KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
Please post a review when you've had the chance to properly use this.
Usb power in cabin, an alternative?
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ShinyShoe
Well-Known Member
Based on 15v, 1A charger, 4hr charge you are only putting 60Wh in to charge it. So in a loss free world you can only get 60Wh out or you've reinvented physics. At 12v, that's 5Ah if I'm not mistaken.
But here is the reason the vendor can get away with claiming 90Ah... Ah is a pointless value without a voltage. LinIon batteries run at 3.7V you either join them in series or use voltage converter to up the Volts. So. You could have 4 3.7V batteries in the box. Each with 22Ah of capacity at 3.7v. Each with 81.4Wh of juice, 325Wh of juice. At 12v that's 27Ah assuming a loss free world...
Still doesn't explain how you can charge that with 1A in 4hrs!
But here is the reason the vendor can get away with claiming 90Ah... Ah is a pointless value without a voltage. LinIon batteries run at 3.7V you either join them in series or use voltage converter to up the Volts. So. You could have 4 3.7V batteries in the box. Each with 22Ah of capacity at 3.7v. Each with 81.4Wh of juice, 325Wh of juice. At 12v that's 27Ah assuming a loss free world...
Still doesn't explain how you can charge that with 1A in 4hrs!
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
A small word of advice. Do not put USB sockets close to your VHF. My VHF sits in a panel with exactly the right amount of free space to mount a USB twin outlet, bought from Force Four. I find that it interferes with some VHF channels, 16 ok but most others not functioning.
ShinyShoe
Well-Known Member
Not all USB sockets will interfere, it depends how they voltage convert
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Maybe so, but how does that help the average buyer?
gregcope
Well-Known Member
Got any examples / guides / links? Ta.
The reason I ask is that I want to move my engine start battery into a very tight spot, and low weight would be advantageous so that I can increase the house bank Ah.
I can then either add the old engine start battery (AGM 80Ah) to the house bank or replace with a bigger one (others are 120Ah).
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ShinyShoe
Well-Known Member
The average buyer isn't installing near a safety critical VHF radio though. They are truckers, caravaners etv
If I wasn't too concerned about where I'd mount them I'd just buy whatever, loose wore it. Test it where I am thinking of putting it and if it doesn't interfere crack on.
If I only have space close to the VHF... I'd probably come here to find the models that don't interfere. Or... Plans for a home build
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I don't think so. The average buyer with limited electronics knowledge, e.g. me, would not even think about what you say. Hence my heads-up.
ShinyShoe
Well-Known Member
I wasn't saying a heads up wasn't needed
Just saying if you are installing near a VHF you don't need to live with compromise. Nor do you need to use battery packs to avoid having things too close to VHF
DC - DC 12v to 5v Converters?
Has thoughts on compatible units although it's old.
One thought on that battery pack - charger is 15V so presumably mains? You get USB chargers that are USB charged... I'd have a USB charger on board so would find charging easier than coming ashore for mains and inverting 12v mains to power the charger feels like a waste of electrons
Graham376
Well-Known Member
We just use cigar lighter usb plugs or usb socket on computer for phones, tablets etc. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-Te...ords=usb+cigar+lighter&qid=1578742835&sr=8-12
pcatterall
Well-Known Member
lap tops, phones etc etc. When 4 young 'crew' descended on us we found them pretty useless as crew ( engaged on the internet somewhere) of no conversational value ( we felt we were interrupting their important on line activities) dangerous (due to wires and leads every where,) and ( rant over) were surprised at the battery drain on our house batteries. It would be interesting to get some ball park figures about typical loads to expect . I think we also need to beef up the wiring to some of our outlets as just adding more outlets to wiring that was designed for just one outlet is possibly inefficient or even dangerous.?
