This is a valuable feature for iPhone users who need a quick boost to their phone's battery when they don't have time to leave their phone plugged in for several hours. However, sometimes, this feature may not work as intended. Here are some ways to troubleshoot the problem.
1. Make sure you are using a MFi certified USB-C to Lightning cable. You need this cable to fast charge your iPhone. For newer iPhone releases (since the iPhone 11 Pro), this cable comes in the box. However, if you have an older iPhone (iPhone 8) or if you lost the original cable, you'll need to purchase a new one. If you decide to purchase from Apple, there's no risk there, but the price can be a bit high. For third-party sellers, make sure that the cable is officially approved by Apple by checking that it has the MFi certification mark. For example, take a look at ZMI's cable and see how it has the Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod label. A cable that is not MFi certified may cause problems when charging.
2. Make sure you have a USB-C PD charger. Since the iPhone 12, Apple no longer provides a charger/power adapter in the box. To fast charge an iPhone, you need a charger with a USB-C port that also supports USB Power Delivery. It usually will say in the product title if this is the case. You can always purchase a new compatible charger directly from Apple, including the 20W USB-C charger. However, smaller and more affordable options are available. We sell several USB-C PD chargers.
3. The USB-C PD charger should support at least 18W charging. Although Apple recommends a 20W charger for best performance, the typical charging time between an 18W and 20W charger is negligible, but a 20W or higher charger may boost Apple's MagSafe wireless charging speed a bit.
4. Fast charging is not a constant charging speed. Do not expect your iPhone to continue fast charging from 0-100%. As your iPhone's battery fills up, the charging speed will begin to taper. Usually past the 50% full mark, you will begin to notice a reduction in charging speed. Around 80% full, the iPhone will switch from fast charging to normal charging. This is not a bug or issue with the iPhone or charger but a normal setting that Apple has configured. It is probably designed to protect the battery's lifespan. For a longer battery life, it is best to keep the iPhone battery level between 20-80% full.
If you are having other issues related to charging your iPhone or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.
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1) Put both earbuds back in the charging case. Leave the case lid OPEN.
2) Press and hold the button for 20 seconds (ignore the change in the LED light, just hold down the button for 20 consecutive seconds).
After the forced shutdown, you may try to reconnect the earbuds as if they are new out of the box.
]]>A: Yes, the ZMI Hear app is available for download on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad. Open the App Store on your device and go to search. Type in "ZMI Hear" and the app will appear in the results. If you decide not to use the ZMI Hear app, there are two alternative ways to pair the earbuds.
1. Go to your iPhone/iPad's Bluetooth settings. Initiate pairing by opening the lid on the charging case with both earbuds in the case. Then, long-press the round button on the case until it flashes white (the button also serves as the ZMI logo and battery status LED indicator). Now, an entry for 'ZMI PurPods Pro' should appear in the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone; tap that entry to complete pairing.
2. For Chinese-speaking users, you can go to Apple's App Store and search for an app called '小爱同学'. If there's difficulty typing Chinese on your phone, you can also search for 'xiaomi ai' and look for the following app among the returned search results. Please make sure that the app icon, app name, and app vendor all match the following screenshot. Please note that this app will configure the earbuds to use Xiaomi's AI voice assistant called '小爱同学' (literally, XiaoAI classmate), instead of Siri. Unfortunately, the Xiaomi voice assistant may not work properly in places outside Mainland China. On the other hand, the app does allow you to customize the configurations for the earbuds and update the firmware.
After the earbuds are paired, you may use the following as an operational guide:
1) Long press (that is, press and hold) to cycle through noise cancellation ON, noise cancellation OFF, and passthrough mode.
2) Singe press: Short-squeeze the stem of either earbud to pause or continue playing the current piece.
3) Double press: Short-squeeze twice the stem of the right earbud in close succession to play the next piece. Doing that on the left earbud will play the previous piece.
