Bluetti AC180 test: A large-format charging station, still with wireless charger

Are you looking for a reliable back-up solution for power failures at home, which you can also use for camping in the car or camper van? Here’s my test of the Bluetti AC180.

Bluetti AC180 design

The Bluetti AC180 charging station stands out for its impressive performance, offering a total power output of 1800W with a surge capacity of 2700W and a battery capacity of 1152Wh. It is equipped with multiple outputs, including four AC outlets of 120V and 15A each, a USB-C output of 100W, four USB-A outputs of 5V and 3A, and a DC car output of 12V and 10A. The station also offers a 15W wireless charging function.Designed to be pragmatic without being too extravagant, it features an elegant animation on the integrated LCD screen when switched on. Two handles integrated into the chassis facilitate transport and allow easy stacking for storage or transportation, while providing a stable space for wirelessly charging a phone.Generous spacing between AC sockets means that bulky and oddly-shaped plugs can be connected simultaneously. Although the solar and AC inputs are located on different sides, which is not ideal, the station makes up for this with its many other features.The side fans are relatively quiet, even under heavy load, with a silent mode option available for those particularly sensitive to noise. In addition to the input and output ports mentioned, the station is also equipped with a port for a grounding rod and fuse protection for the AC input. gallery link=”none” columns=”2″ size=”large” ids=”114626,114625″] For recharging, the AC180 accepts both AC and DC inputs, with an AC input supporting up to 1,440W for fast recharging, and a solar input of up to 500W. The car input works with a 12/24V supply from a cigarette-lighter port. Recharging times vary according to the method used; with the AC input, the station can be fully recharged in less than 2 hours, while the solar input can take as little as 3.5 hours in optimal conditions. The Bluetti AC180 also features a UPS mode to keep connected devices online in the event of a power cut, with a transfer speed of 20ms, offering a practical solution in emergency situations or in areas where the power supply is unstable.

Bluetti AC180 features

Bluetti AC180 performance

The AC180 is distinguished by its substantial 1800W inverter, capable of briefly ramping up to 2700W. This should be enough to power most household appliances with its two AC outlets. Although this unit is larger than the comparable EcoFlow Delta 2, it’s unfortunate that it only has two sockets, compared with four for the Delta 2 in the UK. However, both models offer a pure sine-wave output, crucial for sensitive electronic devices, which I verified with a graphical multimeter. gallery link=”none” columns=”2″ size=”large” ids=”114623,114622″] The smartphone app enables you to activate the “Power Lifting” mode, which allows purely resistive loads such as radiators and hairdryers up to 2700W to be powered, by reducing the voltage. use this mode with caution. Use this mode with caution; I was able to run a 2kW radiator at full power for over two minutes at 230V and just below 2000W before the AC shut down due to an overload error. This is quite remarkable since the inverter is rated for 1800W. The inverter can be reset with a long press on the AC button.After activating the “Power Lifting” mode, the heater can run indefinitely, at a slightly reduced output of around 1750W, but note that the voltage has dropped to 215V. A small icon appears on the LCD screen when “Power Lifting” is active; at full power, the fans activate at full speed and are a little noisier than when charging in Turbo mode. I measured around 50dB at a distance of one meter. At lower outputs, typically under 100W, the fan doesn’t activate at all. Then the fan speed and accompanying noise increase progressively with output. It remains fairly quiet, at around 44dB even at 1000W. This will vary according to ambient temperatures.At home, in addition to the radiator, I was able to run most of the appliances tested, including a Nespresso coffee machine and a 1550W hairdryer. In fact, the only appliance I couldn’t run without the Power Lifting mode was a kettle.

Battery life of the Bluetti AC180

Recharging time was quite impressive, given the AC180’s high capacity. I managed to fully recharge it in less than two hours. Our Emporia smart plug measured that the AC180 delivered 976 Wh when fully discharged from 100%, which is around 15% less than its rated capacity. Discrepancies between measured capacity and that stated on the packaging are relatively common. I attribute this to the capacity being held in reserve to protect the system from over-hungry devices that could discharge the battery to 0% true and damage it. The battery chemistry is lithium iron phosphate, which is ideal for this capacity. Although it doesn’t offer the same density as the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries you’re likely to find in your phone or laptop, it avoids the controversial use of cobalt, while being less prone to fires. Bluetti claims that the AC180 will last 3500 cycles, and backs up this claim with a five-year warranty.Although my uses have been indoors, Bluetti presents the AC180 as the ideal accessory for outdoor enthusiasts. At 15.8 kg, it’s technically portable, but I wouldn’t take it to the top of a mountain like the protagonist of their stirring launch video. If you’re settling into a place for a while, it’s very solar-compatible. The box includes an adapter for the MC4 sockets used on most solar panels. Here are the devices you can power with the battery and for how long:

The Bluetti AC180 is available in solar packages including 120W, 200W and 350W panels, but you can use other brands. The AC180 accepts a maximum of 500W of solar input, so be sure to check the specifications of yours before plugging in. As usual, solar charging autonomy will vary according to conditions.

Bluetti AC180 test : Reviews

The AC180 portable power station is a welcome new addition to Bluetti’s product range. It is designed for people who need a significant amount of power in the field to activate and keep their equipment running for long periods.It features an AC inverter capable of supporting a continuous load of 1800W and a 1152 Wh battery. This combination proves highly efficient, offering users substantial off-grid autonomy. In our tests, we measured a usable capacity of 1030 Wh, which would support a load of around 1 kW for an hour. For lower loads, simply divide the energy consumption by the usable capacity to estimate the approximate autonomy.