Charging standards question

[tinpanalley]

A recent power outage caused us to want a better option in a battery bank than what we currently have.

We have two Quickcharge 3 phones. So ideally I'd like a battery bank with 2 USB ports that can each handle QC3 because we often like charging both phones at once while out at a friends' place for dinner, etc.

What I'm seeing that's throwing me off is banks with 1 QC3 port, ok... But then one or two ports with some kind of "intelligent power" branding.

Here are the output specs on the 4 port battery bank I want...

Port 1 - USB-C PD2.0 (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A, 15V/1A) 18W(Max)
Port 2 - QC3.0 (5V/3A,9V2.0A,12V/1.5A)
Port 3 - 5V/3A
Port 4 - 5V/3A
(3 and 4 are this 'intelligent' iM power)

So many questions...
1. How do the different usb cables affect this? Our phones have USB-C ports. Does that mean that when using a cable that goes Usb-C to the phone but USB 3.0 A to the charger we're not getting the best speed possible?

2. Does USB PD 2.0 speed go out the window when you use a USB-C to USB-A cable?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Ravynmagi]

Both port 1 and 2 seem to have an 18W max. I did a test and USB-A to USB-C cables seem to handle that just fine. So I don't think you'll see much difference between port 1 and 2. PD does go up to higher wattages like 60 and 90, to power devices like laptops, and you'll definitely need a USB-C only cable for that. What is unknown though is if your power bank can deliver 18W to both simultaneously. The manufacture should tell you what the combined power output is. If the combined output is 18W, then you'll probably only see 8W charging on both ports at the same time.

Intelligent charging doesn't seem to be anything fancy. It just knows when to stop charging a battery when it gets full. Maybe slows the charging down when it gets nearly full. Basics like that.

 

[tinpanalley]

Ok, thanks. I've gotten that battery bank. I've also needed to get a new USB power meter because my current one doesn't do USB-C and seems to have a problem with my QuickCharge 3.0 phone.
I have the phone to a desk power bank/charger that outputs QC3.0 to my LG G6 via a USB-A to USB-C cable, I put the USB power meter between the power bank and the cable going to the phone and the phone says it's only charging at regular speed.