The Lowdown
The VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station is a solid power station with a large storage capacity for its size, especially if you can get it on sale. I like the fast recharge and ample solar input options, which I’ll be using to recharge all my e-bikes and e-skateboards via solar power going forward. Portability is limited to flat surfaces; and uneven terrain, you’ll need two people to safely lift or lower it, but that’s true of any power station with this capacity, so the handle and wheels are nice to have.
Overall
Pros
- Large Storage Capacity
- Ample Ports
- Fast Recharge
- Somewhat Portable On Flat Surfaces
Cons
- Visible Time-to-Empty on Display
- Full Retail Price is Steep
- Display Hard to See in Sunlight
A dizzying array of “portable power stations” is on the market these days, ranging from tiny, bread-loaf-sized, low-wattage/low-storage options to robust, permanent whole-home solutions. The VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station lands right at the divide between portable power stations and the large stationary home backup units, combining both large storage capacity and portability, though there should probably be an asterisk next to that last term.
What’s in the Box
- VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station
- AC Charging Cable
- USB Type-C to Type-C
- USB Type-A to Type-C
- User Manual
Specifications
- Battery Capacity: 3096 Wh
- Battery Chemistry: LiFePO4
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 14.9 x 16.4 x 22.9 inches
- Weight: 83.8 lbs
- Operating Temperature: -4°F to 131°F
- AC Output: 360o W continuous, 6000 W peak
- USB-A Outputs: 2x 5V/2.4A, 12W Max, 2 x 18W Max(QC3.0)
- USB-C Outputs: 2x 100W Max PD
- DC5521 Output: 2x 12V/10A
- Car Socket Output: 2x 12V/10A
- AC Input: 90-140V up to 1800 W
- Anderson (solar/DC) Input: 12-80V, up to 800W
- Battery Management Systems: Overcharge/Overcurrent/Overvolt/Temperature/Short-Circuit/Over-Discharge/Reverse-Charge/
- UPS Feature: Yes @ 20 milliseconds
Build Quality and Features
The VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station is a rugged, squat square power station with wheels and a telescoping handle for easy transport. The yellow and black colorway fits into any jobsite or garage and screams utility, which makes sense for a product like this. The VTOMAN logo actually doubles as a multi-function button, and there are bright LED lights flanking it.
Ports are plentiful, with 6 USB ports and four AC 120 V ports (though one is a NEMA TT-30 RV/trailer type). I like how all of these are clustered in the front, and there’s a protective plastic cover that you have to lift up to access them.
The LCD is almost impossible to read in bright sunlight (such as when testing the solar panel input above), but is bright and clear indoors. It relays most of the useful information you need when using a power station, except for time-to-empty or time-to-full at current discharge/recharge levels. This is standard on most power stations, so I find it odd to be missing here.
The right side of the power station has a carry handle up top, ventilation for the cooling fan below that, and a rubber flap covering the RV 12V/25A port and Extra Battery Port. This Extra Battery Port is useful if you want to expand the power system’s storage capacity with an optional extra battery, though you can’t daisy-chain more than one additional battery like some other systems. Still, it would be nice to have the option (I don’t see the extra battery listed on their website yet).
The left side has the same carry handle and ventilation, then a protected area for the power input options: AC 120V up to 1800 Watts, and Anderson DC 12-80V up to 800 watts. You can use both simultaneously to recharge in under 2 hours.
At the back, we have a telescoping handle, wheels, and a compartment that hides the AC charging cable.
On top, there’s another storage compartment, with space to haul quite a few extra charging cables and the manual.
Portability, or the Lack Thereof
We have to talk about portability, since this is by far the heaviest power station I’ve encountered that still advertises some form of transport function. Lifting the power station requires two people, since it clocks in at over 80 pounds (unless you’re a serious weightlifter without back problems).
On flat, hard ground with the handle extended, you can fairly easily move the VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station around, though the low center of gravity and high mass require more balancing than a similarly shaped and sized wheeled luggage. As soon as you hit shag carpet or any incline, though, you’ll need a second person to help move it.
I appreciate the option to move this monster on wheels, and if you have a use case where you store it in a closet and wheel it out when needed, it should work well. But if you store it in a basement or garage with stairs between it and the intended spot where it’ll be used, you’ll have to factor in help lifting it.
Performance
The VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station performs as advertised. I tested DC and AC output and input and had no issues pushing 2,000+ watts. The peak 6,000-watt rating is great for larger appliances like freezers that tend to spike on startup, then settle into a lower power draw. The associated power drain tracked with the storage capacity: at 2,000 watts, the power station lasted over 90 minutes. Wall charging from near-zero to full also took about two hours.
The various ports (at least the ones I had devices to test, like the USB-C Power Delivery and the AC ports) all delivered as much juice as listed.
The front lights get quite bright and also have flashing and a bright red mode (strobing/SOS). Indicators clearly show which modules are on or off, with some modules also getting LED highlights (like the USB ports) when on.
Final Thoughts
The VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station is a solid power station with a large storage capacity for its size, especially if you can get it on sale. I like the fast recharge and ample solar input options, which I’ll be using to recharge all my e-bikes and e-skateboards via solar power going forward. Portability is limited to flat surfaces; and uneven terrain, you’ll need two people to safely lift or lower it, but that’s true of any power station with this capacity, so the handle and wheels are nice to have.
The VTOMAN FlashSpeed Pro 3600 Portable Power Station retails for $2,900 (currently on sale for $1,299); it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.
Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample
What I Like: Large Storage Capacity; Ample Ports; Fast Recharge; Somewhat Portable On Flat Surfaces
What Needs Improvement: Visible Time-to-Empty on Display; Full Retail Price is Steep; Display Hard to See in Sunlight