Pass Through Tech: Is It Dangerous to Your Power Bank’s Health?

Power Up on the Go: Exploring the Latest Pass-Through Charging Technology

04.04.2023

Power banks are brilliant devices that allow on-the-go device charging. Our M2 Series PowerBank offers ultra-fast power transmission, and charges your phone to over 55% in just 30 minutes. Despite their popularity, the same question still arises: can you safely charge your power bank while using it? Let's examine the evidence…

Table of Contents
  1. What is a Pass-through Charger?
  2. The Advantages of Pass Through Powerbank
  3. The Disadvantages of Pass Through Powerbank
  4. Are batteries damaged by pass-through charging?
  5. Is Pass Through dangerous to batteries and power banks?

What is a pass-through charger?

Simply put, pass-through is a feature included in some power banks that enables charging of a device while the power bank is hooked into a wall outlet, like a mobile phone. Most modern smartphones come equipped with processors that can communicate with a power bank or other charging source. These chips tell the power source how much power the device requires to charge quickly and when the batteries are fully charged. Keeping a battery from being overcharged is the goal here because doing so could eventually reduce its lifespan. We have been able to debunk the misconception that leaving your phone plugged in overnight is bad behaviour thanks to the use of the chip.

The advantages of Pass Through powerbank

It is convenient

With pass-through charger, you can charge multiple devices simultaneously without having to carry around multiple chargers or power banks. This can be especially useful when you're on the go or travelling. Today's mobile phones feature numerous background processes, therefore the battery will undoubtedly be drained throughout the day. When you can quickly charge your gadgets, you can leave the house more frequently and go places without having to stop for a long period of time to charge.

Saves time

Pass-through charger allows you to save time by charging multiple devices at once. You don't have to wait for one device to fully charge before you start charging another one.

Increases productivity

With pass-through charging, you can keep your devices charged and ready to use at all times, which can increase your productivity. For example, if you're using your laptop and your phone is running low on battery, you can charge your phone while you continue to work on your laptop.

Saves space

Pass-through charger can also save space by reducing the number of chargers and power banks you need to carry with you. This can be especially useful if you have limited space in your bag or backpack.

It is energy-efficient

Pass-through charging can be more energy-efficient than charging devices separately. This is because the charger can distribute the power more efficiently among the devices that are being charged, which can reduce energy waste.

The disadvantages of Pass Through powerbank

Slower charging

When a device is charging another device through pass-through charger, it will slow down the charging process for both devices. This is because the charging current is shared between the two devices, and each device will only receive a fraction of the current.

Overheating

The second significant drawback of this phone charging technique is the potential for phone overheating when you charge your powerbank while using it. As a result of the increased voltage going into the battery, more heat is produced, which can be hazardous and possibly shorten battery life. Avoid charging your phone in a hot and humid environment to prevent the battery from heating up. Instead, make sure the environment is dry and cold.

Compatibility issues

Last but not least, hardware compatibilities continue to be crucial for quick phone charging. The problem here is that there isn't a single protocol or standard that businesses use, thus there will be several technologies for various brands. Some devices may not be compatible with pass-through charging, and attempting to charge them in this way could damage the device or its battery. Most people find this confusing, but it isn't a major concern because most companies have already changed their gadgets to support rapid charging.

Are batteries damaged by pass-through charging?

According to research, excessive heat is the main cause of battery deterioration, particularly for lithium-ion batteries. Maximum storage capacity, charge transfer rates, and overall efficiency are all impacted. Mobile phones and other contemporary devices will employ that useful battery chip to throttle power transfers, reducing energy reaching the gadget to reduce possible heat creation, in order to address this issue. The chance for heat to build up and the likelihood of damaging a battery increase with charging time.

Is Pass Through dangerous to batteries and power banks?

Ultimately - it can be. You might not notice a significant change in charge capacity over time if your power bank can use specific internal circuitry to balance input and output power levels. A longer charge period will probably result in increased heat buildup. Additionally, increased heat may hasten the breakdown of a lithium ion battery.

The above is also based on construction quality - for example, our very own M2 Series PowerBanks use stronger materials to minimise battery deterioration. The suggestion is to avoid purchasing a copycat if you want to use the pass-through capability.

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