Bluetti solar generator expert review: choose the right one for you
Bluetti is a 3-year-old brand that primarily makes portable solar generators, battery backup systems, and foldable solar panels. Their products use LiFePO4 battery technology, which is currently regarded as the best kind of lithium battery on the market and has proven quite popular in the DIY and van life communities, allowing people to power important devices and appliances in off-grid situations.
We recently tested some Bluetti products to see how well they use solar power to keep the batteries charged and ready to deliver power to all sorts of energy-hungry devices. We found our Bluetti power bank and solar panel to be up to many important jobs around the yard, the house, and even in the wilderness.
Here’s a full review of Bluetti products and more information on all their uses.
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Key takeaways
- Bluetti solar generators use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery technology that is safer and longer lasting than other designs of lithium batteries.
- The company offers many battery products in capacities ranging from 268 watt-hours to 12.3 kilowatt-hours.
- Most Bluetti batteries are portable and all come with the ability to charge from solar panels, which the company also makes.
- The company offers warranties of 24 months for its smaller portable solar generators and up to five years for its large home backup solutions.
- With the wide range of options available, robust build quality, and great technology behind it all, SolarReviews recommends Bluetti products.
Bluetti’s technology
Bluetti’s key value proposition comes from its use of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. This combination of chemicals (LiFePO4, or LFP for short) makes Bluetti’s batteries more stable, longer lasting, and less environmentally harmful than typical lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries used by other popular solar generators. Bluetti says its LFP batteries can be cycled 2,500 (EB series) to 3,500 (AC and B series) times before being reduced to 80% of their original capacity, compared to other brands’ 500-cycle lifespan.
The next feature common to Bluetti’s Portable Power Stations is solar input. From the entry-level EB3A to the flagship AC200P, comes with an MPPT solar charge controller built-in, allowing the battery to get the most from solar panels. Bluetti makes its own foldable solar panel, but also provides standard MC4 connections so any compatible solar array can be used to charge its batteries (with allowable input wattage that differs for each of its products).
Finally, Bluetti includes a pure sine wave inverter in each of its batteries and provides multiple DC and AC outlets to provide options for powering devices. Typical outlets include USB-A, USB-C, 120V AC, and 12V DC. In addition, all Bluetti Portable Power Stations come with 15W wireless charging pads built into the top of the unit.
How a Bluetti Solar generator works
In order to provide a good review of Bluetti’s Portable Power Stations, we purchased a Bluetti EB55 along with a PV120 foldable solar panel. With this pair of products, you can provide power to numerous devices away from home, and even provide yourself some peace of mind in the event of a power outage.
We found the EB55 to be a well-built, capable and versatile piece of equipment. It is an excellent option for people who need power on the go, whether it’s in an off-grid camping setting, as an RV accessory, or even just a fun day at the park or beach.
Bluetti EB55 Details
The EB55 has 537 watt-hours (Wh) of storage capacity and can output 700W of continuous power (1,400W surge). That’s not enough power to start an air conditioner, but it is enough to run a full-sized refrigerator for a few hours during a power outage, or several smaller appliances for a full day, even without recharging.
Accessories that come with the Bluetti EB55 (L to R): solar charging cable, DC charging cable, AC cord, velcro strap, and power brick.
Inside the box, the EB55 comes with an AC power supply, a cable for charging from a vehicle’s DC outlet, and a cable for charging from solar panels. The EB55 has 12 outlets:
- Four USB-A
- One USB-C
- Two grounded and two ungrounded 120V AC outputs
- Two 12V/10A DC
- One 12V DC cigarette lighter outlet
The unit is a compact 10.94 x 7.87 x 7.79 inches and weighs in at 16.5 lbs, with a foldable carrying handle on top. There is a built-in cooling fan with vents on the side of the unit, and a small backlit LCD screen on the front that displays the state of charge and input/output wattage using two shades of blue.
Charging
The Bluetti EB55 can charge from AC power with the included power brick, DC power from the solar panels, or both at the same time. It can also be charged using a 12V DC output from a vehicle or from a generator. Charging power is up to 200W from AC or solar, or 400W from both AC and solar at the same time.
In our tests, Bluetti’s 120W solar panel delivered its maximum power to the EB55 effortlessly under full sun on a warm day. The solar panel is about 2 feet high by 6 feet wide, with four sections that fold out from the stored position. On the back of these sections are thin “legs” that fold away from the main body and allow the user to adjust the angle at which the panel is placed relative to the ground, between 40° and 50°.
