$300 Blackbox battery vs $25 Amazon battery bank

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dashcams

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I'm not seeing why pay $300 for blackbox battery over a $25 amazon battery bank that will provide 48 hours to the camera after car power is off. Anyone?
 
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I get it funny guy, but are you saying that millions of battery banks that are sold on Amazon are catching fire and you're implying that not a single electronic devices ever caught fire in history? You are implying that not a single black box battery is going to catch fire ever? Or a dash camera itself is not going to catch fire?
 
No.

A normal lithium ion power bank won't last long in a car in summer or winter, and may swell and cause a fire. Car power banks are LiFePO4 which is more suitable.
They also have wiring for parking modes and auto on with ignition.
 
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mentadent said:
No.

A normal lithium ion power bank won't last long in a car in summer or winter, and may swell and cause a fire. Car power banks are LiFePO4 which is more suitable.
They also have wiring for parking modes and auto on with ignition.
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Nailed it.
 
The dashcam battery will recharge to 100% while you drive to work, the Amazon powerbank will recharge to 5%, and be empty again 30 minutes later.

You can get fast charging USB powerbanks these days, but not for $25.

I don't think the fire risk is very high, but car interiors are not self extinguishing like home furniture, so a powerbank fire will fully destroy the car, and if the car is in the garage, it will quite likely destroy your house too.

As for lifespan, yes it is going to be a lot shorter, but even if it only had a tenth the life, $25 x 10 is still less than the $300.
 
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LFP battery so no fire risk and fast 100 watt charging. Easily get 100W in 1 hour drive and with a Viofo mini 2, it consumes about 3 watts, 24 hours x 3 about 75 watts. Anyone else have any comments on this? Good battery and implementation or bad? It's one third the cost of the blackbox battery
Screenshot 2025-03-29 172428.webp
 
Looks good!
It's a LFP, 192Wh battery with 100W fast charging (per port).
I think it uses 15Ah 33140 LFP cells the same I use for my DIY LFP battery.
Fantastic price for twice the capacity, at about 1/4 the average cost of a dedicated battery.
Depending on efficiency, it should last about 72 hours of parking recording for the Mini2. (Mini2 consumes around 2W in LBR parking)

I don't see a power button, so I'm not sure how the USB ports work.
For hands-free operation, the USB ports should turn on automatically when charging and shouldn't require unplugging and re-plugging the cable.
Assuming the USB ports work as described, and considering the price, this could be a much better option than any dedicated battery pack.
I just wish it had an app, but that's probably not realistic for only $68.

If you haven't already, check out some forum threads about Power Stations and Ecoflow to see how you can hook it up for parking.
 
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Wow amazing price. I say go for it and try it. At the worst if it doesn't auto start, you'll just have to plug and unplug it when starting your car. When I saw the numbers I thought it is fake for that price, but plenty of good reviews. 192 watt hours! It says it supports pass-thru charging which is a good sign - it is charging while using it, which many or even most powerbanks don't support.
 
dashcams said:
Anyone else have any comments on this? Good battery and implementation or bad?
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Looks a good implementation of what it is.

Note that it probably doesn't give the dashcam a parking signal, so your Viofo A119 Mini 2 may be a bit slow entering and exiting parking mode, but should work OK. It may be possible to connect a parking signal from the car fusebox if you understand electronics.

Also note that to charge this at full speed, requires 2x 100W USB PD chargers, which is extra cost, but would be included in the Blackbox powerbank. I don't know where you get a decent and safe 100W USB PD car charger. Anker make some 75W ones that I would trust, but I would want to hardwire them, not just slide them into a car accessory socket which likely won't give a good reliable connection at that power level, and may overheat after a few minutes. I have seen some 100W ones, but I suspect they were fake specifications.


There may now be a good 12V 100W USB PD car charger designed for fuse box connection, I haven't looked recently...
 
Nigel said:
Looks a good implementation of what it is.

Note that it probably doesn't give the dashcam a parking signal, so your Viofo A119 Mini 2 may be a bit slow entering and exiting parking mode, but should work OK. It may be possible to connect a parking signal from the car fusebox if you understand electronics.

Also note that to charge this at full speed, requires 2x 100W USB PD chargers, which is extra cost, but would be included in the Blackbox powerbank. I don't know where you get a decent and safe 100W USB PD car charger. Anker make some 75W ones that I would trust, but I would want to hardwire them, not just slide them into a car accessory socket which likely won't give a good reliable connection at that power level, and may overheat after a few minutes. I have seen some 100W ones, but I suspect they were fake specifications.


There may now be a good 12V 100W USB PD car charger designed for fuse box connection, I haven't looked recently...
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That Anker one you have posted is 75W combined from two ports, 45 + 30, so maximum it would charge at is 45W for the power bank, not 75W.

Baseus make a bunch of car chargers, one is here that charges at 100W through it's USB-C port: https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005002595040286.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2vnm

Good, reliable brand I've used their 65W and 100W car chargers in my vehicle in the past couple of years without issue. Currently using their cigarette lighter splitter without issues too.
 
