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!

 

[hrafferty55]

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.

[WebWiseWoman]

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

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[crowleyd102]

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

[SimonB939094]

No problem with charging bank, now will charge my phone

[herosjourney]

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

[SWS42]

It is AARP branded with no manufacturer noted.  "Made in China"  #30569 appears on device label and instructions.  SKU  #AARP42944

[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

[SWS42]

SKU #AARP42944 is labelled as 2000mAh.

[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.

[rl346]

This worked for me--thanks much!!!

[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!

[PeterG737051]

 I did what you suggested, and I can tell that's the correct way to charge the device, but the LED did not light up. I've tried it in several outlets and with several USB plugs, but it just doesn't charge. It came charged, and I figured out how to charge my iPhone with it, but I guess it's a one-off: It will charge my phone once and then it's useless.

[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.

[p276965m]

I now understand that the flexible strip of plastic at the top of the charger is actually an output wire.  I therefore understand that the lightning adaptor attaches to the micro usb on that plastic strip to charge my iPhone.

[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.