I did some experimentation with external batteries for the Surface Pro 4, and thought others out there might benefit since the information available online is hard to sort through. According to the powercfg /batteryreport utility I?m getting only 6.25 hours of battery life, even after the 11/2/2015 updates, on my Core i5 256/8 GB SP4, using mostly MS Office and maybe 20% web browsing using Chrome. If you often need to go longer than that between plug-ins, an external battery might be right for you. I happened to have two of them to try out:
Qi-Infinity Powergrid 34,200 mAh unit, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUvbUpU3280351
ECEEN 16,000mAh Laptop Power Bank, http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charg...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUvbUpU3280351
Neither of these comes with a Surface connector, but you can use the MDW 5.5x2.1 mm to Surface adapter cable which fits both of the external batteries I tested, Amazon.com: MDW Replacement 5.5x2.1mm Dc Charger Adapter Cable for Surface Pro 3 - Small Cable, Portable, Take This Adapter in Your Bag and Charges Your Pro 3 Anywhere That Has a 12v Power Supply: Cell Phones & Accessories
The SP4 will only draw 2.58A at 12V, so any external battery that can output at least this amperage will work, as long as you can find a suitable connector to the Surface. Both of my batteries can produce at least 4 amps. When off or hibernating, the SP4 will charge from the 10% level to 90% in 2 hours using the AC adapter or either of these batteries. It takes another hour to go from 90% to 100%, so you might not want to wait for it. If the SP4 is in use, I found that it takes 3 hours from 10% to 90% using either AC power or the external batteries.
Both batteries come with AC adapters that are meant to be used overnight. The Qi took 6.5 hours to go from 0% to 100% and the Eceen took 7.5 hours.
I found that charging a hibernating SP4 from 10% to 90% took about 1/3 of the Qi. If you are using the SP4 while charging, you?ll need about 1/2 of the Qi to do it, and you get 3 hours of usage during this time. The SP4 and Qi together give about 23 hours of continuous usage. The Qi battery and cable together weigh 1.9 lb and the Qi AC adapter adds 0.4 lb.
I found that the Eceen has just enough juice to go from 0 to 100% of the SP4 during hibernation, or 1.25 times from 10% to 90%. If you are using the SP4 while charging, the Eceen will get you from 10% to 75% during about 2.5 hours of usage before it shuts down. The SP4 and Eceen together give about 13 hours of continuous usage. The Eceen plus cable weigh 1.0 lb and its AC adapter adds 0.25 lb. Note that Eceen?s web site and Amazon both say the Eceen weighs 9.6 oz, but this is false.
If you?re a sometime road warrior like me, you never know where you?ll go next or when you?ll see your next working power outlet. If the Qi means not having to carry an extension cord or second device, that makes it an especially good tradeoff for the extra weight and modest cost.
Qi-Infinity Powergrid 34,200 mAh unit, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUvbUpU3280351
ECEEN 16,000mAh Laptop Power Bank, http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charg...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUvbUpU3280351
Neither of these comes with a Surface connector, but you can use the MDW 5.5x2.1 mm to Surface adapter cable which fits both of the external batteries I tested, Amazon.com: MDW Replacement 5.5x2.1mm Dc Charger Adapter Cable for Surface Pro 3 - Small Cable, Portable, Take This Adapter in Your Bag and Charges Your Pro 3 Anywhere That Has a 12v Power Supply: Cell Phones & Accessories
The SP4 will only draw 2.58A at 12V, so any external battery that can output at least this amperage will work, as long as you can find a suitable connector to the Surface. Both of my batteries can produce at least 4 amps. When off or hibernating, the SP4 will charge from the 10% level to 90% in 2 hours using the AC adapter or either of these batteries. It takes another hour to go from 90% to 100%, so you might not want to wait for it. If the SP4 is in use, I found that it takes 3 hours from 10% to 90% using either AC power or the external batteries.
Both batteries come with AC adapters that are meant to be used overnight. The Qi took 6.5 hours to go from 0% to 100% and the Eceen took 7.5 hours.
I found that charging a hibernating SP4 from 10% to 90% took about 1/3 of the Qi. If you are using the SP4 while charging, you?ll need about 1/2 of the Qi to do it, and you get 3 hours of usage during this time. The SP4 and Qi together give about 23 hours of continuous usage. The Qi battery and cable together weigh 1.9 lb and the Qi AC adapter adds 0.4 lb.
I found that the Eceen has just enough juice to go from 0 to 100% of the SP4 during hibernation, or 1.25 times from 10% to 90%. If you are using the SP4 while charging, the Eceen will get you from 10% to 75% during about 2.5 hours of usage before it shuts down. The SP4 and Eceen together give about 13 hours of continuous usage. The Eceen plus cable weigh 1.0 lb and its AC adapter adds 0.25 lb. Note that Eceen?s web site and Amazon both say the Eceen weighs 9.6 oz, but this is false.
If you?re a sometime road warrior like me, you never know where you?ll go next or when you?ll see your next working power outlet. If the Qi means not having to carry an extension cord or second device, that makes it an especially good tradeoff for the extra weight and modest cost.
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