Features of the Bluetti PV120 solar panel: fully folded, zippered pouch with wires, adjustable leg.
The whole solar panel is clad in ripstop-style polyester fabric, with a hard plastic handle at one end that is used for carrying the panel when it’s folded up. The solar sections themselves are laminated inside Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) sheets, which allows them to be flexible and resist fading and cracking due to high temperatures and UV radiation. A zippered pouch on the back of one section contains the cables and a list of specifications.
The fully-extended PV120 solar panel.
We’d recommend keeping the battery out of full sun because it heats up when charging.
Thankfully, the EB55 comes with a 5.5-foot solar charging cable with MC4 connectors, and the PV120 panel comes with its own 9.5-foot cable, making it easy to place the panel in the sun and the battery somewhere nearby in the shade. And because Bluetti uses standard solar connectors, additional cables can be purchased online from a variety of sources if you need more than 15 feet between the panel and the battery.
A word of caution: Bluetti solar panels are IP65 rated, meaning they can handle a little splash of water, but can’t withstand rain and snow. Only put them out on a dry day.
In testing the AC charging, we easily got the promised 200W from the charger, although it should be noted that the charging brick has its own internal cooling fan that can get a little noisy, so it’s best to charge it out of earshot. Either the AC adapter or the solar input is capable of filling the EB55’s 537 Wh of storage in about 3 hours from empty, and combining solar and AC together can increase the power to 400W, decreasing charging time down to just 1.8 hours.
Using Power
In our tests, the EB55 was capable of powering many important appliances and devices, and we recommend it for medium-light duty applications like phone and laptop charging, camping, or even for short-duration events like small concerts in the park where no power is available.
We tested our EB55 in a few ways: powering a small outdoor pool pump, running live sound through a PA speaker, and running a full-size refrigerator. In all these tests, the EB55 performed very well.
The Bluetti EB55 running a pool pump.
With its 537 Wh of battery capacity, it could theoretically run the 33W pool pump for 16 hours, even without solar recharging. At medium volumes, the PA speaker and some guitar pedals used 25W. Imagine an afternoon pool party with a rock Band at a remote location run entirely by one Bluetti EB55 battery. All you’d need is transportation and a water source.
Closer to home, the refrigerator drew between 105W and 220W, depending on the cycle it was running, so it could be kept running for 3 hours or more during a power outage. If you add 4 hours of solar charging at an average of around 100W, you could extend that time to six hours or more. By plugging in the fridge only sporadically, you could theoretically keep food cold for days during a power outage using a single EB55 and solar panel, and probably have enough energy left over to keep your phone topped off.
Because of its LiFePO4 battery cell chemistry, the Bluetti should be able to fully charge and discharge 2,500 times, which could mean several years of power even with twice daily cycling. That many cycles should still leave the battery at 80% of its original capacity.
It’s a pretty remarkable little battery, and well worth its 499 MSRP. But the EB55 is one of the smallest capacity batteries Bluetti offers, and some of the company’s products can do much more than keep your food cold for a few hours.
Bluetti product comparison
Now let’s look at some of the key specifications of Bluetti’s product lineup. The company has offerings as small as the entry-level EB3A with a 268 Wh battery pack and as large as the expandable AC300 inverter module, which doesn’t come with its own battery but can instead be paired with up to four B300 expansion batteries for 12.3 kWh of storage. That’s nearly as large as a Tesla Powerwall.
The smaller, more portable power stations (basically anything that will fit in Bluetti’s carrying case) are fairly simple; just boxes with batteries, inputs, and output ports, while the larger offerings like the Bluetti AC200MAX and AC300 come with Bluetooth and can be controlled via the Bluetti smartphone app (the newer, small EB3A is also app-enabled). For very large battery backup needs, two AC300 inverter modules can be paired with Bluetti’s AC300 Fusion Box for a 240V system with up to 24.5 kWh of storage.
