power bank not working

Why Is Your Power Bank Not Working: A Helpful Guide

Here are a few things that you can do provided the fault is minor. First, check if the power plug is completely inserted into the charging port and ensure that there’s no debris in the USB port.

You should also attempt to use an alternative power cable. If that doesn’t work, use a different power bank adapter to charge.

Factors That Cause Power Banks to Stop Working

A power bank is a portable charger that can store energy and output it to electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, e-readers, etc. A power bank can also be called a portable charger. 

The stored energy in these batteries isn’t unlimited and they need to be recharged periodically. As the life of a portable charger reduces with usage and time, there are many factors that can cause them to stop working.

Battery Age

As time goes on, even the most advanced batteries can wear out, especially if they’re constantly charged and discharged.

The battery in your portable charger might have worn out if you’ve been using it for more than a couple of years.

Extreme Temperatures

Batteries can be damaged by changes in weather and temperature. External batteries are small devices that can be carried with you and used to charge your electronics while on the move. When traveling to regions that have extreme temperatures, however, you must take steps to guarantee the safety of your external battery.

Owner’s Neglect

Using a power bank in ways that aren’t recommended by the manufacturer can result in stress, which is another reason why external batteries stop working. If you want to increase your battery life, don’t use it to charge too many devices at once or use the wrong adaptor.

Manufacturing Defects

Sometimes, bad hardware like a faulty adapter and incorrect charging can also be responsible for your portable charger not working properly.

No Longer Functional Batteries

When the battery compound of the external battery has been used up, it no longer functions as intended. It can’t be recharged and the battery loses its ability to hold a charge.

To prevent your power bank from being damaged by any of these factors, you should always follow the instructions during operation and avoid improper charging or discharging since those actions will reduce the life of your external battery.

In addition, make sure not to leave an external battery for a long time without using it. If the power bank is of no use, dispose of it properly and go shopping for another model that will better suit your needs.

power bank not working

Fixing Your Power Bank

We can now examine the best approach to identify the problem after learning about the numerous reasons for your battery’s deterioration and failure.

You can try charging a separate gadget with your power bank if you’ve been using it to charge one mobile phone. 

This will assist you in determining whether the issue is with the power bank or your phone. Make sure the devices you’re using for this check are in good working order.

Similarly, test different devices with your USB cord to ensure it’s operating properly. The quality of your power cord is crucial!

Your power bank’s USB socket should be stable. If it wiggles or you have trouble sliding cords into it, it’s likely damaged. In most cases, USB connectors are a rather inexpensive solution.

If you haven’t used your power bank in a few months, you can fully charge it, but it won’t be able to charge your devices because it has entered sleep mode. You can resolve this by doing the following: 

  • Reconnect the power bank to the wall charger as if it were being charged
  • For 10 seconds, press and hold the Power button on the power bank’s side
  • Charge the battery completely
  • Remove the power bank from the charger and unplug it
  • Your phone should now be charging after you connect it to the power bank

If your equipment is at least somewhat new, you might still be protected by a manufacturer’s warranty. If the maker finds that you’ve been using your device responsibly and that it’s still within the warranty period, they might offer to fix or replace it.

Power Bank Maintenance

There’s a lot you can do to extend the life of your external battery, but it will ultimately come to an end. Follow these easy battery care instructions to make sure your batteries last as long as possible.

  1. Keep in mind that you should always use a USB cable supplied by the vendor or a short, high-quality USB cable
  2. Avoid simultaneously charging your phone with the power bank and charging the power bank from a wall outlet
  3. Don’t leave your power bank sitting in a hot car
  4. When charging a power bank, only use devices that have been specifically designed for that model
  5. Make sure to fully charge the power bank every three months if it’s not used frequently
  6. Remember to keep your power bank in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated location
  7. Keep the power bank from being dropped, knocked, or physically damaged
  8. When you aren’t using your power bank to charge devices, remove the USB cord from the socket on the power bank
  9. Use a wall outlet to charge the power bank, not a USB outlet on a laptop
power bank not working

Maintenance of Lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are constructed in such a way that they can only be charged to a level just below their maximum capacity before reaching their maximum voltage.

They may discharge up to a particular voltage, after which their internal circuits protect the batteries by stopping further discharge. The life of lithium-ion batteries is reduced when they’re overcharged.

It might be difficult to recharge the power bank batteries if they’re completely depleted for any reason and the voltage falls below a certain threshold.

In such circumstances, connect it to a power source for longer until it slowly trickles charges to a particular threshold level and then resumes its normal charging routine.

Remember not to leave the lithium-ion battery power bank charging longer than necessary.

FAQ

How Long Do Power Banks Last?

Power banks have a lifespan of 4 to 5 years on average and can retain a charge for 4-6 months without depleting much power. Depending on the type and model, a power bank battery can last between 300 to 1000 power cycles.

Is It Possible for a Power Bank to Explode?

Overcharging of low-quality power cells used inside some power banks might result in an explosion. Not only might this cause damage to your device, but it could also have more catastrophic ramifications.

Is It Necessary to Deplete My Power Bank Before Charging It?

Even if the power bank has some charge when it is initially opened, it is recommended that you fully charge it before using it for the first time. 

Almost all power banks are shipped with a charging cable that can be used to charge the device by plugging it into an electric power outlet or another power source, such as a laptop’s USB connection.

Why Does My Power Bank Automatically Shut Down After 30 Seconds?

As the battery of power banks ages, its performance deteriorates. As a result, if your batteries have reached their maximum sustainable capacity, the power bank will shut down after a few seconds. If the batteries are completely depleted, the device might not even turn on at all. 

Power banks are equipped with an internal control unit/circuit (ICU) that regulates their operation.

Which Is Better: A 10000mah or a 20000mah Power Bank?

Smaller portable batteries with capacities of 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh are available, but a 20000mAh power bank will last longer and should be able to charge your phone battery numerous times.

Why Is My Power Bank Taking so Long to Charge?

The following are the main reasons why your charging rate is slow:

  • Power adapter does not have enough power to charge quickly
  • You’re charging with a poor-quality cable

Conclusion

We hope that this short guide has helped you to diagnose and fix the problems that might be arising with your power bank. We hope your batteries last as long as possible, and we wish you luck in any future battery-purchasing endeavors!

If you find this article helpful, you might also be interested in getting the Best Wall Charger or Blackweb Portable Charger for your phone!