BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station Review: Empower Your Adventures with Near Limitless Energy!

The BLUETTI AC200MAX is a 2,048Wh, LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) power station that offers a continuous output capacity of 2,200 watts from its pure sine wave inverter (with up to a 4,800W surge capacity) and up to 16 ways to charge and run your gear. Whether you’re looking for a solution that will power your devices and small appliances when camping or during a blackout, or if you’re considering ways to power a small off-grid home, the expandable BLUETTI AC200MAX offers plenty of solutions to keep the power flowing.

The BLUETTI AC200 Max is a versatile, large, expandable capacity power station, which allows it to power a wide range of household devices, like refrigerators, televisions, and electronics, for some time without relying on AC power. This makes the AC200 Max an excellent solution for people who want to enjoy many of the comforts of home in their camper or for those who are looking for a way to power their off-grid home.

The BLUETTI AC200MAX comes securely packaged with everything you need to keep it powered at home or on the go. Included in the box are the AC200MAX, A TC500 AC adapter with cable for AC charging, an XT90-MC4 PV charging cable for up to 900W solar charging, an XT-90 to cigarette port car charging cable, and an XT90 multifunction aviation cable for expanding the charging methods via the PV input port.

Also included are a storage bag for the cables, a user manual, a warranty card, and a QC certificate.

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BLUETTI AC200MAX Walk-Around

At 15.2″ tall by 16.5″ long by 11″ deep and weighing about 62 pounds, the BLUETTI AC200MAX is a heavy little beast. Its body is composed of black and gray matte plastic with thick integrated plastic handles on each side that make it possible for one person to move it as needed; I am able to move it around on my own, although I’ll admit that it’s much easier to do when Kev can lend a hand.

On the top are two wireless charging ports that can each output up to 15W. They make for a great spot to charge your Qi-enabled smartphones without having to use a power cable or one of the other available ports.

On the front, a large silver power button with an LED ring that glows bright green when the BLUETTI AC200MAX is turned on; this light stays on to show that the power station is on, and it doesn’t dim. This is great in that it reminds you that it is running, but it might be an issue if you sleep in the same room where it is running and prefer pitch darkness.

All of the power ports on the front are covered with rubber flaps that securely seat to keep out dust when the ports aren’t in use. BLUETTI recommends that you not get the AC200MAX wet or keep it in a humid environment, but if the power station gets water splashed on it, it shouldn’t be a total disaster.

On the front, there are a 12V/30A (RV outlet), a 12V/10A (car outlet), two 12V/10A DC 5521 (5.5mm) outlets, a 100W Max USB-C port, two 18W USB-A ports, two 5V/3A USB-A ports, four 120V/20A outlets, and one 20V/30A NEMA TT-30 outlet.

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In the center top, there is a 3.75″ wide by 2.25″ tall color touchscreen display that shows a real-time display of the voltage, current, power, temperature, and the state of charge and discharge. You can use the touchscreen to adjust the output voltage, frequency charging mode, power consumption, and time information in the setting column.

To activate the BLUETTI AC200MAX, you’ll press the power button on the left of the display; once powered, a Bluetooth connection establishes automatically. You can use the on-screen controls to enable the AC and DC outputs. Essential information, such as input and output power, along with the remaining battery charge, is right there waiting for you.

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On the left side, you’ll find four additional touchscreen buttons that make it easy and intuitive to navigate to distinct sub-menus. These sub-menus include settings, data logs, alarms, and the home screen, giving users the flexibility to choose what they wish to access.

Here’s a breakdown of the information provided:

1. Information Display: The touch screen displays information related to the power station’s charge and discharge activities. This real-time feedback can help you monitor the power station’s current status and understand its performance.
2. Hierarchical Menu: The menu on the touch screen is well-organized in a hierarchical manner, making it easy to navigate through the different features and functionalities of the power station.
3. Easy Access: The menu offers easy access to various settings and features; you can quickly navigate to specific areas such as battery data logs, alarm settings, and other relevant information.
4. Battery Data Logs: The power station likely keeps logs of battery-related data. This could include information about past charging and discharging cycles, which can help track the power station’s usage patterns and overall health.
5. Alarm Notifications: The touchscreen interface provides information about any alarms that may have been triggered. This could refer to notifications for events such as low battery levels, high temperatures, or other critical conditions.
6. Backlight Timing: The screen backlight remains on for 30 seconds before automatically turning off. This feature could help conserve power while still allowing you to view information on the screen for a short time after an interaction.
7. Screen Press Sound: The touch screen produces a beep sound when pressed. This sound can serve as an audio confirmation of a successful touch input. Additionally, turning off this sound offers flexibility for users who prefer a quieter experience.