Here’s a rundown of Bluetti’s portable models and their key specs:
| Product | Capacity | Output (surge) | Max input W | # of outlets | Expandable | Max capacity |
| EB3A | 268 Wh | 600W (1,200W) | 430W SolarAC | 9 | N | N/A |
| EB55 | 537 Wh | 700W (1,400W) | 400W SolarAC | 12 | N | N/A |
| EB70S | 716 Wh | 800W (1,400W) | 200W Solar/AC | 12 | N | N/A |
| AC200P | 2,000 Wh | 2,000W (4,800W) | 1,200W SolarAC | 17 | N | N/A |
| AC300 inverter module | N/A | 3,000W (6,000W) | 5,400W SolarAC | 16 | Y | 12,288 Wh |
| AC200MAX | 2,048 Wh | 2,200W (4,800W) | 1,300W SolarAC | 15 | Y | 8,192 Wh |
| B230 expansion battery | 2,048 Wh | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B300 expansion battery | 3,071 Wh | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Cost
Like a lot of technology products you can find on Amazon, Bluetti products often go on sale, and people looking for the company’s products can often find coupons and discount codes online. For reference, here are the MSRPs of the most popular Bluetti products:
- EB3A: 299
- EB55: 499
- EB70S: 599
- AC200P: 1,699
- AC300 inverter module: 1,899
- AC200MAX: 1,899
- B230 expansion battery: 1,399
- B300 expansion battery: 2,199
- PV120 solar panel: 299
- PV200 solar panel: 499
- PV350 solar panel: 849
Bluetti battery warranties
The warranty is where portable batteries like Bluetti falter a bit compared to purpose-built home solar batteries. The warranty for most Bluetti products covers just 24 months of defects due to materials and workmanship. These products are designed to last for a long time, but the manufacturer doesn’t offer long-term coverage for most of its products.
That said, if you spring for the AC300 with one or more B300 expansion batteries, Bluetti offers 48 months of warranty coverage. Larger home battery backup systems like the EP500Pro come with 5-year warranties. These don’t quite match the 10-year warranties offered by companies like Generac and LG, so if you’re concerned about long-term coverage, one of those battery solutions might be better for you.
Ironically, Generac and LG use lithium NMC batteries, so the Bluetti should theoretically outlast them. Bluetti says its EB-series batteries will last for 2,500 cycles before being reduced to 80% of their original capacity, and its AC- and B-series batteries get estimates of 3,500 cycles before hitting 80%. Assuming one full cycle per day, that’s over 9 years.
How does Bluetti compare to the competition?
When it comes to the best solar generators, Bluetti is among the top contenders. Its LFP battery cells are rated to last five times as long as products from main competitors Jackery and GoalZero, and its products are every bit as durable and easy to use.
With 48-60 month warranties on its flagship products, Bluetti exceeds the standards set by its competitors, which almost all offer only 24 months of coverage. To be fair, their 500-cycle lifespans will almost certainly be up within those 24 months of regular usage, so Bluetti has a chance to extend its warranties and further set itself apart from Jackery, GoalZero, and others. We hope to see that as Bluetti products spend more time in the wild and prove their durability.
Which Bluetti product is right for you?
If you’re on the go and need to keep small appliances powered in an off-grid situation, the EB55 is an excellent choice. If you just want to keep your phone charged in the wilderness, the new EB3A is a great, inexpensive option.
For longer trips and cabin stays, the AC200P provides a robust amount of energy storage and power output that could keep an off-grid cabin very comfortable, especially when paired with a few Bluetti solar panels wired in series.
For home backup applications, we recommend the EP500 Pro over the AC300 with expansion batteries, simply because of the form factor and the 5-year warranty. If Bluetti ever increases its warranty protection for its modular batteries, we’ll update that recommendation accordingly.
Bottom line: are Bluetti products good?
Bluetti’s batteries and solar panels compare favorably with the majority of other portable solutions on the market. The LFP batteries and ETFE-clad solar panels are powerful and well-built products designed for a life lived outside of the boundaries of the electric grid. On top of that, Bluetti meets or exceeds industry standards for portable devices with 2-5 year warranties on its products.
One caveat here is that the company is still only a few years old, and it remains to be seen whether its batteries will match the estimated 2,500-cycle lifespans, and whether the company will prove adept at handling customer complaints if they don’t. But the tech is solid, the products are proving popular and well-liked, and Bluetti reps actively engage customers through multiple channels, including an owners’ group. The company seems to be doing things right.
Another caveat is that Bluetti’s solar panels aren’t as robust as actual home solar panels. For example, they aren’t designed to be outside in the rain and snow. If you’re looking for something to act as a fixture on your home or even off-grid cabin, real roof- or ground-mounted solar panels are much more robust, and can survive the weather for decades. And you can still use Bluetti battery backup with a well-designed solar installation.
The Bluetti PV120; SolarReviews and Bowie-approved.
Regardless of the caveats, Bluetti is making some great products. If you’re looking for a way to keep important devices powered up while in the wilderness, Bluetti batteries and solar panels have our recommendation.