4) Triple press: Short-squeeze three times the stem of either earbud in close succession to wake Siri on your iOS device.
What causes this problem to happen?
Is it still safe to use the device?
How can I dispose of the battery safely?
Portable chargers and smartphones typically contain lithium-ion batteries. Some common causes of lithium-ion battery swelling are summarized in this article: https://www.dfrsolutions.com/blog/why-do-lithium-ion-batteries-swell
"Common causes of battery swelling include:
From ifixit.com's guide:
"Lithium-ion batteries use a chemical reaction to generate power. As the battery ages, this chemical reaction no longer completes perfectly, which can result in the creation of gas (called outgassing), leading to a swollen battery."
ZMI battery packs have protections against battery overcharge and overdischarge. However, mechanical damage (i.e., dropping a battery pack) can potentially cause the battery to swell. Also, storing and operating the battery pack at high temperatures can cause a wide range of issues. In the summertime it is especially important to make sure not to leave your smartphone or battery pack in the car for long periods of time.
If you notice swelling of a battery, it is important to stop using the battery or the device containing the battery immediately and take steps to dispose of the battery properly.
To properly dispose of a swollen battery, make sure to place the battery on a non-flammable surface or inside a fire-proof container. Metal surfaces and sand work best. Do not throw the battery in the trash. Do not expose the battery to liquids and moisture. The battery should be disposed of at a recycling center that can handle e-waste.
Here are a couple links to help you locate recycling centers that handle e-waste.
https://sustainableelectronics.org/recyclers
https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/
If you are unsure if your battery is swollen or not, or if you have other questions regarding the safety of our products, please contact us for help.
]]>Recharging the PowerPack
The PowerPack 20K has a large capacity that can charge devices like the iPhone 7 around 7 times. However, the battery will eventually run out of juice and you'll need to refuel it. You can check the battery level by looking at the four lights on the side of the PowerPack 20K. If you press the side button and none of the lights are flashing continuously, this means the battery is low and needs to be recharged.
You can recharge the PowerPack by plugging the USB-C to USB-C cable that we provide in the box into a USB-C power adapter. The USB-C to USB-C cable is the cable that has the same connector tip shape on both ends.
There are other ways besides using a USB-C power adapter to recharge, but we do not recommend them, because it will take much longer. If you have a MacBook Pro (2017 or newer) or a MacBook Air (2018 or newer), you can just use your laptop's regular charger to recharge the PowerPack. If you have a newer PC with USB-C ports, you should also be able to recharge the PowerPack using your regular charger. If you do not have a USB-C power adapter or are not sure if yours will work, please consider purchasing ZMI's 45W USB-C adapter, which is guaranteed to work.
While recharging, the lights on the side will turn on one by one. One light will be flashing while one or more lights will be always on. When recharging is complete, you will see all four lights on the side of the PowerPack continuously on and none flashing.
Charging devices
The PowerPack 20K has three output ports: 2 USB-A at the ends and 1 USB-C in the middle.
Here's how you can use the USB-C port.
You can charge devices like USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 laptops and the Nintendo Switch with a USB-C to USB-C cable. For laptops like the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 13, you have to use a USB-C to USB-C cable in order for charging to work. Other types of cables will not work. You can also charge phones like the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy (S10 and Note10).
Insert one end of the cable into the middle port of the PowerPack and the other end into your device's USB-C port.
Here's how you can use either USB-A port.
You can use a USB-A to USB-C cable to charge Android smartphones and tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy phones (S9 and earlier).
You can also use a USB-A to Micro USB cable to charge older Android smartphones, older Kindle e-readers, and Bluetooth speakers.
\
We also provide a USB-A to USB-C/Micro USB combo cable in the PowerPack's box. If you pull on the USB-C end, you'll get a Micro USB tip underneath.
For iPhone and iPad (non Pro 2nd Gen+ models)
Charging an iPhone or iPad can be done with either USB-A port and also the USB-C port.
