A power bank is a small, portable charger that can power up your smartphone, tablet, or other USB-charged devices when you're away from an outlet. Power banks are becoming an increasingly popular option for people on the go that serve as portable power stations for gadgets. There’s no need to worry about your devices running out of juice, even if you're in the middle of nowhere. Most power banks use lithium-ion batteries, which are the same type of batteries used in many electronic devices. These batteries can hold a charge for days, so you can always be sure you have a backup power source when you need it. Power banks work by storing energy in their batteries, which charge electronic devices. When the power bank connects to a device, it will begin transferring its stored energy to the device. Power banks typically use USB ports to connect to devices, though some may also have wireless charging capabilities.

Watt Hours are a unit of measurement for energy. Energy is the total sum of power over a period of time – in other words, a way of measuring capacity. Remember: capacity refers to the amount of charge stored in a battery. In this case, we use the time period of 1 hour. So, what’s the difference between Watts and Watt Hours? Watts measure the rate of power at a moment in time, and Watt Hours measure amount of power for a specific period of time.

Here’s a quick and dirty lesson in power: All Goal Zero power products have a number in their name, ex. Venture 35, Flip 36, Goal Zero Yeti 500X. These numbers refer to the Watt Hours (Wh), or the amount of energy that can be stored in each battery, and can help estimate how long your gear will run from each power bank or power station. For example, a 500Wh battery should run a 100W light for 5 hours (500/100=5). If your gear falls within the 500Wh capacity of the Yeti, you’ll want to check the restrictions on each of the output ports. When you’re deciding on what to power from your new Goal Zero power bank or power station, it’s helpful to look into your device’s wattage consumption.