Always On means that the output of the battery or power bank does not shut off after a set amount of time. There is no low current shutoff. It stays on.
Most battery packs shut off when there is no current draw. However, there are times when you want to prevent the battery or power bank from shutting off when there is little to no power draw. With an Always On battery, you could power IoT devices sensors, GPS tracking devices, perform time-lapse photography with GoPro and other cameras, or run Arduinos and Raspberry Pis and their peripherals.
If you want to power a device over several days, weeks, or months without human intervention, then the Always On Mode is a good fit
^back to topAll of them. The V25, V50, V70, V75, and V88 are all equipped with Always On mode.
The battery will shut off if it is close to empty. Once the battery builds up a bit of a buffer of power and is partially charged (about five minutes of good sun), it will turn itself on again.
The battery will also shut off if a “fault” occurs. The most common are short circuits, over discharge, over temperature and under temperature. When the fault is resolved, the battery will resume normal operation.
V25, V50 & V75 Battery:
- These three batteries have a mechanical switch in each of their USB ports. When you connect a USB cable the battery is in Always On Mode.
| Version | Batch Number | Side Input | Top USBC | Top USBC Port & Always On Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | 2430 and lower | MicroUSB | Input Only | Battery can charge from top USBC port and discharge via USBA ports at full rate. |
| V2 | 2777 | USBC | USBC PD | If charging from top USBC port, USBA ports may discharge at less than full rate or cutoff output. Can charge from side USBC port and discharge from USBA at full rate. |
V88 Battery:
- Hold the Power Button down until the LED screen flashes through voltages and then displays the text "Always On Mode" in the bottom right corner (~ 10 seconds).
- For everyday use and long term storage, use Auto-Off mode. To switch back to this mode, hold the power button for about 10 seconds. The “Always On Mode” text will disappear.
V70 Battery:
- The V70 is in Always On mode by default.
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The batteries have different power consumption in Always On mode. The power is primarily used by the regulator as the voltage (5V, 12V, 16V, or 19V) is held at the proper level even if there is no current consumption.
| Battery | Cable Connected | Current (mA) | Power (mW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| V25, V50, V75 | USB-A | 7 | 26 |
| V88 | USB-A | 10 | 110 |
| V88 | 12V DC | 37 | 410 |
| V88 | USB-C + 12V DC | 70 | 777 |
| V70 | 12V DC (Unregulated) | 0.1 | 1.1 |
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Solar power is an effective way to keep a battery charged while powering sensors and communication devices.
You can use Voltaic 6V solar panels to charge our V25, V50, or V75 and our 18V solar panels for the V70, and V88. To accurately size the panels and battery, you will need to spec out the power draw of your device and estimate how much power you are going to generate.
If you want more advice on powering devices remotely, please use the button link below to schedule an IoT consultation.
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