What is pass-through charging in a power bank?

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Wat is pass-through charging bij een powerbank?

If you are looking for a power bank, you may have come across the term pass-through charging. But what exactly does it mean and what do you get out of it? In this blog we will answer these questions and provide some examples of situations where pass-through charging can be useful. If you are looking for a power bank with pass-through charging, take a look at our wide range of power banks .

What is pass-through charging?

Pass-through charging means that you charge your power bank while simultaneously using the power bank to charge another device. This can be very useful in some cases, but not every power bank supports pass-through charging. If you are looking for a power bank that supports pass-through charging, pay close attention to the specifications and read the description carefully. Fortunately, all power banks in our range are equipped with pass-through charging. So you don't have to worry about that with us.

Power banks with pass-through charging

Why is pass-through charging useful?

There are several situations in which pass-through charging comes in handy. Suppose you have a charger with only one USB input, but you want to charge multiple devices. If you have a power bank with three ports, you connect it to the charger via 1 port and keep the other 2 ports free to charge your devices. This way you use your power bank as a kind of USB hub. For example, you can charge your smartphone and earphones at the same time. Please note: a power bank delivers a certain amount of watts. Charging all multiple devices at the same time can take a bit longer than if you charge each device directly via the wall socket.

The same goes of course if you only have one outlet to charge your devices. You can also use your power bank to charge all your devices. This can be very useful when you are traveling or backpacking and want to take as little stuff with you as possible.

Pass-through charging is also often used when a device needs to be supplied with power for a longer period of time. For example, consider a navigation system via a dynamo on a bicycle or motorcycle.

Also using a USB solar panel is pass-through charging ideal. Connect your power bank to the solar panel and to your smartphone. First your phone and then your power bank are charged.

What are the disadvantages of pass-through charging?

The biggest disadvantage of pass-through charging is that it creates more heat in the power bank. This is because the power bank is now charging a device and being charged at the same time and has to work harder. Too much heat over a longer period of time causes the battery of the power bank to wear out faster. As a result, the capacity of the power bank decreases.

At lower currents, pass-through charging sometimes does not work, so that the power bank is charged first and not the desired device. Think of a bicycle dynamo or a solar panel, for example.

In addition, the power bank and devices charge slower when you use pass-through charging. Also, fast charging protocols such as USB Power Delivery and Quick Charge do not work.

Conclusion

Pass-through charging can be very useful in a number of situations. Especially when you only have 1 charging block or socket and want to charge multiple devices. It does have a number of disadvantages, including overheating, which means you don't want to use pass-through charging continuously. The lifespan of your power bank can be reduced as a result.

Are you looking for a power bank with pass-through charging? Then you're in luck! At MOJOGEAR, all power banks are equipped with pass-through charging, so whether you're looking for a wireless power bank, a 10,000 mAh power bank or a 20,000 mAh power bank. All models support pass-through charging.

View all our power banks

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