Regular charging of the iPhone or iPad can be done with your regular charging cable/cord. It's a USB-A to Lightning cable. The larger rectangular end goes into one of the USB-A ports on the PowerPack 20K. The smaller end goes into your device.
To fast charge your iPhone (8 or later) or charge your iPad (non Pro 2nd Gen+ models), you will need a USB-C to Lightning cable. Plug the larger USB-C oval end into the middle port of the PowerPack and plug the smaller end into your device.
iPad Pro (2nd Gen and newer) models can be charged with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
]]>The beta tester program is invitation-only.
On iOS, we will send you an invite to TestFlight via email. Follow the directions in the email to install the beta app. If you haven't used the TestFlight app before, the directions will guide you to download and install TestFlight in App Store.
On Android, please send us a request to join our beta tester program via email (beta@zmiusa.com). The Android OS is owned by Google, which requires the user to have a Gmail (@gmail.com) or Google Apps account to participate in the beta program.
]]>A: Here are a few reasons why this might be happening.
1. The battery pack has run out of juice or power. Press the side button of the PowerPack 20K and make sure at least 1 light is flashing continuously. If all 4 lights go out, that means the PowerPack is out of power and needs to be recharged. For charging laptops, it is recommended to have at least 2 lights flashing. 4 lights (full charge) would be preferred.
2. The USB-C to USB-C cable is broken. Please make sure you are using a quality USB-C to USB-C cable to charge your laptop. We include a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box. Make sure you are using that cable to recharge and charge.
Note: If you are using a USB-A to USB-C cable to charge your laptop, it is possible that charging may not start (observed with HP, Dell, and some Lenovo models). Even if charging does work, it will happen at a much reduced rate and not keep up with your laptop's power consumption.
3. Your laptop is not compatible with the PowerPack 20K. Please check the compatibility list on our product page to ensure your laptop fits our requirements. If not sure, please contact us to check.
4. The PowerPack 20K is not working. If this is the case, please contact us for assistance. If your order was made within 18 months, you may be eligible for a warranty replacement or refund.
]]>Skimming the tech specs of a laptop model offers a quick validity check towards determining if the laptop is compatible with a USB-C charger.
Model | OEM AC Adapter Power Rating | Charging Port Type | Remarks |
ThinkPad X1 Carbon (7th Gen) | |||
ThinkPad L380 |
|||
ThinkPad X270 | |||
ThinkPad P1 | 135W | IBM proprietary slim tip (rectangular) port | TB3 ports support power-out only. |
Yoga X1 3th gen | 45W | 65W | USB-C | |
ThinkPad X390 | 45W | 65W | USB-C | |
ThinkPad L390 Yoga | 45W | 65W | USB-C | |
Chromebook C330 | 45W | USB-C |
Model | OEM AC Adapter Power Rating | Charging Port Type | Remarks |
Latitude 7200 2-in-1 | 45W | 65W | USB-C | |
Latitude 7490 | 65W | 90W | DC-IN, USB-C (Thunderbolt 3 optional) | |
XPS 15 9570 | 130W | DC-IN, USB-C | |
]]>
A: The side button has several functions.
1. To check the battery level (how many of the four lights are flashing).
2. To manually wake the PowerPack up from sleep (after 30 seconds of no use).
3. To switch between Qualcomm Quick Charge and normal charge.
4. Double-press to turn on low power charging mode for Bluetooth devices, smartwatches, and other low-powered devices.
Toggling between fast charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge) and normal charging is one purpose. The fast charging facility of this battery pack is for Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy series. The battery pack does not support the fast charging technology used in the Apple iPhone or Google Pixel. If you have one of these devices and would like to use fast charging, please check out the ZMI PowerPack 10K USB-C PD portable charger.
]]>A: There are a few possible reasons why this happened.
