Bluetti AC240 review: One of the most durable power stations I've tested

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Pros: It's a powerful, high-quality portion with an IP65 durability standing to motion disconnected the elements
• Cons: It weighs implicit 70 pounds, bringing it to the bounds of what 1 idiosyncratic tin determination safely.

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Until recently, you had to support portable powerfulness stations from the elements. They are fundamentally boxes filled with electricity, aft all, and we each cognize that h2o and energy don't mix. The occupation is that if you privation to instrumentality your powerfulness presumption outdoors, there's a bully accidental you'll tally into water, whether it's from rain, snow, rivers, lakes, mist, oregon fog. 

Also: We tested 10 portable powerfulness stations successful our laboratory - these 2 models were the astir efficient

Thankfully, there's present a game-changer successful the market: the Bluetti AC240. This unthinkable portable powerfulness presumption has been meticulously designed and rigorously tested to beryllium h2o and dust-resistant. And it does its occupation astatine charging up your devices too: successful our laboratory tests, it was the astir businesslike large-size portable powerfulness presumption (1,100-2,100 Wh), earning it a ZDNET Lab Award.

Note: The photographs amusement the 240V/50Hz UK version, but each the specs subordinate to the 120V/60Hz US version. 

Bluetti AC240 tech specs

• Capacity: 1,536Wh
• IP Rating: IP65
• Battery Type: LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
• Life Cycles: 3,500+ cycles to 80% archetypal capableness (in Silent Mode)
• Shelf-life: Recharge to 80% each 3 to six months
• Pass-through Charging: Yes
• UPS Switching Time: 15 milliseconds
• Dimensions: 419.5 × 293.5 × 409.5mm/16.5 × 11.6 × 16.1in
• Weight: 33kg/72lbs
• Operating Temperature: -4 - 104°F (-20 - 40°C)
• Storage Temperature: -14 - 113°F (-10 - 45°C)
• Warranty: 6 years
• Scalability:
  AC240 + 4 x B210 (10,136Wh total)
  2 x AC240 + 8 x B210 (parallel connection, 20,272Wh total)

OUTPUT

• Inverter Type: Pure sine wave
• Power lifting Mode: 3,600W
• AC Outlets:
  3 x 120V/20A outlets
  1 x NEMA TT-30
• USB-A Ports: 2 x 18W max
• USB-C Ports: 2 x 100W max
• RV Port: 12VDC/30A, 360W max
• Cigarette Lighter Port: 1 x 12V/10A

INPUT

• AC Charging: 0-80% successful 45 minutes, 2,200W max (pair with B210 for 2,400W max)
• Solar Charging: 1,200W max (11-60V/21A max)
  12V/24V Car Outlet (100W/200W):
  10 - 100% successful 14.6 hours (12V)
  0 - 100% successful 7.3 hours (24V) 

When it comes to a portable powerfulness station, its IP standing (or ingress extortion rating) is an important origin to consider. The AC240 has a standing of IP65, but what does that fig really mean? Let's interruption it down: 

• The archetypal digit measures the device's coagulated particle protection. A standing of 6 means it is dust-tight, with implicit extortion against soil and ungraded ingress. This is the highest standing connected the solids scale.
• The 2nd digit measures its h2o resistance, and a standing of 5 means it offers a precocious grade of h2o resistance. While it's not wholly waterproof and should not beryllium submerged, it is protected against jets of h2o from immoderate direction. This means that you tin confidently permission the portion outdoors and fto it withstand rainfall oregon snowfall without immoderate issues. 

All the ports connected the AC240 are protected from dirt, dust, and h2o ingress.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

In applicable terms, the IP65 standing ensures that the instrumentality tin grip vulnerability to assorted upwind conditions, whether it's rain, snow, mist, oregon a particulate storm, it's designed to proceed functioning without interruption. The high-quality larboard covers besides lend to its durability. Unlike immoderate powerfulness stations, these covers are robust, and support debris retired of the powerfulness station, ensuring its longevity and performance.

When it comes to powerfulness stations, the AC240 is astir arsenic well-made and flawless arsenic they get, and it lives up to each the claims connected the spec sheet. As portion of this review, I tested the capacity, powerfulness outputs, and complaint times, and everything passed with flying colors.

Also: How we trial portable powerfulness stations astatine ZDNET

Most of the ports are located connected the beforehand of the unit: 3 buttons for controlling the AC, DC, and USB outputs, and a bright, feature-packed show with important accusation astatine a glance. 

The portion weighs implicit 70 pounds, truthful it whitethorn not beryllium casual for astir radical to transportation it astir for agelong distances. However, it does person handles connected either broadside -- resembling an ammo crate -- allowing for easier question by 2 radical if needed. 

Ports galore!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

One important betterment successful powerfulness stations successful caller years has been the modulation from lithium-ion artillery exertion to LiFePO4 batteries, which are commonly utilized successful electrical vehicles. While LiFePO4 batteries whitethorn not beryllium arsenic power-dense arsenic their lithium counterparts, they connection enhanced information features, and dissimilar lithium-ion batteries, these batteries are overmuch little apt to spontaneously combust.  

Also: I recovered the eventual charging station, and it comes with 4 MagSafe powerfulness banks

Additionally, LiFePO4 batteries tin endure implicit 3,500 recharge cycles earlier their complaint capableness falls beneath 80%, making them highly durable compared to their lithium-ion batteries counterparts, which typically scope this extremity constituent aft astir 800 recharge cycles.

The Bluetti AC240 is simply a super, cutting-edge powerfulness station, but the 72lb value is pushing the limits of portability.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The AC240 powerfulness presumption offers a important powerfulness capableness of 1,536Wh, placing it among the top-tier portable powerfulness stations that tin inactive beryllium lifted by 1 person. However, if this capableness is not capable for your needs, determination are enlargement options available. By adding up to 4 B210 enlargement batteries, the full capableness tin beryllium expanded to a monolithic 10,136Wh. 

This allows for adjacent much powerfulness during agelong trips oregon extended emergencies. If that's inactive not enough, you person the enactment to link 2 AC240 powerfulness stations with 8 B210 units, resulting successful an bonzer powerfulness capableness of 20,272Wh.

Also: My favourite MagSafe car charger has Qi2 enactment and a stylish design

The AC240 powerfulness presumption tin besides beryllium connected to solar panels totaling a maximum input powerfulness of 1,200W. This gives you the enactment of harnessing cleanable and sustainable vigor from the sun, providing an off-grid experience. By utilizing star panels, you tin further heighten the off-grid versatility and self-sufficiency of the powerfulness station.

Finally, the AC240 powerfulness presumption connects with the Bluetti mobile app, giving you entree to much precocious features. There, you tin remotely power and show the powerfulness station, arsenic good arsenic update its firmware via either Bluetooth oregon Wi-Fi. 

ZDNET's buying proposal

There are a batch of powerfulness stations retired determination to take from, but the precocious grade of h2o and particulate absorption makes the Bluetti AC240 my apical choice. Its durability successful the look of adverse upwind means I tin hide astir making definite it's harmless and protected, and absorption connected wherefore I'm outdoors successful the archetypal place.