THE latest in portable power technology makes spending time in remote places easier, more comfortable and a lot more convenient. Best of all, some of these products allow us to spend more time off the grid in greater safety with better communication and more of the mod cons that we often enjoy back home.
Most of us carry small chargers to top up phones and other small devices, and many fishos, boaters and 4WD users have used generators and solar powered power solutions for off-grid-living for many years. All of these have worked well, and still do.
It’s no secret that one of the biggest game changers over recent years has been lithium batteries. Battery technology is getting better, lighter, safer and more convenient than ever. When it comes to portable power, I guess the technology trickles down from the major advances in battery powered vehicles and homes. This technology has become far superior and more affordable than ever before.
I’ve been watching this battery technology evolve over the past few years and have owned several portable battery packs to power everything from phones and laptops to small camping and kitchen devices.
The technology moves fast and I was pleasantly surprised when I got hold of the latest from Bluetti, the Elite 30 V2.
Bluetti’s Elite 30 V2 offers a good selection of features in a relatively lightweight (4.3kg) package that’s about the size of a six pack of beer. It features a handy grab handle and sturdy construction so there’s no need to worry when it’s stored in your car or boat and mistreated. I’ve been mistreating mine for a while now and can vouch for its resilience.
So what can you charge? There are eight output ports on the Elite 30 V2. These include a 230V/600W AC output for powering items such as laptops and other small electric drives while camping or at home. There’s also a 12V DC output cigarette lighter plus two USB C and two USB A outputs up to 140W (USB C). There are also two DC5521 ports in 12 and 8 volt. These are commonly used for lighting, fridges and more. So pretty much all bases are covered and it’s easy to charge practically anything you need while spending time away from home.
The Elite 30 V2 uses Pure Sine Wave charging in its AC output. This is essential for charging some of the more delicate items such as laptops, lighting and audio equipment. It’s also quieter, cooler to run and as a result, has more longevity. Together with the Elite 30 V2’s LiFePO₄ lithium battery, it is able to be recharged up to 3000 times and has a 5 year warranty with a suggested 10 year lifespan. Sounds like Bluetti really backs it technology to offer such a lengthy warranty!
What about charging the Elite 30V2? There are several options for charging. You can connect it via the AC input to the power at home before leaving and have it fully charged for your trip. You can also charge it via the DC/PV input with the supplied cigarette lighter cable and charge in the car on the way to your destination. I do this often and it’s a convenient way of topping up the power while you’re away. You can also use solar for charging up to 200 watt. Whatever method you use, it charges incredibly fast in just over an hour!
Another feature that I haven’t used, although would be very useful, is its UPS function. UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply and acts as a backup power source for devices that require an ongoing supply of electricity at home. Items such as wifi, computers, small fridges, etc can be automatically switch the Bluetti’s power supply in less than 10 milliseconds for no interruption and continuous power supply. That’s a pretty handy feature and a great way to utilise this product while you’re at home.
I’ve used Bluetti’s Elite 30 V2 for several trips to remote fishing destinations. It was a very useful power supply for a six night off-the-grid trip to the Snowy Mountains recently. We had the camper trailer and a supply of 12 volt power thanks to a 300 watt solar panel and twin battery set up. The Bluetti acted as a stand alone power supply for charging phones quickly, charging my laptop and for charging headlamps and kids’ devices. It’s the kind of product that makes you instantly popular around camp!
The bright LCD display offers the charging capacity percentage, input and output and other useful info at a glance. The buttons are large, the display is bright and clear and the whole unit is intuitive and simple to operate.
Another handy addition is the Bluetti app that allows real time monitoring of battery levels, battery warnings and offers the ability to set limits and settings when charing or using it as a back up power supply at home.
All up, the Bluetti Elite 3 V2 is a great example of a modern portable power unit with a long list of versatile functions. It’s whisper quiet, tough, compact and reasonably lightweight. It’s a perfect solution for hassle free power supply that you can quickly grab, charge easily and power items that you would ordinarily leave at home. It’s a great item around home, around camp, on the boat and practically anywhere you need power or the ability to charge essential items such as phones and other electric gadgets.
To find out more, visit the Bluetti website at www.bluettipower.com.au.
