Power banks and portable battery packs are one of India's highest-volume electronics imports and require BIS CRS registration under IS/IEC 62368-1:2023. Battery safety makes this a critical product category.
Power banks are large lithium-ion battery packs carried on the person — in bags, pockets, and aircraft cabins. A failing power bank can cause fire. IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 and IATA aviation regulations (which reference IEC 62368-1) both address power bank safety rigorously.
Each battery cell in the power bank must have documented certifications (UN 38.3 transport testing, IEC 62133 cell certification). The total energy in large power banks (100Wh+ for laptop power banks) approaches the aviation carry-on limit — documentation is critical for customs clearance.
The BMS controls charging, discharging, and protects against dangerous conditions:
Each protection function is individually tested — not just declared.
USB-A output must be 5V ±5%. USB-C PD output voltage must be accurate across all supported PDO (Power Data Objects) — incorrect output voltage can damage connected devices.
The power bank is charged and discharged continuously to simulate heavy use. Surface temperatures and internal cell temperatures are monitored throughout to verify thermal management is adequate.
Power banks above 100Wh require airline approval for carry-on (typically approved up to 160Wh). Power banks above 160Wh cannot be carried on aircraft at all. Manufacturers should mark the Wh rating clearly on the product to facilitate passenger and airline compliance.
Power banks previously under IS 13252 migrate to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023. Deadline: November 2028. House of Testing handles IS 62368 power bank testing.