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NathanNJ
Contributor ⭐
July 18, 2025

Membership Gift Doesn't Work - Power Bank SKU #AARP42944

  • July 18, 2025
  • 46 replies
  • 16230 views

Update - I found that the device came fully charged, and it didn't need to be charged up.

 

 

__________________

Has anyone else received the Power Bank as the free membership gift - and did you get it working?

 

Mine does not work. The red light never comes on to indicate that it's charging. The instructions are no help.

 

Wondering if any of you out there have gotten this to work successfully? 

 

I have tried Googling, calling AARP, and chatting with them. No one has any information on this particular item.

 

Thanks for any tips you can offer!

 

 

46 replies

JamesG458722
Contributor ⭐
September 13, 2026

I received one, but without a cable or any instructions whatsoever. Just the Power Bank. Kind of a bummer. 

RonaldW362447
Contributor ⭐
July 21, 2026
hrafferty55 is correct:
You have it plugged into the wrong place; it's on the side, in the corner, on the left of the red light, on the top of the left-hand corner.
Your photo is showing it plugged into a spare adapter in a storage compartment.
I made the same mistake.
It's apparently a Chinese ↔ English translation problem.
    hrafferty55
    Contributor ⭐
    July 8, 2026

    You have it plugged into the wrong place, it's on the side, in the corner, on the left of the red light on the top of the left hand corner.

      RonaldW362447
      Contributor ⭐
      July 21, 2026

      Thanks.

      WebWiseWoman
      WebWiseWoman
      Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
      June 23, 2026

      Perhaps we need to re-think using "power banks"?

       

      Dream Vacation Turns To Nightmare When Las Vegas Familys Home Burns Suspected Defective Battery Pack...

      JuliLG
      Contributor ⭐
      July 23, 2026

      🤣 Using that logic we really need to rethink cooking - the leading cause of house fires. 

        crowleyd102
        Contributor ⭐
        May 12, 2026

        The charging socket lacks contact for any type of USB plug; either a design or manufacturing fault!

         

        SimonB939094
        Contributor ⭐
        April 18, 2026

        No problem with charging bank, now will charge my phone

        herosjourney
        Contributor ⭐
        March 26, 2026

        Can anyone tell me what make and model this charger is?

        SimonB939094
        Contributor ⭐
        April 18, 2026

        No problems with charging the power bank to get steady red light 

        sfchew
        Contributor ⭐
        February 25, 2026

        Hello , what is the power bank rating it would be a number like 38800mAh

        FredS482053
        Contributor ⭐
        April 24, 2026


        38800mAh is far higher in power (watts) than needed for these capacities for cell phone singular users.  My typical AC/DC power adapters for standard household uses are 120 VAC to 5 VDC  using 2400 mAh (which is current) or 2.4 Amp Hr. rating and develops 12 watts (of power used). 

        Higher the volts times (x) amps is more power out (watts used).  Higher those numbers, the faster the charging time is, up to the limitations of the electrical equipment (phone/battery/charger).   https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/charge/mah-to-ah.html = This web site link is very helpful and explanatory on this subject matter of milli-amp hours usage.

        These adapters, changing from AC to DC, replace a small size power bank battery.  If you will note in the diagram presented in this thread, the physical size power bank AARP is gifting, its about 1/4" thick by 2.44" by 3.77"  (which is about 2 1/2" by 3 3/4"). That is much smaller than most i-Phone or Android cell phones.

        So your not packing around much extra DC power  My older and newer Androids would hold many hrs of DC current of just phone call conversation time.

        I read about power bank battery manufacturers specs as they relate to time to recharge the power bank from AC, it's time to recharge the cell phone's DC battery compared to cell phone conversation time, just talking; not video playing or gaming or searching the NET.  That uses more current stored in the batteries. 

        Hopefully this is helpful for you and other members reading this thread. 😉

        davidn336044
        Contributor ⭐
        December 2, 2025

        Same here with my new charger.  It will not charge, and the charging port will not hold a charging Micro-USB adapter.  Very poorly made.

        SharonS700777
        Contributor ⭐
        April 1, 2026

        THESE COME FULLY CHARGE.  STILL WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECHARGE IT.

         

         

        zivaspoppa
        Contributor ⭐
        November 4, 2025

         Received mine yesterday.  I agree, like most instructions from Asian sources, they were next to worthless. I did manage to figure out enough to use one of the adapters to fit my Android phone's charging port (type C), and the back (male) plug on the end of the black cable tucked in at one end.  The LED lit up blue but the battery only took the phone up to 37% and quit.  This morning I took the included white cable Type A to whatever type small connector and plugged that small one into the charging port on the side of the battery.  The A size connector went into a 5-volt charging unit and plugged it into the wall (120 v ac).  The led on the front lit up with an intermittent red light, which turned solid red once the charging finished.  (about 6 hours)  I went from being disgusted to being quit pleased with this unit.

          davidn336044
          Contributor ⭐
          December 2, 2025

          Zivaspoppa, you may have solved my problem with the charging.  The instructions should have said to insert the Micro-USB into the side female socket to the RIGHT of the LED Charging Light.  It's now blinking red and I assume charging.  Will try out the phone charger tomorrow.  Thanks, Zivaspoppa!

            KennethK362304
            Contributor ⭐
            February 28, 2026

            Ah, yes. The instructions are confusing as the "left" and "right" are opposite of the figures. The figures' labeling does not correspond well to the instructions. 

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