Battery Pack Question With USB Passthru

[wv2win]

I was about to order the battery pack that Sun recommends when I ran across this Macally JBoxMini in Frys on sale for $25. Has anyone tried it or if not do you think it would work just as well since it is about $20 less expensive. One note, the specs in the manual with the product state that the "Battery capacity is 1700 mAh" whereas their web site states Output Current 1000 mA. I don't understand why the difference or if "battery capacity" and "output current" are two different animals. Your advice is appreciated.

JboxMini Macally Peripherals

 

[Sparky]

As long as it is 1000ma it should work just fine...

 

[Houdini]

What kind of USB passthru do you have? If its like the one from PS, that does not have a battery built in, then this battery pack will most likely NOT work. If you have one with the battery built in then it will work.

 

[Cellmeister]

I was about to order the battery pack that Sun recommends when I ran across this Macally JBoxMini in Frys on sale for $25. Has anyone tried it or if not do you think it would work just as well since it is about $20 less expensive. One note, the specs in the manual with the product state that the "Battery capacity is 1700 mAh" whereas their web site states Output Current 1000 mA. I don't understand why the difference or if "battery capacity" and "output current" are two different animals. Your advice is appreciated.

JboxMini Macally Peripherals

OK FACTS: (2) Different Battery mAh What this Means:

1) "Battery capacity is 1700 mAh" Is That is The Actual Battery Size In mAh & Rating Capacity (this is how all batts are, but include the Voltage output as well)

2) "Output Current 1000 mA" That is The Output In mAh That It Delivers U Should Have a Voltage Rating with it ie 5 volts.

If It Puts Out The 1000 mAh with 5 Volts It Will Work, Unless the Rating was Not Correct or Over Rated (frequent issue).


From What You Describe It Will Work, The 1700 mAh (and 5 Volt Output) should be Good for At Least a Few Hours to a Whole Day (can not give you an exact time, everyone vapes different.)

A larger Capacity ie 3400 mAh with 5 Volt / 1000 mAh Output will work for more then a day, again it depends how much you vape, so no one can give you an exact time, everyone vapes different.


Hope This Helps!

Keep Vapin!

 

[ZambucaLu]

What kind of USB passthru do you have? If its like the one from PS, that does not have a battery built in, then this battery pack will most likely NOT work. If you have one with the battery built in then it will work.

Houdini, I am wondering what makes you think this?

Sorry, this is a serious question. It is incorrect and am wondering if others think this as well. There seems to be a lot of confusion about usb passthroughs and power supplies these days.

Lu

 

[Houdini]

I have the Duracell battery pack and it does not work on my passthru from PS and has been tested with others from PS and did not work. But it does work with the passthru with the battery in it. I can't remember who sells that one. You saw that huge thread about it, didn't you? Yeah, you were in there, I remember. Or is this a different kind of battery pack?

 

[CandyGirl]

it's true. i purchased 2 of the duracell batt packs before it was discovered it wouldn't work. no joy here.

 

[ZambucaLu]

I have the Duracell battery pack and it does not work on my passthru from PS and has been tested with others from PS and did not work. But it does work with the passthru with the battery in it. I can't remember who sells that one. You saw that huge thread about it, didn't you? Yeah, you were in there, I remember. Or is this a different kind of battery pack?

Yes, this is a different one. It was found the Duracells weren't powerful enough to power the passthroughs but the one in the OP says 1000ma output, so it should work.

Lu

 

[Houdini]

Ok here's my question (here we go again). If a USB port on a computer puts out 5v. and 500mA and my e-cig passthru (with no battery) works just fine, why does it not work with a battery pack putting out 5v. 1000 mA? I'm not saying your wrong, I'm just thinking there is circuitry in these things that looks for a battery in the device its powering and if it does not see one then it shuts down.

 

[ZambucaLu]

Ok here's my question (here we go again). If a USB port on a computer puts out 5v. and 500mA and my e-cig passthru (with no battery) works just fine, why does it not work with a battery pack putting out 5v. 1000 mA? I'm not saying your wrong, I'm just thinking there is circuitry in these things that looks for a battery in the device its powering and if it does not see one then it shuts down.

