I just got one of these Ruinovo (if the maker only knew what that implies...) 4 x 18650 portable battery packs with Panasonic 3400 mAh included, thanks to reading about them here on CPF. I got the model with the leds in it, and found that it makes a great table light. It even has infinite dimming to a fairly low state. I'm curious as to how long it would last with a full charge on the dimmest setting without any other loads. Many nights, I suspect!
Also appreciated is the power switch, a small push switch that is less likely to get bumped while packed away, than the rocker switches proudly mounted on some models.
So far I am pleased as can be, albeit with some gripes, later on that.
I bought the Ruinovo to power my smartphone and Soundmatters Foxl portable speakers for extended listening times away from power. Foxl speakers can put some amazing clean, clear sound out for their small size. They do like power to sound their best. Check 'em out...
In the two sessions I've had so far, after hours of listening with the volume up enough to disturb the campers nearby (had there been any), the Ruinovo's batteries still had most of their charge.
Now the gripes -
1) Somehow there seems to be a ground loop when I have both phone and speakers connected to the Ruinovo for power, and the phone's audio out connected to the speakers. Buzz and clicky noise ensue, worse when the phone display is on. If I disconnect either device from the Ruinovo, the noise is gone. I don't really know if the Ruinovo is the cause of this, but it doesn't happen when both devices are running off of a twin-output AC adapter
Until I find a fix for this, I can let the phone run on battery power while listening, and if the situation requires, make sure there is enough power in the charger to top the phone off when finished listening.
2) The four unprotected batteries are in parallel and the positive terminals connect to a small board, which is connected by a wire to the head end. At the head end, the negative terminals are connected all together by a common trace. What I see as a potential disaster is where the positive wire passes over the negative common trace with only the wire's insulation to prevent a full-on short circuit. Because this spot is at the end of the wire, if the insulation were to pull back due to shrinkage or otherwise fail, kablooey!
I plan to take mine apart before too long, and remedy the situation with some real insulation - heat shrink or Kapton tape.
Gripe #2 is the only thing that would make me hesitate to recommend this to someone looking for the most portable USB power in a small package. Because it needs disassembly to install the batteries, that would be the time to put some reliable insulation at that spot.