Bluetti EB3A Review – 600W Portable Power Station
Since we spend most of our time travelling, living, and working in our campervan, we are always on the lookout for the best vanlife accessories. So when Bluetti asked us to try out their impressive EB3A power station, we jumped at the chance.
Bluetti are making a splash in the world of solar generators, and after trialling the EB3A, I can understand why. While its 600W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter isn’t anything new or innovative, other significant features make it stand out against its competitors.
In this article, I’ll take you through all of the features of the Bluetti EB3A, explain how it all works, and tell you why this handy bit of kit acts as the perfect addition to our campervan electrical system.
So let’s get to it – here’s an honest review of the Bluetti EB3A Solar Generator.
Jump to.
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What is the Bluetti EB3A?
The Bluetti EB3A is a lightweight, portable power station with a 600W AC outlet, 100W USB-C port, 2 x USB-A ports, a wireless charging output, and a 268Wh long-lasting LiFePO4 battery.
In the box are the power station, an AC charging cable, a solar charging cable, the user manual, and a warranty card. Solar panels and other accessories are available to buy separately.
The Bluetti EB3A is the perfect accessory for camping, vanlife, festivals, and other outdoor activities, providing source of power for your essential electrical items and gadgets.
Bluetti EB3A Key Features
Bluetti Launches BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station, Order Now And Get 17% OFF This Fathers Day
BLUETTI first announced the EB3A solar generator at CES 2022. And finally, it has been officially launched as of yesterday.
Buy the Bluetti EB3A right now for 250 and get 50 OFF
- As lightweight as 10 pounds, the BLUETTI EB3A is easy to carry and travel-friendly.
- The EB3A enhances the BLUETTI power station line with more refinement and feature enhancements, making it a reliable power source for mobile use in RV and camping to keep essential devices powered along the road.
- The EB3A is an affordable unit that delivers an impressive 268Wh capacity and 600W pure sine-wave inverter output.
- EB3A can charge at up to 268W rate in standard mode, and 430W in Turbo charging mode.
- EB3A uses only the safest, most stable, and most prolonged lifespan LiFeP04 battery technology.
- To optimize portability, AC charging is via a single industry-standard AC cable. no power brick required.
- With innovative Turbo charge mode, EB3A can be recharged from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes at up to 430W charge rate.
- Monitor and control at the fingertips with BLUETTI APP (via Bluetooth). over, you can enjoy the latest firmware by OTA update over Wi-Fi directly.
How to Charge The BLUETTI EB3A
Always stay powered and be ready to go. Multiple charging methods are available to meet all your needs in different scenarios. Flexible to recharge the EB3A via AC charging cable, solar, car, or generatorthat is, via DC solar and AC sources simultaneously. That is particularly important for those on the go or living in remote locations, or experiencing limited access to charge the power station.
As the pioneer in technology innovation in the portable power station industry, BLUETTI rolls out three AC Charging modes for the EB3A. For example, charging under the silent mode where the fan will not operate allows you to sleep with comfort and peace.
Charging time (for reference ONLY)
- 200W MPPT solar charge: ≈2.5 hours
- AC Charging: ≈1.3 hours (In Turbo Mode)/ ≈1.5 hours (In Standard Mode)
- 12V/24V Car charge (100W): ≈3.2 hours
- AC charging cable and Solar (430W total): ≈1.1 hours
- AC charging cable and T200 adapter (430W total): ≈1.1 hours
All The Output Ports You Will Need
Charge up to 9 devices at once. The EB3A power station has two AC outlets that can put out 600W. And two regular USB-A ports and one 100W USB-C port, which allows a MacBook to charge at full speed.
EB3A can accommodate almost all electronic devices for outdoor travel, emergency, disasters, and other scenarios. Whether charging your smartphone, laptop, digital camera, or other devices, with the BLUETTI EB3A, you get it done quickly, efficiently, and with optimal convenience.
LiFePO4. Longer Battery Life Span
BLUETTI adopted the LiFePO4 battery cell for long-term durability and ensured 2,500 charging cycles to 80% of its original capacity.
Compared to the lithium-ion battery that most power stations and battery banks use right now, the LiFePO4 battery type can charge faster, last longer, and offers optimal safety.
Innovation Brings Convenience
Thanks to the BLUETTI APP control, you can operate and monitor the EB3A on your phone anytime and even update the hardware worldwide.
BLUETTI EB3A features a brand new LCD screen to display the important info like remaining capacity percentage, recharge time, and input/output power more clearly and intuitively.
