Home PageFacebookRSS News Feed
PocketGPS
Web
SatNav,GPS,Navigation
Pocket GPS World - SatNavs | GPS | Speed Cameras: Forums

Pocket GPS World :: View topic - Reviewed: Powertraveller powermonkey extreme
 Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   ProfileProfile   Log in for private messagesLog in for private messages   Log inLog in 

Reviewed: Powertraveller powermonkey extreme

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> Other Hardware and Software
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:35 pm    Post subject: Reviewed: Powertraveller powermonkey extreme Reply with quote

pocketgpsworld.com
Powermonkey have earned a reputation for no-nonsense portable charger and power solutions. They're designed for travellers and are built with portability and ruggedness in mind. Their catalogue of products ranges from small battery packs intended to recharge your mobile phone to monster packs capable of running a power hungry laptop for hours.

Regular readers may recall that we have reviewed a Powertraveller product previously. Back in September 2008 I came across their powermonkey explorer in the in-flight magazine on route to Dubai. I was sufficiently intrigued to splash out real money to buy one for testing and it was an instant favourite of mine.

Fast forward a few years and we now have a much more powerful version in the powermonkey extreme which we are reviewing here.
_________________
Darren Griffin


Last edited by Darren on Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
UKJeeper
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great review of a great product. I've had mine nearly a year and it has come in useful countless times. Had an issue with the 1st one i received, but as always they stand behind their products and replaced it without any problems. and since then, no more worries.

The solar panel by itself has had provided enough juice to keep my smartphone (Samsung i8910, 1500MaH battery) running all day while walking Boudicca's Way with GPS, internet and Viewranger running without needing the battery.

Would definitely recommend.


Last edited by UKJeeper on Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the correction. I was confusing the latest iPad which has the 11000 mAh battery. I've corrected the original text.
_________________
Darren Griffin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
MaFt
Pocket GPS Staff
Pocket GPS Staff


Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 15125
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

UKJeeper wrote:
On a side note, your review states that the IPAD 2 has a "whopping 11,000mAh battery". You may want to check that (its closer to 6583 mah).


The internet agrees with you: "...the new iPad's battery is almost 70 percent bigger than the iPad 2′s (11560 mAh versus 6944 mAh)..."

MaFt
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
UKJeeper
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Something to mention for other Tablet users (eg Galaxy Tab 7) that have somewhat... finicky... charging requirements, you will need the charging adapter from PowerMonkeys plugged into the USB port on the extreme and then into your charging cable.

Costs a WHOPPING £5Wink , but the upside is that you can also use it to charge from ANY usb port at full rate (normal usb charge only provides a trickle charge of about 10% per hour).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Wazza_G
Lifetime Member


Joined: Jan 10, 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Guildford (Regrettibly)

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I've got the powermonkey explorer (the extremes smaller brother) & to be quite honest it's the biggest waste of money ever.

Absolutely useless, it's sitting in its box in a cupboard after spending days in a window recharging & never getting there, absolute crap & I hope the manufacturer reads this too.

I wouldn't recommend them at all.
_________________
Be alert.. This country needs more lerts.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine is still working perfectly and charges fine from solar, when we get sun that is.

Have you got in touch with Powertraveller about the issue?
_________________
Darren Griffin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Wazza_G
Lifetime Member


Joined: Jan 10, 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Guildford (Regrettibly)

PostPosted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nope. I bought it back in November, lost the receipt, so can't do anything about it.

I have been trying to get it to charge up during this sunny weather and still waiting for it to say it's charged, like I said I consider it to be a waste of money. I've got a wind up charger instead & that does the charging without fuss.
_________________
Be alert.. This country needs more lerts.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well if you're not willing to get in touch with them for help/advice there isn't much more to say.
_________________
Darren Griffin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Wazza_G
Lifetime Member


Joined: Jan 10, 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Guildford (Regrettibly)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

All I'm stating is the product that I have is of poor quality & poor reliability and I wouldn't recommend anyone buying any of them.
_________________
Be alert.. This country needs more lerts.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And all I'm suggesting is that my experience is different and If you call you'll find them very helpful.

Perhaps yours has some issue? If you don't give them the opportunity to help then it's a little unfair to berate them.
_________________
Darren Griffin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
mjtima
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Mar 07, 2006
Posts: 25

PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have the smaller version. Pleased with it but in answer to not charging on the windowsill. I had the same problem, rang powermonkey and was told it does not charge through glass.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
frogfoot
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Jul 14, 2014
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the review, however I think you have been wildly overoptimistic about the following statement
"The full capacity of 9000mAh is more than enough to charge an iPad 2, with it's 6944 mAh battery, and still have enough juice to fully charge an samsung Galaxy S2 with its 1800 mAh bettery. Or it could recharge six smartphones"

I have just purchased one and have run a couple of tests. My example will fully charge my HTC One two and a half times before it runs out of juice. The HTC one has a battery of 2300mAh giving a total available charge of 2300x2.5 =5750mAh. When I phoned Powertraveler about this I was informed that this was normal due to losses in the charging process. So by my estimation the efficiency of the system is less than 65%.

In other words my PM Extreme would only be able to provide a 80% charge on an iPad2 with 6944mAh battery.

Either I have a faulty unit and Powertraveller don't care or their marketing literature is very misleading.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
M8TJT
The Other Tired Old Man
The Other Tired Old Man


Joined: Apr 04, 2006
Posts: 10118
Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK

PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It seem that most of this type of device quote the capacity of the 3.7v battery stack that they have inside.

The first thing to remember is that if the battery can source 9000mAh is at 3.7v giving a total of 9000*3.7 =33.3 Wh. As the charging voltage required for a phone etc. is about 5v, then 33.3Wh will give a mAh rating of 33.3 / 5 = 6660 mAh giving an apparent (but not real) efficiency of 6660/9000 = 73% and that is not taking into account conversion losses in the inverter that steps up the 3.7v to 5v or any other losses.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message







Posted: Today    Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising

Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> Other Hardware and Software All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Make a Donation



CamerAlert Database

Click here for the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database

Download Speed Camera Database
22.034 (27 Mar 24)



WORLDWIDE SPEED CAMERA SPOTTERS WANTED!

Click here to submit camera positions to the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database


12mth Subscriber memberships awarded every week for verified new camera reports!

Submit Speed Camera Locations Now


CamerAlert Apps



iOS QR Code






Android QR Code







© Terms & Privacy


GPS Shopping