Backup power solutions are something you normally don’t think about until the unfortunate power outage occurs. Even if you don’t remember the last time you experienced a blackout, these portable stations can double as useful power generators for camping trips or other occasions taking place far from home. A good power station to start with is the Bluetti AC200P as it costs less than many of its other products in the lineup while still housing plenty of power and versatility. We’d like to thank Bluetti for sponsoring this post; their support helps us keep the blog running and for that we’re very grateful.
Launched in 2020, BLUETTI AC200P seemed to be just another an all-in-one power station, but with with a 2,000W inverter, a 2,000Wh LiFePO4 battery, 7 charging options, plus 17 outlets, this chameleon meets power needs in nearly all places and situations, whether indoors or outdoors.
What’s in the Box?
In addition to the Bluetti AC200P itself, the box comes with several cables which provide some of the ways to charge the power station. You get a standard AC adapter along with an MC4 to XT90 cable for connecting to a solar panel. You also get a car charging cable as well as an XT90 to aviation plug so you can hook up the power station to larger vehicles. The usual user manual, warranty card, and certificate are included as well.
What you get
The Bluetti AC200P is a large and weighty unit, tipping the scales a bit over 60 pounds (27.5 kg) but the 16.5 × 11 × 15.2 in (42 × 28 × 38.65 cm) dimensions mean that you can still fit it into the back of a small car. The AC200P has a built-in handle on each side which allows the portable station to keep its sleek cubic look and makes it convenient for two people to carry.
Durable LiFePO4 battery
The reason behind the station’s massive weight is the 2000Wh LiFePO4 battery within its housing. Although you cannot replace the internal battery or expand the unit’s capacity, this is a safer, longer-lasting battery type than the Lithium-ion variation and it does have a rating of 3,500 life cycles to 80% capacity along with a generous 4-year warranty. Even if you are unsure of Bluetti’s reputation as a company, the fact that the battery is a LiFePO4 or Lithium Iron Phosphate battery is a good indicator of longevity as these types of batteries boast superior chemistries resulting to a longer lifespan and improved safety while requiring zero maintenance.
Moreover, it is more eco-friendly than Lithium power stations as the LiFePO4 requires no heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese in its making.
Expandable capacity
If you have larger than average power needs, you can also connect additional batteries, such as the Bluetti B230 or B300 expansion battery pack, to increase its capacity to 4,048Wh and 5,072Wh respectively. This is particularly useful for longer trips, glamping, overlanding, prolonged power outages, or even for running appliances at an off grid cabin or cottage—whenever extra power is needed.
AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter
The power supply also uses an AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter providing up to 2,000W of AC electricity with 4,800W surge. “Pure Sine Wave Inverter” is an important detail to keep in mind when shopping for a large backup power generator as it ensures that the generator provides the exact same current as your power grid. This also has the benefit of allowing Bluetti AC200P to run quietly while providing a smooth, uninterrupted current that won’t risk damaging your electronic devices.
Desktop PCs with true rated power supplies are just one of the several types of electronics that absolutely need a pure sine wave inverter source to prevent any damage to the components.
What can I connect to a portable power station like Bluetti AC200P?
The Bluetti AC200P’s front panel offers a grand total of 15 outputs that can all get a slice of the 2000W pie. It is nice to see each of these ports having their own built-in covers for protection. Here’s a quick rundown of them:
- 6 × AC 120V/20A outlets
- 4 × USB-A 5V/3A ports
- 1 × USB-C 60W port
- 2 × 5.5mm DC 12/3A outlets
- 1 × Car 12V/10A outlet
- 1 × RV 12/25A outlet
There are a few things you need to take note of regarding these options. First all the AC outlets are 120V only. That shouldn’t be a problem for most folks but if you bought any appliances overseas and have them with you here, check the power specifications as 220V equipment won’t work with AC200P. The USB-C port should be able to charge most laptops that have the USB Power Delivery spec but larger laptops like the 16-inch MacBook Pro’s may charge slower or may not even charge at all while you use it. Therefore, you will have to use the less efficient AC outlets for full speed charging.
If you find the USB port selection to be a bit lacking, the AC200P does offer two wireless charging pads on the top of the battery to charge supported gadgets. Both provide up to 15W watts.
Charging Bluetti AC200P
Using the provided 400W AC adapter, you can fully recharge a drained AC200P directly from your wall outlet for about 5.5 to 6 hours straight. If you have a car, you can use the car’s 12V outlet instead although that will take about 20 hours.
Fast solar recharging
If you decide to buy AC200P with a PV350 solar panel, you could get faster charging especially during sunny days with lower temperatures.
The AC200P supports up to 1,200W dual AC+Solar input, or 1000W dual AC input with optional T500 adapters at a low cost. You can pair the AC200P with the BLUETTI PV200 or PV350 folding solar panels to get 700W solar power when you’re on the go. Additionally, if you have the D050S charging enhancer, you can get an additional 500W, for a total of up to 1,200W of solar charging power to achieve GENUINE power sufficiency via solar.
The Bluetti AC200P provides 4 additional charging methods if you purchase some other accessories. For instance, buying a second AC adapter lets you charge from two outlets cutting your charging time in half. You can also charge with a solar panel and an AC adapter simultaneously for similar results. If you have a spare lead-acid battery, you can buy the Bluetti lead-acid battery charging cable so the AC200P can draw power from that source. The fastest charging setup involves two solar panels and a D050S DC charging enhancer which can boost the charging to its 1200W peak effectively reducing the charging time to under 3 hours.
Touchscreen control
The AC200P has a small touchscreen on the front panel which shows the dashboard as soon as you power it on. This lets you see the battery status along with some power usage information for all the main ports. The dashboard also lets you toggle the power states of the DC and AC ports. The dashboard’s side menu has a Settings page for changing a few options such as the output voltage and frequency along with an ECO Mode feature to enable if you wish to conserve power.
Special offers – BLUETTI solar generator kits
BLUETTI AC200P offers the most budget-friendly price of its kind. The AC200P is priced at just $1799, in comparison, power stations that provide around 2 kWh capacity from other well-known brands are normally priced at $300 to $800 higher in spite of their lower life cycles.
As one of BLUETTI’s flagship models, the AC200P offers a powerful and affordable option for easier access to mobile power, especially solar energy anywhere. You can choose a solar generator kit for emergency backup or off-grid living. With three pieces of PV200 solar panels, you can fully charge your AC200P in 6 hours with 600W solar power in full sun. There is also a kit with PV120 to produce 360W solar power for you. Just in time for summer’s busy camping and outdoor season, there is special pricing.
BLUETTI AC200P + PV350 for C$2,798, save C$200 from the original price of C$2,998
BLUETTI AC200P + B300 for C$4,398, save C$700 from the original price of C$5,098
BLUETTI AC200P+2*PV350 for C$3,797, save C$200 from the original price of C$3,997
*Pricing is current as of May 31, 2023. Please check BLUETTI website for updates.
