The past year has shown once again that it can be a gamble to count on the electrical outlets in your home always functioning when you need them. Extreme weather events like ice storms, flooding, and wildfires are knocking out power altogether for days at a time. High strain on the grid can cause brownouts and blackouts. As a result, portable power stations are becoming a must-have for many people. Battery-powered, they can be safely used indoors (unlike a gas-powered generator) to keep critical devices running. I’ve evaluated a number of these over the past few years, and this is the most impressive yet: the Bluetti AC200MAX Expandable Portable Power Station.
Bluetti AC2300MAX and a pair of expansion batteries.
Plenty of Capacity That’s Expandable, Plus High Surge Support
The Bluetti AC200MAX is part of a growing class of portable power stations that are capable of running high-demand devices. It has a 2048 Wh battery, and its inverter can put out 2200W of continuous power and handle a surge of up to 4800W.
That high capacity battery means it can run critical equipment for an extended time. Bluetti says that equates to 40 hours or more for a CPAP machine. The support for high power consumption and surges means being able to run devices that most battery power stations can’t handle: think microwave ovens, coffee makers, and the like.
Bluetti B230 expansion battery.
One of the key features of the AC200MAX is that you can expand its capacity by using optional, hot-swappable expansion batteries. I tried out the B230, which adds an additional 2048 Wh. The larger B300 offers 3072 Wh. With support for two external batteries, that means when supplemented by a pair of B300s, the AC200MAX could attain a maximum 8192 Wh capacity!
The Bluetti B230 expansion battery can itself be used to directly charge mobile devices thanks to ... [+]
The B230 expansion battery I tested with was itself equipped with USB-C, USB Type-A and 12V ports. So it can actually be used on its own to charge many devices. However, it lacks an AC outlet and is clearly meant to supplement the AC200MAX power station, not replace it.
B230 expansion battery stacked on and connected to the AC200MAX power station.
I like the external expansion approach. Doing so keeps the price of the power station itself down, while allowing you to increase the capacity according to your need and budget. Going external also makes the AC200MAX more portable.
The cable that connects expansion battery to power station is very heavy duty.
Advanced LiFePO4 Batteries Come With Big Advantages
One of the key things to know about the AC2300 (and its external battery packs) is the use of Lithium Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.
The Lithium-Ion batteries in most portable chargers and portable power stations have traditionally been a Lithium-Cobalt formulation. Bluetti is using Lithium Ion Phosphate, which offers a number of advantages. Among them, these batteries are more stable, support a wider range of temperatures, and they last for more charge cycles.
The 500W charger is large and has its own cooling fan.
Most of the portable power stations I’ve tested have Li-Ion batteries that are rated to retain 80% of their capacity after 500 charge cycles. The LiFePO4 batteries used in these Bluetti versions are rated for 3,500+ charges at 80%, and 6,000+ charges at 50%. This is a game-changer for anyone who uses a portable power station on a regular basis. The lifespan has gone from several years to a decade and a half or more.
The downside is that the energy density of LiFePO4 batteries is less than regular Li-Ion batteries. That means the AC2300 is heavier than you might expect, at 61.9 pounds. The B230 battery tips the scales at 48 pounds.
Tons of Ports, Including Good News for RV Users
It doesn’t matter what you want to charge or power directly, the Bluetti AC200MAX has the output port you need. Even a pair of Qi wireless charge ports on top of the unit. I’m not going to go through the full list (I’ve included it in the specs), but it includes four AC outlets. You can charge/run multiple devices simultaneously, up to a total combined continuous power output of 2200W.
Yes, it has Q1 wireless charging as well.
Campers and RV owners take note. The AC200MAX is equipped with a NEMA TT-30 output — so the power station can be used to power most RVs and camper trailers.
It’s worth noting that the AC200MAX is also equipped with a wide range of power inputs for charging its own battery. Charging options include a 500W power adapter (included), 12V car port, and solar panels. There are also two connections to plug in a pair of Bluetti expansion batteries.
Lost of ports, but the soft flaps covering them pop out too easily.
My one quibble with the ports is the soft, silicone (?) port covers. They pop out too easily. They’re physically attached to the unit, so there’s no risk of losing them, but hinged plastic port covers would stay in place much more effectively.
Touchscreen + Bluetooth Connectivity
Operating the AC200MAX is made easy by its front-mounted touchscreen LCD display. It shows everything you need to know — including battery level and power consumption — and has the controls for selecting an output. It also lets you explore system info including a history of any alerts generated by the unit’s battery management system. The display is clear, responsive, and easy to navigate, but I do wish it was angled upward slightly instead of aimed straight ahead. When the power station is on the floor, I had to get down on my hands and knees to be able to see it.
Key stats showing on the Bluetti mobile app when connected using Bluetooth.
Fortunately, you can connect using the Bluetti mobile app and the AC200Max’s Bluetooth wireless radio. The app doesn’t have the same degree of detail (and it’s limited to use within Bluetooth’s range), but it does a nice job of showing the key information. It’s “smart” enough to update the total battery capacity remaining based on any connected expansion batteries as well. It can also be used to download and install firmware upgrades.