The integrated handle and a vent covering a cooling fan are on the right.

On the back, there is information about the power station.

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On the left are the integrated handle, another vent covering a cooling fan, and in the cluster of covered outputs, there are two 51.2VDC battery extension ports, which allow the BLUETTI AC200MAX to be expandable up to 6,144Wh with two BLUETTI B230 expansion batteries, or as much as 8,192Wh with two BLUETTI B300 expansion batteries, sold separately.

This is one of the features that make the AC200MAX so good for use as a system for an RV or a small home, as the main battery can be expanded if you find that you’ll need more power.

Under those on the left is the DC XT-90 input port used when connecting solar panels, the car cable, or the multifunction aviation cable for charging. To its left is the AC power port for wall charging.

When you turn the BLUETTI AC200MAX on for the first time, it’s a good idea to go ahead and install the Bluetti app, which is available for Android and iOS.

You’ll need to set up an account if you don’t already have one, but with the app, you can wirelessly connect to your BLUETTI power station to get real-time information on your battery as it charges and discharges by source, as well as the ability to toggle the AC and DC power ports on and off without having to be in front of the battery.

In the best of conditions, the Bluetooth range is about 30 feet, but if there is anything between you and the AC200MAX, like a wall, that range is decreased significantly. The app offers a more limited feature set than the comprehensive features available on the base system, but it’s still quite handy.

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As the BLUETTI AC200MAX can only charge at speeds of up to 500W on AC power, it takes about 5.5 hours to fully charge it from 10% or so.

You can speed that up by adding up to 900W in the form of BLUETTI’s optional solar panels charging in tandem with AC for a maximum charging speed of 1,400 watts; I figure that most people who buy the optional solar panels will be using AC when it’s available, and the solar panels when they are off-grid.

Using a single optional BLUETTI PV350 solar panel to charge takes anywhere from 7 to 10 hours from 10% depending upon the amount of sunlight, but that can be sped up by daisy-chaining multiple BLUETTI solar panels together to get the full 900W charging if you need something faster.

Here are the expected charging times from the BLUETTI site:

AC Adapter (500W): About 5.5 to 6 Hours
Solar (900W): About 3 to 3.5 Hours (With prime sunshine, ideal orientation, and low temperature)
12V/24V Car Outlet (100W/200W): About 10 or 20 Hours
AC Adapter + Solar (1400W): About 2.0 to 2.5 Hours (With prime sunshine, ideal orientation, and low temperature)
Dual AC Adapters (1000W): About 3 to 3.5 Hours (Extra adapter is required)

Using the BLUETTI AC200MAX

As I mentioned in my ICECO VL60 review, Kev and I recently traveled to Utah to pick up our Zion Off-Road camper, after which we spent about a week camping on and off-grid. We brought the BLUETTI AC200MAX along to power the VL60 and any other gear that might need charging.

Kev’s Toyota Tacoma has a power port in the bed, so for the drive from Texas to New Mexico, we plugged the BLUETTI AC200MAX into that port with the VL60 plugged into the AC200MAX. It’s worth noting that the fan on the large AC power box is pretty loud, and it constantly runs, even when the AC200MAX is fully charged and no longer drawing power, so that might be something to consider if you plan on charging it indoors.

Having the BLUETTI AC200MAX fully charged from the drive came in handy at our first stop at a hotel in Santa Fe; we just left the cooler and battery in the back of Kev’s (powered-off) truck, and the AC200MAX kept the VL60 running throughout the evening and overnight until we were ready to go with more than 80% charge left on the battery the following morning.

Headed to Utah to pick up our trailer, the BLUETTI AC200MAX and ICECO VL60 rode in the back of Kev’s Truck with all our other camping gear.

Our first two nights were at full-service campgrounds, so we were able to keep the BLUETTI AC200MAX fully charged while it powered the VL60.

Charging the BLUETTI AC200MAX at a KOA while using the included ICECO VL60 insulated cover to protect the cooler and battery from the sun.

Once we were off-grid, the BLUETTI AC200MAX was able to power the ICECO VL60 set at 41º F for almost 36 hours, which included intense daytime heat before the battery needed to be recharged, which isn’t surprising since BLUETTI says the AC200MAX can run a 150W Refrigerator (1200W) for up to 10 hours.

