Hi everyone,
This is a quick review of the PowerGorilla Portable Lithium Polymer battery power station.
Portable electronic devices require electrical power, whether it is to power SW radio, radio scanners, digital TV receivers, cellular and satellite capable telephones, GPS equipment, portable computer, entertainment i.e games consoles and digital Camera and video equipment. Many of these power hungry devices usually have a limited internal power source, which may typically last only a few hours at best. A universal external battery would be extremely useful to extend the power operation times of all these devices especially in a power outage, which could even mean a bugout situation. With the current battery technology the lightest and most compact easily available technology is rechargable Lithium ion polymer. This brings us to the PowerGorilla by Powertraveller.
PowerGorilla powering a single Cell phone using the USB connection (rated at 1000mA at 5V). This would allow roughly 20 complete recharge cycles for the Motorola phone.
PowerGorilla powering a single Cell phone using the USB connection (rated at 1000mA at 5V) and also powering a Laura L36 portable digital TV using the main swtichable 16V, 19V and 24V DC output). This would allow more than 24 hrs continuous use for the Laura L36 Digital TV before the PowerGorilla needs recharging.
The specifications are quite impressive;
Battery Weight was 734 grams with the neoprene cover - 631 grams without the neoprene cover. Sounds heavy for portable use but this must be compared to alternative battery technology. A SLA cell for the same capacity of over 100 Watt Hours (equivalent to 40 RCR123's, which would weigh in around the same or 40 AA Eneloops @ 1080 gms) would typically weigh in around 2.5 to 2.6 Kg i.e. 4 times the weight.
Output Voltage;
5V USB 1000mA. This will allow any USB powered device to be recharged/powered etc.
A switchable output with 16V (@6,500mA maximum), 19V (@5,500mA maximum) and 24V (@4,200mA maximum) output designed for Laptop use but a wholes host of devices can be powered or recharged if the appropriate car cigarette adaptor is available for the device.
Input Voltage for recharging;
15 to 24 Volts requirement. The PowerGorilla comes with a mains charger which is suitable for all worldwide standards i.e a switch mode design which can take 100-240V @50/60 Hz and outputs DC voltage @16V 2300mA. Recharge time is stated at around 4-5 hrs.
A 10W Solar Charger is also avialable called the SolarGorilla and is specifically designed to be used in conjuction with the PowerGorilla. Charge times using the SolarGorilla, I would suspect will be around 12-14 hrs of constant sunshine using the SolarGorilla.
The PowerGorilla is also supplied with a whole host of different connectors called monkeynuts to power almost any portable electronic device.
The PowerGorilla looks to be resonably well made with the outer casing made from hard anodised aluminium. Care should be taken though as the PowerGorrila does not appear to be designed for rugged use or in unfavourable damp or wet conditions as the power connectors are essentially domestic types. If using the PowerGorilla outside then some form of drybag will be essential to protect it from the weather. But this is of course the same with most electronic devices which aren't specified to IPX7 and above.