1. The PowerPack 10K automatically turns off after 30 seconds of inactivity. If there is no device or wall charger/power plug connected, the lights will stop flashing within 30 seconds. This will happen even if there is a cable plugged in to conserve the battery. To turn on the PowerPack 10K, press the side button once.
2. The PowerPack 10K will turn off if the charging load is not above a certain threshold. For example, if you are trying to charge a low power device like a smartwatch, fitness tracker, or Bluetooth headphones/speaker, the PowerPack 10K will turn off after a while because of the low power draw. To charge these lower power devices, you can turn on low power mode by double-pressing the side button on the PowerPack 10K. For more information, visit this FAQ post.
3. The PowerPack 10K will only charge devices and provide output from the single USB-A port. The other two ports labeled "IN" are for input only (recharging the PowerPack). If you are trying to charge a USB-C device like the Google Pixel from the PowerPack's USB-C port, there will be no power flowing to your device and the PowerPack will turn off automatically.
4. If the above reasons are not relevant to the problem you are experiencing, please contact ZMI Customer Support for further assistance. Here is our contact information.
Phone: +1 (844) 828-2302 (US)
Email: support@zmiusa.com
Facebook Message: facebook.com/zmiusa
A: No, the PowerPack 10K can only output 12V under the Qualcomm Quick Charge protocol. Devices that support Quick Charge will do the proper handshake with the battery pack to get the desired voltage for charging. For other devices like the GPS or fish-finder that take raw 12V via loose wires, the PowerPack 10K will only charge at 5V.
The reason is that power out of a USB port is stipulated by the governing body that oversees all USB applications. Had raw 12v been that easily drawn out of a USB port, then someone could get their phone or tablet fried if their device is not capable of handling 12V.
]]>A: No, the PowerPack 20K only has one USB-C port. To fast charge both devices, you would need two USB-C ports each capable of 18W output.
The PowerPack 20K can only fast charge one device at a time. For the iPhone XS, you will need to use a USB-C to Lightning cable.
]]>
A: Here are a few reasons why fast charging may not be working:
1. The battery pack is defective. We have an 18-month warranty, so we can offer return and refund or a replacement. You can also try recharging the PowerPack with your Note9's wall charger to see if the blue light will turn on then.
2. The fast charging feature on your Note9 is turned off. You can go into the settings of your phone to check if the battery setting has been enabled for fast charging.
3. The phone is throttling the charging speed. A few factors related to this problem include background apps running, whether the lock screen is on, and temperature of the Note9. You can try restarting the phone to see if fast charging will work.
4. The phone is trying to top-off the last 10-15% of battery. During top-off, the phone may decide to not fast charge.
For further explanation, troubleshooting, and warranty service, please contact us.
]]>
A: The PowerPack 20K is behaving this way because of the constraints of the USB-C standard and the way Apple's USB-C to Lightning cable is designed. When using a typical USB-C to USB-C cable, the lights on the PowerPack 20K will stop flashing automatically after some time if no device is detected to be charging on the other end. However, with Apple's USB-C to Lightning cable, the PowerPack will function differently.
1. The USB-C standard has defined mechanisms to allow a power-drawing device (such as a phone, tablet, or laptop) and a power supply (such as the PowerPack) to signal one another. These include: when power is needed and the power supply should wake up and provide power, and when power is no longer needed and the power supply can go to sleep (to conserve power). This is why you see the PowerPack going to sleep while the USB-C cable is plugged in but without a load (such as a phone) attached to the end of the cable.
2. Apple's USB-C to Lightning cable is different than the USB-C to USB-C cable in that the former is itself a load. There is a proprietary IC chip made by Apple embedded in the Lightning tip of the cable. Moreover, there is no perfect way to map the pins of the USB-C connector to the Lightning connector. What we know as the USB-C to Lightning cable is essentially a "hack" by Apple to support USB-C power supply. You might wonder why iPhone's stock Lightning cable doesn't have this problem. That's because battery packs typically implement a detection mechanism to monitor the current (amperage) drawn by the device and will shut off and go to sleep if the current draw falls below a threshold (somewhere between 50 mA to 100 mA). The reason this minimum current based rule has not been applied to USB-C is because that would have violated the USB-C specs. In comparison, the old USB-A standard does not stipulate this area, leaving more freedom for vendors to define their own hacks.
