Test/review of Thrunite C2 power bank and charger

[size=+3]Thrunite C2 power bank and charger[/size]



A single LiIon cell power bank and charger with fairly high power.
Official specifications:

• Input: DC 5V, Max 2.4A
• Output: DC 5V, Max 3A
• Material: AL T6061 aircraft aluminum body
• Applicable Battery: ThruNite 3400mAh 18650 rechargeable Li-ion battery
• Working Temperature: -20?-40?.
• Size: 92.8mm(Length)*25mm(Width)
• Weight: only 38g (excluding the battery)
• Accessories: 1 * USB cable, 1 * 18650 3400mAh battery, 1 * mesh bag

[size=+2]How does it look[/size]



The power bank is delivered in a brown cardboard box.



It contains the power bank, a usb cable, a bag, a thank you note and a instruction sheet.



In the power bank was a Trunite 3400mAh battery.



The bag.



All connectors and one indicator is placed at one end

• Micro usb: Charge input.
• Usb output.
• Button to turn output on
• Beneath the plastic is some colored leds (Blue+red). They are used to show charge state.

The tail unscrew making it possible to replace the battery or just use it for a 18650 charger.



It has springs at both ends.





[size=+2]Measurements[/size]

• Current drain from battery when off is between 15 and 20uA.
• It will charge the battery to about 4.20V
• Usb output will turn off at around 3V on the battery.
• Can be used as ups
• Usb output is coded as Apple 2.1A
• Usb output will turn off when current drop below 185mA, but to keep output on the initial current must be above 500mA.
• Size: length: 93mm diameter: 25mm
• Weight: 39g (Battery + accessories not included)

Most testing is done with a unprotected Sanyo 18650GA cell.



It may be rated for a maximum output of 3A, but it do not have an overload protection (A protected battery would add that) and the voltage is starting to drop before 3A.



With charge current connected it looks like the output current is taken from the input.



The current version has a problem keeping the output on at low current, i.e. I could not do the 10 ohm trace.



At 1A there is no problem and it can run for about two hours.



The Thrunite cell has slightly less capacity.



At 2.5A it has trouble keeping the voltage high, when the battery voltage drops.



Using the protected Thrunite battery is even worse.



The noise is low at 0.5A load with 13mV rms and 100mVpp.



The noise stays low at 1A with 15mV rms and 115mVpp



At 2.5A the noise is also low with 17mV rms and 117mVpp.



The charge current is a bit high at 2.2A, but it makes it fairly fast to charge the power bank. The high termination current do also help making it fast, but means the battery will lack a few percent in being full.



Adding a resistor in series with the 5V power supply to simulate a long cable or weak supply, will slow down the charge.



[size=+2]Conclusion[/size]

The power bank turns off at way to high load, making it difficult to use for many things, as a charger the current is on the high side (Using a 18650 that is rated for high charge current would fix that). I am not impressed with the rated 3A output, I would have prefered a 2.5A with overload protection.
The construction is nice with a aluminium tube and easy replaceable cell.

For now I cannot really recommend it, making it better at staying on would fix some of it.



[size=+2]Notes[/size]

The power bank was supplied by Thrunite for a review.

Read more about how I test USB power supplies and chargers

Thank you for another detailed and thoughtful review. Looks like this one needs a bit more work before hitting prime time : )

Thank You for the review, but as an elctrical noob i must ask:
1. Can i use it safely with an unprotected Panasonic NCR18650B and Sanyo NCR18650GA, as a charger and powerbank ?
2. Can i safely charge common, protected 18650 batteries (like included one), if i'm using it with an USB wall plugs (i have two), output: (1) 5V - 1A or (2) 5V - 850mA ?

I've got one of these and it's undercharging? If I use the unit to charge its completing at 4.12 volts. I've tried the included cell a few times and an unprotected panasonic cell i had laying around :/. Anyone else having this problem? or maybe I just have a faulty one? Great review by the way!!!

Can't believe I overlooked this for a year! If it performed better, it would be perfect for me.

I usually take a 3200mAh pack (non-replaceable cell) with me backpacking to charge my phone. I also take the H600w headlamp. It would be nice to swap the dead charger cell with the headlamp cell, especially after the last night when I no longer need it, if I needed more power for my phone.