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The Bluetti 200L portable power station Thanks (?) to extreme weather events, the case continues to be strong for investing in a portable battery power station for emergency home power backup. A high capacity/high output version like the Bluetti AC200L may cost more than a gasoline-powered generator, but the battery power station can be safely used indoors, there is no requirement to stockpile gasoline, it has the option of solar recharging for extended use cases, it can be easily thrown in a car for transportation (and be recharged using that car’s 12V port), there are no maintenance requirements other than plugging it on once or twice a year to ensure the battery is at full power–and this battery power station operates silently in most applications. A portable power station like this one may not power your whole home in an outage like a permanent home power backup system can, but it can keep essentials on–for a fraction of the price, with no installation required and no ongoing operating costs other than the electricity for recharging.
Here’s how the Bluetti AC200L performed during my testing. Setup and First Impressions The AC200L is marketed as a portable battery power station, but this one is definitely pushing the definition of “portable”. It measures 16.
5 x 11.0 x 14.4 inches and tips the scales at 61.
6 pounds. I had no issue moving it up and down the stairs through our house on my own, but definitely wouldn’t want to be carrying it too far without a helper. Fortunately, it is equipped with a pair of sturdy built-in handles that make it easy for two people to carry it.
The LCD display is crisp and displays what you need to know. ‘The Perfect Couple’ Dethroned In Netflix’s Top 10 List By A New Show A ‘Huge’ BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Price ‘Surprise’ Is Suddenly About To Hit Trump Vs. Harris 2024 Polls: Harris Leads In 2 Major Surveys—But Razor-Thin Race In Swing States The form factor is similar to other Bluetti power stations, including the AC200MAX I reviewed in 2021.
That’s a good thing as the design is functional and easy to use. The front face sports a wide array of output ports including four AC outlets, USB-C and USB Type A, a 12V “cigarette lighter” port and even a 30A NEMA TT-30 port for RV owners. A bright, LED display shows relevant information at a glance (you can also use the Bluetti app for remote updates and configuration).
One end of the power station houses the inputs and a cooling fan is visible peeking through vents on the other end. Charging is easy and can be very fast. You need a proprietary AC charging cable (included in the box), but the tradeoff for this is no charger brick, an exchange I would make any day.
On some power stations these bricks can be huge...
The AC200L also supports fast charging, allowing it to go from zero to 100% charge in as little as 1.5 hours. Plugged into a power bar in my office (on a 15 AMP circuit), the AC200L hit 75% in about two hours, which is still pretty impressive.
Operation was very quiet during the charging as well and the app gives the option to turn off the cooling fan altogether for complete silence–at the cost of a longer charge time. The mobile app (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) provides detailed stats and control Besides AC charging, the right combination of cables and accessories allows the power station to also charge from a vehicle or by solar panels. Bluetti offers a wide range of accessories that are compatible with this model.
Bluetti AC200L Key Specs: The Test: No Power + Smoke From Forest Fires The AC200L is a very capable power station on its own, however one of its advantages is support for expansion through use of external battery packs . The power station’s already hefty 2028 Wh capacity can optionally be expanded to as much as 8,192 Wh! Bluetti sent along a B210 battery (the new B300K was not yet available) and the necessary connecting cable, more than doubling the runtime of the base power station. Bluetti AC200L power station + B210 battery keeping critical equipment running To test this combination, I decided to opt for a scenario that we had encountered several time last year where I live in Canada: a power outage during summer heat, at the same time that smoke from wildfires is seriously degrading air quality.
I connected the AC200L to the B210 battery, then plugged in a desktop oscillating fan, a whole floor air purifier and a light with a CF bulb (I was out of LED bulbs at the time). The Bluetti combination kept my setup running for just a hair under 48 hours straight. That’s two full days and nights of heat relief, plus purified air and enough light to illuminate a small room.
If your priority is keeping drinks cold and preventing food from going off in a power outage, this power station on its own can keep my 21 cubic foot beer fridge going for about 24 hours, double that if you also have the B210 battery. With its 2400W output and 3600W surge, you can also plug in high demand appliances like electric kettles, hair dryers, microwave ovens and heaters that would cause lesser power stations to shut down. In short, this is a very capable system.
Recommendation The Bluetti AC200L 2kWh portable power station is a compelling option if you’re considering a high capacity/high output portable battery power station. It offers all the outputs you might need including four AC outlets and a NEMA TT-30 for RV use, 2,048Wh of battery capacity, safe and longer-lasting LiFePO4 battery cells, 3600W of surge power for high demand appliances, expandability through use of optional external battery packs, remote access via mobile app, fast-charging capability and a wide range of recharging options. Bluetti AC200L can be charged using optional solar panels for a full off-the-grid power solution It’s not light, but at around 62 pounds (and with two sturdy built-in handles), it is manageable–especially if you can wrangle a helper if you need to move it far.
With its MSRP of $1,999 this is not a cheap solution, but you are paying for a mature and proven product equipped with the latest high capacity battery technology and with a wide ecosystem of compatible accessories and expansion options available. And you can occasionally find it on sale–at time of publication, Bluetti was offering this model at a $800 discount. Disclosure: Bluetti provided a power station and expansion battery for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
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