GIVEAWAY: Bluetti EB55 portable power bank & PV200 solar panel combo
This brilliant $1698 portable power combo kit could be yours free - but act quickly because entries close February 20, 2023
BLUETTI SYSTEMS GUIDE
Bluetti is a long-term partner of mine, here at AutoExpert. Learn more about Bluetti
The company specialises in portable power - everything from units about as big as a six-pack, which you can carry in one hand and will power up your campsite or keep the power tool batteries charged off-grid, to heavyweight versions of the same thing, which cam power your house during a blackout.
Some of the larger units, such as the AC200MAX, AC300 and AC500 have modular battery packs allowing you to build out a system that suits your particular needs.
Typical features:
Stable lithium-iron-phosphate (LiPO4) battery technology
Good for 2500+ charge cycles to 80%
Pure sine wave inverters, providing high quality AC output, just like the grid at home
Multiple USB outputs (including high-power USB-C)
12V DC outlets for vehicle-specific devices
Inductive charge pad(s) on top for mobile devices
Inbuilt solar charge controller, and optional portable solar panels
Recharge at home, from the grid, in the field, from solar, or on the move, from the vehicle’s 12V supply
Here are some of my favourites:
HOME BACKUP SYSTEMS
BLUETTI AC300 + B300
The Bluetti AC300 system matches a grunty 3000-watt pure sine wave inverter with a modular ‘B300’ 3072Wh LiFePO4 battery system (you can add up to four batteries for over 12kWh of home backup storage during power failures).
The system will cope with 6000-watt demand on surge, and you can recharge the batteries in multiple ways - for example, from the mains, or portable solar, or a generator. Maximum power input for charging is 8000 watts (that’s AC + solar).
It will function as a 24/7 uninterruped power supply for your home as well, and full control is possible via smartphone app. And the unit is covered by a four-year warranty.
BLUETTI AC500 + B300S
The Bluetti AC500 + B300S is powerful system delivers 5000-watts from a pure sine wave inverter (10,000W on surge) and is paired with the upgraded ‘B300S’ modular 3072Wh LiFePO4 battery system (you can add up to six batteries for truly massive home storage capacity over 18kWh for backup during power failures).
As with the AC300 system, you can recharge the batteries in multiple ways - for example, from the mains, or portable solar, or a generator. Maximum power input for charging is 5400 watts (that’s AC + solar).
It will function as a 24/7 uninterruped power supply for your home as well, and full control is possible via smartphone app.
PORTABLE POWER SYSTEMS
BLUETTI EB3A
This Bluetti EB3A is the baby of the Bluetti lineup, but that means it’s super-portable, weighing in at just 4.6 kilos. So if you need a little bit of multi-purpose power and you’re off the grid camping, the EB3A might be just right.
It’ll produce 600 watts of pure sine wave 240-volt AC electricity, and the storage capacity is 268 watt-hours (that’s roughly equivalent to three 5.0Ah, 18V power tool batteries).
There’s multiple power in and power out options. Inputs incliude charging off the mains, or a 200W (max) solar panel, while outputs include 3 x USBs, 2 x 240V AC GPOs, 3 x 12V DC outputs and an inductive charge pad on top.
You can pair it with the PV200 solar panel.
BLUETTI AC200MAX
In my view, The AC200MAX is Bluetti’s great all-rounder. It’s portable (just, weighing in at 28 kilos). But for the size and performance, nothing comes close. You can extract 2200 watts max. (4800 watts on surge.) There are four pure sine wave 240V AC GPOs, five USBs (including a 100W USB-C to charge laptops fast). Plus multiple 12V DC.
You can charge it up off the mains and via solar at the same time, you get smart control via the Bluetti smartphone app, and if you need more battery storage than the 2048 watt-hours in the box, you can add an optional B230 expansion battery, or two. (Each B230 adds another 2048 watts, so you can effectively triple the storage capacity using modular expansion.
You can use this for work and play. (2048Wh of battery capacity is roughly equivalent to 23 standard 5.0Ah, 18V power tool batteries.)
So, that dual battery setup you were thinking about hard-wiring into your 4X4? Forget it. With the AC200MAX, you get all the benefits, plus you can use it in your shed, in the caravan and on the boat. And when you upgrade your 4X4, you can take it with you.
THE GIVEAWAY
BLUETTI EB55 PORTABLE POWER STATION
The Bluetti EB55 is barely bigger than a six pack, and weighs only 748g, but it’ll deliver 700 watts of pure sine wave 240-volt AC power (1400W on surge).
The Bluetti EB55 offers 537Wh of inbuilt battery storage (which is roughly equivalent to six standard 5.0Ah 18V power tool batteries). So it’s a great way to keep your batteries charged on site Mon-Fri, and keep the lights on and the devices charged while you’re camping at the weekend - in a vehicle, on a boat or in a caravan.
You can charge it up with solar (see below) or off the mains.
PLUS: BLUETTI PV200 PORTABLE SOLAR PANEL
The Bluetti PV200 is the perfect partner to the Bluetti EB55. It’s roughly 60cm x 60cm when folded (so, easily packable in a 4X4) and weighs just 7.3kg. Unfurled it’ll max out at 200 watts, and it comes with an MC4 cable connection kit. In other words it’ll plug straight in to most Bluetti portable power stations, because they come with inbuilt solar charge controllers.
Expanded it stretches to about 2.3 metres, length-wise, and there’s an inbuilt stand to optimise the angle of incidence of the sunlight.
Enter here for your chance to win The Bluetti EB55 + PV200 bundle!
Fill in the form below. That’s all it takes.
I’ll select one winner based on merit.
If you win, I’ll let you know by e-mail.
MORE REPORTS
Mazda’s CX-70 is a large five-seat SUV with generous legroom, loads of equipment and a supremely comfortable ride. It’s one of four new additions to the brand’s prestige model onslaught, but for a fraction the price of a premium German SUV.