Anker recommended Power Supply... doesn't work

[ILIMB]

Hello,

I initially purchased an Anker power bank larger than the recommended, but after few weeks of noticing voltage was not OK, regardless of Rosetta being the only powered device, I decided to purchase the recommended 10000.

Today I went to fly for the first time on IFR instruction with Rosetta and this new bank, but it didn't power up. When on the ground, I tried to troubleshoot it, to no avail. Fully charged, 4 leds, starts up, internal LEDs but nothing happens, no PAW wifi.
I then tried the larger portable charger, to exclude problems with Rosetta itself... and it worked.

What could be the cause, other than a "faulty" bank (but still it powers up other devices)?

[Dave jones]

I’m assuming you’ve checked the cable,but I’ve found the power socket on tha Rosetta can be suspect at times especially if the unit is disconnected often from the power lead.

[ILIMB]

I did check the cable, I switched from one power source to the other without touching anything on Rosetta, cable included. Just plugged the USB out of the 10k and into the larger and it worked. Yes, after I also tried unplugging it all, but didn't change a thing. And Rosetta had barely been in flight 2 times before.

[ILIMB]

Strangely enough, I confirm it just doesn't work with the PowerCore 10000, but it does nicely with the PowerCore 20000.

Same wiring, I just plug the USB in the 10k, leds turn on both on the power bank and inside Rosetta, then nothing else happens and the power bank leds turn off.
Unplugging the USB from the power bank side (so no change to Rosetta's side), I just plug it into the 20k and it works fine.

On a flight just yesterday I actually thought that the lack of connection was due to an issue with the SD card, which popped out (now I put some tape to keep it together), but today I couldn't get it working again.

I purchased the 10k because I saw some voltage errors on the 20k, following the recommendations, but perhaps those errors occurred when I was using the additional wifi module for iGRID, which I happily ditched. So now it should be fine, and btw I also have the Anker cigarette lighter (which I didn't use because it was my IFR check ride, so better avoiding complications in the front of the cockpit).

Just as shared by Keith Vinnings (thanks for the kind support) it might be that newer PowerBanks don't have the same specs as the old ones.

[AlanG]

Hi, I seem to remember that some time ago these power banks became designated as "Smart" and caused similar problems to this.  i cannot remember what the final outcome of this was but I have a feeling it was something to do with the low pwer draw of the Paw unit that somehow fooled the powerbank into thinking nothing ws connected and switched itself off.

Hopefully someone with a better recollection of this will be along to shed some light.

Regards
Alan

[ILIMB]

I have a feeling it was something to do with the low pwer draw of the Paw unit that somehow fooled the powerbank into thinking nothing ws connected and switched itself off.

Spot on Alan, it's exactly what's happening. I can see Rosetta's LEDs for a while, then it all turns off, power bank included. I just returned the 10k as it's useless. Hopefully the 20k seems not as "smart", although I had purchased it to power multiple also the phone and I understood it's not a good idea to mix devices.

Anyway I'm charging the phone with the portable hotspot, another bonus of my setup

[exfirepro]

ILIMB

This is the link to the version of Anker PowerBank that was originally recommended...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00VJSGT2A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have also had satisfactory with both of the following...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019GJLER8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Z9UY65G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Can you post a link to the version(s) that you are having trouble with please.

Regards

Peter

[ILIMB]

Hi Peter,

The one that didn't work (for me) is exactly the second you posted, which I picked from the recommended list: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B019GJLER8

The one working "almost" fine (occasional voltage drops when I still had the igrid wifi module, so far fine without) is similar to the first, however 20100 wasn't available in Italy at the moment of purchase, so I went for the 20000, which I'm currently happy with: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B09SFS9J2K/

I also got the cigarette lighter adapter but never managed to use it, as recently I've only been flying dual for my IR and the take off checklists of most aircraft I fly mandate aux power to be operated only after takeoff, therefore no point using it, as I would have to wait for Rosetta to get a GPS fix exactly when there is more traffic: https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B071WYF9HP

Regards