Understanding the Power Ratings for Power Bank
Just like a gas station has a fuel pump for filling the gas tanks of the cars, a power bank serves as a fuel station for our phones, laptops, and other gadgets which need to be charged.
When our devices run out of battery during power failure, we plug them into a power bank, and just like magic, they start charging again!
But have you ever noticed the numbers written on a power bank, like 10,000 mAh or 37 Wh? What does these numbers mean? In this post we’re going to break it down in a super simple way.
What is mAh?
mAh stands for milliampere-hour. This tells us how much charge the power bank can store. Think of it like a water bottle. A big bottle holds more water, and a big mAh number means the power bank can store more energy.
For example:
– A 5,000 mAh power bank is like a small bottle of water—it can charge your phone about one time.
– but when you have a 10,000 mAh power bank, which is bigger, meaning it can charge your phone about two times.
– And when you have a20,000 mAh power bank which is even larger and can charge your phone about four times or more!
So, if you want a power bank that lasts longer, go for one with a higher mAh number.
What is Wh?
Wh stands for watt-hour. This tells us how much actual power the power bank can give to your device for certain hours on a constant discharge. It’s like knowing how strong the water flow is from a tap. A watt-hour (Wh) means more power is available.
To understand the difference between the two (2) terms :
Both mAh and watt-hour tells us how much energy is stored in the power bank, difference is with watt-hour, you can accurately determine how many hours a specific device can last on a constant discharge using that device power rating or consumption.
While mAh tells us how many times we can charge our devices using the battery capacity of that device
A power bank with 10,000 mAh might have around 37 Wh of energy. For a customer, you can’t easily calculate to determine how long it will last on your phone or laptop. But with watt-hour, it is so much easier. Another thing you need to bear in mind is that power banks don’t give 100% of their stored energy to your device—some energy is lost during discharge.
Why Do These Numbers Matter?
1. Knowing how many times you can charge your device – If your phone battery is 4,000 mAh and you have a 10,000 mAh power bank, you can charge your phone about two (2) times before the power bank runs out.
2. Traveling on a plane – Airlines have rules about how big a power bank can be. They usually allow power banks below 100 Wh on flights. So, if your power bank says 20,000 mAh and has 74 Wh, you can take it with you.
3. Understanding power bank’s rating helps customers in choosing the right power bank – If you just need a little extra charge, a 5,000 mAh power bank is fine. But if you’re going on a long trip, a 20,000 mAh power bank is better.
In summary :
When buying a power bank, don’t just look at mAh —also check the Wh to understand how much real power it can give.
Now that you know the difference, you can pick the right power bank for your needs and never run out of battery again!