3. The behavior of the PowerPack, when used with the USB-C to Lightning cable, is commonly seen among USB-C power banks. The Lightning tip is a load by itself, even if no device is attached to it. The battery pack cannot just turn off, because that would be off-spec. When a power supply is off-spec, a whole range of compatibility issues will arise when the power supply tries to work with other devices that do follow the USB-C specs.
A solution to the problem: Unplug the Apple USB-C to Lightning cable from the PowerPack when you're not charging your iPhone or iPad. Starting with the 2018 iPad Pro, Apple has begun switching to the USB-C port. This problem will be a thing of the past after Apple completes the transition from the Lightning port to the USB-C port.
]]>
A:
Yes, you can use the Apple 30W charger and a USB-C to USB-C cable to recharge the PowerPack 10K.
However, please note that the USB Power Delivery (PD) fast charging technology in the 30W charger will not work. The PowerPack 10K follows Qualcomm’s Quick Charge approach to fast charging. Instead of fast recharging, the PowerPack 10K will be recharged at the standard 5V.
]]>A: All of our battery packs feature flashing LED lights in unison to indicate the battery level when you are charging a device. The actual number of lights participating in the flashing corresponds to the current battery level. If your battery pack is over 75.01% full, it would be normal to see four blinking lights.
The flashing of the LED lights is a designed feature for the purpose of saving battery and reduce heat. As energy-efficient as LEDs are, they do draw some power and generate some heat if left constantly on. By flashing them, the battery pack doesn't need to expend as much energy as it would if the lights stayed solid.
]]>A: Your iPad 2016 model has a fairly large battery with a nominal capacity of 27.9 watt-hours. In comparison, the Plugornot Zero is rated for 24.3 watt-hours. The conversion efficiency is about 70% (some stored energy is lost in the conversion process inside the Plugornot Zero, and some more is lost inside your iPad.).
A fully charged Plugornot Zero can charge your iPad from 0 to 60%-70% full. The Plugornot Zero will then run out of battery, and you will need to recharge it by plugging it into the wall. (You can charge your iPad with the Plugornot Zero while it is being recharged.)
The iPhone X has a much smaller built-in battery with a nominal capacity of 10.35 watt-hours. Using the same methodology, the iPhone X will get about 1.6 full charges on a single full charge of the Plugornot Zero.
The Plugornot Zero will also charge your iPhone X about twice as fast as your stock iPhone square plug. The Plugornot Zero will charge as fast as your iPad's stock power brick if you only charge one device at a time. If you use both USB ports on the Plugornot Zero, the charging speed will be reduced.
]]>A:
The cord that connects the PowerPack 10K to your Samsung Galaxy S8 is called a USB-C to USB-A cable (sometimes, it is also referred to as USB-C to USB cable). ZMI makes TPE (a type of rubbery plastics that's also used to make your stock phone cord) and braided cords.
Please check out our phone cables for Samsung S8 and newer models on Amazon by click here.
To choose among the different cord variations, there are four factors to consider:
1) Length of the cord. It depends on what you'll use the cord for.
2) The material used for the protective sleeve on the cord (TPE vs. braided).
3) Color preference.
4) Price.
You can use the same cord for Galaxy S8 to recharge the battery pack. Please note that the middle port on the battery pack is of the same type as the charging port on your Galaxy S8.
Note: the above information is also applicable with other Samsung Galaxy phones: S10, S10 Plus, S10e, S9, S9 Plus, and S8 Plus.
