Power Bank Jump Starter
© Brooke Clarke 2016 - 2024
General
GB150 Jump Starter
Power Bank
Ecoflow Delta 2
Cable Problem
MC4 Connectors
Smart Battery Box
Power Station
USB-C Power Delivery
Description
Annke CP-02A
Load Testing
Operation
Photos
Fraudulent Power Bank
ANKEWR PowerCore20100
Fraudulent Power Bank
Related
References
Links
Background
General
For a number of years there have been all kinds of power banks that held conventional primary or rechargeable batteries and have a USB-A socket to allow charging cell phones. This combines that function with the additional capability to jump start a car. These new devices also typically have a flashlight function. They are packaged in a shape that's similar to a cell phone, but somewhat larger.
The first one I heard about is called Lightning Pak (official web page). They make a number of packs with different capacities (6.5, 13 & 15 AH). A friend has the small one.
Then I got this one branded Annke (official web page). They make units rated for:
CP-02A 8 AH,
CP-03 12 AH,
CP-05 6 AH
The paperwork that came with is says it's 8 AH capacity. But measuring the capacity depends very much on what load is used so I expect there will be a lot of claims about capacity that don't specify the test conditions. More on that later.
The interesting thing is that they both use the same connector for the jump starting functions and the output voltage is very close to 12 VDC. So right away I want to make an adapter cable to a Power Pole with the 45 Amp terminals using 10 AWG super flex wire.
GB150 Jump Starter
2024 The No.co GB150 is an excellent jump starter battery. Note this does not make a good power bank since it capacity in only 88 Watt hours (88 Wh / 12V = 7.3 Ah)
Power Bank
This is the term for a reasonably small box that has a number of rechargeable batteries and USB outputs. Typically used to charge cell phones and/or supply 5VDC to USB devices.
Ecoflow Delta 2 Power Station
Tinkerer's Adventure: EcoFlow Delta 2 for Overlanders | So Close to Perfect!, 16:53 - To fix slow vehicle charging see below.
Cable Problem
In Fig 5 the DMM is not showing a negative sign (i.e. the red lead is positive). The red lead is going to the rounded end of the yellow XT60 connector which should be negative. So something is wrong with the cabling. The solar panel has a Power Pole connector with red being positive (see the grid intertie photo at SMIC). The EcoFlow MC4 to XT60 cable is wired as shown on the DIY Instructin card that came with the Delta 2. BUT . . the Power Pole to MC4 cable looks like it has reversed polarity.
The MC4 to Power Pole cable was intended to have the MC4 connections come from a solar panel, in which case the Power Pole polarity would be correct. I decided not to modify this cable, but rather to replace the Power Pole connectors on the solar panel with MC4 connectors. The reason is that the Power Pole connectors have no weather sealing whereas the MC4 has good weather sealing.
MC4 Connectors
These connectors are rated IP65 whereas the Power Pole connectors have no IP rating, i.e. they have problems when exposed to weather. So I'm in the process of removing the Power Pole connectors from the SMIC solar panel and replacing them with MC4 connectors.
On these new connectors I can separate a mated pair using just my fingers. The pair shown near (11) in Fig 10 below is easy since there are large tabs to press, but the pair shown in the separation tool at (1) in Fig 10 require some pressure to open with just your fingers.
MC4 Tools
These flat wrenches come in a pair but the two tools are not identical.
The die cast tool has three functions (see Fig 10 below (click photo for larger image):
1. a stepped notch designed to press together the small fingers so that a connector pair can be separated,
2. an opening that slips over the open end of an MC4 to hold the body, same as 12 on sheet metal tool.
3. a toothed opening that grasps the notches on the cable clamp, same as 13 on sheet metal tool. Note the "C" shape allows this tool to be applied to an MC4 that is already connected to a wire. [the opening in this particular tool is too small to fit my cable clamps, maybe fits others?)
The sheet metal tool has three functions (see Fig 10 below (click photo for larger image):
11. an open end wrench to hold the hex part of the cable clamp
12. an opening that slips over the open end of an MC4 to hold the body, same as 2 on die cast tool.
13. a toothed opening that grasps the notches on the cable clamp, same as 3 on die cast tool.
Fig 1 Shipped via Fedex in plain cardboard box.
Fig 2
Fig 3 ships at 30% charge.
Fig 4
5.5x2.1 to 5.5x2.1 DC cable.
IEC standard 120 VAC cord.
Cigarette Lighter Plug to XT60 (YouTube) cable.
Fig 5
Solar Panel -Power Pole
Power Pole to MC4 cable
MC4 - XT60 (Delta 2)
Voc: 23 Volts (102 deg F)
WRONG POLARITY!
Fig 6 Stock Cigarette Lighter Plug cable.
