Bluetti AC500 and B300S Portable Power Station
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Bluetti AC500 and B300S B300S
4.5/5 Buy at Bluetti
The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are an evolution of the portable power station, with a 5,000W inverter and 3,072Wh battery ready to keep the lights on when the grid can’t.
If you’ve been paying attention, you might have noticed that the AC500 and B300S look a lot like the AC300 and B300 that I reviewed in 2023. Well, like Apple and the iPhone, companies like Bluetti never rest and are constantly improving their product line to ensure that it never becomes obsolete.
The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are a great step up with more power, expandability, and high-power outlets. While you lose out on the number of standard AC outlets, you gain more options for high-power connections and an extra 100W USB-C port.
Note that the AC500 is an inverter and cannot operate on its own. It is part of a modular system, so you will need to purchase the AC500 and at least one battery, like the B300S.
As I said in last year’s review, this modular system can be portable, but it works best as a home backup solution. The use cases for these systems are almost identical, but there are enough changes and spec updates to warrant a fresh review.
Bluetti AC500 vs. B300S
Buy at Bluetti
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Home Battery Backup Review – Design
Bluetti has designed these massive units to be incredibly utilitarian. Blocky exteriors keep all the necessary ports facing the user, a touchscreen displays information and controls, and the two units stack neatly on top of each other.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Review: Big, Heavy, Utilitarian, But Powerful
The Bluetti AC500 is a giant inverter that can output 5,000 watts when connected to a B300S battery pack. The B300S alone has a capacity of 3,072 watt hours, while up to four units can be connected to a single AC500 for a capacity of 18,432 watt hours.
The combination of the AC500 and B300S creates a huge portable power station. The only reason these products can be considered portable in any sense is the included handles and the fact that they disassemble for transport.
The AC500 measures 20.5 inches by 12.8 inches by 14.1 inches and weighs 66.2 pounds. The squatter B300S measures 20.5 inches by 12.5 inches by 10.5 inches and weighs 79.6 pounds.
Combined, you get a massive 146-pound behemoth that you'll need a Blueetti-branded dolly to move. In fact, even though they're classified as a portable power station, you'll likely buy one, set it up, and leave it in place.
Inputs for the AC500 include a maximum AC input of 4,500 watts through a single B300S or 5,000 watts when two or more B300S are connected. Also available is a solar input of up to 3,000 watts and a 12/24 volt cigarette lighter port.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Review: Plenty of Room for Expand
Combine solar and AC inputs for up to 6,000 watts with a single B300S connected or 8,000 watts with two or more B300S connected.
Outputs include three standard 120V 20A three-prong AC outlets, a 120V 30A L14-30 outlet, a 120V 30A TT-30 outlet, and a 120V 50A NEMA14-50 outlet. The output power can reach up to 5,000W in total, and the AC500 supports surges of up to 10,000W.
Additional ports include 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 car outlet. Bluetti's signature dual 15W wireless charging pads are also available on the top of the unit.
The B300S has a 500W AC input for charging separately from the AC500, but it is a much slower option. The solar input also reaches 500W without an inverter connected. A car cigarette lighter port is also available on the unit.
Even without an inverter, the B300S can put out some power on its own. There is a 100W USB-C port, an 18W USB-A port, and a 12V 10A DC car outlet.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Home Battery Backup Review — Features
The Bluetti AC500 & B300S is a powerful portable power station that provides power to your devices or home when other power sources are not available. It can act as a battery backup for your home, a power source during a long camping trip, or an uninterruptible power supply for your home computer and network.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S Review: Expandable Portable Power Solution
If you have more than one B300S, you can easily hot swap batteries and the AC500 will power your home or devices without interruption. This can be convenient if you are charging the B300S from a solar panel but need power away from where the solar panels are installed.
Having all three of these connectors on the Bluetti AC500 means you never have to worry about having the right connector or adapter. This is especially important in some work environments or car parks where you never know what someone else might need if you are helping them.
The AC500 has L14-30, TT-30 and NEMA14-50 receptacles, which are used for RVs and campers. Users can plug in high-power appliances, equipment or their campers to ensure they have enough power.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Review: Plenty of Sockets for Your Portable Power Station Needs
When using a single B300S, the system can power a 600-watt microwave for 4 hours, an electric hammer for 3 hours, or run on 8,100 BTU AC power for 2.5 hours. Connect solar or external power to extend the life of your portable power station.
