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

[NathanNJ]

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

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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!

 

[SimonB939094]

No problem with charging bank, now will charge my phone

[herosjourney]

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

[SimonB939094]

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

[sfchew]

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

[FredS482053]

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]

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]

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

[zivaspoppa]

 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]

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!

[DavidT760324]

Nope. Blinking red says there is a mismatch in the power source   i tried 4 different power sources, including my computer.  No luck. Ya get what ya pay for. 

[KennethK362304]

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. 

[p29971h]

Mine does not work either.  Directions are not the best

[helenhamrick]

Your "instructions are not the best" is the most understated thing Ive read lately. I wish I could be so calm. Im ready to throw the whole thing at a wall. Seriously, nowhere does it even tell me which hole is the input and which is the output. If they could just label every thing and use the same words in the instructions! 

[ThomasV401719]

Mine is an iPhone this doesn’t fit

[jpdrive1]

there is an adapter included for iPhones, it's in the top under the black charge cord.this is a piece of junk!

[JayE90143]

I have the same problem. Doesn’t fit iPhone!!!  Ridiculous. 

[p276965m]

I wish “Brandon” in Consumer Care could share the model number and instructions publicly.  For iPhone, I will need to purchase a female to female USB adaptor to plug my personal “USB to lightning cable” into the AARP charger cable.

[AARPConsumerCare]

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with your power bank, @p29971h. Can you send us a private message with your name and mailing address, so we may locate your account and help you with the power bank? Visit https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 for directions on how to enable private messages. You can also visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA to contact us by chat, text, or phone. - Brandon C.

[ChristopherS297796]

I am having the same problem. There is no red light that comes on when you plug it in to charge. However, I plugged it in to my cell phone and a blue light comes on and is charging my phone. I'm wondering if it came already charged. I am going to use it for a full charge and the try again.

[mf65063884]

Did you figure out how to charge up the bank itself? Where the instructions say to plug in..there seems to be nothing there to connect.

[zivaspoppa]

The only port that accepts a connector is the one on the side,  For charging purposes.

[davidn336044]

You were correct zivaspoppa, that the charging port for the battery is located on the side of the unit, next to the hinge of the male plug cable.  The instructions are confusing because the illustration show the unit upside down, so folks were looking for a port to the "left" of the LED light, which is actually where the micro adapter plug is stored.  If you hold the unit like a playing card facing you, with the LED light near the top, then the instructions make sense.  Happy to say this unit does work as designed.

[davidn336044]

The power bank charged up (red blinking LED) in about 5 hours and then charged my cell phone completely in about 2-3 hours (blue solid LED).  Very happy with this little power bank!

[p29971h]

That is what mine did

[AARPConsumerCare]

I understand how frustrating that must be, NathanNJ. Can you send us a private message with your name and mailing address, so we may locate your account to check the specific model you have? Visit https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 for directions on how to enable private messages. - Brandon C.

[RichardS119434]

THERE ARE NO INSTRUCHONS ON HOW TO CONNECT MY PHONE TO POWER BACK UP PLEASE SEND ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CONNECT MY PHONE TO POWER SOURCE

[AARPConsumerCare]

I'm sorry to hear you didn't receive the instructions for the power bank, @RichardS119434. Visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA to contact us by chat, text, or phone, so we may check on the instructions for you. Thanks for being a member! - Brandon C.

[gginsandiego]

The instructions are not helpful.  However, i've figured out how to get the red light charging.  Have a spare part left over (micro to type c adapter) that I don't know what it's for or where it goes.  But, the red light is flashing which according to the instructions, means it's charging.  What I am supposed to do with it after that, is a bit of a mystery but once it's charged (i.e., red light stays on) I'll post an update.  Don't think AARP realized most who received the "free" gift are over the age of 70.  I'm 76.  Husband, aged 80, gave it to me since he couldn't figure it out.

[p276965m]

It is the opposite of AARP’s mission to encourage seniors to give a device with upside down directions and missing information on how to charge with it.