]]>There's a reset key in the recess as illustrated in the picture below. You may use a SIM card tool or a straightened paper clip to press and hold the reset key for several seconds while the MF885 is on. To verify the factory reset is successful, please follow these steps:
]]>
A:
To charge the Samsung S8, you will need to use your Samsung's charging cable. Plug the rectangular USB end of the cable into the PowerPack port labeled OUT. Plug the other end (USB-C) into your S8. The S8 will begin fast charging (Quick Charge) automatically. Pressing the side button once on the PowerPack will toggle ON/OFF Quick Charge mode.
There are a couple of ways you can recharge the battery pack.
Method #1: You can recharge the battery pack with the same charging cable you use to charge your S8. Plug the rectangular USB end into your phone's wall charger which is plugged into a wall outlet. Plug the other end into the middle port (the USB-C port) on the battery pack.
Method #2: The battery pack comes with a short cord (about 6" long). Insert the small tip of the cord into the small port on the battery pack labeled "IN" and to the left of the 4 indicator lights, and then insert the rectangular USB end of the short cord into the USB port on your Galaxy S8's wall charger.
The recharging will take about 5-6 hours. When it's done, you'll see four steady lights.
]]>A: No, it will not. Specifically, the PowerPack 10K does not support USB Power Delivery (PD) fast charging technology in the iPhone X, XS, and XS Max. By Apple's definition of what can be considered fast charging, the minimum rating would be an 18W USB-C, PD charger. You can take a look at the official Apple guidelines/instructions here.
But the PowerPack 10K will charge your iPhone faster than the stock 5-watt (W) iPhone square plug. Based on our own usage and testing, the iPhone can be recharged at around 10-12W with the PowerPack 10K, which is roughly 2x your stock iPhone plug. For the average consumer, this is more than enough for everyday use. Keep in mind that in order to fast charge your iPhone using Apple's guidelines, you may have to purchase a new USB PD wall plug and a USB-C to Lightning cable. However, the difference is charging speed between 18W vs 12W wall plugs is not very noticeable in day-to-day use.
We have an upgraded version called the PowerPack 10K USB-C which supports fast charging for iPhone's.
If you are interested in learning more about fast charging your iPhone, please read this short guide we put together: Fast charging your iPhone.
]]>Take a look at the new Apple MacBooks. The MacBook Pro, MacBook, and MacBook Air have all abandoned the old MagSafe 2 connector (see the picture below).
They now use this single connector type for charging and data transfer.
This is USB-C and it’s kicking the old charging connectors to the curb. Do you have a newer HP, Dell, or Lenovo laptop? It probably has a USB-C port (or two).
But it’s not just the latest laptops that are affected by this. The newest generation of iPad Pro’s also have USB-C ports. At this point, the iPhone, iPad, AirPod's charging case, and Apple Pencil still use Apple’s proprietary Lightning connectors.
However, other smartphone manufacturers have already hopped on the USB-C train. Samsung, Google, LG, are Lenovo Moto are all using USB-C ports in their new devices.
Given this rapid influx of new USB-C devices along with older devices with older ports already in the pockets of consumers, the transition to USB-C can be a bit confusing for those who have been using a bunch of different proprietary chargers and cables for most of their lives.
But transitioning to USB-C is necessary and important. It will simplify your life. In the past, you had different ports and cables with different standards designed and created by different manufacturers. Each type had its strengths and weaknesses and intended purpose. If you had a variety of devices, you would end up with a bunch of different cables and chargers for different devices.
The most common setup and one you might be familiar with is a wall charger/power brick with one or more USB-A (aka standard USB) ports and a charging cable with a USB-A tip on one end and a proprietary connector tip on the other end that goes into your device. If you have a Kindle, you are probably using a Micro-USB to USB cable along with your USB wall charger/power adapter.
USB-C can replace many of the old connectors in terms of function. It is capable of both charging and data transfer. This means you can just use one wall charger and one cable for a variety of different devices. USB-C is also easy to use. The oval shape of the reversible connector tip makes it impossible to plug it in “upside-down.” And depending on the protocol and standard, USB-C ports and cables can offer much faster charging and data transfer speeds. Most importantly, as the recent trends suggest, USB-C is quickly becoming a universal connector type, so making this transition will become inevitable very soon.
