BLUETTI PORTABLE POWER SYSTEMS

Bluetti is a great company that provides a range of portable power systems compatible with everything from keeping the electronics topped up and otherwise powering-up a picnic, to portable units for off-grid work and 4X4 adventuring, right up to complete home battery backup in the event that the grid goes down for a protracted period.

If you need to work off-grid, Bluetti has a system that will keep those plug-in power tools humming, and the batteries charged up. And if you’re a grey nomad, it’s a lot easier to sleep at night when you don’t need to run a generator right next to your campsite.

AutoExpert discount: 3-5%

How to get your discount:

Discount amount: 3%-5% (varies depending on product)

  • To access the discount, use the red ‘buy now’ links on this page to view the products at Bluetti’s website

  • You’ll get 5% off AC300 and larger units - use code AEJC5 on checkout

  • You’ll get 3% off AC200P, AC200MAX and smaller units - use code AEJC3 on checkout

  • Discounts sometimes don’t apply in the case of additional sale offers (eg, Prime Day sale, etc.) and other promotional pricing deals.

  • Discounts are applicable only for power stations and power station combination packs. Not applicable to individual solar panels, etc.

My top Bluetti portable power station recommendations

Best home backup: Bluetti AC500

The Bluetti AC500 is a massive powerhouse offering 5000W of electrical output (10,000W on surge) with expandable, modular battery storage that you can tailor to suit your needs using B300S battery modules. Each B300S is 3072Wh (3.072kWh) of electrical storage. Up to six B300S modules can be combined with a single AC500 for a massive 18.432kWh of home battery backup.

The system is app-controllable using WiFi & Bluetooth, and functions as an uninterruptible power supply.

I used the AC500 and the B300S battery modules to do some fairly heavy off-grid metalwork in my home shed/studio. This ended up being a pretty severe test of the AC500 system. I urge you to watch my video review putting the AC500 through its paces if you’re seriously considering this unit.

Best entry-level home backup: AC300

The Bluetti AC300 is like a downscaled AC500. It offers 3000W of continuous electrical output (600W on surge) and can be configured with up to four B300 battery modules (each 3072Wh) for a total electrical storage backup of 12,288Wh. It is app-controllable, also functions as an uninterruptible power supply, the AC power is pure sine wave, and it will accept up to 2400W of solar input at the same time as you are using it.

I did a detailed analysis and full video review of the AC300 and B300 expansion batteries, in the context of using them to get prepared for what many news reports claim is an increasingly common spate of grid failures into the future.

Best portable workhorse: AC200MAX

If I had a favourite Bluetti, this would be it. Sure, it’s a bit heavy for running uphill, but it’s still portable - one-man portable - and it packs a punch. I’ve run a gasless MIG welder with it (briefly - it was at the limit, but I got the job done - story below). I’ve also run a drop saw and various woodworking tools, plus a magnetic drill.

You get 2200W of maximum continuous electrical output. The AC is pure sine wave, and there’s a built in 2048Wh battery. If you need more battery than that there’s a B230 expansion battery module available, or you can use the (even bigger) B300 modules. The AC200MAX is compatible with up to two of the B230 or B300 battery modules.

This unit is great for work or play, and it’s a lot easier to move this from vehicle to vehicle, or vehicle to boat or van, etc, compared with the headache of moving a hard-wired dual-battery setup, for example when you upgrade to a new vehicle.

If you’re considering this unit, check out my off-grid metal fabrication video review, using the AC200MAX, and also (just so the woodworkers don’t get jaded) I also made some pretty cool plywood wheel chocks using the AC200MAX as the power source.

Plus, there’s my initial AC200MAX full review and test here.

Best serious portable power pack prioritising portability over outright grunt: AC180

There’s a lot to like about the AC180. It’s significantly more portable than the AC200MAX, but it doesn’t give much away in terms of outright performance.

Maximum continuous output is 1800W (2700W in ‘power lifting’ mode), and onboard battery capacity is 1152Wh. It features sure sine wave AC, total of nine outputs, there’s four ways to recharge (and it recharges fast). Plus it’s app-compatible and there’s a B80 expansion battery module available if you need more battery. And there’s a new user interface on the unit that really is slick.

If the AC200MAX is too big and heavy, and you want something almost as grunty - this is it.

If you’re considering buying the AC180 - and I really like this unit a lot - check out my video review of the AC180.

Best for weather resistance: AC60

The Bluetti AC60 (seen here with the B80 expansion battery module) is ideal for camping and off-road adventuring. It’s IP65 rated - meaning dustproof and water resistant. Warranty on this one is up, too - to six years.

It’s a 600-watt unit (1200 in ‘power-lifting’ mode) with an onboard 403Wh LiFePO4 (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery (the stable kind). With the B80 battery, which is also IP65 rated, total storage jumps to 2015Wh.

Like most Bluettis, it’s app-controlled, the AC is pure sine wave, and it charges fast. It’s also got the slick new user interface. And it weighs less than 9kg.

If the overall weather resistance is a factor for you, the AC60 could really offer you something which - for now at least - other Bluetti units do not. Check out my AC60 video review here, where I compare it to the AC180.

Best for lightweight adventuring and day trips: EB3A

The EB3A is pint-sized but powerful. It’ll provide you with up to 600W of continuous power (1200W on surge) and it features an inbuilt 268Wh LiFePO4 battery pack. The AC is pure sine wave, and it features a total of eight outputs, plus a light.

You can recharge it while camping with a 200W solar panel, and it packs more than enough grunt to run a handful of LED lights around a campsite overnight, as well as keeping your phone, tablet or laptop charged up. There’s even smart control via the Bluetti app.

After completing my in-depth video review of the Bluetti EB3A, the unit now sits in my office, and its main task is keeping all the camera batteries topped up, which is a full-time job around here, from time to time.