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68800MAH Power Bank Jump Start Pack Booster Review

ByKevin Simon

Nov 11, 2016

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As we are trying to get into camping (see HERE and we don’t want to be reliant on hook up power on site, I looked into portable power packs, so that we could use and charge tablets/ phones etc and was looking for something with a car 12v output as well. I came across mobile power banks that supposedly have a high capacity batter, I brought one of the 68800mAh Power Bank Portable Car Jump Start Pack Booster (model CY-08), which was about £40 and can get these of amazon or ebay etc.

The specification as listed is:

  • Battery: Polymer Lithium Battery
  • Colour: Black+Yellow, Material: ABS
  • Capacity: 68800mAh
  • Output: 12V/1A,16V/2A,19V/3.5A, Input: 15V/1A
  • Operating Temperature: -20~60℃, Battery Charge Time: 4-5 hours
  • Starting Current: 300A, Peak Current: 600A
  • USB Port: 4, Model CY-08

Upon opening the nice case was impressed with what you got, the quality of the unit even though it is plastic it does seem solid. The black part of the case does seem rubbery, so does feel sturdy when holding it.

What you get in the box:

  • 1 x Wall Power Adapter, 1 x Cigarette Lighter Charging Adapter
  • 8 x Connectors for Laptops, 2 x 4-in-1 Mobile Phone Adapter Cable
  • Set of Startup Clamp Wire, Carrying case, User Manual

I put the unit on charge for the first time, though there was around 50% battery as once the device is switched on it shows between one and four leds to show the approx power in the unit which took just under an hour. Now to switch on the unit is two steps first slide the power switch to on, now you would assume the unit is on, but no you then need to press the little round button between the usb ports and the power indicator. The reason for this is you can then cycle through the voltages (12v, 16v, 19v) for the laptop charger by pressing through the little round button. If you want the torch use the slide switch to on then hold the round button for 3 seconds, then can press again for flashing. There is an additional mode for the lights by flashing red / blue, again slide the switch to on, then quickly press the round button a few times. The Torch in any mode is bright.

For charging devices the unit works great as the usb ports do output at 2amp, so good for quick charging or higher powered devices, I have a Hudl 2 which is notorious for needing a good 5v 2amp power source. This power bank charges the tablet perfect. Also had no problems charging any of the different phone we have. Did test using the acer laptop we have and the unit because comes with adaptors for different laptops was able to get power to the laptop and start charging, but really only tested for about 20mins or so.

I did test using the 12v car output, as we want to use this for off grid camping I got a little 12v car fan heater (well more like a little hair dryer) and did power this, though only used for about 10mins just to test.

For jump stating I tried on my old car that had been sitting on the drive for about two months and the battery really needed replacing, so tried using this on the car and did get power to the vehicle, but just not enough to fully start it. Though the unit wasn’t fully charged at the time.

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Great BUT

Now from what you have read above you would think this unit is great and can supply power to all different devices, but and there is a BIG but. The unit states that the battery capacity is 68800mAh, so if you think about this logically the average phone / tablet has a battery capacity of between 3000-6000mah, so this unit should charge your devices or devices several times over, well these units don’t. I used to charge my Hudl 2 from nearly dead and the unit could only manage to charge it to about 80% and the dies. Looking into this like a lot of Chinese products sometimes the value stated is not what is in the devices (same as the fake sd cards) The TRUE battery in these I would is around 6000-9000mah.

For me I was able to get a partial refund from the seller, well taking into account the refund I received the cost of unit was £13, which is the same as the cheap 8000mah battery packs you can get from discount stores like B&M / Home Bargains etc. which I found acceptable as really thats all it is worth, but then can use the 12v car socket if desperate and I keep in the car just in case need to jump start my car.

So beware if buying these type of power banks / jump starters as they may not be the true battery capacity stated, after I got the refund from the business seller on ebay, they did change their item description with 12000mah. Which I still think is over stated. But if you think of these units around that capacity, they are great , but not really worth what companies are selling these at ie the £40 mark. This goes for one that look similar that state the capacity around 58800 / 69880 mah.

Personally for me this unit is a good little backup for tablet but really thats about it the reason for buying a unit like this was to be off grid while camping well this unit isnt going to cut it so have invested in a lead battery portable jump starter, which does work a lot longer for my use, though haven’t fully tested this yet.

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By Kevin Simon

I run this blog & also self employed cleaning out fish ponds, but due to spinal problems not able to do as much, now started a youtube channel showing my converted Peugeot Partner micro camper also as interest in photography so now vlog about the trips and of course Lego figures out in the wild photos.

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