fully charged and connected to the charger.
- Your battery runs out quicker than before.
- If the case has swollen, it indicates that the device was overcharged.
Tips for keeping the power bank safe
Buy a good portable charger :
In the first place, purchase your power bank from a well-known brand and verified retailer. Check the features in detail to make sure it complies with your needs. Then, spend a few more dollars on the product that comes with excellent features and a long-term warranty. Ascertain that it incorporates smart circuits that prevent overcharging, over-discharging, overheating, and so on.
Read the manual:
Know your power bank: learn its capacity, how long it takes to charge, what it can and cannot charge, etc.
Protect it:
If your power bank is not waterproof, avoid using it in wet situations. In addition, you can protect your portable battery by getting a hard case if your power bank is not shockproof.
Conclusion
Power banks are not impervious to failure. Although you can have some of its issues fixed at an electronics repair center, if your power bank is acting strangely, such as shutting down randomly, and you’ve tried all possible fixes, it’s time to move on and get yourself a new one.