BLUETTI says that on a full charge, the AC200MAX can also power an 1150W  Coffee Maker for 1.5 hours, a 1650W electric grill for 1.5 hours, a 5,000 BTU air conditioner for 1 – 4 hours, a 40W CPAP for 30 to 40 hours, and a 10W light for 150+ hours.

Obviously, what you are charging and where you are doing it can impact the battery life. For instance, in a cooler environment, like my office, the ICECO VL60 seemed to merely sip power from the BLUETTI AC200MAX on DC, running for days on end before recharging.

If you live off-grid using a battery/solar combo and have a portable fridge and a few other devices that need to be powered, the AC200MAX should work very well for you.

But if you’re trying to figure out how long the BLUETTI AC200MAX will be able to run your particular appliance, BLUETTI says you can use the following formula:

Running time = Battery capacity × DoD × n ÷ Device rated power DoD refers to the Depth of Discharge, and n is local inverter efficiency.
For AC200MAX, both DoD and n are 90%. If you run a 1,000W microwave oven with it, the running time will be: 2,048Wh × 90% × 90% ÷ 1,000W ? 1.65hrs
Note:
1) The formula is NOT suitable for inductive loads with compressors, like refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.
2) The above data is for reference ONLY.

Since we couldn’t keep the ICECO VL60 inside our trailer at night and it didn’t fit inside the galley slide-out, we had to move the cooler and the AC200MAX in and out of the camper when we packed up or set up camp, but Kev and I quickly had the routine down.

When we were completely off-grid, the BLUETTI AC200MAX and 350W solar panel (review coming soon) were more than enough to keep the battery fully charged while powering the ICECO VL60 on eco power.

When we were off-grid and needed to top off the BLUETTI AC200MAX, it was simply a matter of setting up the BLUETTI 350W solar panel array for about six hours. We would keep the AC200MAX behind the solar panels to give it a bit of protection from the sun.

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What Other Power Stations Are Comperable?

When comparing the BLUETTI AC200MAX to other power stations, it’s important to make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples by considering products that have similar wattage, use LiFePO4 cells, and are expandable, but there are a few other things worth considering as well. I’ve marked the superior features in this comparison table in bold.

Here’s how the AC200MAX stacks up to some similarly featured models.

I was surprised to find that the only thing the AC200MAX fell short on was the AC charging time, but I think the trade-off is worth it.

Should you Buy the BLUETTI AC200MAX?

We have used the BLUETTI AC200MAX on two separate camping trips; it has been more than enough to keep our cool charged and even to power our Ninja Woodfire Ourdoor Grill when we brought it along.

Even better, when we are home, it is easily moved into the house where we can use it when there are power outages to keep both our Starlink and cellular booster running while also charging our electronics; this has already proven handy in one hours-long blackout this summer.

I appreciate that the AC200MAX’s LiFePO4 battery is rated for 3,500+ Cycles to 80% Original Capacity, which means that even after running it for 3,500 cycles — or 9.83 years of daily drains — it would still hold up to an 80% charge.

This is definitely a power station that was designed with longevity and real use in mind.

Long story short, the BLUETTI AC200MAX stands out with its substantial 2,200Wh capacity, efficient solar input, and an impressive array of output options; it offers a dependable solution for a wide range of power needs.

While its larger form factor might be a consideration for some, the exceptional performance and versatility it brings to the table make it a compelling choice for anyone seeking a reliable and robust power source, whether for outdoor adventures, backup power during outages, or remote work setups.

The BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station sells for $1599; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: 2,200Wh capacity with up to a 4,800W surge capacity; Efficient solar input; An impressive array of power output options, including 12V/30A (RV outlet), a 12V/10A (car outlet), two 12V/10A DC 5521 (5.5mm) outlets, a 100W Max USB-C port, two 18W USB-A ports, two 5V/3A USB-A ports, four 120V/20A outlets, and one 20V/30A NEMA TT-30 outlet; Color touchscreen display that provides all necessary info in an easy-to-access and understandable way; Long-lasting, efficient power when you are off-grid or during outages

What Needs Improvement: These are mainly quibbles, but the AC power brick is large, and the fans constantly run whether the AC200MAX is drawing power or not — it seems like there should be a way for it to shut down and then restart as needed; The green LED ring on the power button isn’t dimmable; Slower charging time than some comparable power stations