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Table Of Contents:
Here's a list of terms you might encounter while reading articles or advertisements about portable power stations. We've organized it to help you easily find the specific term you're looking for by using Ctrl+F.
Some General Terms
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Portable Power Stations: Compact devices that store electricity in rechargeable batteries to power electronic devices and appliances. They typically include AC ports, USB outlets, and sometimes DC ports, Anderson ports, and a carport.
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Solar Generator Kit: A portable device that uses solar panels to capture and store solar energy as electricity.
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Battery Capacity(Wh): The amount of electricity a power station can provide or store. It's measured in watt-hours (Wh) or amp-hours (Ah). The reason it is calculated in hours is because using a device for 1 hour and 5 hours consumes different levels of battery capacity.
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Amp (A): The unit for electric current.
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Volt (V): The unit for voltage. Exceeding voltage limits can damage devices.
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Watt (W): Wattage is the result of multiplying amps by volts (W = A x V). Think of it as the combined measurement of current (amps) and voltage (volts).
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Charge Cycle: When a battery goes from 100% to 0% capacity (fully discharging), it stands for a cycle.
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Cycle Life: Refers to a battery's lifespan in terms of cycles. As a battery ages, its capacity decreases. For example, a battery that originally powered a laptop for 120 hours may later only power it for 100 hours. If the cycle life is 800 cycles to 80% capacity, it means you can fully use it 800 times or cycles before it retains only 80% of its original capacity.
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Shelf Life: This refers to how long a battery can be stored without losing its charge-holding capacity. Shelf life varies based on factors like battery type, storage conditions, and manufacturer recommendations. For example, Lithium-ion batteries typically have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years, but extreme temperatures can shorten it. Note that shelf life is different from service life (how well a battery performs with use) and cycle life (number of charge-discharge cycles).
Electrical Current
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Output: The maximum power (in watts) a power station can deliver to connected devices. For example, the POWEREPUBLIC T1200 has a rated power of 1,200W, so you can run a 1,000W microwave but not a 1,500W hair dryer.
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Surge Power: This reflects how much extra power the power stations can handle, especially when devices require a brief surge of higher power during startup.
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Overload: Occurs when a power station can't supply the electrical current needed by connected devices, causing it to shut down automatically.
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Input: The power a power station receives from sources like wall outlets, solar panels, or car chargers. Higher input wattage means faster recharging.
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Charging Time: How quickly the power station's battery recharges, influenced by the input power.
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Fast Charge: Delivering more current to the battery than the normal rate to reduce charging time.
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BMS (Battery Management System): An electronic system in a power station that manages rechargeable batteries. It monitors and controls battery status, charge, health, temperature, voltage, and current to extend battery life and prevent issues.
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AC (Alternating Current): The electricity supplied by wall outlets or generators, written as "∿."
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DC (Direct Current): Electricity supplied by sources like solar panels, USB ports, and batteries, written as "⎓."
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AC to DC: Converting wall AC power into DC, which is used by most electronics during charging.
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DC to AC: Converting DC power to AC using an inverter, typically seen in solar power systems, vehicles, and backup power systems. Using DC outlets is more efficient.
Solar Related
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Mono-crystalline: High-quality material for solar panels, offering greater efficiency. These panels are typically darker in color.
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Poly-crystalline: Another material used for solar panels but with lower efficiency compared to mono-crystalline panels. They usually have a lighter, bluer color.
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Chaining: Connect individual solar panels to have a larger solar power generation for charging a portable power station.
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Series Connection: This involves connecting the positive terminal of one solar panel to the negative terminal of another. It increases the total voltage output while maintaining the current of each panel. Useful for connecting to higher voltage batteries or inverters.
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Parallel Connection: In a parallel connection, you link the positive terminals of all solar panels and the negative terminals together. It increases the total current output while maintaining the voltage of each panel. Useful when higher current output is needed.
Wired Connection
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USB-A: The USB port that's been used in many devices.
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Type-C: A smaller USB port commonly found in some cell phones and laptops.
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QC3.0 (Quick Charge 3.0): A fast-charging technology designed to charge compatible devices up to 4 times faster than standard methods. It's efficient and safe, helping prevent overcharging and overheating, which can harm batteries.
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Solar Connector: It is used for solar panels with separated positive (red) and negative (black) ends by linking them together and connecting them to the battery.
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Anderson Port: A DC port often used to power camping trailers. POWEREPUBLIC's Anderson port is located below the car charging ports.
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DC 5521/DC 5525: These outlets are less common today. They are used for recharging electronics like headlamps.
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Car Outlet: Similar to the cigarette lighter on your vehicle's console, it's an electrical port in a car designed to power devices through standard USB ports or a car cigarette lighter. It allows you to charge devices like phones, tablets, and laptops while on the road.
Conclusion
In summary, grasping these terms is crucial for a better understanding of portable power stations. While they might seem complex initially, becoming familiar with them will guide you in choosing the right portable power station for your needs.
