The vaguely Italian name reminds us that the power to generate electricity can also be obtained from the sun without making the sky less blue and in fact this Generator with traditional charge of 300Watt (450W peak) is able to feed itself, as well as from the network, also from a solar panel and can work both in emergency conditions and as an energy source where the grid is not there.
The range of the manufacturing company (PowerOak) is immense and this model represents in some way the entry point for the Powerstations that combine compactness, excellent design and connection versatility.
The packaging and design
The images in the gallery below show you our unboxing: the mixed packaging with cardboard and foam protects its precious load well (almost 7 kg with accessories). A box contains the myriad of cables and adapters that will allow us to recharge the Power Station, connect 12-volt devices as well as an external solar panel that we can buy separately.
Bluetti AC50S presents itself with a parallelepiped with strongly rounded corners and with a plastic coating pleasant to the touch which on one hand protects the device and the objects it could hit and on the other with a pleasant blue color divides the sides also from the point of functional view: on the front sockets and display with very clear graphics and a beautiful screen that offers the state of charge (in blocks of 20%) and the instantaneous consumption of both the 220V and 12 times section, on the side the fans, on the bottom the plate data and 4 feet actually a little light, on the back the LED lamp that has power socket and switch of the lamp itself and finally in the upper part two retractable handles that surround the space to place a phone for charging wireless.
In the photos below you can also see the power supply that allows the power station to be recharged in just over 6 hours.
The detail of the doors
What you see below is the parade of doors of the US version: the difference with the European model is obviously in the two AC 110 / 220v mains sockets to which you can connect battery chargers, laptop minifridge with mains socket, musical instruments, amplifiers and projectors. There are also two DC 12V3A sockets to which you can connect LED lights with direct power supply or pumps for inflating tires, 1 12v9A “cigarette lighter” socket with the possibility of connecting vacuum cleaners and refrigerators with car plugs, 4 USB type A for recharging of any device and finally a USB-C Power Deliver socket to directly power all models of Apple PowerBook other than 15 ″.
It should be noted that the Bluetti AC50S version, unlike the AC50 (which is also sold by other brands only in the orange version) h a the regulated (or stabilized) DC 12V port (cigarette lighter socket) : you can directly connect a car refrigerator without going into battery protection because the voltage available is always 12 V instead of dropping to 10.6 V when the residual battery drops below 50%
Who is it for?
A power station of this type has an infinite number of uses. In this period we have only been able to exploit some of them but we have indulged ourselves in verifying how many of our devices, appliances and tools could take advantage of a portable energy source of this size.
First of all, it could be very convenient for those who do “light camping” in a tent since in addition to the charging and recharging capabilities it also has a useful built-in three-stage LED bar (low, high and modulated light for SOS), another use is certainly that of a 300Wh mega powerbank for tablets, smartphones and laptops capable, among other things, of powering a Mac Book Air or Pro (also M1) with its 45 Watt Power Delivery socket. If you want to power a 15 “or 16” MacBook PRO with a monitor and hard drives, a jet printer and other accessories, you can use the 220 Volt sockets.
Another use can be that for projections outside : a screen, a traditional projector with standard power supply and perhaps more or less self-powered speakers can create a show anywhere , at the same time if we have to create an outdoor event we can connect an amplified keyboard-workstation with microphone input and guitar such as the Yamaha PSR-SX900, a mixer and instruments analog to play anywhere.
We can use it in professional field to connect drills, screwdrivers and relative chargers for work on the move and without an available mains socket; we can connect a refrigerator with a mains socket and absorption from 60-70 Watt and up to 60/70 liters to keep wines or food cool without having to buy a dedicated device.
Finally, we can consider it as a small emergency generator, in the event of a power failure, to keep routers, computers, surveillance systems connected and to illuminate the room where we are we take refuge. Furthermore, let's not forget that it can be recharged while recharging both from the grid and through a solar panel and the latter option allows you to withstand even long interruptions to the electricity grid in emergency conditions.
Pay attention to the required power and to office
Bluetti AC50 is a sine wave inverter and has a 500wh lithium-ion battery on board that can be used at 90%: in practice we have a peak capacity of 450 watts (for more than two minutes) with a continuous power delivered of 300 Watts: it is with this figure that you have to compare the Watts absorbed by your device and in the image below you have an example of what you can connect and how long. However, keep in mind that in some cases the peak required can go beyond the capacity of the power station and therefore with these plate data are excluded, for example small air conditioners.
The battery has a duration of about 1000 cycles to pass to an efficiency of 80% obviously for a longer duration it is better not to use the continuous 300 Watts all the time and to charge and discharge the battery slowly. Charging the Power Station from the mains is designed for battery life and is therefore quite slow: with the supplied 90 Watt adapter it takes about 6.5 hours for a full charge while charging from the car with the cigarette lighter takes about. 4 hours to bring the Power Station to 50% charge without being able to fully charge it. You can also use the power station as a (bulky) 300 Watt inverter to connect laptops and other devices on Cars and RVs.
With a 24 Volt power supply typically available on trucks and boats you can charge it to 100% in about 6 hours. Connecting a 10 Watt solar panel takes about half an hour less than 24 Volts but the times here also depend on the weather conditions.
Regardless of the source, you can use the pass-through charge: AC50S can be used while it is in use and the effectiveness of the operation obviously depends on the energy source and your consumption: this can be helped by the display that shows consumption and level of load. Pass-through use is also useful in recent months for a specific function: it is possible to connect a CPAP system for the administration of oxygen with the certainty that in the event of a power failure the machine will continue to operate.
Weight
With a weight of just over 6 kg BLuetti AC50S is absolutely portable: even if it will be impossible to carry it with you on a walk in the mountains, you can still carry it at a distance of hundreds of meters from the car or the nearest power outlet or put it in a trolley towing with professional equipment and tools. Occasional transport is facilitated by the two handles hinged in the center on the top that make the operation easier and possibly protect the smartphone that is placed on the top to take advantage of the 10 Watt wireless charge.
Conclusions
An excellent accessory for those who “light” camping in tents, for those who perform outdoor shows and want to accompany a battery-powered speaker with mixer and keyboards powered by the mains, want an extra option to recharge the batteries of work tools when not has a power source. Dimensions and weight guarantee excellent portability and the multiplicity of sockets in addition to the wireless station make it extremely versatile for recharging or temporary powering any computer, mobile or photographic device. It is an excellent resource even in the event of a power failure. The possibility of connecting solar panels makes it even more versatile: you can charge it during the day and use it at night.
Pro
Nice and shockproof design, high capacity, can power and charge almost any device. Su can charge anywhere: at home, on the move, with solar panels. Extreme versatility. Excellent price / performance ratio.
Cons
Rather heavy and has no protection for humidity: not recommended for itinerant camping in particularly humid areas or by boat.
How much it costs and where to buy
It is possible to buy Bluetti A50S for € 499.99 on Amazon.de (we ship to Italy). at this time it is possible to take advantage of a coupon from the code: 5poweroak with which you get a discount of 40 € on the indicated price: the final price will be 459.99 €.
