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Power Banks: Capacity, Losses and Safe Use

A power bank never delivers its printed capacity, and understanding why prevents disappointment.

At a glance

  • →Printed capacity is measured differently from what you receive.
  • →Fast charging costs total energy.
  • →Swollen or damaged banks are a safety issue.

Power bank capacity is printed at the cell's own voltage, but charging a phone requires converting to a higher voltage. That conversion loses energy as heat, so real-world delivery is typically two-thirds of the printed figure.

Fast charging increases the loss further. Higher power means more heat, so a bank that fills a phone twice at slow speed may manage one and a half charges at maximum rate.

Self-discharge matters for emergency use. A bank left in a drawer for months will be partly empty when you need it, and repeated deep discharge shortens its life.

Safety is worth attention: swelling, heat during idle standing, or damage after a drop mean the bank should be recycled, not used.

Common causes

  • Rated capacity measured at cell voltage, not output voltage
  • Conversion and heat losses during charging
  • Fast charging trading efficiency for speed
  • Self-discharge during months of storage
  • Capacity loss after a few hundred cycles

Troubleshooting tips

  1. 1Expect roughly two-thirds of the printed capacity in practice.
  2. 2Top the bank up every few months if unused.
  3. 3Use slower charging when you want maximum total energy.
  4. 4Avoid leaving a bank in a hot car.
  5. 5Recycle any bank that swells or gets hot while idle.

Key takeaways

  • • Printed capacity is measured differently from what you receive.
  • • Fast charging costs total energy.
  • • Swollen or damaged banks are a safety issue.

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