1. Getting a USB-C wall charger or power plug will make it much easier to charge a variety of newer devices that have USB-C port.
For example, ZMI’s Turbo 45W USB-C charger can charge a lot of different devices: MacBook Pro 2016 or newer, MacBook 2015 or newer, MacBook Air 2018, iPad Pro 2018, Samsung Chromebook Pro/Plus, Samsung Galaxy S10/S10+, S9/S9+, S8/S8+, S7/S7 edge, S6/S6+/S6 edge/S6 edge+, Note9; Google Nexus 6p, Pixel/Pixel 2/Pixel XL/Pixel 2 XL/Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL, Pixelbook, newer Motorola and LG phones, and GoPro HERO5/6/7.
2. Choosing the right USB-C wall charger is very important. Take a look at the specs of your device’s current wall charger to make sure the USB-C wall charger you purchase can handle the power requirements of your device.
3. Partner your USB-C wall charger with a USB-C to USB-C cable (included with the ZMI 45W Turbo charger), and you're all set for charging your MacBook Pro, Samsung S10, or Pixel 3.
4. To charge devices without a USB-C port with a USB-C wall charger, you will need to use a USB-C OTG to USB (female) adapter. This adapter along with your device’s charging cable will allow you to charge your non-USB-C devices. For example, if your device is a Kindle or an older Samsung phone with a Micro-USB port, this adapter will allow you to charge with a USB-C wall charger. You would need to connect your USB-A to Micro-USB cable to the adapter first, with the USB-C end going into your USB-C wall charger. The Micro-USB end will go into your device.
5. To continue using your regular USB-A wall charger to charge your USB-C devices, please keep in mind they may not charge at the fastest speeds possible. To do so, the easiest method is to use a USB-C to USB cable, which ZMI sells here.
6. If you are using an iPhone, a USB-C wall charger is currently not necessary. But if you do decide to charge your iPhone using USB-C, you will need to purchase an authentic USB-C to Lightning cable.
A: These are some common questions we receive from our customers that we want to address.
Recharging:
The PowerPack 10K can be recharged using the included micro-USB cable. Here is a picture of the contents you receive with every PowerPack purchase:
(Note: the user guide may be bigger in new purchases.)
You should see a short 1ft. cable that is either black or white depending on the color of your PowerPack. This 1ft cable is stuffed in a small side compartment next to the PowerPack compartment. It should be inside a plastic sleeve or pouch. This short cable is used to recharge your PowerPack only. It is not intended to charge your iPhone or Android smartphone. However, there are a few compatible devices that the short cable will charge; please contact us (support@zmiusa.com) for more information.
Plug the smaller end into your PowerPack's micro-USB port, the one closest to the lights. Plug the larger, rectangular end into a USB wall charger/power adapter. For more detailed instructions on recharging: read this guide that goes step-by-step with images.
Some customers may try to use their own micro-USB cable. However, this may produce some unintended results. The PowerPack may recharge much slower than normal and take more than 12 hours to fully recharge. If you are experiencing issues recharging, first make sure you are using the ZMI 1ft recharging cable/cord. This will help ensure that the battery pack gets recharged quickly. For more troubleshooting tips, read this article.
Charging:
To charge your device, you will need a USB charging cable/cord, which usually comes with the device in the box. It also usually comes along with a compatible power adapter or wall plug. If you are unsure of which cable to use or need to buy a new one, here are some links to ZMI cables for your iPhone or Android smartphone on our Amazon store. These are for iPhone: store link. These are for Samsung and LG phones: store link.
Plug the square/rectangular end into the PowerPack. Plug the other end (Lightning for iPhone/iPad; USB-C for new Samsung/LG phones) into your device. Please take a look at the guides below for more detailed instructions with images.