Orange XT60i connector with Positive (square end) jumper to center contact to enable 8 Amp current limit. MC4 to XT60 card in background showing XT60 polarity.
Fig 7 Stock MC4 to yellow XT60 (no center contact) so good for 15 Amps. eBay Power Pole to MC4 cable looks like reversed polarity.
Fig 8 MC4 terminals use the same crimp tool as the 45 Amp Power Pole.
also see table for stranded wire & Power Pole
Fig 9 MC4 IP68 TUV
with mating connectors
Fig 10 MC4 Tools
Because of the good reviews and great sale price for Amazon Prime got two of these. Delivered 2024 July 24.
Note the sale price was about the same as getting the Licitti 1000W AC Battery Box PRO and a good 12V 100 Ah battery, but has many more features.
Description
A LiFePo4 Battery rated 1024 Watt hours is the heart of this unit. It has various 120 VAC and 12 VDC& 5 VDC outputs. The input to charge the battery can either be 120 VAC up to 1200 Watts or 11 to 60 VDC, 15 Amps max, 500 Watts max. driving an internal MPPT (Wiki) charge controller.
EcoFlow app
The Delta 2 supports both Bluetooth and WiFi.
Access to the WiFi (choose network and password) is required to use app.
came with fw: 1.0.6.28
current fw: 1.0.6039 (2:16 till 2:17) now came with 1.0.0.1 current version is 1.0.10134 (2:18 till 2:22)
There appear to be many features in the app that are not discussed elsewhere, like scheduling device charging.
Component Parts
Battery
AC Line Input
LiFePo4 1024 Watt hours, 51.2 V, Can be charged (0 to 80%) at 1200 Watts from AC line in 50 minutes, but with a lot of noise). Rated for 3000+ cycles, better than prior Ecoflow products that had much shorter cycle life.
Provision (side connector) for optional parallel battery. (direct connection to internal 51.2 V battery).
100 - 120VAC 50/60Hz, 10A max, 1200W max charging of internal battery.
DC XT60 (DF Robot) Input
12VDC or 24VDC car battery, or 11 to 60VDC, 15A max, 500W max solar (and probably wind generator) to internal MPPT circuit.
Inverter Output
Pure Sine Wave, 120 VAC, 1800 Watts continuous, 2700 Watts surge (not specified for how long). 2200 Watts total continuous load.
Has Emergency Power Supply (EPS) mode similar to a UPS when connected to a 120 VAC input with Delta 2 powered off and then an AC load connected. In this case the AC is fed directly from the external source to the load. But when the external AC fails the Delta 2 starts up and is supplying the AC load within a half cycle of the AC (i.e. within about 30 ms.). I'd call this mode "off line UPS" (Wiki, APC RS1500, CyberPower CST1500S)
USB Outputs
2 each USB-A: 5V <= 2.4 Amps; 12W max per port, 24W total for both ports
2 each USB-A Fast Charge: Power Delivery: 5V & 2.4A or 9V @3A or 12V @1.5 A; 18W max per port, 24W total for both ports
2 each USB-C PD: 5/9/12/15/20V @5A; 100W max per port; 200W max both ports
Cigarette Lighter Socket Output
12.6VDC @10 A, 126 Watts max
5.5x2.1mm Power Port Output
12.6V @3A; 38W max
On Order
Ecoflow Solar 4mm to XT60 cable
Solar 4mm to Power Pole cable. (the XT60 can carry way more current than the 45A Power Pole)
MC4 connectors
1950s House Wiring
A friend lives in a house that was built in the 1950s and the "old" part of the house includes the kitchen. The wiring will support a microwave oven, convection cooker, toaster, hot water pot, choose one. Since the charging power going into the Ecoflow Delta 2 can be programmed from the app it should be possible to program it to a value low enough to not trip the kitchen breaker. Then two or maybe three of the listed appliances can be plugged into the Ecoflow Delta 2 and run at the same time. This is an experiment, more to come.
Optional Alternator Charger (alternator-charger-800w?lang=en_US)
The idea is to use your vehicle to charge the power station, about the most CO2 intensive thing you could do if the vehicle is not being used to get you somewhere.
2024 Aug 2 List price $600. Comes with Vehicle battery to alternator charger cable and XT150 alternator charger to EcoFlow cable.
The Alternator Chager is compatible with Delta 2 Max, Delta 2, Wave 2, Delta Pro (meaning they all use a 51.2V internal battery).
This is a box (10" x 8" x 1-1/2") that connects to a 12 or 24 volt vehicle battery and the external battery port of the Delta 2. It can be used two ways:
Charge EcoFlow Delta 2 - A Switching Mode Power Supply converts the vehicle battery voltage to between 40 and 60 VDC in order to charge the 51.2V battery inside the Delta 2 at up to 76 Amps (limited to 800 Watts).
