The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are an evolution of its powerhouse transportable energy station with a 5,000W inverter and three,072Wh battery, able to hold your lights on when the grid cannot.
In the event you’ve been paying shut consideration, you would possibly discover the AC500 and B300S look similar to the AC300 and B300 I reviewed in 2023. Nicely, like Apple and iPhones, corporations like Bluetti by no means relaxation and continuously iterate to make sure the product line by no means goes stale.
The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are a wonderful step up with extra energy, growth alternatives, and high-powered shops. When you’re dropping out on the variety of customary AC shops, you get extra choices for high-power connections and an extra 100W USB-C port.
Be aware that the AC500 is an inverter and can’t function independently. It’s a part of a modular system, so you may must buy the AC500 and at the very least one battery just like the B300S.
As I mentioned in final yr’s assessment, this modular system will be transportable, however it works finest as a house energy backup answer. These sorts of techniques have near-identical use circumstances, however there are sufficient adjustments and spec updates to warrant a contemporary rundown.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S house battery backup assessment — Design
Bluetti has designed these huge items to be extremely utilitarian. The blocky exteriors hold the entire wanted ports dealing with the consumer, a contact display affords data and controls, and the 2 items stack neatly.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: huge, heavy, utilitarian however highly effective
The Bluetti AC500 is a big inverter able to 5,000W output when related to the B300S battery pack. A single B300S has a 3,072Wh capability, and as much as 4 will be related to at least one AC500 for 18,432Wh capability.
The AC500 and B300S combo create a large transportable energy station. The one cause these merchandise will be thought-about transportable in any sense is due to the included handles and that they separate for transport.
The AC500 is 20.5 inches by 12.8 inches by 14.1 inches and weighs 66.2 kilos. The extra squat B300S is 20.5 inches by 12.5 inches by 10.5 inches and weighs 79.6 kilos.
When mixed, you get an unlimited 146-pound behemoth you may want Bluetti’s proprietary cart to maneuver round. Actually, regardless of being labeled as a conveyable energy station, you are seemingly to purchase them, set them up, then allow them to keep put.
Inputs for the AC500 embody 4,500W max AC enter through one B300S or 5,000W with two or extra B300S related. A photo voltaic enter as much as 3,000W and a 12/24V cigarette lighter port are additionally out there.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: loads of house for growth
Mix photo voltaic and AC inputs for as much as 6,000W with one B300S related or 8,000W with two or extra B300S related.
Outputs embody 3 120V 20A customary three-prong AC shops, a 120V 30A L14-30 connector, a 120V 30A TT-30 connector, and a 120V 50A NEMA14-50 connector. Output can attain 5,000W whole, and the AC500 helps as much as 10,000W surge.
Extra ports embody two 100W USB-C ports, two 5V 3A USB-A ports, two 18W USB-A ports, a 12V 30A RV DC outlet, and a 24V 10A automobile outlet. Bluetti’s signature two wi-fi 15W charging pads are additionally out there on prime of the unit.
The B300S has a 500W AC enter for charging individually from the AC500, however it’s a a lot slower choice. The photo voltaic enter can be maxed out at 500W with out the inverter related. A automobile cigarette lighter port can be out there on the unit.
Even with out the inverter, the B300S can output just a little bit by itself. There’s a 100W USB-C port, an 18W USB-A port, and a 12V 10A DC automobile outlet.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S house battery backup assessment — Options
Bluetti AC500 & B300S is a robust transportable energy station combo that retains your units or house powered when different energy sources aren’t out there. It could actually act as a house battery backup, energy supply whereas on an prolonged tenting journey, or uninterruptible energy provide on your house pc and community.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: an expandable, transportable energy answer
When you’ve got multiple B300S, you may simply sizzling swap batteries and hold the AC500 powering your own home or units with out interruption. That may be helpful in case you’re charging the B300S through photo voltaic however want energy away from the place the photo voltaic panels are arrange.
Having all three of those plugs out there on the Bluetti AC500 means you may by no means have to fret about having the proper plug or adapter. That is particularly necessary in some work environments or RV parks the place you by no means know what another person would possibly want in case you’re serving to them.
The AC500 has a L14-30, a TT-30, and a NEMA14-50 outlet which can be used for RVs and campers. Customers can join heavy-duty home equipment, tools, or their campers to supply ample energy.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: loads of shops on your transportable energy station wants
In the event you’re operating a single B300S, the system can energy a 600W microwave for 4 hours, energy an electrical hammer for 3 hours, or run an 8,100BTU AC for two.5 hours. Join photo voltaic or exterior energy to increase the usage of the transportable energy station.
Recharge the B300S in 3.5 hours when maxing out 500W photo voltaic and 500W AC. If solely photo voltaic or AC is offered, the 500W enter will totally cost the battery in about 7 hours.