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
I have in my hand a powerpack thingy which fits 12,000mAh into 135 x 70 x 12mm, which is 0.1mAh per cubic millimetre. The one under discussion here is 0.2mA per cubic millimetre. That's not completely unbelievable, but the catch is that the capacity of my powerpack is at 3.7V, and therefore significantly overstates what its 5V USB outlets can produce. So even if this one can really do 90AH - and I hae ma doots, because every other seller of identical looking things claims 16.8Ah - it's probably at a much lower voltage than useful.
Red Panda
Well-Known Member
I bought one of those Halfords Li-ion emergency starter packs recently - and was very impressed that a little box about the size of a thick bar of chocolate can start an 1150cc motorbike engine.
It can also be used as a rather large power bank for USB devices, and if you get one that's able to start your boat engine in an emergency it could be useful.
It can also be used as a rather large power bank for USB devices, and if you get one that's able to start your boat engine in an emergency it could be useful.
James_Calvert
Well-Known Member
We use things like these in the car and in the boat.
But they seem to have a limited lifespan.
Given that the built in kit does essentially the same job, can we expect them to be more reliable? Because it would be a pain to have to refit them every other year or so.
gregcope
Well-Known Member
Okay, so this one "USAMS C15 QC4.0 PD3.0 Dual Output Fast Charging Mini Type-C USB Port". Does not work well ...
USAMS C15 QC4.0 PD3.0 Dual Output Fast Charging Mini Type-C USB Port Car Charger for Samsung S10+ Xiaomi Mi9 Redmi Note8 HUAWEI P30Pro Chargers & Cables from Mobile Phones & Accessories on banggood.com
Using a Victron 702 battery monitor for data.
Only seems to draw 10W when charging an iPhone X, which is around 2A into the phone. It is not reaching a claimed 30W! Only other data point is the phone was reasonably well charged (90%).
My Mac recognises it as an AC adaptor (Connected: Yes) - either as a 10W one or 30W one (Wattage (W): X); but fails to start charging the battery (Charging: No) and after about 10 secs "dings" to say it is disconnected and the power draw drops to 0A. The battery slowly seems to discharge. Hard to tell if this is any faster than if no AC adaptor. Data is from "About this Mac"-> "System Report" -> "Power".
Also physically it is about 5mm too long and on some 12V plugs starts to fall out.
Will try another.
gregcope
Well-Known Member
Might try this one;
Baseus LED Mini QC4.0 PD3.0 30W 12-24V Type-C Fast Charging Quick Car Charger for Samsung S10+ Xiaomi 9T Redmi Note8 HUAWEI P30Pro Chargers & Cables from Mobile Phones & Accessories on banggood.com
I want a low profile one that does not stick far out from the port.
Baseus LED Mini QC4.0 PD3.0 30W 12-24V Type-C Fast Charging Quick Car Charger for Samsung S10+ Xiaomi 9T Redmi Note8 HUAWEI P30Pro Chargers & Cables from Mobile Phones & Accessories on banggood.com
I want a low profile one that does not stick far out from the port.
Amulet
Well-Known Member
I'm glad I didn't wire in USB-A sockets when I thought about it. All my devices are now USB-C. I have created one wired in USB-C socket and have a couple of USB-C adaptors to the vile cigarette sockets. I await the emergence of new devices for the USB-C standard. Right now the fact that my computer, camera and other things only need a cable to charge from any socket on the boat is a great help. The capabilities of USB-C so exceed those of USB-A that it is bound to become the norm, and in any case a tiny adaptor will allow you to run your old devices. I would not bore any holes in my boat to put old-style USB in.
Hoolie
Well-Known Member
Interesting! I now have a USB-C phone and several standard USB to USB-C cables. But i have never seen a USB-C to USB-C cable - do they exist?
In any case if you have visitors, USB sockets plus mini-USB, micro-USB, Lightning and USB-C cables will keep everyone happy.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Yes, all 4 ports on my Macbook Pro are USB C, and so is the charger, so it uses a USB-C to USB-C cable
Hoolie
Well-Known Member
OK - but if you fit USB-C chargers, can you get USB-C cables to mini-USB, micro-USB and Lightning for peeps who are different?
ps I thought Apple was anchored to Lightning?