Secure Operation
Security is the priority to consider from hardware selection to the software design. The built-in Battery Management System (BMS) improves battery utilization. It extends battery service life through short circuit protection, over-current protection, over-voltage protection, overload protection, overheating protection, and other functions.
Powerlifting Mode and UPS Bypass Mode
Under powerlifting mode, the EB3A can power up to 1200W resistive devices such as hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, kettles, and resistive heaters.
UPS bypass mode allows the AC power to directly support the loads on AC output ports and charge the EB3A. So you get some UPS-type power pass-through and continuous-power features as an extra offering.
Availability Date
BLUETTI has launched the EB3A on their official website https://www.bluettipower.com/. Wait no further. Join the BLUETTI Official Group, subscribe to the BLUETTI newsletter for the latest product information and even be eligible for the early bird price (23% off).
About BLUETTI
Now BLUETTI has made its presence in 70 countries and is trusted by millions of users across the globe. We strive to develop more innovative products to optimize the way people access sustainable energy and ensure a constant power supply for home and outdoor without leaving any footprints on the environment. Said James Ray, Marketing Director of BLUETTI.
BLUETTI officially unveils EB3A solar generator
BLUETTI, one of the leading green energy companies in the world, has announced a new member of its power station lineups: EB3A, boasting ultra-fast charging capability, upgraded LiFePO4 battery pack, sufficient outputs and Smart power management. Keep reading to check out why this tiny power station that stands out from the crowd.
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BLUETTI, one of the leading green energy companies in the world, has announced a new member of its power station lineups: EB3A, boasting ultra-fast charging capability, upgraded LiFePO4 battery pack, sufficient outputs and Smart power management. Keep reading to check out why this tiny power station that stands out from the crowd.
What’s so special about EB3A
- Super-fast recharging (approx. 30 minutes to 80%): BLUETTI’s latest Turbo charging technology allows the EB3A to be recharged from 0 to 80% in only 30 minutes by both AC and solar input simultaneously. Power is on call at all times.
- Ultra-durable 268Wh LiFePO4 battery: BLUETTI EB3A adopts battery cells made up of lithium iron phosphate that provides more than 2,500 life cycles, better performance and less environmental impact.
- 600W/1200W(Surge) inverter: The intelligent inverter ensures a super-fast recharge and offers less downtime, but more do-time.
- Enough ports for almost every need: Pure sine wave AC output and nine other ports seem enough to take care of your basic needs.
- 2×AC outputs (600W in total)
- 1×100W USB-C PD port
- 2×15W USB-A ports
- 2×DC5521
- 1×12V10A cigarette lighter
- 1×Wireless charging pad
- 200W solar input: Upgrade the EB3A with a BLUETTI PV120 or PV200 solar panel. Fully recharge the EB3A by using BLUETTI’s PV200 solar panel in just two hours, and go for an off-grid living anytime from RV camping to wilderness exploration with no fear of losing power and high cost, especially when of natural gas and oil have increased dramatically in recent months.
- Intuitive app: With the BLUETTI App, you have quicker access to the device and can get real-time information on every vital metrics.
- Smart battery management system: BLUETTI Battery Management System (BMS) monitors everything happening in EB3A, protecting it from risks like short circuit, over-current, over-voltage, overload or overheating in day-to-day operations.
- Designed with portability in mind: EB3A weighs only 10 pounds. This grab-and-go power station is clearly a compelling option whether working around the house or heading out to the nature.
Where to buy and more info
BLUETTI offers quality performance at a price that won’t break the bank. EB3A is now available with early bird pricing:
- EB3A: Starts at 249 (17% off compared to the original price of 299, for a limited time only).
- EB3A 1PV200 Solar Panel: Starts at 649 (19% off compared to the original price 798, for a limited time only).
- EB3A 1PV120 Solar Panel: Starts at 479 (20% off compared to the original price of 598, for a limited time only).
As a bonus, customers who order within the first 48 hours can get a car charging cable and a solar panel charging cable for FREE.
About BLUETTI
From the very beginning, BLUETTI has aimed to stay true to a sustainable future through green energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use while delivering an exceptional eco-friendly experience for everyone and the world. BLUETTI is making its presence in 70 countries and is trusted by millions of customers across the globe.
For more information, please visit BLUETTI at https://www.bluettipower.com/.
Get an extra 10 off the EB3A with the code “BLUETTIEB3A” Customers can get the lowest price of 239 for the EB3A power station before June 22.