In the test, the BLUETTI AC180 charging station — it did not let me down

But where we often lack access to electricity. I was given the BLUETTI AC180 portable charging station for testing to see how much freedom from the grid it offers me when I'm not near an outlet. I know this isn't exactly everyone's concern, as the idea of spending time outdoors for many means walking, running or hiking in the hills rather than camping, RVing or picnicking in a remote clearing. For those who like to spend their free time in this way, the question of electricity is always pressing.

I put myself in their shoes and tested what outdoor life would be like with the BLUETTI AC180. The station is not their newest, that title belongs to the BLUETTI AC200L, but it has features that make it very attractive to the average enthusiast.

BLUETTI AC180 price?

The BLUETTI AC180 charging station is currently reduced to €799, otherwise the price is €1099. If desired, the station can be combined with solar cells from BLUETTI or another manufacturer. The seller offers a 5-year warranty.

BLUETTI AC180 — bulky not only in terms of kilograms, but also in terms of capacity

A seemingly modest rectangular box hides a number of surprises. The first is 17 kilograms, which surprises you when you want to lift it for the first time. It doesn't live up to the "portable" label in that regard, but then again, it's not a weight that would keep me from ever using the station on the go. Everyone should be able to carry it between rooms and to the terrace at home, but I wouldn't consider it if I had to carry it with me for more than 10 minutes, so at least for me its use for a possible picnic or outdoor date is out of the question. If you have an RV, weight won't be an issue, even for camping, as long as that space is reasonably far from the RV/car of course.

_{The BLUETTI AC180 charged all kinds of devices without any problems}

The dimensions are just right for storage. You can place it outside on the terrace, under the computer desk if necessary, in the trunk, and due to its shape and weight, it will not move even when driving more aggressively through corners. It's also great that it will stay in place on a slope and you won't have to worry about it slipping on a wet lawn.

For easier carrying, there is a handle on each side that does not "stick out" of the case, but blends in nicely with it. This means that the upper side is completely flat, which is good if, for example, you want to use all the space in the trunk and place some other, not too heavy, object on the station. There's also a wireless charging station at the top, so the flat side is actually necessary if you want the phone to stay in place.

In the middle is an LCD screen for monitoring consumption, battery capacity and expected autonomy.

I powered a 3D printer, a laser engraving machine, a gaming laptop, a phone...

The BLUETTI AC180 has a 1152 Wh battery and a total rated power of 1800 W, more than enough to power a smaller electronic device and also some more wasteful ones. During the test, I used the station to power several phones at the same time, an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 monitor and gaming laptop, a Creality Ender 5-S1 3D printer, and then a laser engraving machine. I expect phones and laptops to be the most used devices elsewhere, and the 3D printer and engraving machine are proof to me that a portable station can be useful outside of established scenarios. I also used the station for a short time at the weekend to power the TV, a small fridge and some hand tools.

There is also a Power Lift function hidden in the application, which allows powering even more wasteful devices, for example an electric heater, a coffee machine or something similar. A small refrigerator is also considered, but not, for example, an air conditioner. The application can work without an internet connection. You only need to have location and Bluetooth turned on on your phone. In the app, you can set the charging speed, turn on the AC and DC power, you can also turn off the station, but it is not possible to turn it on again via the app. You can monitor consumption in real time and turn on eco mode for automatic shutdown after a certain time.

There are two 250 V (16A) sockets, 4x USB-A (5V) connectors, but they only support 15-W power, 1x USB-C with support for 100-W charging, which is certainly welcome, but you might wanted some USB-C more than is available, for future needs. That said, there's a 15-W wireless charger on top, which can also be handy if you have a phone that supports wireless charging. These are practically all premium models and also some from the upper middle class.

There is also a 12V (10A) plug, as found in a car. The portable charging station can be charged in about an hour via a regular socket. It is charged with a power of 1440 W, but if you wish, you can also buy a solar kit with which you will charge the station with a power of 500 W, of course depending on the external conditions. For motorhome lovers and enthusiasts who have turned their cars and vans into a traveling hotel, charging via the car connector also applies. It won't be very fast, but you will at least recover some % during the trip.

BLUETTI AC180 uses LiFePo4 batteries that use iron phosphate as the cathode. Their advantage is better stability, safety and also a much longer service life compared to classic NCM and NCA batteries. BLUETTI says the battery will reach 3,500 charge cycles before the capacity drops to 80 %, making the AC180 one of the best on the market.

During 3D printing, I used 15 % in less than an hour, I have a little more energy left with the laser engraving machine. When using a laptop, a fully charged station would be enough for me for an 8-hour workday, but when playing games, the calculation stopped somewhere at 4 hours. The BLUETTI AC180 also spent one afternoon powering a small TV, water heater and small tools (mixer, sander) for weekend work.

Is the station loud? It's not quiet, but it's not overly loud either. It is most audible during Turbo charging or at really high consumption.

I also used it as a UPS for a while. I purposely caused a power outage and watched how quickly the power switched. The test bunny was my old laptop without a working battery and apparently the latency was so low that the laptop stayed plugged in.

Did I find any weakness at all?

Not much. The thing that hindered me the most was my weight. The convenient handles allowed me to carry it with one hand, but I can't imagine carrying other things that I might need for camping or other outdoor activities. Pick up a 20-kilogram weight, start walking, and remember how long you walked without difficulty.

The Power Lift feature could also be available outside of the app, but it's not a necessary change. My last concern is that the charging station is not officially certified for safe outdoor use. I'm talking about protection against foreign objects, water and other particles that could affect its operation. If you're going to use it outdoors, there's nothing wrong with finding a place for it to stay dry and away from direct dirt.

If you need power outside the home...

... the BLUETTI AC180 is a very good charging station that did not let me down. It can power almost all the most used devices, some at the same time. There are enough connections, the build quality is excellent, although without official guarantees for outdoor use. Weight can be an obstacle in certain use cases, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a charging station with the same capacity and significantly less weight.