12V Portable Power Bank (with Type C Power-In)

thingiverse

I need a reliable 12V Power Bank for working with servers and rendering nodes, especially when using a 14" external monitor. Commercial options can be pricey and bulky, making them difficult to transport. To address this issue, I've designed a DIY 12V Power Bank featuring a Type-C power input port and a DC5.5 output. Materials required: * 2x 105575 Li-Po Battery (5000mAh) * 1x DC connector * 1x MT3608 Step Up Converter (Note: It gets extremely hot under load, so use caution.) * 1x TP4056 Charging Module (I used a model with 4 onboard TP4056 and a maximum input current of 3A) * 1x Type-C Breakout board * 1x KCD1 Switch (Size: 21.5 x 9.5mm) * 1x 1S Li-Po Battery Capacity Display Unit (Size: 60 x 15 x 3mm) * Super glue and wires Steps to build the Power Bank: 1. Print all components 2. Purchase necessary materials 3. Connect batteries in parallel to maintain a 3.7V output 4. Assemble everything 5. Use your DIY Power Bank Wire Connection: Charging Circuit <=> Battery + Capacity Display <=> Step-Up Converter <=> Switch <=> DC Output (Using 22AWG wires) Important Notes: The battery's spec sheet indicates a maximum charging current of 1C, which translates to 5A Input. Since the input is shared between two batteries, each with 1.5A, it remains below the safety limit. However, I recommend increasing the input current to 4A for faster charging times. Additionally, the discharge rate for the battery is specified at 0.5C, allowing a maximum current draw of 5A from both batteries (18.5W). The MT3608 has a maximum input of 4A, limiting it to 14.8W. I overloaded the step-up converter since my monitor requires around 21W in total. Be cautious and only attempt this if you're familiar with the process. I omitted the switch connection for my DIY Power Bank as it's not necessary for my setup, but feel free to include it if needed. The runtime of my current setup is approximately 5 hours and 41 minutes, while charging takes around 6 hours. Overall, I'm pleased with its performance. Some may wonder why create a DIY solution when a standard step-up converter cable could suffice. My reasons are: 1. Standard USB Power Banks typically have a 5V2A output, which falls short of my requirements. 2. QC3.0 power banks supporting 12V Class A (18W) are indeed great but come at a higher cost. 3. It's an excuse to utilize my SLA printer. 4. DIY projects are often more enjoyable than purchasing commercial alternatives.