How to charge Samsung/LG phones
If the PowerPack is not charging your device, here is a related article with troubleshooting tips.
]]>A: It is safe to use Apple's USB-C to Lightning cable to charge your iPhone with the ZMI Turbo 45W USB-C PD Adapter. It is safe to do so, because the wall charger will only provide what the phone needs. In other words, the phone will pull power from the wall charger, but the wall charger won't push more than what the phone asks for.
On a side note, there are many knockoffs of the official Apple USB-C to Lightning cable on the market. We'd suggest that you use an official Apple cable or a genuine MFi certified 3rd-party cable.
]]>A: When you press the side button, the battery pack will signal its current charge level. When four lights turn on and blink together, that indicates that the battery has between 75 to 100% juice in it. If you don't plug in a device while the lights are blinking, the battery pack will turn off automatically in 30 seconds (after the lights blink 10 times). This feature is present on all of our battery packs, including the PowerPack 10K and PowerPack 20,000.
Unlike our competitors' products on the market, ZMI's battery packs implement blinking LEDs whenever we can to conserve battery and reduce heat from LED lights (as energy efficient as they are, LEDs do consume some power and emit heat inside the small cavities that house them). When you charge your phone, tablet, or laptop with the battery pack, you will observe blinking LEDs as well. These will continue to blink until you unplug your device. As the battery pack gets depleted, the number of lights blinking together will go down to 3, 2, 1, and finally, zero.
A: Yes, the PowerPack 10K will auto shut off in 30 seconds if the current draw falls and stays below 50 mA or so. To the best of our knowledge, pretty much all battery packs on the market that output through a USB-A port will have to face the same situation. To conserve battery, battery packs want to go to sleep when they finish charging a device. The USB-A specs do not offer a method to signal completion of charging, so battery packs usually implement a cut-off current below which they would deem charging is done.
We offer a partial solution to this: On your ZMI PowerPack 10K (Model QB810), you can double-press the side button to invoke the low-power charging mode. You'll see the four LED lights start to flash on/off in a circular pattern. In this low-power charging mode, the battery pack will ignore the current threshold for 2 hours. This duration is typically long enough to charge smartwatches, BT headphones, and fitness trackers, and should power your Arduino for 2 hours. To exit the lower-power charging mode before the 2-hour timeout, you can just press the button one time.
If you need to power your Arduino for longer than 2 hours, you could try to make sure the current draw is greater than 50 mA plus some buffer (say, 100 mA total current draw). Alternatively, you may consider getting a battery pack with a USB-C output port and a USB-C to Micro-USB cable to go with it. The USB-C specs do not allow the kind of current threshold based auto shutoff. When you plug the USB-C to Micro-USB cable into such a battery pack, you will be able to have it on with or without a load connected to the Micro-USB connector.
Good luck with your Arduino project. Have fun tinkering!
PS: The above discussion carries over to the Raspberry Pi and other IoT dev boards.
]]>A: Some of our competitors offer the option to recharge their similar products using a micro-USB port. Here is why we did not include this feature in the Plugornot Zero.
When designing the Plugornot Zero, we made the decision to not include the option to recharge via a micro-USB port and cable. This design decision was made with the average customer in mind. We envisioned the primary use of this charger as a replacement for a standard USB power adapter/wall charger. The special feature is the ability to operate the charger as a power bank when it's unplugged from the wall.
Adding the capability to recharge via micro-USB and not only through the wall outlet would complicate operation of the charger and possibly confuse some consumers. For example, some consumers may forget to bring a micro-USB charging cord while traveling.
By leaving out this additional recharging option, we are able to reduce the cost of the charger while giving the average consumer the functions they're looking for.
In the rare scenario where the Plugornot fails to recharge from the outlet, we have an 18-month warranty for refund or replacement. It is not advisable to continue using a charger that is broken or malfunctioning.
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