I really don't know. I have no idea what my laptop usb current is, but I do know the passthrough works on it....but not on other 500ma devices I (and others) have tried.

My question would be the same....if people are saying the usb port is 500ma, then why does it work? Beats me...lol

We'd probably have to ask trog or something. I know absolutely nothing about batteries but have learned along the way (through trial and error) what works and what doesn't.

Lu

 

[yvilla]

OK FACTS: (2) Different Battery mAh What this Means:

1) "Battery capacity is 1700 mAh" Is That is The Actual Battery Size In mAh & Rating Capacity (this is how all batts are, but include the Voltage output as well)

2) "Output Current 1000 mA" That is The Output In mAh That It Delivers U Should Have a Voltage Rating with it ie 5 volts.

If It Puts Out The 1000 mAh with 5 Volts It Will Work, Unless the Rating was Not Correct or Over Rated (frequent issue).


From What You Describe It Will Work, The 1700 mAh (and 5 Volt Output) should be Good for At Least a Few Hours to a Whole Day (can not give you an exact time, everyone vapes different.)

A larger Capacity ie 3400 mAh with 5 Volt / 1000 mAh Output will work for more then a day, again it depends how much you vape, so no one can give you an exact time, everyone vapes different.


Hope This Helps!

Keep Vapin!

Cell, I'm sorry but you are one of the ones that keep mixing up mA and mAh - and confusing the heck out of people. mA is milliamps. mAh is milliamp hours!

You've got it right in your point number 1. But, in your point number 2, wherever I've marked it in red, you are mistakenly using mAh, when it should be mA, for output! Current output in milliamps (or amps) is a totally different animal than battery capacity in milliamp hours!

Please post on this correctly in the future, so people can stop being confused.

 

[yvilla]

Ok here's my question (here we go again). If a USB port on a computer puts out 5v. and 500mA and my e-cig passthru (with no battery) works just fine, why does it not work with a battery pack putting out 5v. 1000 mA? I'm not saying your wrong, I'm just thinking there is circuitry in these things that looks for a battery in the device its powering and if it does not see one then it shuts down.

Houdini, I believe Trog explained this in the other thread. Apparently, there is a difference between a device meant solely as a battery charger, which looks for a battery to charge, and a device meant to be a battery pack, which will power other devices, like our ecigs, or an ipod, etc. The latter are sometimes also called something like "mobile power packs", like the APC unit.

The latter types of power packs do in fact power our ecigs on USB passthroughs, as many who have the APC device can attest to, as long as they have at least 1000 mA or 1A current output. Even the passthroughs without the battery in line.

As for why the passthroughs work with the supposedly limited to 500 mA output of the computer USB port, well I'm not 100% sure. But, I have seen posts where it's been explained that the USB2 spec does allow for higher current draw. That may be a valid explanation for why some peoples' computers will power a passthrough, and some do not, as reported on other threads. Also, many have reported that a powered USB port (a separate usb port that has it's own connection to mains power) always works with whatever kind of passthrough you have.

 

[wv2win]

What kind of USB passthru do you have? If its like the one from PS, that does not have a battery built in, then this battery pack will most likely NOT work. If you have one with the battery built in then it will work.

My passthrou is from puresmoker. Why won't it work?

 

[Sun Vaporer]

My passthrou is from puresmoker. Why won't it work?

Wv--Puresmokers has no battery or manual switch in it. So you are relying on the battery pack to power the unit, not just charge the battery in a manual passthough like Yang's (Janty)---Sun

 

[wv2win]

OK FACTS: (2) Different Battery mAh What this Means:

1) "Battery capacity is 1700 mAh" Is That is The Actual Battery Size In mAh & Rating Capacity (this is how all batts are, but include the Voltage output as well)

2) "Output Current 1000 mA" That is The Output In mAh That It Delivers U Should Have a Voltage Rating with it ie 5 volts.

If It Puts Out The 1000 mAh with 5 Volts It Will Work, Unless the Rating was Not Correct or Over Rated (frequent issue).


From What You Describe It Will Work, The 1700 mAh (and 5 Volt Output) should be Good for At Least a Few Hours to a Whole Day (can not give you an exact time, everyone vapes different.)