If the B300S is related to the AC500, recharging is way sooner, with as much as 8,000W of enter throughout AC and photo voltaic. Maxing out enter will recharge the B300S in lower than an hour.
The LiFePO4 battery has a 4-year guarantee and greater than 10 years of anticipated service time. It’s rated at 3,500 life cycles.
Utilizing the Bluetti AC500 & B300S house battery backup system
I used to be in a position to take a look at the AC500 & B300S transportable energy station combo by means of a few energy outages in the course of the unimaginable hurricane season in 2024. I could also be in northeast Tennessee, however a lot of my area was flooded or coping with energy outages because of Hurricane Helene.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: wi-fi charging pads on your smartphones
Whether or not I wished so as to add cost to my iPhone or battery-operated lanterns or present energy to my leisure system, the Bluetti AC500 & B300S proved helpful. My energy was restored comparatively rapidly, so I did not have to fret about getting the battery recharged. Had I wanted to, I might have taken it to a close-by house that had energy and charged it over the AC outlet.
There are higher transportable energy stations offered by Bluetti if the aim is journey. The AC500 & B300S might have modular elements, however they’re clearly meant to be stationary techniques.
I count on anybody wanting to cut back their reliance on the grid or have emergency whole-home backup energy will select this technique. It is fairly wonderful as a standalone unit, however its true energy lies in its skill to broaden with extra B300S items.
The wi-fi charging pads on prime of the AC500 are helpful, however I am undecided why Bluetti continues so as to add them. Customers can be significantly better off charging over a wire to one of many USB-C ports moderately than losing vitality on the inefficient wi-fi pads.
I hope a future mannequin incorporates Qi2 with magnetic attachments so charging through these pads makes just a little extra sense. In any other case, 7.5W over these pads on iPhone simply would not make sense.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: the app gives a helpful view of the battery techniques
The Bluetti app continues to be a useful gizmo for controlling the transportable energy station. When the app is opened, customers can see the entire data wanted to regulate inputs, see battery degree, and observe discharge charges.
There are alternatives for controlling totally different options of the battery buried within the settings menu. I want the app was targeted on battery operation, however the Bluetti discussion board continues to be current within the app.
Contemplating an improve
In the event you’re already rocking an AC300 or comparable inverter, there’s seemingly little cause to improve except you have run into the three,000W output restrict and 5,000W is sufficient. Be aware that if in case you have a number of B300 batteries, the AC500 can solely hook up with 4 B300 whole or six B300S whole.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: step up your energy backup recreation
Throw in a second AC500 and you’ll obtain an unimaginable 36,864Wh by means of twelve B300S. When combining two of those items, you are in a position to run a split-phase 240V system too.
Mixing B300 and B300S is feasible, however solely as much as 4 items. With such costly techniques, I like to recommend sticking with what you will have and never chasing what’s new except it makes a major distinction.
After all, you may all the time increase an current set of B300 batteries with the extra highly effective AC500 inverter. Then broaden by including in one other AC500 and a set of B300S batteries.
All of it depends upon your particular person wants and funds.
Ready for something
As climate circumstances worsen yearly, it’s changing into increasingly crucial to own residence battery backup options like these offered by Bluetti. Whether or not you are attempting to go off-grid or energy an RV, the Bluetti AC500 & B300S is an effective start line.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S assessment: extra peak energy to climate any storm
The use circumstances for the AC500 & B300S combo are unchanged from those I mentioned for the AC300 & B300 combo in 2023. These gigantic techniques will present high-wattage output for lengthy hours when wanted, wherever wanted.
Individuals usually assume it’s apparent {that a} house ought to have a fridge, a washer, a bathe, or a tv. I feel it is time we should always assume the identical method about transportable energy stations and different house energy backup options.
It is time to take into account an influence era system on your house. And if the AC500 & B300S really feel just a little excessive on your wants, Bluetti has loads of different choices to get you began.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S house battery backup assessment — Execs
- Unimaginable growth alternative
- No want for an exterior energy provide
- Extra industry-grade shops alongside loads of customary AC shops
- Extra USB ports
Bluetti AC500 & B300S house battery backup assessment — Cons
- Not precisely transportable regardless of its title
- Qi chargers are wasteful and wish an improve or have to be eliminated
Ranking: 4.5 out of 5
Including energy and port choices made me extra forgiving of Bluetti’s newest transportable energy station. It is hardly transportable, however it may well nonetheless be moved by an individual who can elevate 100 kilos or push a cart.
In the event you want a really transportable system, there are higher choices. Nevertheless, regardless of its dimension, the Bluetti AC500 and B300S combo is sort of versatile.
The place to purchase the Bluetti AC500 & B300S house battery backup system
Get the Bluetti AC500 & B300S transportable energy station combo from Bluetti for $2,499. There are alternatives so as to add extra B300S or photo voltaic panels to customise your good house battery backup answer.