Charge vehicle battery - The Delta 2 internal 51.2 VDC battery is converted using a Switching Mode Power Supply into either 13.6 or 27.6 VDC to charge the vehicle battery (limited to 800 Watts).
Alternate DIY 350 Watt Charging from Vehicle
This is 3X faster than using the Cigarette Lighter charging cable and <1/3 the price of the Alternator Charger.
Tinkerer's Adventure: Power Station For Your Car? You Need This!, 10:49 - use Victron 12/24V 20 Amp DC-DC converter non-Isolated (In: 12V, Out 30V). The XT60i connector, as used for solar panels is needed because it has an extra contact that enables the 15 Amp current draw. A stock XT60 connector without the extra contact causes the Delta 2 to default to 8 Amps max which is consistent with a Cigarette Lighter Socket.
EcoFlow Solar Panels
The NexGen panels have some nice features.
Fifacial may not make sense for a portable application.
The 160 NexGen panel ($449) may be optimum for me? (lowest cost NexGen panel).
Description
$
Watts
$/W
Voc
Isc
MPP
220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel + Separate Kickstand Case 549
220
2.50
21.8
13
18.4V@12A
110W Portable Solar Panel + Separate Kickstand Case 219
110
2.00
21.8
6.5
18.4V@6A
160W Portable Solar Panel + Separate Kickstand Case 279
160
1.75
21.4
9.6
18.2V@8.8A
400W Portable Solar Panel + Separate Kickstand Case 849
400
2.12
48
11
41v@9.8A
60W Portable Solar Panel + grommets 109
60
1.82
na
na
na
NextGen 160W Portable Solar Panel + Integrated Adjustable Stand + Solar Angle Guide
449
418 Az
160
2.80
21.3
9.1
21.3v @8.6A
NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel + Integrated Adjustable Stand + Solar Angle Guide 649
220
2.95
21.5
12.4
18.4v@11.9A
NextGen 220W Portable Solar Panel + Integrated Adjustable Stand + Solar Angle Guide 559
220
2.54
21.5
12.4
18.4v@11.9A
45W Portable Solar Panel + grommets
79
45
1.75
25.6
2.1
na
Smart Battery Box
The idea is to add features to a classical battery box that might hold a 100 Amp Hour battery. Things like USB, cigarette lighter, Power Pole sockets. Metering for charge and/or discharge. See Ecoflow Delta 2 above.
Licitti - 1000W AC Battery Box PRO is the first one I herd about. ($218 + $55 shipping = $273 (same shipping of more ordered)
Has:On/Off switch, LCD screen, USB & DC ports, built-in Pure Sine Wave 1000W inverter, 10A solar MPPT charge controller, 10 (solar input), 50 (in/Out) & 175 (In/Out) Amp Anderson connectors, holds a group 27/31 size battery.
To make your own power station.
The Only Power Station You Need - Licitti Battery Box #hikertrailer, 11:30 - Mods: add Power Pole Jack (Powerwerx PanelPole), original version MPPT is defaulted to Pb batt, takes optional reader/programmer to modify to Li batt.
Easiest DIY Solar Generator Licitti AC Battery Box PRO, 16:14 - original & Pro versions.
Licitti 2,000w Power station. Don't buy until you watch this! Solar generator #solar #diy, 10:01 - Problems with the 2kW version. - Ecoflow Delta 2 (2024Jly11 $599 - maybe less next week on Prime Day)
The $799 Ecoflow Delta 2, 10:13 - 1kWh storage (83Ah 12V battery), 1.8kW AC output
The EcoFlow Delta 2 is LOUD! (when AC charging, but it's adjustable)
Power Station
This is a Power Bank that also has a DC to 120 VAC inverter. These typically have a display similar to those used on UPS power supplies that show the input and output powers. Some have a provision to directly connect a solar panel (include a MPPT charge controller), in which case they are called "Solar Generators".
USB-C Power Delivery (Wiki)
This is a new technology that allows higher voltages (5, 9, 15, 20, 28, 36 &48) on USB-C ports rated for Power Delivery. This corresponds to the world wide adoption of USB-C as the default power connector for hand held devices. So, going forward look for USB-C PD ports both for charging and output.
Description
Annke CP-02A
Not sure what batteries it uses. There are similar products on eBay that have no case and no batteries, but are intended to use 6 each 18650 batteries. This would be a 4S2P connection yielding 12V nominal.
I have on order (30 June 2016) one of the "Mobile Power Bank USB DC 6x18650 Battery Charger Car Jump Starter 3.6/5/6/9/12" and some 18650 unprotected batteries for it. The ad says "Car Jump Starter" but the photos do not show any EC5 connectors.