AC200MAX in Action
So, how well did the Bluetti AC200MAX power station perform? I have to say, I was very happy with what I saw. It does stretch the definition of portable somewhat, but a pair of molded handles help in lugging it around.
AC2300MAX saves the day when power was out.
I was able to use it to run a portable heater, something few portable power stations can do. Even a small heater can make a huge difference if the power gets knocked out in a winter storm. Due to construction in my back yard, the electrical connection to my “BBQ shack” has been cut for several weeks now. I wanted to smoke a large turkey breast and some steaks on my pellet grill, and that requires power. So I carried the AC200MAX through all the construction mess and plugged in the grill. After running the smoker for about seven hours, the AC200MAX still had 70% of its charge remaining.
The Bluetti AC2300MAX can be used to power a portable heater.
I plugged our 21 cubic foot basement fridge into the AC200MAX. After 22 hours, it was down to 5% of its capacity. So I hot swapped in the B230 expansion battery. If they were both run down to zero, they would keep that fridge running for two full days. Add a second B230 (the AC200MAX can support two connected simultaneously), and that is almost three full days.
In other words, the Bluetti AC200MAX is a very capable and flexible portable power station with a wide range of home and outdoor applications.
Bluetti AC200MAX Power Station Key Specs
- 2048 Wh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery
- Battery life cycle 3500+ charges to 80%, 6000+ charges to 50%
- 2200 W continuous power, 4800W surge
- Built-in battery management system (BMS)
- Pure sine wave AC inverter
- 900W (10-145V) solar input
- Outlets: NEMA TT-30, 2 x 5V/3A USB Type-A, 2 x 18W USB Type-A, 100W USB-C, 12V/30A Super DC, 24V/10A, 2 x 15W wireless charge pads, 4 x 100-120V AC outlets
- Touchscreen LCD display
- Supports hot-swapping for external expansion battery (up to two B230s or B300s)
- Supports dual-charging
- Bluetooth app monitoring and firmware upgrade
- Operating temperature range (discharging) -4 to 104 F
- 15.2 x 16.5 x 11-inches, weighs 61.9lb
- Includes 500W AC adapter, solar charging cable, car charging cable
- 2-year warranty
- MSRP $2,099
Bluetti B230 Expansion Battery Key Specs
- 2048 Wh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery
- Battery life cycle 3500+ charges to 80%, 6000+ charges to 50%
- Built-in battery management system (BMS)
- 18W USB Type-A
- 100W USB-C
- 12V/10A port
- LED power level indicators
- Operating temperature range (discharging) -4 to 104 F
- 16.5 x 11 x 8.9-inches, weighs 48lb
- Includes battery expansion cable to connect to AC200MAX power station
- 2-year warranty
- MSRP $1,799
Even More Power for Your Home: Bluetti EP500
For those who want something more than the AC200MAX in terms of whole home backup power, there’s the new Bluetti EP500. I had the opportunity to spend some time with a pre-production model (finalized, except it lacked a Wi-Fi chip) and it is truly impressive. It’s equipped with a 5100Wh LiFePO4 battery pack.
The massive, high-capacity Bluetti EP500 power station.
I was able to run that fridge for just under three days on this beast of a power station. The one downside is that LiFePO4 battery is heavy. The EP500 tips the scales at a whopping 167 pounds. It glides around smoothly on lockable swivel wheels, so use on a single floor is a breeze. However, it took two people to carry it up and down stairs and I wouldn’t care to repeat the exercise.
With Wi-Fi connectivity and the Bluetti mobile app, the EP500 goes beyond straight charging and also offers features like UPS and peak load shifting. The latter has real potential to save money by charging the EP500 during off-peak hours at cheaper rates, then running connected appliances or devices off its battery during peak load times. With a 6000-charge life cycle, you could be doing this for 16 years. Depending on where you live, that alone could end up saving you considerably more money than the EP500 costs.
The EP 500 dwarfs the AC200MAX
The EP500 also offers the option for split phase operation. Connect two EP500s to an optional Voltage Fusion Box and you can run 240V appliances like electric stoves and clothes dryers.
The EP500 is a very impressive power station, and with advanced capabilities like split phase operation, app-based remote control, and peak load shifting, it can be a true home power backup solution. The one thing it’s not great with is stairs...
Recommendation
If the prospect of losing power for hours or days at a time concerns you, the Bluetti AC200MAX portable power station offers a very compelling solution. It has the ability to run even large appliances like a refrigerator, high-demand devices like a space heater, and it can charge all your portable electronics. It’s just light enough to squeeze into being considered portable, but its capacity can be be expanded through hot-swappable expansion batteries. The use of LiFePO4 batteries also means this power station will last far longer than those using standard Li-Ion batteries.
Portability combined with a NEMA TT-30 port also makes this power station a great choice for RV owners and campers.
Bluetti offers an AC200MAX + B230 expansion battery combo.
There’s no getting around the fact that these power stations and battery packs are not cheap. However, I’ve noticed that Bluetti often offers coupon codes on its website that can knock off hundreds of dollars. The company also sells the AC200MAX with one B230 battery as a package that saves money compared to buying them individually.
Disclosure: Bluetti provided a power station and battery for evaluation but had no input into this review.
