Power Bank
Products and appliances

Power banks and portable chargers

Power banks and portable chargers

Portable chargers and power banks keep you from getting stranded when you’re on the go. But it’s important to ensure they work properly and safely. 

Modern electrical gadgets are power hungry. Our increasingly busy lives mean a dead battery can leave you disconnected from life, work, and your daily routine.  

Portable chargers and power banks (also known as battery packs) are invaluable when you find yourself low on power and without a convenient charging source for your smartphone and other devices. 

Power banks consist of a battery, circuitry, and one or more charging ports, often USB or USB-C. The pack’s capacity determines how many times you can recharge your device before the power bank needs recharging. And the output power of the power bank dictates how quickly your devices will charge.  

Many power banks are compact and lightweight, but larger ones offer higher capacities, suitable for extended travel or charging multiple devices. 

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Key points

  • Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully and always follow them. 
  • Protect your power bank from damage and don’t immerse it in water. 
  • Although robust, battery packs are not indestructible so handle them carefully. 
  • Do regular checks of the charger plug and socket for burn and scorch marks. 
  • Recycle old power banks properly, don’t dispose of them in the general waste or normal recycling. 

Buying a power bank

  • Whichever you choose, buy your power bank and charger from a reputable retailer rather than a third-party seller online, as it may not have passed all the necessary safety checks.  
  • Register your power bank so you can be contacted easily if there is a safety recall of your product. It’s also much easier to return a faulty item or order a repair if it’s registered.

Using a power bank safely

  • Use the power bank only for its intended use, for example to recharge a mobile phone or other USB-powered mobile devices. 
  • Keep power banks away from heat sources and liquids, especially direct sunlight, humidity, and water. 
  • Only use the connecting cables provided with the battery pack and your mobile device. And supervise children if they are using battery packs. 
  • Exposing a power pack to extreme temperatures can be dangerous. For example, don’t leave it in a parked car where it could get cold in winter or hot in summer. 
  • Unplug your power bank after charging, don’t leave it on prolonged charge when not in use and ensure it is uncovered and in a well-ventilated environment when charging. 
  • Don't charge battery packs overnight or while you are out of the house. And most portable battery packs do not support charging and discharging at the same time. 
  • Keep battery packs away from other items which might short-circuit them due to conductive material, such as in leaving them in your pocket or bag with coins or keys. 
  • Although they are robust, battery packs aren’t indestructible so handle them carefully. And don’t dismantle or attempt to repair faulty battery packs. 
  • In the event of a cell leaking, don't allow the liquid to come into contact with the skin or eyes. If contact has been made, wash the affected area with water and seek medical advice. 
  • Most power banks use lithium-ion batteries that will naturally get warm during charge and discharge cycles. But if they are too hot to handle, stop using it, unplug it from the charger (if it’s charging), and seek advice from the manufacturer. 
  • While charging, if you notice any odd smells or any sparking or smoke, or any swelling, cracks or damage, unplug immediately and contact the retailer and/or manufacturer. 

ALWAYS

  • Do plenty of research first before buying.  
  • Buy from a reputable retailer. 
  • Buy a known and trusted brand. 
  • Buy replacement chargers from the original manufacturer or reputable retailer. 
  • Take old power banks to be recycled properly. 

AVOID

  • Buying from third-party sellers online. 
  • Keeping battery packs with other items which might short-circuit them due to conductive material. 
  • Exposing a power pack to extreme temperatures as it can be dangerous. 
  • Using the power bank or charger if it is too hot to handle. 
  • Using the power bank or charger if you notice any damage or sparks. 

Stay safe with electrical products

Check plugs and sockets

Regularly check the charger and/or plug and your socket-outlet for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch. 

Protect with an RCD

An RCD (residual current device) in your consumer unit (fusebox) protects you from electric shocks should there be a fault with the charger. If you don’t have RCD protection, use an RCD plug on the socket where the charger is plugged in. 

Disposing of a power bank safely

Don’t throw battery packs into the general waste or in the normal recycling. Because they contain lithium-ion batteries, if they get crushed or damaged, they can spark dangerous fires in recycling centres or bin lorries. 

They must be recycled properly. Check our guidance on recycling electricals or find out more on Recycle Your Electricals.

 

Additional info

Be aware that major airlines are clamping down on the use of power banks on planes following a spate of incidents involving them. Emirates banned the use of power banks on its flights from October 2025. 

Follow airline rules and never put power banks in checked luggage. Keep them in your hand luggage and, if you spot any signs of damage or deformation while flying, alert airline staff straight away as they will be trained to deal with it. 

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