Topic: Nintendo Switch: USB-C and Portable Battery Recommendations

@Mississauga
Well it uses USB-C, so as long as you get a good USB-C to C cable I imagine it'll work.

Just keep in mind we're in the early days with very few confirmations. All I can guarantee 100% for sure is what I've tried. In theory though, it should work, yes

I bought "For Honor" for my birthday and love it, but sheesh I want this game so bad! Was watching twitch player WIZ play switch version. Got border lands 2 for free this month, new Zelda, and for honor!

@Thaswizz
Man... Zelda is so good. Let me tell you, those reviews aren't BS. The game is a masterpiece. Do whatever you gotta do to play Zelda!

Nice thread!

So some of you probably have a pro controller. Is the USB c that comes with it also able to charge the Switch console?

@Spanjard
Um, it's only a cable, and it's A to C at that. You could technically "charge" but it probably would still drain as you played, and take a lifetime to charge up while it's off.

Best to use Official AC adapter to charge, and if you do use something else, use C to C cable for more amps of current. Just my two cents

@erv Oh, isn't it available in the Netherlands?

@kivain Yes, it is the same lol.

@JaxonH One of my friends said it will charge faster by using USB-C to C cable than other kinds of cables, is it true?

@JaxonH ok thanks I'm new to this kind of thing lol.
I'm glad I don't have to keep buying new batteries al the time but it does mean you need some extra knowledge about these things.

From the reviews i've read on amazon, some of chargers and power banks usb-c to c port does NOT quick charge their usb-c phones. But the usb-a ports do. If this is the case, then its unreliable to buy any charger with a usb c port as of March 2017 to get the fastest possible charge for the Switch or any other c device right now.

I just got the switch and I use Aukey 30,000 power bank with USB-C 5V/3A.
it can charge the switch while playing Zelda. Watch the video below, there is no 15 V output yet, but this is what you can use while playing it, and never run out of juice.

Link for the Aukey power bank
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F8IRIN0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=...

@Mike12mt
phones are different. Phones use proprietary methods of speed charging such as Qualcom, which was implemented for USB A, but Switch does not utilize any proprietary methods of speed charging. As a result, USB-A will never charge Switch as fast as USB-C, due to the simple fact USB A is limited to 2.4A while USB-C does 3A.

So here's my setup using the little 10,000mAh Iogear portable battery I already owned. It's a nice fit in the Sheika case. I see now a larger battery would not likely fit, certainly not with the USB C cable and accompanying USB C wall plug it needs as well (still waiting on mine).

So basically, use battery, USB C to C cable and the smallest 5V 3A USB-C wall plug you can find (I ordered the $40 Google one with 1.8m C to C cable from the Benson approved spreadsheet. It's small, foldable, and included in spec cable of good enough length to use as a substitute wall charger (cause no way you can fit the official charger in that case alongside battery and cable)

free screen capture

@Mississauga it isn't - you'd have to import everything if you want to get a usb-c out.

I currently have a usb-a that allows for 5v/3a output. Will have to do for a while. It charges while playing zelda... or not. It seems to keep the drain at minimum and add or lose the occasional percentage. Which makes sense, as the stock plug puts out 39 watts I believe.

So 3A at 5v while playing something that works the switch will almost level your switch in terms of usage. Pretty neat.

@JaxonH that's a great setup there. I've gone with the tough pouch from hori as it was sturdy and cheap (15euros) and the official one was a bit too flubby for me. If I could fit my powerbank (2,2cm thickness) and cable AND switch in one case that isn't as flubby but nice and strong I'd buy that. Your setup seems to come close.

Haven't found one yet, if I ever will...

@erv
I'm using the Sheika case that came with Zelda Special Edition... love that case. I think RDS makes one that's extremely similar though- has a similar kind of handle, same round zipper, also Zelda themed but in good taste (decent enough anyways) and although I can't see inside the case on Amazon, I'm pretty sure it's identical to mine (pretty sure I saw pics on another site).

Anyways, check it out. Looks pretty hard too. There's 5 different designs/colors to choose from. I like the last 2 with the Sheika design

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N5T26EP/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=U...

@JaxonH I've been eyeing that one, yes. It's hard to get at the moment and I wonder how sturdy it is.

The nintendo one looked sturdy yet turned out not to be. What is yours like? Does it dent or budge a bit when pressure is applied to the middle where the screen is supposed to be? Or is it just as bendable as the others?

@erv
I mean, it's not rock hard if that's what you're asking. But it's firm, especially on the edges, but you can press it in a bit in the middle if you wanted. I kinda prefer that cause it's hard enough to protect it but soft enough to absorb the shock from a fall, so it doesn't knock the system for a jolt. The handle ensures it will likely never fall though. Whereas a case with no handle is far more susceptible to slipping out of your hands.

So here's my first impressions of the above powerbank, just having done an unboxing and initial connection/charge test:

The unit itself appears well put together. It's fairly hefty, weighing 306g, and is thicker than the Switch tablet, though not as thick as the Switch when you include the trigger buttons and thumbsticks.

You can input charge to the powerbank using a Micro USB cable or a USB-C cable.

You can output charge from the powerbank using a USB-A or USB-C cable.

The unit only shipped with a 'USB-A to USB-C' cable, so no 'USB-C to USB-C' cable provided (which would in theory maximise the rate of output of charge from the powerbank to the Switch).

I plugged the powerbank into my Switch, using the USB-A to USB-C cable provided. The Switch registered the connection, waking from Sleep Mode, and showed that the battery was charging. At this point my Switch battery indicator showed 95% charge.

I then played Breath of the Wild for 20 minutes with the powerbank connected to my Switch throughout.

In those 20 minutes the charge reading on the powerbank's display dropped from 100 to 96, while the battery indicator on my Switch went from 95% to 100%.

This test therefore indicates that this powerbank is suitable for charging the Switch while you play quite adequately, and would possibly be even faster doing so if a USB-C to USB-C cable was being used.

I haven't tested how quickly it will charge the Switch when the Switch is powered off yet.

@gcunit
Thank you for the review! Nice to add another one to the list of confirmed, working power Banks.

I would advise finding out if the provided cable is in spec with 56k ohm resistor. This is important to prevent a USB-C device (Switch) from attempting to pull more than the device and cable can handle.

Even Anker, a top brand, was sending out of spec cables with their PowerCore+ portable battery. So ya, I'd either buy a separate one or find out about the one provided. Of course, people will probably wanna buy a C to C cable anyways

@JaxonH Thanks for the heads up - what are the likely consequences if Switch does pull more than the powerbank/cable can handle?