Bluetti was a pioneer in the use of LiFePo4 batteries in portable power stations. This sort of battery can last nine years on average if the range of charge cycles is increased from 500 to 3500. A power plant like this can view as an insurance policy against home damage. Blackouts during extreme weather occurrences, such as cold winters, can be devastating to a home and its occupants. The AC200P, Bluetti’s best-seller, is getting an upgrade in the form of the Bluetti AC200MAX expandable power station. From the outside, the two appear to be identical, with the same form factor. New details emerge as you examine the situation more closely. The station’s output power has now been increased, and it now supports Bluetooth. The option to enhance battery capacity by adding additional battery packs to a station is the most interesting upgrade.
What you will see here?
Bluetti AC200MAX: Design
The Bluetti AC200MAX looks and feels the same as its predecessor. The Bluetti logo is on the front of the tough plastic shell, which has dark tones. It weighs 28.1kg and dimensions 42cm x 28cm x 38.7cm. Two handles on each side enable the safe movement of the device, while two fans on each side aid to cool things down. Its AC200MAX includes a large 500W block adapter as well as cables for automobile and solar charging in a plastic bag.
One of the rare power stations with a full-color touch screen is the AC200MAX. The clear display shows the charge and discharges actions at the station. The well-organized hierarchical menu allows for quick access to settings, battery data logs, as well as any activated alarms. Before shutting off the screen backlight, it is kept on now for 30 seconds. Any screen press triggers a buzzer that can turn off.
Front Panel
On the front panel, there are five AC outlets with a maximum output of 2200W. RV appliances are powered by a single-phase NEMA TT-30 plug. There are four 12V high-current ports there. Two DC 5521 with a combined power of 120W for charging cameras or RC vehicles, one 120W cigarette lighter, and one and 360W output for low-voltage products such as a small fridge.
Bluetti provides a generous number of USB sockets, with three groups covering various output currents. A one-of-a-kind 100W Type-C port can power gaming laptops. There are also two 36W & two 15W Type-A plugs for charging smaller devices like outdated phones or tablets. On the top of the AC200MAX, there are two 15W Wireless Charge surfaces.
Dual battery extension ports, one 900W 145V DC port allowing solar charging, plus one 500W 58.8V DC input to charge from the grid via the AC block adapter are located on the left side of the AC200MAX. The quickest way to charge is to use a combination of DC & AC sources, which takes slightly over five hours to fully charge. Rubber covers cover all output sockets, but input sockets secure by plastic caps, like with other Bluetti goods.
Specifications
- 2,200W AC Inverter for pure sine waves (4,800W Surge).
- Capacity: 2,048Wh.
- LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles and Up to 80% Efficiency.
- 7 Charging Options (AC, Solar, Car, Generator, Lead Battery, Dual AC/AC+Solar).
- Expandable With 2B230, you can get up to 6,144Wh, or 8,192Wh with 2B300.
- Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter) 900W Max. Solar Input 1300W Max.
- BLUETTI App Smart Control & Monitoring.
Is it possible to charge the solar generator while it is in use?
Yes, most solar generators can use while they’re charging. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Check the user manual for your solar generator before running it while it is charging.
The only button to the left of a display is pressed to turn the machine on. When the unit turns on, a Bluetooth connection is established. Two on-screen soft buttons control the AC and DC outputs. The remaining battery charge, as well as the input and output power, are all conveniently shown. Four soft buttons on the left allow you to browse between sub-menus. The user has the option of accessing settings, alarms, data, or the home.
The station’s firmware can update or outputs can enable remotely using the mobile app. A ten-meter range could acquire under ideal conditions. But this reduces to five meters when the firmware upgrade. In comparison to what is accessible on the base, the app has fewer functions.
There are various options for charging the Bluetti AC200MAX. The most popular charger is a 500W block adaptor, which provides a 5-hour charge. If that isn’t enough, the power station may charge with two parallel inputs. The charge time reduces to two hours with a combined input power of 1300W. The AC200MAX incorporates an MPPT solar charger with both a 10 to 145VDC input voltage range.
The ability to increase battery capacity is the most significant improvement. Its maximum capacity could raise from 2048Wh to 6144Wh by adding two more B200 2048Wh extension batteries. These battery systems employ the same technology as the power station. However, they do not have an AC inverter. They have also fewer DC outputs as well as a straightforward user interface. They can function without the use of a base.
Rivals
Because of the cheap cost of batteries, the portable power station market flooded. Only a few companies have dared to venture into high-capacity, expandable units, and the majority of them offer 1000Wh or fewer options.
This Ecoflow Delta Pro series is among the competition. Their 3600W station is comparable to the AC200MAX in terms of power and battery capacity, but it costs more. While they both share the same Dollar per Wh, it Bluetti AC200MAX expandable power station has a more expensive battery technology than Delta Pro’s LFP kind.
Another portable power station manufacturer, Goal Zero, has offered the concept of a home backup system. The cost of their 6300Wh system is $4649, which is less than the cost of a combination of one AC200MAX plus two B200 batteries. With three units rather than five for the Goal Zero system, the Bluetti approach is more compact and also has fewer failing points. Furthermore, instead of the 3500-cycle lifetime provided by the AC200MAX, their base unit, a 1500X, utilizes Li-ion NMC cells with only a 500-cycle lifetime.
Price and availability
The Bluetti AC200MAX power station is now offered at a discounted price of $1899. An additional $1399 will charge for the B230 expansion battery. The price of the AC200MAX includes a $100 discount off the MSRP. A two-year warranty is there with both products.
Conclusion
Bluetti took the already excellent power station, the AC200P, and improved it. The Bluetti AC200MAX expandable power station has a Bluetooth connection, a NEMA TT-30 outlet for RV enthusiasts, and, most importantly, the option to expand battery capacity with up to two more batteries. With these additions, we now have a system that can serve as an emergency power supply for a modest home during a blackout.
A smaller power adapter getting merges into the base unit would improve the AC200MAX even further. Because the device is noisy, it is difficult to utilize as an uninterruptible power source inside an office. It’s also quite heavy, but that’s due to the LiFePo4 batteries.
