How to Charge a Portable Charger

Are you constantly on the go and feel like your devices are always running out of battery at inopportune times? Portable chargers were designed for people like you and are great investments for those in your position.

Portable chargers are relatively simple devices, though they require specific care to ensure they’re fully functioning. If you’ve recently purchased one of these charging units and are unsure how to properly care for it, we’re here to help.

Read on to learn about the basic charging and maintenance instructions you should follow to keep your new charging devices in the best shape. Let’s get started.

The Most Important Rules for Charging a Portable Charger

Caring for your portable charger will help ensure that it has a long and useful life. Like other electronics, portable chargers require a certain level of maintenance to work properly, so it is vital that you follow these important rules when charging your device.

1. Use a Reliable Charger

When charging your device, it’s important to use the charging cable provided. Other cords you may have lying around may fit into the charging port, but that doesn’t mean they should be used.

Using the wrong cord can be detrimental to the health of the charger. A reliable charger made for your device, on the other hand, will charge the unit efficiently and maintain the battery’s overall health.

2. Don’t Charge Overnight

While charging your device overnight may seem smart, we encourage you to reconsider. Charging a battery overnight can greatly reduce its lifespan and impact its overall ability to charge your devices on the go.

Overcharging your portable charger will reduce the quality of the charge and damage the battery, so try to keep the charging periods to the daytime when you are there to monitor and unplug it after a safe amount of time.

How Do You Charge a Power Bank Portable Charger

Power bank portable chargers are convenient devices that can keep your phone and other important devices charged on the go. However, the power bank itself needs to be charged.

Here are the steps you should take to ensure you are correctly charging your power bank portable charger.

1. Read through the User Manual

First and foremost, take the time to read through the user manual and locate the correct charging cord. This step is very important and can impact the lifespan and health of your portable charger if ignored.

Using the correct power cable and power source is key to a healthy battery, and it should be your top priority when charging your device.

2. Plug the Cable Into Your Portable Power Source

Now that you have secured the proper cord, you’re good to plug the cable into your device, as depicted in the user manual instructions. Carefully plug the cable into the correct outlet on your portable charger and ensure that it fits snuggly.

From there, you’ll need to plug the other end of the cable into the power source. Most charging cables end in a USB port, so you will need to locate a wall adapter to plug this into the outlet, or consider installing USB ports for the wall outlets around your home.

Charging through a wall outlet is typically faster than a computer, so consider this if you have any time restraints.

Units like the EcoFlow Portable Power Stations and EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series Portable Power Stations are great power banks and will help to keep your devices charged up for hours on end.

3. Give it Time

Your portable charger will require a little bit of time to reach its full charging capacity. Typically, these units will be fully charged within 2 to 8 hours, depending on the battery capacity and size of the unit you are charging.

4. Unplug Your Unit and Store the Chord

Once the device has been fully charged, it’s time to remove it from the charging cable and put it to use. To keep all of the equipment in great condition, we highly recommend storing the charging cables in a dry, temperature-controlled area.

Cables that are left in the car or that get wet may be damaged internally and could even impact the health of the portable charger if used after the fact. Taking a few extra moments to store these charging cables properly will elongate the life of your charger and ensure there are no surprises the next time you need them.

How Do I Know If My Portable Charger Is Charging?

So, you’ve just followed the steps above and plugged in your portable charger to start the charging process. To double-check your work, you can review some indicators to ensure that the unit is actually charging.

Here are some of the items you can look for:

LED indicators: If your unit does not have a screen, look around to see if there are blinking LED dots or lights somewhere on the device. These lights can help to signify how charged the device is or even how much time is remaining until it is fully charged.

LED Battery Display: Some more advanced products will have an LED screen that lights up when charging. This screen should supply some clear information on the status of charging so you will know just how long the process will take.

Sound Notifications: Some portable chargers on the market use sound or vibrations to indicate when charging is complete. Read the user manual to see if your unit has this unique feature.

Not all devices will supply an indicator of the charging level, which can certainly cause some confusion if you are a new owner of a portable charger. With the EcoFlow RIVER 2 and EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max, you won’t ever be left guessing with the easy-to-read screen display.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Charge My Power Bank for the First Time?

Charging your portable charger correctly is very important and can impact its overall lifespan if done incorrectly. Make sure you are using the correct charging cord and plug the device into a wall outlet. Typically, charging to 80% or higher is a safe bet when charging your device for the first time.

Final Thoughts

Portable chargers are excellent devices that can help to keep your devices connected and powered up at all times. Learning how to properly care for your charger is the best way to ensure it lasts a long time, and the steps spelled out in this guide should help you on your way.

Still a little intimidated by the necessary steps to care for one of these devices? Check out the EcoFlow Portable Power Stations today for a beginner-friendly option that’s perfect for you.