Charge the B300S in 3.5 hours with the maximum 500-watt solar and 500-watt AC power. If only solar or AC power are available, the 500-watt input will fully charge the battery in about 7 hours.
When the B300S is connected to AC500, charging is much faster, with up to 8,000 watts of AC and solar input power. At maximum input power, the B300S will charge in less than an hour.
The LiFePO4 battery has a 4-year warranty and more than 10 years of expected life. It is rated for 3,500 life cycles.
Using the Bluetti AC500 and B300S Home Battery Backup System
I was able to test the AC500 and B300S portable power station during several power outages during the incredible 2024 hurricane season. I may be in northeast Tennessee, but much of my region was flooded or faced power outages due to Hurricane Helen.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Review: Wireless Chargers for Your Smartphones
Whether I wanted to charge my iPhone or battery-powered flashlights, or power my entertainment system, the Bluetti AC500 and B300S proved useful. My power was restored relatively quickly, so I didn’t have to worry about recharging the battery. If I needed it, I would take it to the nearest house with electricity and charge it from an AC outlet.
If the goal is travel, there are better portable power stations sold by Bluetti. The AC500 and B300S may have modular components, but they are clearly intended to be used as stationary systems.
I would expect anyone looking to reduce their reliance on the grid or have emergency backup power for their entire home to choose this system. It’s pretty excellent as a standalone unit, but its true strength is its ability to expand with more B300S units.
The wireless charging pads on the top of the AC500 are useful, but I’m not sure why Bluetti keeps adding them. Users would be much better off charging wired via one of the USB-C ports than wasting power on inefficient wireless pads.
I hope a future model includes Qi2 with magnetic mounts so charging via those pads makes a little more sense. Otherwise, 7.5W over those pads on the iPhone just doesn't make sense.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S Review: App Provides Helpful Overview of Battery Systems
The Bluetti app continues to be a useful tool for managing the portable power station. When opening the app, users can see all the information they need to manage the inputs, see the battery level, and note discharge rates.
The settings menu has options to control various battery functions. I wish the app focused more on battery performance, but the Bluetti forum is still present in the app.
Considering an upgrade
If you’re already using an AC300 or similar inverter, there’s probably no point in upgrading unless you’ve reached the 3,000W output limit, and 5,000W will do just fine. Note that if you have multiple B300 units, the AC500 can only be connected to four B300s or six B300S.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S Review: Boost Your Backup Power
Add a second AC500 and you can get a whopping 36,864Wh from twelve B300S. By combining two of these units, you can also run a 240V split-phase system.
Mixing B300s and B300S is possible, but only up to four units. With systems this expensive, I recommend sticking with what you have and not chasing something new unless it makes a significant difference.
Of course, you can always supplement your existing B300 battery pack with a more powerful AC500 inverter. Then expand by adding another AC500 and a B300S battery pack.
It all depends on your individual needs and finances.
Ready for Anything
As weather conditions get worse each year, it becomes increasingly important to have your own home battery backup solutions like those provided by Bluetti. Whether you’re trying to get off the grid or power an RV, the Bluetti AC500 and B300S are a good starting point.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Review: More Peak Power to Weather Any Storm
The use cases for the AC500 and B300S combo are no different than the ones I discussed for the AC300 and B300 combo in 2023. These giant systems will provide high output power for long hours whenever needed, wherever needed.
People usually think it’s obvious that a home should have a refrigerator, a washing machine, a shower, or a TV. I think it's time for us to think about portable power stations and other home backup power solutions as well.
It's time to consider a power generation system for your home. And if the AC500 and B300S seem a little extreme, Bluetti has plenty of other options to get you started.
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Home Battery Backup Review — Pros
- Incredible expandability
- No need for an external power source
- More industrial-grade outlets along with plenty of standard AC outlets
- Additional USB ports
Bluetti AC500 and B300S Home Battery Backup Review — Cons
- Not really portable, despite its name
- Qi chargers are wasteful and require upgrading or removal
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The addition of power and port options has made me more forgiving of Bluetti's latest portable power station. It's hardly portable, but it can still be moved around by someone who can lift 100 pounds or push a cart.
If you want a truly portable system, there are better options. Despite its size, however, the Bluetti AC500 and B300S combo is pretty versatile.
Where to Buy the Bluetti AC500 and B300S Home Battery Backup System
Get the Bluetti AC500 and B300S Portable Power Station from Bluetti for $2,499. Add additional B300S or solar panels to set up the perfect home battery backup solution.
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