Exploring an Anker power bank
Added 2025-01-11 19:19:05 +0000 UTCNot a full reverse engineering, for reasons that will become clear in the video. Namely, a very well stuffed PCB with quirky charge circuitry.
But interesting to explore, partly because of the use of two cell clusters in series, and a very efficient buck converter to bring the voltage back down to 5V.
Comments
I found this exact power bank on the railway track many years ago. I chucked it in a bag of desiccant for a week. I don't know if it was wet inside but I did it just in case. I still have it and it's the best power bank I have.
evilution
2025-01-15 17:13:47 +0000 UTCThanks for the teardown Clive. I have two of the larger versions of this power bank (26'800mAh ones) for powering my livestream rig and have experienced the non-charging issue a few times. The reset that worked for me was bridging the input and output sockets as you mentioned followed by a good long charge. It's happened happened 3 or 4 times over several years but eaach time the reset trick has worked. Despite this issue, I'm very happy with the performance of these units and their very sturdy build. You mention the two sets of 3 cells in series, so wouldn't that make it 9-12v rather than 6-8v...? I'm then guessing they are configured as 3S2P...
Rup (FastAsFunk)
2025-01-12 10:00:46 +0000 UTCVery informative. I have an older Banker power bank that I stopped using because of a similar problem.
Eric Weimar
2025-01-11 23:17:00 +0000 UTCI've owned a bunch of Anker charging bricks over the years in various shapes and sizes and found them all to be extremely reliable, I never heard of the reset trick but I've also never had to do so. Very interesting teardown.
Chris Horry
2025-01-11 19:44:38 +0000 UTC
