PROS
Portable and compact layout
Retractable manage for less difficult wearing and storage
Large LED emergency mild
CONS
60W USB-C won’t be sufficient for a few laptops
Can’t rate through AC and sun on the identical time
We’ve reviewed pretty some of transportable electricity stations, a number of which stretch the definition of “transportable”. While a lot of those merchandise can actually meet any electricity want in the course of an outage or an emergency, now no longer absolutely each person calls for 3000W or greater of electricity, particularly for a fast journey outside or while spending all day running someplace missing publicly available electricity retailers. That’s wherein BigBlue’s Cellpowa500 (CP500) comes in. We lately examined the electricity station to look what it could supply and had been thrilled with the results.
Design
It’s genuinely fresh to check a transportable electricity station that won’t stress one’s returned while seeking to elevate it. Of course, its 17.2lb (7.8kg) weight isn’t anyt any giggling matter, however it’s not anything as compared to a number of the hulking electricity stations available in the marketplace. The decreased weight does imply this version skimps a piece in terms of battery potential, which we’ll get to later, however it’s essential to word the CP500 wasn’t designed for the identical type of utilization situations as the ones large merchandise.
BigBlue designed Cellpowa500 to be smooth to hold for quick out of doors sports off the grid. In addition to its notably mild weight, the CP500 sports activities a retractable manage, the layout of which makes it less difficult to hold the tool at the same time as heading off problem while it’s time to position the electricity station in storage. That said, the pinnacle of the box-fashioned tool has a curved floor that’s much less than perfect for putting objects, as they could slide off.
The CP500’s layout is spartan with a focal point on comfort greater than something else. All of the enter and output ports are placed at the the front in order that cables don’t run from all sides. The fan vents are placed simplest at the left side, that means you simplest ought to thoughts the air flow on one side. The tool’s returned, meanwhile, has a massive LED mild with depth settings and a blinking SOS mode. As a result, you won’t ought to accept a slender beam of mild while fumbling withinside the dark.
Battery and Output
As mentioned, the BigBlue Cellpowa500 sacrifices battery potential for portability, however that’s now no longer a knock towards it. Everyone has specific desires, and the CP500 meets the ones desires for plenty purchasers. For a few users, the electricity station’s 537.6Wh battery is sufficient to get them via the day, particularly given the alternative advantages the tool offers.
Despite its compact size, there may be a port to be had for each form of tool and want, such as 120V AC retailers, a vehicle charger, barrel-kind DC outputs, a DC enter for the AC charger and sun panels, USB-A ports, and 60W USB-C ports. The CP500’s potential and output approach it could rate or electricity up nearly something, such as a 45W vehicle fridge. The 60W USB-C output, however, won’t be enough for a few laptops. Consumers in international locations wherein 200V AC or better is the norm will even need to pay attention to the electricity station’s obstacles in that regard.
The Cellpowa500 additionally has a few nifty capabilities that make up for its smaller battery size. You can, for example, use all of the output ports on the identical time, aleven though clearly with a view to drain the battery quicker. You also can use DC passthrough, because of this that you could use DC output at the same time as charging the electricity station. Unfortunately, that won’t paintings for the AC retailers because of protection measures.
BigBlue additionally packed pretty some different protection capabilities inner this small box. In addition to the use of a more secure LiFePo4 battery, the CP500 additionally capabilities over-rate, over-current, and overheating safeguards and could mechanically close down ports that exceed the protection limits.
Charging
Like any transportable electricity station, the 500W battery won’t ultimate all the time and it’ll subsequently want to be recharged. The smaller battery, notably speaking, approach the CP500 costs quicker than large models, plus BigBlue blanketed capabilities to make the system even quicker.
The Cellpowa500 helps your traditional charging options, such as vehicle charger, AC, sun, and USB-C. When the use of a unmarried supply, it’s going to take as a minimum 6 hours to completely recharge the electricity station’s battery; if you’re the use of a vehicle charger, it’ll clearly take longer because of the decrease electricity output. What makes the CP500 unique is its help for combining DC and USB-C charging to hurry up the system, in the end lowering how lengthy it takes the electricity station to recharge. When the use of the AC adapter and the 2 USB-C ports for enter, the CP500 can move from 0 to complete in round 2 hours.
BigBlue’s electricity station additionally helps sun charging, of course, however it makes use of the identical DC enter because the AC charger, so that you can’t use each techniques on the identical time. The business enterprise sells its very own set of sun panels for that purpose, and the CP500 helps the MPTT tech to make it even quicker.
Wrap-up
With the upward push in electricity interruptions due to inclement climate situations throughout the country, the want for opportunity electricity reassets has additionally risen. There’s a electricity station available in the marketplace that covers almost each utilization situation and budget, however a few purchasers definitely require a transportable companion, particularly for the ones instances you want to percent up and depart quickly.
The BigBlue Cellpowa500 genuinely meets that want with its light-weight layout and a couple of output options. The tool won’t electricity your complete residence in a pinch, however it’s going to can help you revel in a day trip withinside the solar with out disturbing approximately your gadgets.
With only a few flaws, the $499 CP500 gives you a compact and dependable transportable electricity solution, one which doesn’t take in an excessive amount of area or fee an excessive amount of to function a backup electricity supply on stormy days.