A larger Capacity ie 3400 mAh with 5 Volt / 1000 mAh Output will work for more then a day, again it depends how much you vape, so no one can give you an exact time, everyone vapes different.


Hope This Helps!

Keep Vapin!

Thanks, Cell. It does say, 5V output. But you make a good point on the 3400 mAh which I believe that is the rating that Sun's unit has and probably is worth the extra money. I would also wonder if the larger capacity provides more even power and thus a more consistent vaping experience? If I understand it correctly, as power diminishes, vaping is not as good.

 

[Cellmeister]

Thanks, Cell. It does say, 5V output. But you make a good point on the 3400 mAh which I believe that is the rating that Sun's unit has and probably is worth the extra money. I would also wonder if the larger capacity provides more even power and thus a more consistent vaping experience? If I understand it correctly, as power diminishes, vaping is not as good.

Yes Bigger is Better Again But Ask Any xxxx, It does Not matter.

The E-Cig Draw Demands a Fast High Power, so with a Bigger Unit It will be work better due to the larger size of the battery to a point. But You can do without a size that large as well.

I am testing a bunch a powerpacks now, I have a 1400 mAh Battery that outputs 5 Volts & 700 mAh and It Works (got 10 hours out of it). I have a 3400 mAh Battery Pack That Outputs 700 mAh @ 5 volts, it works better then the 1400 mAh Pack (lasting 2 days now). Also remember these are brand new, after a month or so it will not do as well, this includes all battery packs.

Not to Confuse anyone but any battery that is of good quality you can go a little lower on the mAh size & output for a while when its new, But I still rather have the 1000 mAh output. I am testing with a 901 & 810 USB Pass Throughs.

Ohh, That damn Duracell Power pack, it has a 1000 mAh Battery and only puts out about 500 mAh (manufacturer rated up to 1000 mAh), due to the main size of the 1000 mAH battery and it cant handle a large load, only slow charging), it can not handle the fast & high demand to put out, thats the reason it does not cut it!

Hope That Helps.


Keep Vapin!

 

[Houdini]

So Cell, these USB Pass Throughs you are testing with, do they have a built in battery or not?

 

[trog100]

power is measured in watts..

watts is amps x volts..

an e cig needs 3.5 volts at about 1 amp (mostly a bit less) current to run it..

this equals 3.5 watts of power..

a PC USB socket is rated at 5 volts at .5 amps current... this equals 2.5 watts..

so a USB socket either isnt up to the job of properly powering an e cig or its being over loaded..

probably a bit of both... the janty battery in line idea dosnt let the USB socket directly power the e cig.. the USB socket charges the inline battery (at no more than 250 mah) the battery powers the e cig..

battery capacity is a measure of what the battery holds.. rather like a gallon can is a measure of what the can holds..

volts can be thought of as a measure of pressure or water head.. actual power is a combination of the pressure (water head) and what the can holds.. its measured in watts.. or watt hours

things designed to sense a battery and then charge it will not act as a direct power device.. these things are designed to recharge the batteries that small thingies have fitted to them.. not directly power the device..

the cheaper ones are more likely to power an e cig directly than the more expensive ones.. the more expensive ones sense battery voltages and stuff.. if there is no battery to sense they quite simply do not switch on..

trog

ps... one other thing... a simple lead connected to an ecig atomizer at one end and a PC usb socket at the other end has a resistor or something built into it.. this is to stop the e cig getting the full 5 volts from the USB socket.. without the resistor the USB socket would burn out and so would the e cig heater coil... something designed to be fed 3.5 volts should not be getting fed 5 volts..

 

[Houdini]

things designed to sense a battery and then charge it will not act as a direct power device.. these things are designed to recharge the batteries that small thingies have fitted to them.. not directly power the device..

the cheaper ones are more likely to power an e cig directly than the more expensive ones.. the more expensive ones sense battery voltages and stuff.. if there is no battery to sense they quite simply do not switch on..

trog

This is exactly what I thought and why I think the Duracell won't work. It has ample power but the circuitry says "I'm not seeing a battery to charge so I'm not gonna turn on"

 

[trog100]

u are correct houdini.. or at least with some of the devices.. i have never looked at the duracel one..

trog