4 Security Features Your Power Bank Should Have

A power bank is a very useful accessory to have with you, especially since there are some that can even do more than just charge. I carry one with me whenever I’m away from home for a full day to ensure I can always recharge my phone with extra power if needed. Power banks come in especially handy if I plan to use battery-intensive features like streaming, browsing, and recording videos. Although you might be tempted to buy the cheapest one you can find, there are some safety features you should look for. While large retailers and e-tailers can largely be trusted to sell only certified products, if you buy second-hand or from an unknown store, even when buying online, you need to keep an eye out for specific security features.

For example, there’s battery management technology that prevents overcharging and smart charging that detects the optimal power needs of your devices and adjusts accordingly. A power bank with these features is what differentiates a safe power bank from a budget bank. And when you’re connecting it to crucial devices like your phone — which not only can cost upwards of $1,000 (or more) but which you rely on 24/7 — it’s not worth saving a few bucks to get a power bank that might not only short out, but damage your connected device in the process.

To prevent overcharging if the phone or other device is plugged in after its battery has reached maximum capacity, quality power banks, including even the best wireless power banks, include a battery management system (BMS). This feature monitors charging as it happens and intentionally shuts off power so that it doesn’t overcharge or short when you don’t unplug a device after its battery is full. If you leave your phone and charger in a backpack or purse, for example, you may not know when they reach 100%. So, this ensures that the power bank will not try to continue charging beyond this limit. Described as the “brains” of the power bank, the BMS not only ensures that you can plug in your devices with confidence and know that they will charge at an appropriate rate, but it also delivers the best possible performance and keeps the power bank’s battery healthy for as long as possible.

Belkin, for example, uses a dual-chip design for its proprietary BMS that protects your connected device from overcurrent, overvoltage, and even undervoltage, essentially turning off the external battery once the voltage drops below a safe level. Basically, not only will the power bank avoid trying to push more charge than your device can handle, but if its battery is too low to charge, it also won’t tax itself for trying to do so.

Temperature protection is usually an integral part of a BMS. This feature stops charging if the external battery gets too hot. This can happen if you’re charging your device outside on a hot, sunny day, for example, or if it’s stored in your warm bag. Belkin uses a dedicated thermal sensor in its power banks, combined with thermal shutdown mechanisms. This ensures that the external battery’s integrated circuit does not overheat. This is important because it could potentially damage the charger and make it unsafe to use. It could also damage your connected device.

This feature may sometimes be named separately in specifications as overheating protection. It will typically trigger if the temperature exceeds 140°F to 158°F, in which case the charger will shut down and wait for it to cool before resuming charging. The same goes for temperatures that are too cold. If the charger drops below freezing, it will stop charging until the cells warm up. You’re less likely to experience this problem unless you’re using it outside in subzero temperatures, like in a ski lodge or traveling on a freezing winter day outside.

Many modern power banks have smart charging through features like Power Delivery (PD). This ensures that the power bank can detect which device has been plugged in and use the appropriate voltage to ensure fast and safe charging. If the power bank, for example, is also capable of charging things like a laptop at a higher voltage, you want to make sure it’s not trying to charge a smartphone at the same voltage.

You may notice that some of the more advanced power banks with screens show exactly what device you have plugged into them, like an Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone. Since you can charge so many devices with one power bank, this provides added assurance that it optimizes charging accordingly. If you have a power bank with a lower voltage, don’t worry. But if you’re using larger, more powerful power banks to charge devices that require more power than a phone, this feature is essential. Although you can use it primarily for your laptop, this gives you the confidence that you can also charge your tablet, phone, earphones, wireless earphone case, smartwatch and much more using the same power bank.

A power bank must have clear markings for safety certification of the country from which it is sold. For the United States, these are UL and FCC. UL certification confirms that the device has been tested by independent laboratories, is safe to use, and does not present a fire hazard when used properly. The FCC label, on the other hand, means that it meets FCC requirements and required standards. In Canada, you may see CSA, cUL or cETL labels, which also confirm that it meets electrical safety standards. In other countries as well as the United States, there are certifications such as CB, CCC (in China), CE (European Union), PSE (Japan), etc. Depending on where you’re buying, look for certifications the product should have to verify that it has been thoroughly tested. You can also look for the RoHS icon, which stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. This confirms that it complies with all global restrictions regarding the use of hazardous substances in the manufacturing process.

All of these markings may seem unimportant, but they’re essentially seals of approval worth their weight in gold. Inspect a charger you may be considering purchasing used or check the listing online or on the packaging at a store to ensure the relevant symbols are displayed. Although many cheap power banks frequently go on sale, look for these safety features first before choosing based solely on the best deal.