Dashmellow
Well-Known Member
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- Sep 22, 2013
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- Umpteen
Don't worry about the "experts" that don't understand how these batteries work but still give their opinions!
The reason RAVpower suggest not to use pass through charging long term is that when most people use it, they use it between a charger and phone or tablet or laptop, where the battery ends up at maximum charge for very long periods. Lithium batteries don't like to be permanently at maximum charge, doing so does reduce their lifetime, but you are not using it in that way, and you are accepting that using the power bank will slowly wear it out, so you have nothing to worry about.
There can be problems with passthrough charging on some powerbanks when combined with some dashcameras, where the output of the powerbank glitches as the car ignition is turned on/off, which can result in the dashcam shutting down. This makes it very difficult to recommend using powerbanks in the way you are using them, especially for super capacitor based dashcams, which is what most people here have, but if you have a combination that works then there is no need to worry.
The main thing to worry about when using powerbanks is to make sure they are supervised whenever they are being charged. Ensure that you are ready to deal with a powerbank fire in the unlikely event that they do catch fire. You should find this message included in the instructions for every lithium powerbank.
Wait! "Supervised charging"? The whole idea behind this ill-advised charging scheme was "fit and forget" Or maybe you forgot?
"Ensure that you are ready to deal with a powerbank fire"! But you said, "You have nothing to worry about". Either it is safe or it is not safe.
As I've said, there is a reason Anker and RAVpower stopped touting and offering "Pass-through-charging" powerbanks. There is a reason both companies tech support advisors recommend not using pass-through-charging, "too much or not at all" or "don't use it "very much", "think emergency ration situations". Clearly, they are recommending against the practice full time!
There is a reason that battery manufacturers as well as Isador Buchmann, the well known authority behind Battery University cautions not to charge lithium batteries that are undergoing a parasitic load.
These are the actual "experts" one should be listening to. They understand "how these batteries work".
Everything else is merely just rationalizing. We see quite a lot of that around here, especially in situations like this one.
Portable powerbanks were designed for occasional charging of mobile devices. They were never designed to be used as permanent UPS units, constantly being charged/discharged simultaneously. Portable powerbanks were also never designed to be permanently installed and charging in an automotive environment of wide temperature swings, shocks and vibrations. This is simply product abuse (of a potentially dangerous product no less).
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