I’m sure this has been discussed somewhere, but I can’t find anything on it and I’ve searched for 2 hours here and elsewhere today. I just ordered an Entoquip LED light for travelling. I want to take it on plane flights, so it has to meet those requirements (max 100 Wh/27,000 mAh). It also needs to meet the requirements of the light. It must have a USB-A output connection and have continuous operation (not sensor cycling). It also needs a 3.0 amp rating. Suggestions?
Anker Prime Power Bank, 26,250mAh… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F66LNB8D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
You will need two to get through a full night with one entoquip light.
Most flights limit you to two power banks although I have found it to be seldom enforced.
I have a 33% failure rate with power banks used with moth lights within one month of purchase. You cannot safely repair them so assume you will be sending them back occasionally.
I should add that if you are setting up your light near where you are staying, a string of cheap extension cords connected to a wall outlet works well and you do not have to worry about changing batteries at 1:00 am.
Extension cords are also much cheaper than big power banks!
Thanks for the suggestion. Wow, that is expensive. I was expecting it to be much less. I like the suggestions to just use extension cords, but I’ve already ordered the light. I was thinking of maximum flexibility. Equipment is always a learning experience just like the live things we are trying to observe.
Target sells a 20,000 mah power bank that does well. I think it was less than $100. Less time until it runs out but you can still get through a night with two of them.
I followed up on the Anker suggestion and found a less expensive model. Ordered this morning. If I’m that far from electricity, I’m not going to last all night. It will be fun to see how this all works out. I’m super excited about the new lights and I also got a more powerful one that just plugs in.
Wishing you nothing but cloudy nights and dark surroundings!
Two points:
– Traveling with extension chords is not practical, however. And depending on the remoteness of the location, AC plugins may not be a convenient option (e.g. at my recent stay at Karanambu Lodge in Guyana which runs on solar panels).
– One of my Anker power banks failed after just a few weeks. That was one out of three that I’ve purchased–33%. That’s pretty crappy reliability for a high end product!
The nice thing about extension cords is you can find inexpensive ones once you get to your destination. You don’t have to pack them as long as you will pass buy an appropriate store. I think the last time I bought one it was less than $8. But there are limits to how far you can go with them.
I agree on the 33% failure rate. Seems completely ridiculous given the price. Not to mention that some failures result in fires. Airlines in South America now have strict rules on power banks due to some in-air fires from power banks reported from Asia.
We just flew on American Airlines to Guyana (S. Amer.) and they indicated that lithium-based charging packs were not even supposed to be stowed in the overhead bins in carry-on luggage! That leaves you with the alternative of keeping it/them in your one “personal item” under your feet.
Just a short article talking about power banks on planes. Honestly, I think they will be banned within the next couple of years. I always put them in my camera bag so they are within immediate reach. But carrying three of them adds a lot of weight.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly716qd146o
BTW, how was Guyana? Good birding? Did you get to do mothing? You can PM me if concerned about the questions being off-topic. It’s a country that is on my want list.