Portable battery packs that you can use to recharge your smartphone are a dime a dozen. OK, not really, but there are plenty that you can buy for a few bucks or more.
But what if you want to power your laptop on the go? Or a TV? Maybe even a microwave.
There are big, expensive battery packs designed for folks who go camping, and there are smaller models designed specifically for laptops — but you usually need to buy special adapters to go with you specific laptop model.
But a company called ChargeTech offers something in between: a line relatively compact, portable batteries that has USB ports for your mobile devices and AC adapters for charging anything else.
The company sells a $185 model with a 27,000 mAh battery. And now ChargeTech is launching a crowdfunding campaign for a 48,000 mAh model that can probably recharge your smartphone more than a dozen times.
The new ChargeTech Plug is a 250 watt, battery with two AC wall outlets, two USB ports, and a list price of about $329, but early backers of the company’s Indiegogo campaign can reserve one for $199 and up.
The battery supports pass-through charging, allowing you to charge the Plug at the same time as it’s powering your devices.
ChargeTech says the massive battery can recharge a laptop up to 3 times, a tablet up to 7 times, or power a typical mini fridge for up to 8 hours or a TV for up to 4.
It can also work with an optional weather-resistant solar panel if you want to refuel the battery while you’re away from civilization.
The battery pack measures about 8.6″ x 5.6″ x 1.6″ and I suspect it weighs more than some laptops. So it’s clearly not the most compact option if you just want something to help your smartphone last a full day. But it could breathe new life into old laptops or help you get in some work (or play) time while traveling.
A TV uses twice as much power as a mini fridge? Wouldn’t have guessed that.
Ignoring surge at start up, even a full size refrigerator uses very little power. Mine only uses 110 watts. [Edit: I think older refrigerators may use more power.]
I really doubt this thing could power even a small microwave though.
Yeah, I wasn’t thinking of wattage. We’ve got a small 700 watt unit in our fridge, but this thing is a 250 watt power supply.
Right. BTW, I probably wouldn’t try to run a full size refrigerator off of this either, because my 110 watt one apparently is almost 900 watts during the start up surge. You might damage it with repeated starts using insufficient power.
Counter intuitive at first for me too. Once cold, a fridge only has to revert small temperature change (unavoidable leaks, door openings).
Not allowed on planes I’m guessing due to the size of the battery.
I like this as a generic battery but for laptops a USB-C PD pack will probably be a better option. I’m keeping an eye out for that Asus one which iirc is the first to be announced.
Now THIS is interesting, because you could use this with a modest solar panel to have a completely grid independent household backup power system! Or just keep it charged on AC and keep your modem and router and a pc and a couple of LED lights in your kitchen, for power out backup. Also could be used in a camper van . . . This whole car-sized lithium battery thing is coming on, and is going to be just awesome for alt-power applications.
A microwave takes a lot of power (1000W or more) but only for short periods. This only puts out 250W so would not be a good idea. However my new-ish full size refrigerator only takes 120W or so on cycle about 30% of the time, and the rest of the time only a few watts. This would actually power that fine for a few hours.
I’m scratching my head here, beyond using lithium batteries (which at these capacities might be dangerous if exposed to heat or were punctured) isn’t this just a UPS now with a couple usb ports?
Darn and I had funded Omicharge 2x!
I’m fairly interested in this product to keep around the house for short/medium power outages… 3-12 hours.
I don’t have a power generator, it seems like a lot of money for something that will be used only in an extended emergency. I feel like it will sit gathering dust.
I second Carlos Vargas’ question, isn’t this just a UPS with a couple of USB ports?
I have portable battery backups for charging phones/tablets, but nothing that can laptops or power some other things.
I don’t mind the idea of a small device that can charge my phone a dozen times, but I wonder how often I’ll use that in my practical life (maybe it’s lightweight for backpacking?)
This isn’t anywhere near as powerful as a generator. The smallest generators tend to be about 1000 watts.
I wasn’t expecting it to be nearly as powerful as a generator. I don’t really know my wattage very well, but I wasn’t looking to run hair dryers or microwaves from a battery.
I was mostly thinking of running things that take typical plugs… a lamp, my laptop… basic things that I can’t currently charge from my portable battery back-up with only USB ports.
So how does this differ from a UPS again?
It costs a lot more. Seriously, just buy a UPS. Look for one that advertises that it can start detached from AC. The UPS will be a bit heavier for a given capacity due to sealed lead acid batteries vs lithium ion. But the cost to buy the unit and more important, replace the battery pack every couple of years, probably make it a better deal unless size and weight are your prime decision factor. Much larger and you can just start looking at buying batteries and a solar charge controller + inverter. Or a generator. You can get some really nice inverter based generators for a little more than this gadget. Inverter based is a real win for a generator you plan to connect to sensitive electronics. Go for a normal generator if you need to run a motor or compressor, i.e. refrigeration.
$329…thats funny,
CHARGETECH IS SCAM. DON’T BUY THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE LOST A LOT OF MONEY. PLUG IS A SCAM PRODUCT!!!!!!
CHARGETECH IS SCAM. DON’T BUY THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE LOST A LOT OF MONEY. PLUG IS A SCAM PRODUCT!!!!!!
The company is a complete scam
It is an absolute disgrace how ChargeTech conduct their business. They have THOUSANDS of backers on indigogo that have been waiting for almost a full year since they were promised delivery of products,
not only did they supply them late,
they have quietly attempted to flat out NOT SEND parts of the campaign promised
when they finally deliver, the goods are not built to the specifications detailed (reporting as little as HALF the wattage of what was promised)
or they come with no specification sheets/details because the specifications stated where a lie
and even after all that, the products die extremely quickly
A word of warning to all, never purchase from charge tech, their products are not reliable, chargetech is a scam
for more information see the comments on this page:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/plug-the-world-s-most-powerful-battery-pack-powerbank-solar–2/x/14545148#/comments