Using Your Phone Charger to Charge Your Power Bank

Many modern phone chargers come with multiple power outputs, allowing you to charge a variety of devices, including power banks. If your phone charger has outputs of 5V/3A, 9V/2A, and 12V/1.5A and your power bank requires 5V/2.2A or 9V/2A, you can definitely use your phone charger to charge your power bank. Here’s how it works with the different outputs:

5V/3A Output

The 5V/3A output exceeds the 5V/2.2A requirement of your power bank, so it will charge the power bank perfectly. Your power bank will only draw the current it needs, up to 2.2A, without any issues. Charging at this voltage is a safe and compatible option.

9V/2A Output

The 9V/2A output matches the power banks 9V/2A requirement, making it another suitable choice. If you plan to use the 9V output, make sure that your power bank supports fast charging protocols like Quick Charge or USB Power Delivery. If your power bank supports these protocols, it will utilize the best possible voltage and current for charging.

Using the 9V output might lead to faster charging, provided the power bank supports the protocol. However, if there's no fast charging protocol, you can still charge your power bank, albeit more slowly.

Charging Conditions and Protocols

When both your charging adapter and power bank support fast charging protocols like Quick Charge (QC) or USB Power Delivery (PD), the charger will communicate and provide the optimal charging voltage and current. For this to work, you’ll need a USB C cable (USB C to USB C or USB C to USB 3 connector) to facilitate the communication between the charger and the power bank.

Without fast charging protocols, the charger will default to the 5V output, which is generally a safe and compatible option. This might result in slower charging, but it’s better for your battery health.

Understanding Charging Outputs

The output of your charger is typically specified as voltage (V) and current (A). For example, 5V/3A means the charger can supply 5 volts of electricity at a maximum of 3 amperes. Your device will draw the juice it needs, meaning if your power bank requires 2.2A at 5V, it will draw that current, and the charger will supply 5V at 2.2A.

Summary

Choose the output based on your power bank's requirements and capabilities. While 5V/3A and 9V/2A are both suitable, using the 5V output is generally safest and most compatible. Always check if your power bank supports fast charging protocols to optimize charging speed and efficiency.