Load Testing
Using the EL1132 Electronic Load and a custom made EC5-45 Amp Power Pole cable with 10 AWG Super Flex wire. First built a 10 AWG to Power Pole cable for the EL1132.
See Fig 7 for the test setup.
Current Capability Table
Nominal
Amps
Current
Amps
Volts
Power
Watts
0
0
12.19
0
1
1
12.19
12
2
2.013
12.09
24
4
3.998
11.98
48
8
7.998
11.8
94
10
9.982
11.6
116
15
14.97
11.3
169
20
20.03
10.8
216
30
30.12
10.3
310*
* The EL1132 is rated at 300 Watts Max.
Battery Capacity Test Table 4 Amp Load
Note the 8 Amp Hour rating this unit is advertised with did not specify the test conditions. I randomly choose 4 amps for this test.
It turns out that at 4 Amps the capacity is only 1.8 AH. A back of the envelope calculation:
at half the load current the capacity might double to 4 AH, so at 1 amp load maybe 8 AH capacity.
It makes sense the AH rating would be for the lowest current application, i.e. slow charging a cell phone ( maybe 1/2 amp).
The AH rating when jump starting might be 180 Amps & 10 seconds or 1/2 Amp Hour.
Timer
Minutes
I
V
Amin
AH
WH
8:00:00 (11:41:30)
0
4
12.2
0
0
0
7:58:45 (11:42:45)
1:15
4
12.0
5
0.1
60
7:53:45 (11:49)
6:15
4
11.5
25
0.4
300
(11:57:24)
15.54
4
11.0
64
1
768
(12:08)*
26:32
0
6.5
106
1.8
1272
* Turned itself off.
12:14 pm back on charge. Charge LEDs still blinking at 6:30pm
Operation
The USB-A output is normally off and the button needs to be pressed to turn it on. A quick press turns on the "power on" LEDs. If there is no load the unit turns itself off after maybe 15 seconds. This makes it unsuitable for use with low current loads like the GoPro video camera or the WSPRlite radio beacon, both of which have very low standby current drain.
Pressing and holding the button turns on the Flashlight function. Then a quick press causes fast flashing. Another quick press results in an SOS Morse code flash. Another quick press turns the unit off.
The jump start contact seem to be hot all the time. (That makes sense since switching hundreds of amps is not something that can be done in a small space.
Photos
Fraudulent Power Bank
This was advertised on eBay as a power bank & Jump Starter, but when it arrived there were no high current terminals so there's no way it can be used as a high current source.
Marked on front AILI and on back as "Power Banker". It came without any batteries and needs up to 6 each 18650 Li-Ion cells.
Fig 1 back
Fig 2 front
Fig 3 does not work to power GoPro Hero5 camera.
Note LED next to USB output is on yet camera shows
battery without "+" charging icon.
ANKEWR PowerCore20100
This is the newest and best power bank I've got. It works well with low current loads, like the GoPro video camera or the WSPRlite radio beacon, both of which have very low standby current drain.
PowerCore20100
The label says:
Model: A1271
Capacity: 20100 mAh / 72.36 Wh
Input: 5VDC @ 2A Output: 5VDC @ 4.8A
Anker Technologies Co. Ltd. | Made in China
Two each USB-A outputs.
Single USBmicro input.
I haven't bought one, but they offer a 400Wh power bank called the "Power House" which includes 5V, 12V and 115VAC outputs, and uses a "12 Volt" input (they say 16 - 17 VDC @ 6A).
The Suaoki unit seems to have more features and a much lower price. PS5B 444Wh, 3 charging methods: AC line, 12/24VDC vehicle or solar panel (100 Watt panel: 18 VDC @ 5Amp at Equator)
Photos
Fig 1 being charged
(6 hrs and 3rd LED is blinking)
Fig 2 being charged
(6 hrs and 3rd LED is blinking)
Related
Batteries
Battery Chargers
Battery Testing
Generators - Solar AA battery chargers
Joule Thief - very low power circuits
PC Backup UPS: APC1500 - CyberPower CST1500S -
Products for sale
SMIC Solar Electric System
USB Connectors
Car GB150 Battery Jump Starter
References
ElectroBoom - Learn safety by seeing mistakes
Jump Start a Car with AA Batteries - not directly, but by using 10 to 12 series connected AA cells the car battery will be charged enough after about 10 minutes to start.EcoFlow Delta II Review: How Does it Stack Up Against Competition?, 17:09. 2023 - Technical details.
Cranking a Car with Super Capacitors (Supercap) - using 6 series connected 400F super caps.
Links
PRC68, Alphanumeric Index of Web pages, Contact, Products for Sale
Page Created 30 June 2016