Are you struggling to keep all of your devices charged and ready to go? Looking for something easy to use, featuring multiple charging options and is good bang for your buck?
We love the freedom of an off grid lifestyle and currently use two fixed battery systems in our set up. One for the car to run the Dometic compressor fridge and another in the caravan.
Unfortunately, we are unable to use any of our power points in the caravan unless we are connected to the grid. This is pretty typical of off grid vans like ours built around 10-15 years ago. We could either retrofit the van ( which to be honest we don’t have the skill or the time for) or try a portable power station.
Recently, Bluetti offered us the opportunity to test an EB55 power station under Australian conditions. We’ve found that it’s a smart addition for anyone who needs to charge or run multiple electronic devices while camping or travelling in the car.
In this review you’ll find out:
- Is the Bluetti EB55 the right power station for you?
- Types of electronics that you can run/charge.
- How the Bluetti EB55 power station handles real world testing?
- Pros and cons.
- Our overall rating.
Is The Bluetti EB55 The Right Power Station For You?
Bluetti are quickly establishing themselves as specialists in portable power stations for outdoor enthusiasts. They have been designing and innovating their own battery powered systems since 2019. You’ll find a great selection of portable power stations, home battery backup systems, solar panels and solar generation kits on the Bluetti Australia website.
Bluetti portable power stations are available in 5 options; starting from 600W to 2200W.
The EB55 is one of their most popular portable rechargeable battery power stations. It offers 537wh capacity and is equivalent to approximately 24Ah. 537Wh / 22.4V = 24Ah ( source: https://www.inchcalculator.com/wh-to-ah-calculator/ )
The EB55 packs a whole lot of ingenuity into a well designed, compact unit. It is really amazing how much has been included and it weighs just under 7.5kgs. The portability is a huge bonus. You’re not limited at all on where you can take this. What makes this power station really excel is the ELEVEN outputs offering the ability to run multiple devices simultaneously.
List Of Outputs.
- x1 Wireless charging for compatible phones
- x1 USB C 100w for fast charging
- x4 USB A
- x1 12v/10A port
- x2 AC 240V Power points
- x2 DC 12/10A
We recently took our power station away for a long weekend of camping and tested many of its features. You’ll find that it is a handy back up system for short trips. Any longer than a few days, you’ll need to recharge the power station. If you’re planning a longer trip, you might like to consider the EB70 Portable Power Station. It features a 1000w inverter with 716wH capacity. This means you can go longer between charges.
Those of you who are looking at options for a big lap, you might like to consider the EB200P Portable Power Station. At 2,200W its one of Bluetti’s bigger capacity power stations.
You can charge the EB55 6 different ways, however most people would use these three common methods;
- Charge at home on AC (240v) - takes a little over 3 hours
- Charge with 12v in the car while driving - 6 hours using 12v socket
- Solar - 3 to 3.3 hours with prime sunshine, ideal orientation and low temperature.
The other methods are AC & Solar combined and Dual AC (extra adapter required) -
Both methods claiming between 1.8 to 2.3 hours to recharge. The last method is a generator.
Types Of Electronics You Can Run/Charge.
Our caravan only features one internal and one external 12v charging port. The 240v power points only works when we are connected to the grid. This where the Bluetti EB55 really comes into its own. This compact unit offers the ability to use all of these options plus more, and you can use and charge lots of devices simultaneously.
The Bluetti EB55 features a 700w AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter with a 1400w surge. This type of inverter is incredibly important for your sensitive electronic devices. They are capable of producing quiet, consistent and reliable power.
You can easily find if your device is compatible with the 700w inverter by looking at the panel or sticker on your device, finding the tech specs in the user manual or searching on Google. Look for how many watts it draws when charging.
You can charge/run the following types of devices;
- Smart phones
- Laptops
- Tablets
- DSLR cameras
- Mavic drones
- Battery powered tools
- USB LED lighting strips
- LED party lights
- TV monitors
- Electric toothbrushes
- CPAP machines
- Portable speakers
How The Bluetti EB55 Power Station Handles Real World Testing?
Before heading off for the long weekend, our Bluetti was on empty and took just over 3 hours to reach 100% charge.
While we do have solar panels, we require a MC4 to Anderson adapter to connect them. If your solar panels use Anderson plugs too, you can purchase the adapter from good camping stores. I’ve found this Caos adapter that has a 3m cable from mygenerator.com.au
If you don’t already have them, Bluetti offer a range of portable solar panels too. They are compatible with most power stations and solar generators on the market. You won’t need the Anderson adapter as they come standard with MC4 connectors.
During our weekend away, we were able to run the following devices simultaneously;
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Apple iPhone 12
- Apple MacBook Air
- Samsung Smart phone x2
- LED Lighting strip x2
- Milwaukee battery charger
The Bluetti EB55 can charge/run multiple devices as long as the total watt output doesn’t exceed 700w.
For future camping trips, its likely that the need to charge so many devices at once wouldn’t be very often, if at all. It’s just nice to know that it can handle the extra workload if needed.
Bluetti EB55 Pros & Cons
PROS
- Portable
- At less than 7.5kg, its easy to move around from vehicle to camp
- Simple, easy to read display
- Convenient built in light on the rear
- 11 ways to charge or run devices
- Handy wireless charging pad for a phone on top
- Capable of 2,500 charges
CONS
- Not waterproof
- As it is an all in one unit, once the batteries are finished, they can not be replaced.
OVERALL RATING
The Bluetti EB55 is a very handy addition for those of us who require power on the go. Its most suitable for weekend camping trips or as a back up power source for travellers who have a built-in system in their van or car.
I am impressed with this power station’s solid build quality and ease of use. The carry handle feels strong, is generous in size and will accomodate people with larger hands. The features we loved the most was the convenient wireless charging pad, the 240v power points and the light.
We have not encountered any issues with our unit and the two year warranty does offer piece of mind. It is competitively priced and a worthy addition to your camping set up.
Visit the Bluetti Australia website today to see the full range available.