I got the kickstarter AOHI starship 240 W which is just about 28.000 mah, BUT !!!! i did not get it for 70 dollars. https://iaohi.com/products/aohi-the-future-starship-240w-27-600mah-led-display-power-bank

They also have a older not quite as fast charging power bank 40.000 mah. https://iaohi.com/products/aohi-starship-2-in-1-40000mah-140w-power-bank-power-station

Not quite sure if either is LiFePO4 which it should be in a car for damn sure.

In addition to this you of course also need a fast charger, my car charger top out at 160 watts.
My home charger do 140 watts, though the starship will not charge at that rate for very long,,,,, and its not like it get hot while charging.
 
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kamkar said:
I got the kickstarter AOHI starship 240 W which is just about 28.000 MAH, BUT !!!! i did not get it for 70 dollars. https://iaohi.com/products/aohi-the-future-starship-240w-27-600mah-led-display-power-bank

They also have a older not quite as fast charging power bank 40.000 mah. https://iaohi.com/products/aohi-starship-2-in-1-40000mah-140w-power-bank-power-station

Not quite sure if either is LiFePO4 which it should be in a car for damn sure.

In addition to this you of course also need a fast charger, my car charger top out at 160 watts.
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But what does your car charger actually charge at maximum rate from one port? It's not 160W is it.
 
kamkar said:
I got the kickstarter AOHI starship 240 W which is just about 28.000 mah, BUT !!!! i did not get it for 70 dollars. https://iaohi.com/products/aohi-the-future-starship-240w-27-600mah-led-display-power-bank

They also have a older not quite as fast charging power bank 40.000 mah. https://iaohi.com/products/aohi-starship-2-in-1-40000mah-140w-power-bank-power-station

Not quite sure if either is LiFePO4 which it should be in a car for damn sure.

In addition to this you of course also need a fast charger, my car charger top out at 160 watts.
My home charger do 140 watts, though the starship will not charge at that rate for very long,,,,, and its not like it get hot while charging.
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After you edited your message, still didn't answer my question. The powerbank you linked charges at 140W through PD 3.1. Your car charger doesn't possess a Pd 3.1 charge at 140W, no?
 
No the 165 W is total charge power, but it will do 140 watts on the one USB C plug

USB 1 have PD 3.1 circuit
USB 2 have PD 3.0 circuit

iaohi.com

AOHI SUPERAUTO PD 165W Fast Car Charger (2USB-C & 1USB-A)

165W High-Speed Triple Port Car Charger: Power up multiple devices simultaneously with 165W total output across three ports (2 USB-C & 1 USB-A)– - AOHi
iaohi.com iaohi.com

The power bank also charge at 140 Watts at first in the car, but also there the charge rate taper off slowly, both places it do charge pretty fast still, i think it could wirk as a car power unit, though not when you drive as little as i do ( 20 min daily on average )
 
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iI know it seem a am somewhat of a AOHI chill

And i swear i have deleted my kickstarter stuff, though AOHI not to blame for that but got burned with 2 other projects.
 
kamkar said:
iI know it seem a am somewhat of a AOHI chill

And i swear i have deleted my kickstarter stuff, though AOHI not to blame for that but got burned with 2 other projects.
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Ok so they (AOHI) are charging double the price for what Baseus also does with their pd 3.1 140w car charger too lol.

Yes all car chargers and wall chargers hammer the wattage during the first minutes of charging then slowly ramp down to less wattage, if you read reviews of these chargers they're all like that. The stated figure of 140W for example is the maximum it will reach during charging, it won't spend the whole time charging at that rate.

Cannot find if it says lithium iron phosphate or not for that model, but definitely a no-go if it isn't
 
Indeed.
But i also just got this power bank for what it is, mainly charging my digital night scope, CUZ it just gobble up power and do not have a replaceable battery, so after a few hours of no light sniper games i would be out of juice otherwise.

The power bank also rest in my oven in the kitchen alongside a few LIPO batteris from my RC hobby, the oven aside for the bathroom is the most fireproof place i have and i do not use it for cooking.
 
I should probably have researched at least prices, but i have this horrible thing that also manifest in target fixation, so got a little carried away.
Probably also what is to blame for my expertise of going off topic.

PS: i am not diagnosed with ADHD or OCD, but the head doctor did mention schizophrenia and paranoia ,,,,, though to be honest with my meager knowledge of that trade i have to disagree wit that doctor, at least it is my understanding it could be much worse.
I feel like i have a very valid wish to not getting too close to other people, but its not like i shun people, i could easy go shopping at peak hours, but i dont, having about 2 million Japanese or Aussie people within stone throw of me do not at all bother me, 200 Fellow Danes i am a bit more apprehensive about.
 
kamkar said:
I should probably have researched at least prices, but i have this horrible thing that also manifest in target fixation, so got a little carried away.
Probably also what is to blame for my expertise of going off topic.

PS: i am not diagnosed with ADHD or OCD, but the head doctor did mention schizophrenia and paranoia ,,,,, though to be honest with my meager knowledge of that trade i have to disagree wit that doctor, at least it is my understanding it could be much worse.
I feel like i have a very valid wish to not getting too close to other people, but its not like i shun people, i could easy go shopping at peak hours, but i dont, having about 2 million Japanese or Aussie people within stone throw of me do not at all bother me, 200 Fellow Danes i am a bit more apprehensive about.
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