Month: December 2023

BLUETTI AC200L Budget 2400w LiFePO4 UPS Power Station Solar Generator

Posted on by HOBOTECH Tom

BLUETTI AC200L Budget 2400w LiFePO4 UPS Power Station Solar Generator

–>WATCH THE REVIEW HERE <–

 

 

Intro

  • Bluetti is known for using weird cryptic naming conventions for their products. In fact, we’ve seen several AC200 models over the years starting with the original AC200, then the AC200P, and finally the AC200Max. But wait, there’s more! Meet the new AC200L – a direct upgrade to the AC200Max. I have no clue what the L stands for and the letter L comes before P in the alphabet so shouldn’t this be a downgrade? Who knows. There’s only one thing that really matters. Is it any good? Let’s find out!

Features

  • Battery Capacity/Tech/Cycles: 2048 LFP rated 3000 cycles to 80% capacity

  • Size/Weight: Approx 17 x 11 x 14 inches at around 62 lbs

  • Design/Display: standard Bluetti display we’ve seen in other recent releases – shows input and output watts for both AC & DC, battery % display with icon, and time to charge/discharge

  • Inverter Size/Type (constant/peak) and #outlets: 2400w pure sine with 4x 20A outlets and a single TT30R 30A RV hookup

  • Ways To Charge (and times for each): Can charge by AC power at 1200w good for topping up in about 2 hours, can also handle 1200w of solar for a full charge under optimum conditions in under 2 hours. Combined Solar + AC at 2400w the unit can charge in about an hour. It can also charge by 12v which takes about a day or around 12 hours at 24v.

  • 12v Output Types: Offers up a single 12v 10A cig lighter socket style output regulated at 13.3v

  • USB Output Types: Sports a pair of 100w USB-C PD outputs and a pair of standard USB-A ports good for charging up those dinosaurs

  • Other Outputs: This is the first Bluetti (and in fact the first major generator brand that I’m aware of) to offer a 48v battery output. Bluetti plans to offer accessories for powering various things including high amperage 12v appliances. This port is however (and unfortunately) protected with a data pin so it’s useless without their accessories.

  • Other Features: Offers a 20ms switching UPS Mode. Supports remote access via both WiFi and BT through the Bluetti app. Also offers true bi-directional battery expandability up to 8kWh through one battery port that supports the B230, B300, and upcoming B210 external batteries

  • Warranty: 5 years and is UL2743 certified for portable power packs

Testing

  • DC Battery Capacity Test (time lapse): 1724wh/2048 for 84%

  • AC Battery Capacity Test (time lapse): 1870wh/2048 for 91%. These numbers are average to above average for the industry and are very similar to results we’ve measured from other recent releases by Bluetti.

  • Phantom load / Parasitic drain test

    • DC consumption: used 156wh over 24 hours

    • AC consumption: used 54wh (%) over 4 hours or about 324wh over 24 hours. If you left the inverter on it would totally kill the battery in about 5.5 days. These are pretty good results and a bit above average compared to other products.

  • 13500 btu RV a/c (1200w @50% cyc): 3 hrs

    • 6000 btu window a/c (400w @50% cyc): 9 hrs

    • 20cuft modern fridge (1.2kwh/day): 1.5 days

    • 1500w heater: 75 mins

    • 1200w microwave (1800w): 1 hr

    • Keurig coffee maker (1200w 60wh/c): 31 cups

    • Instant Pot (1000w @50% cyc): 3.75 hrs

    • Hot plate (500w): 3.75 hrs

    • 55” LED TV (80w): 20 hrs

    • Macbook (60w): 31 hrs

    • Box Fan (50w): 35 hrs

    • CPAP (30w): 60 hrs

    • Chromebook (15w): 5 days

    • Tablet (5w): 2 weeks

  • Sine wave check under load: 120/60

  • Inverter capacity test (max): 3000w <1s

  • Cooling ability test (rated @ 5mins): 2400w

  • Inverter fan noise db: 44

  • Max Charge Rate DC@ 12v 96w; 24v 180w; 48v 680w; 80-148v 1200wwatts/volts:

    • AC@ fast 1400w ; 800quiet w; 1200w normal

  • Charging fan noise db: AC max 44db ; AC min 0db ; Solar 44db

  • Simultaneous charging ability: 2400w (1200w solar + 1200w AC)

  • Pass thru / UPS: pass @30ms

  • DC Output(s) Max Rate: 10A 12.6v; 48v unusable

  • 12v output(s) regulated: 13.3v

  • USB output rate check: 2x100w pass

  • Wireless/other output: na

  • Amp interference test: barely pass

    • AM radio test: AC interference

    • EMF test: acceptable

  • Other Findings (warnings? auto shutdown? Beeps?): has customizable UPS

My Opinion

  • The AC200L is a fine product and a long overdue upgrade to the AC200Max. It does everything it’s supposed to and there are no surprises. There is also nothing groundbreaking about it either.

  • Bluetti seems to have permanently done away with the touch screen, and that could be good or bad depending on your needs. It is certainly much better in daylight. They’ve also cut a few corners by axing the wireless charging pad, the USB-A quick charge ports, the 5521 12v outputs, the dedicated 12v 30A output, and nixing one of the two external battery ports.

  • It does however gain a true 20ms UPS, built in 1200w wall charger, both WiFi and BT app support, and a 33% power upgrade to solar over the 200Max. Seeing it’s only 100 bucks more than the 200Max, it’s a no brainer upgrade. That probably explains why the old 200Max is all of a sudden harder to find on the Bluetti site.

Pricing and Competition

  • Product Price with current discount:

    • Retail for the 200L is $1499 but of course viewers of HOBOTECH won’t be paying that. Bluetti has offered us an exclusive $100 off discount code dropping that price to only $1399. This is only $100 more than the outgoing AC200Max.

    • I also want to mention Bluetti has an XMAS PROMO currently going on where Bluetti is giving viewers of HOBOTECH an exclusive global discount code good until 12/25 when using the link and code in the description. This discount of course doesn’t stack with my current 200L discount code.

  • Recommended Solar Panel Type/Size:

    • Bluetti of course recommends you use their solar panels, however since they include a MC4 adapter you can use whatever panels you want because the MPPT solar controller supports a wide 12-145v up to 15A and that covers just about any series-parallel configuration required to reach the magic 1200w limit. You can check out my site hobotech.tv for recommendations.

  • CHECK OUT the AC200L: https://gohobo.io/ac200l use code HOBO200L Bluetti’s Holiday Sale: https://gohobo.io/bluettixmas use code HOBO1