The Lil' Sync USB Mobile Power Pack: Power on the Go

[Jason Dunn]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ppc-techs-battery.jpg" /><br /><br />External batteries either work or they don't, and the <a href="http://www.pocketpctechs.com/main~unit~HP_Compaq_iPAQ_110-1001~area~accessories~item~LSP%2DMPP01.htm">Lil' Sync USB Mobile Power Pack</a> from PPC Techs works. But how do you decide between this battery and another one? You look at power capacity, size, price, weight, etc. When I want to use a small, portable device battery, I use the excellent <a href="http://www.proporta.com/microsites/mdc_micro/UK/MDC/MDC.html">Proporta Mobile Device Charger</a>, so that's what I'm going to compare the Lil' Sync USB Mobile Power Pack to since I think that's its main competition.<br /><br />First and foremost, it's all about the power. The PPC Techs unit packs an impressive 4400 mAh of power, which is 29% more than the 3400 mAh that the Proporta unit supplies. Equally important is how much juice the battery kicks out - the PPC Techs unit manages an impressive 1000mA of output. This is enough to charge my Zune 80, which is something the Proporta battery can't do because it tops out at 700mA. So from a power perspective, the PPC Techs Lil' Sync USB Mobile Power Pack wins hands down. There's more to consider though: price and weight. The PPC Techs unit costs $69 USD, the Proporta $44.95. The PPC techs unit is thicker and a bit heavier but shorter (2.75" L x 2.10" W x .86" H, 4.3 ounces) while the Proporta unit is wider and longer, but thinner and lighter (3.9" L x 2.4" W x 0.6" H inches, 4.2 ounces). <br /><!><br />I haven't had a chance to do any hard-core testing with the PPC Techs battery, but with its 4400 mAh battery, I could completely charge my T-Mobile Dash (with its 960 mAh battery) around four times and still have a bit of juice left to spare (there's always some power lost when one battery charges another). Put another way, I'd be able to recharge my Zune 80, my Dash, and my wife's iPod Shuffle - probably two times each. That's a lot of recharging!<br /><br />The PPC Techs power pack is kind of like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Falcon">Millennium Falcon</a>: it's not much to look at, but it's got it where it counts (I don't think it can make point-five past lightspeed though). I actually prefer the manual off/on switch to other implementations because I know that when it's in "on" mode, it's supplying power. The Lil' Sync USB Mobile Power Pack recharges with an included USB cable - you connect the miniUSB end to the battery, and the USB end to any USB port and wait for it to complete charging. There's a helpful power level indicator that shows you approximately how much power the battery has left - 100% full, 66% remaining, or 33% remaining.<br /><br />All in all, I'm really impressed with this little battery and I look forward to taking it with me on my next vacation. It's a bit more expensive than Proporta's offering, but the extra battery power, and especially the extra power output, make it the first battery I'll take with me when I need to extend the battery life of my mobile devices. If we had an Editor's Choice award at Pocket PC Thoughts, this product would definitely win it.<br /><br /><i>Jason Dunn owns and operates <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com">Thoughts Media Inc.</a>, a company dedicated to creating the best in online communities. He enjoys mobile devices, digital media content creation/editing, and pretty much all technology. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his lovely wife, and his sometimes obedient dog. He likes things that help him use his electronic gizmos for longer between power outlets.</i>

[jalex]

I love that this thing recharges itself via USB too, that's too cool. Sounds obvious now but an opportunity missed by many previous manufacturers.

I was surprised to hear the Zune needed so much juice. Doesn't the USB spec dictate a max of 500 mA per port? That's why my external 2.5" hard drive has one of those double-ended cables so it can suck electrons from two ports to get the current it needs, no? Just curious.

Nice review and definitely something I'll be adding to my "wanted" list!

[hamishmacdonald]

I've got the Proporta model, and I have to say that I don't tend to use it or rely on it because I don't understand it.

It came with no instructions, but it has a button on the top. So the first thing I did when I first tried to use it was press the button. But then it lit up green and no matter how many times I pressed it afterward, it wouldn't turn off.

I also haven't had much success using it to charge my device as I use it (such as while watching a movie on a plane). I can't tell if it's working or not, and after a short while my screen dims as if it's not receiving a charge.

