Technology has reached a point where you aren’t confined to a desk because your devices need to be plugged into the wall outlet.
With the emergence of rechargeable batteries, devices can be taken anywhere and charged on the go.
A Vape is no different. It is an electronic device designed to be used on the go, and has rechargeable batteries so you charge it no matter where you go.
There might be certain scenarios where you will not have a wall outlet available to charge your vape.
So, you might be wondering, can I charge my vape with a power bank?
Yes, you can charge your vape with a power bank. As long as the power bank has a USB output, sufficient output voltage, and capacity, you will be able to charge your vape no problem.
If you want to understand a bit more of what it takes to charge a vape using a power bank, read on.
Why it is possible to charge your vape with a power bank
A Vape is an electronic device designed to be used on the go.
It would be pointless if it came with a cord which always had to be plugged in for you to use it, resulting in you being stuck in your room at home smoking away (might as well invest in a Hookah)
So, lucky for you and me, vapes are powered using batteries making them mobile.
But, the beauty is that vapes are powered using Rechargeable batteries.
This means once they run out of charge, they can be recharged.
Not just once, but many times!
Charging the vape requires a power source. This power source comes in the form of Wall chargers that you plug into a power outlet.
The wall charger is created to charge devices that have rechargeable batteries like your mobile phone, laptop, vape, digital camera etc.
It has the ability to provide the power required to ‘recharge’ the batteries of electronic devices.
The power bank
Some smart person realised that power outlets might not always be available like when you are camping, or maybe going on a hike.
So, the Power Bank was invented to ease our pain.
It is essentially a portable wall outlet that you can take with you and charge your vape.
Its main purpose is to provide power to be able to charge mobile devices when there isn’t a power outlet available.
Note, the power bank itself is a rechargeable battery and will have to be charged as well.
How a power bank can be used to charge vape
So, what does it take to charge a vape using a power bank?
To charge the vape using a power bank, the power bank will need to have sufficient voltage output requirements that match the vape’s battery voltage specifications.
The standard nominal operating voltage for most vape batteries is 3.6 volts.
So, in order to be able to charge the vape, the power bank will need to provide an Output voltage that matches or is greater than 3.6 volts.
In general most mobile devices use voltage that ranges from 3.6 – 5V.
Because of this, the majority of power banks have an output voltage of 5 volts and is why they can be used to charge a vape.
How long does it take a power bank to charge a vape?
The faster the power bank can charge your vape the better.
How fast it takes a power bank to charge a vape comes down to two factors;
- Output current of the power bank
- Battery capacity of the vape
Output current (power bank) – Is the maximum value of current that the power bank can supply at its output
Battery capacity (vape) – Rechargeable batteries have a characteristic that determines how much charge they can store known as battery capacity which is given in either Amp-hours or Milli-Amp-hours.
This unit lets us calculate how long a battery will last for depending on how much current it is supplying.
For example, say your vape battery has a capacity of 1000mAh and is supplying a current of 10mA to power the vape, the battery will last for 100 hours (1000/10).
This formula can also be used to calculate how long it will take to charge the battery.
Calculating how long it takes to charge a vape with a power bank
We can use the above factors to calculate roughly how long it will take a power bank to charge a vape.
Standard vape batteries come with a battery capacity of 3500mAh.
Below are calculations of different times which vary depending on the output current values of the power bank.
| Battery capacity (Vape) | Output current (Power Bank) | How long it will take to charge (hours) |
| 3500mAh | 100mA | 35 |
| 3500mAh | 200mA | 17.5 |
| 3500mAh | 500mA | 7 |
| 3500mAh | 700mA | 5 |
| 3500mAh | 1000mA | 3.5 |
| 3500mAh | 2000mA | 1.75 |
| 3500mAh | 3000mA | 1 ~ 1.5 hours |
As you can see, the greater the output current, the faster the power bank will charge your vape.
Tip on charging a vape faster with a power bank
You might be tempted to use the vape when charging it with a power bank as it is portable as well. But, doing so is going to increase the time it takes to charge.
So, if you want to further increase the speed at which the power bank charges you vape, turn off your vape when charging.
How many times can you charge a vape with a power bank?
Another important factor to consider when you take your power bank and vape on your next adventure, is how many times the power bank will be able to charge the vape after only being charged once.
How many times a power bank can charge an electronic device like a vape, comes down to the battery capacity of both devices.
For example, let’s use the same vape battery capacity from the above example (3500mAh).
If we had a power bank with the same battery capacity (3500mAh), it would only be able to charge the vape once.
We get this value by dividing the battery capacity of the power bank by the battery capacity of the vape.
If we increased the battery capacity of the power bank to say, 15000mAh, we would now be able to charge the vape around 4 times!
While the advantage is obvious in that the power bank will be able to charge your vape multiple times, the downside is that it takes longer to charge.
Do I need a special type of power bank to charge vape?
Cool, so you can charge your vape using a power bank!
But, do you need a special brand of power bank?
No, you will not need a special brand of power bank to charge your vape.
As long as the power bank has sufficient power at its output (voltage ratings) that match (or is higher) than that of the vape’s battery, you will be fine.
Do I need an expensive power bank to charge a vape?
What about the quality of the power bank?
Do you need an expensive power bank in order to charge my vape?
We all want to get the best bargain when we buy something new. But, if we pay too little for an item we are going to suffer in the long run.
Nowadays you can buy all sorts of electronics for dirt cheap prices. Cheap electronics are possible because they use cheap materials to create them.
This means they will malfunction sooner than later.
While you do not need an expensive power bank to charge your vape, I do recommend buying a good quality power bank from a reputable brand.
You might have to fork a little more money, but this will save you down the road as you wont be buying more power banks to replace the cheap ones that keep malfunctioning.
Is it a good idea to invest in a power bank to charge your vape?
The simple answer is yes!
Having a power bank has many advantages.
Advantage #1 using a power bank to charge vape: Charge on the go
The first most obvious one is that you will be able to charge your vape no matter where you go.
If you are an avid adventurer as well as a vape connoisseur, the power bank will solve your problem when you are stuck in the middle of nowhere with no power outlets, and your vape battery is about to perish.
Advantage #2 using a power bank to charge vape: No need for replacement batteries
Second, you will not have to carry a bunch of replacement batteries.
Also, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries pose a risk of catching fire especially when carried loose.
The power bank evades this problem by being able to recharge the existing batteries in the vape.
Advantage #3 using a power bank to charge vape: Charge other devices
Last and not least, you are not restricted to just charging your vape with the power bank.
No doubt you have a mobile phone. You will also be able to charge it and other small electronic devices with the power bank.
Considerations when charging a vape with a power bank
If you do not already have a power bank and are thinking of purchasing one, below are some factors to take into consideration.
Output voltage – Make sure the output voltage of the power bank matches or is a little higher (usually 5V) than then vape’s battery.
Speed – If you need the power bank to charge your vape fast, opt for one with a higher output current (and do not use the vape while charging)
Multiple charges – you might be away from a power source for a long time and need a power bank to charge the vape multiple times. In this instance you will need a power bank with a large capacity.
Portability – You don’t want to have to lug around a power bank the size of a brick. This would be counter intuitive. So, you will have to find a power bank that is decent size as well as being able to tick your other criteria.