So if nothing else, this other model might be more useful for some folks because it sounds like you can at least tell what it's doing!

So there's my tuppence-worth:

[jalex]

Wow, checking their web site, indeed, reveals no instructions in-line and no downloadable manuals for either of their charing products at all! 8O

Not cool. :?

[Jason Dunn]

I was surprised to hear the Zune needed so much juice. Doesn't the USB spec dictate a max of 500 mA per port?

The Zune 80 seems to need a full 1000 mA, though because it works with every USB port I've tried it on, I'm sure it's still within the USB spec. This isn't something I know very much about though. :wink:

[Jason Dunn]

I've got the Proporta model...It came with no instructions, but it has a button on the top.

Did you get the Proporta charger directly from Proprota? Mine came with an instruction sheet. Basically the idea is you connect your device, you press the button once, and it will start charging. When you disconnect your device, the green light on the top will go out after about one minute. If your device isn't showing that it's charging, it might need more than the 700 mA that the Proporta charger kicks out.

So if nothing else, this other model might be more useful for some folks because it sounds like you can at least tell what it's doing!

Yes, I found that the on/off made it VERY easy to understand and use.

[hamishmacdonald]

I bought mine at an airport, but it was branded Proporta.

Still, that was all I needed in terms of instructions -- thanks, Jason!

[Compulim]

I am using APC UPB10 which was priced $60 at Circuit City. Here is the spec:

Capacity: 10WH (2000 mAh @ 5V)
Output Power: 8W (1.6A @ 5V) continous, 10W (2A @ 5V) peak

Although its capacity is no match Lil' Sync and Proporta, it nearly same size of a Samsung Blackjack. Pretty slim so I can slip it in my jacket without anyone notice.

When travelling, I use it with a very small 4 port USB hub (http://buffalo-kokuyo.jp/products/catalog/supply/bhb4-u215/) (4cm x 4cm) to charge different things at the same time, and store them in my bag.

[Sven Johannsen]

I was surprised to hear the Zune needed so much juice. Doesn't the USB spec dictate a max of 500 mA per port?

The Zune 80 seems to need a full 1000 mA, though because it works with every USB port I've tried it on, I'm sure it's still within the USB spec. This isn't something I know very much about though. :wink:

I wondered about this part of the comments too. If the 80 charges from a USB port, it is charging from a 500mA source. Should work fine from either a 700mA or a 1A source. Now, the kicker is, many devices seem to know if they are connected to a real USB port or not. Does the 80 not even show it is charging when hooked to the Proporta? I have some things that are greedier when hooked to what it believes is a charger. Gomadic seems to have this issue covered with different connectors depending on if you want to sync/charge(USB port), as opposed to just charge. Don't have a Zune 80, but have definately seen the difference between the two tip types when trying to charge greedy devices like the JasJar and Axim X50v.

You ought to see if you can hit up Gomadic for some Zune tips and a cable to try with your chargers.

P.S. I picked up one of the APC UPB10's too. Nice little unit.

[code-frog]

Mine just arrived today. This thing is beautiful and so simple to use you almost don't need the 1/4 page manual it comes with. It's wonderful. My cigarrette lighter has been burned out forever and we didn't have the money to pay labor on fixing it (wiring problem) so this thing was perfect. Problem solved.

If you have questions ask away but I have to be honest if you need something like this then just buy it. They take PayPal too. Nice little package and for it's size... WOW!!! Just WOW!!!

[VulcanTourist]

I think I'll be sticking with my own solution: a Yuasa 6V gel-cell battery in a leatherette hip pack (an old digital camera case), with wiring and a generic power plug I added myself. The plug connects to the USB power adapter for my iPAQ hx4700. I also have a modded cigarette-lighter stepdown circuit, altered to plug inline between the hip pack and whatever else, just in case having less than 6VDC input is an issue. Total cost: a fraction of these.

[Jason Dunn]

Gomadic seems to have this issue covered with different connectors depending on if you want to sync/charge(USB port), as opposed to just charge.

Yup, I have a Zune tip from Gomadic and it works really well with the Quad Charge unit...but that's not so portable. :wink: