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VoltX 1500W Portable Power Station $721.65 ($704.67 eBay Plus) Delivered @ smart-flash eBay

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VoltX 1500W Portable Power Station $721.65 ($704.67 eBay Plus) Delivered @ smart-flash eBay
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cranny on 06/11/2023 - 10:53 ebay.com.au (638 clicks)
Last edited 08/11/2023 - 20:03 by 1 other user
NOV15NOV17

Edit 8th November: Product arrived next day.. That was good. What wasn't/isn't good is that the unit does not come with a 30 Amp Anderrson (Powerpole) to 50 Amp Anderson cable/Adapter. without one you can't plug in you solar input. These are REALLY hard to find online. I found one for just under $60 but delivey time is too far for my need at the weekend. I'm having to try and make the cable, which isn't so easy if you don't have the right tools, i.e. Powerpole crimper. Some may get by with crimping with other tools or by soldering, but the connector pins are pretty tight using 12 AWG cable. I tried and failed.
I have now ordered a crimper and will try again to make one in time for camping,

Edit - I think it is a 58ah battery from the picture of label on back. I did assume higher with a 1500w battery, but I only need to run a camping fridge so good enough for me.

My first time buying a powerstation like this but think it's a great deal and have pulled the trigger on one.
Reviews of VoltX seem ok and I see there have been deals from this ebayer posted previously.

Original Coupon Deal

Electrical & Electronics Power Station Voltx

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closed Comments

  • barge-in hunter on 06/11/2023 - 11:00
    +3

    Available on Amazon for $701.61 after applying a 39% off coupon (through a third party seller)

    https://www.amazon.com.au/VoltX-Portable-Flashlight-Generato…

    But, having trouble finding any reviews on it. 1400+ wh seems unrealistic

    • snuke on 06/11/2023 - 11:07
      +2

      1400+ wh seems unrealistic

      Specs say 58Ah x 25.6V, so that equals 1,484.8Wh

      • barge-in hunter on 06/11/2023 - 11:11
        +4

        Yeah, I understand what the specs say.

        As with most no-name/unreviewed batteries though, I suspect they are overstated.

      • mirovich on 06/11/2023 - 11:47
        +1

        If devices used are 12v, does this mean it will supply ~124ah?

        • ozhunter68 on 11/11/2023 - 10:47

          Yes, the battery inside when converting to 12 V would be equal to approx 124 Ah and the weight

          backs this up as a 120 Ah Lipo battery alone weighs around 9-10 Kg so all considering this

          Power Station is heavy for the capacity, which hopefully means all other electrnics inside

          are build sturdy with hefty heat sinks etc.

    • Proscott on 06/11/2023 - 13:42
      +4

      1400+wh seems realistic to me,
      it is 19kgs, It would be about 15kgs (they are about 10Kgs per KW as a rough guide) for the battery and approx 4 kgs for the box and inverter seems about right…

      • barge-in hunter on 06/11/2023 - 14:08
        +1

        That’s good to know- thanks. I’m just super suspicious about any battery/lumen claims when there’s no independent reviews … especially when they look comparatively cheap

        • ozhunter68 on 06/11/2023 - 14:19

          Voltx is one of the companies that sells low price decent quality lithium batteries that are true capacity

          after reviewers have done capacity run-down and re-charge tests. Not sure about this model, but their

          100Ah lithium battery certainly was legit and available below $400 on sale.

  • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 12:59
    +1

    IMO it could be a pricing mistake, but might just be discounting in response to the larger capacity VoltX models, which seem to have also been reduced a lot lately.

    The same seller has the same 1484Wh model for sale for $1,799. Nowhere else seems to have it much under $1,500.

    VoltX is a decent brand, which has some affordable, but reasonable quality batteries. I run 4x VoltX 100Ah in a solar off-grid setup and they have been excellent.

    The voltX product page - https://voltx.com.au/products/voltx-1500w-portable-power-sta…

    Notably it does not have the Wh rating on the VoltX website and the cycle life is less (>3000 vs >4000). There is also not the usual manual listed, and the warranty is much less than for the VoltX batteries.

    The overall size and weigh of the unit is consistent with the 1484 Wh listed on the eBay page (and elsewhere).

    If I didn't already have a similar power station, I'd certainly grab one of these at this price.

    • ballistykx on 06/11/2023 - 13:11
      +1

      Does seem like a price error, the Amazon page had a 39% off coupon but 39% of $1799 is about $1100 so I think the discount is 61% as it is selling for $701.

      Bought it so let's see what happens.

      • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 13:23
        +2

        On Amazon, it has 22% off, and the 39% coupon. But IIRC, the Amazon coupons apply to the original, undiscounted price.

        And many sellers get caught by this, when combining discounts, and coupons, because they don't understand how it stacks.

        All in all though, a decent Power Station for $700!

        About the only "downside" is the slower charge rate, and that charging from AC means using a (presumably chunky) 24V, 5A charger. And you need to use USB-C and DC input to get the full charge rate of 220W, which is still pretty low.

      • FuRyZ on 09/11/2023 - 16:57
        +1

        Good news, mine arrived today. I stacked some gift cards so I managed to get a few extra dollars off. I think I paid around $690 in the end.

        It is a beast of a power station and very heavy but so far so good.

    • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 13:36
      +3

      There are other VoltX Power Stations that all appear to have an extra discount, and end up considerably cheaper than from other sellers. Currently they work out almost 50% cheaper than anywhere else. (The original deal Amazon pricing is fixed, so I imagine these won't last long)

      While they have extra features and higher spec, these are larger, heavier units than the 1484Wh model.

      The 2100W, 1536Wh VoltX model with fast AC charging built in, for $999 (discounted from $1,099 with code SAVNOV23)
      Next cloest pre discount price is $2,199.

      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/166413639803
      https://voltx.com.au/products/voltx-st2100-portable-power-st…

      Or the 2100W, 2073Wh version of the same VoltX model, for $1,244.17 (discounted from $1,499 using the code NOV17.)
      Next closest pre discount price is $2,399

      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/296022087542
      https://voltx.com.au/products/voltx-st2100s-portable-power-s…

      Or the 3000W, 2160Wh version for $1,999 (discounted from $2,299 using code NOV15.)
      Next closest pre discount price is $3,999

      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/155866139581
      https://voltx.com.au/products/voltx-st3000-portable-power-st…

    • FuRyZ on 06/11/2023 - 13:58
      +2

      Agreed, this has to be a pricing error on Amazon. Makes no sense how its discounting to $701. Either way, if this is truly a 1484wh power station, that is actually incredible value.

      Says it uses a LFP chemistry so battery degradation should be excellent, I fully believe the 3000-4000 cycle life. The weight seems to check out as well at 19kg. A very similar power station would be something like the Bluetti EB150, and thats 18kg. So that appears to confirm it likely has the correct capacity.

      I have a Bluetti EB70 at the moment, and decided to take the plunge on this deal. I paid the roughly the same amount for my EB70 and it has half the capacity. I am somewhat expecting this order to get cancelled though. It shouldn't be this cheap.

      • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 14:20
        +2

        The coupon on Amazon is now gone, so that is certainly solid confirmation it was an error.

        I expect the eBay pricing is related, and will update soon.

        I wonder if they will honour the sales.

        • cranny on 06/11/2023 - 15:11
          +2

          FYI, I have the email confirmation from EBay that my "Order is on it's way", with a tracking number.
          I think the Pricing is legit from other offers previously posted by the seller

          • ozhunter68 on 06/11/2023 - 18:40
            +1

            @cranny: Good to know. So has mine via ebay as well.

          • cranny on 07/11/2023 - 11:37
            +3

            @cranny: Arrived this morning. Sydney, Lower N Shore. Exceeded delivery expectation. 9th November was estimated.
            58% charged on arrival. 5hr ETA to 100% with supplied power pack ,4hr ETA with USB C as well (std apple usb c to c charger that came w ipad air).
            For anyone interested!

            • Prong on 07/11/2023 - 12:44

              @cranny: Ahhh awesome, that is super fast.

              Any extra info in the manual about how much solar you can connect?

              Also, is the power pack they suplly for charging 24V, 5A?

      • ozhunter68 on 06/11/2023 - 14:47
        +1

        I already have a small Allpower from this deal that is great value for money and love as a light,

        fast re-charging and usb C PD 100W capable handy power station, but went for the Voltx as can

        now hopefully poweer a small capsule coffee machine in my van and too good of a deal to pass

        up for the capacity. Let's see if they honour sale.

        • ozhunter68 on 06/11/2023 - 18:10

          Too late to edit my earlier above comment, but forgot to add the link to the Allpowers Power Staion

          I mentioned. This was on a really good sale at beginning of product launch at Amazon for $349,

          and charges quicker than this Voltax, but much smaller capacity too. Really happy with it's capabilities

          especially for the price and 5 year warranty too. Let's see how this Voltx goes.

          https://www.amazon.com.au/ALLPOWERS-Portable-Station-Functio…

          • snuke on 06/11/2023 - 22:00
            +1

            @ozhunter68: $349 deal gone, it's now $559 less $100 coupon for $449.

            299Wh is a shit tonne less than this VoltX, but for $349 is still a cracker deal, nice one.

            • ozhunter68 on 06/11/2023 - 22:17
              +1

              @snuke: Yeah, the price has risen quickly after some good reviews. I run 199Ah lithium as dual battery

              set up connected to solar and dc-dc charger so that keeps everthing I need going easily.

              The replacement van I'm working on will have 200Ah lithium connected to 200W solar and dc-dc charger,

              so the AllPowers Power Station was more of a take in, take out optional extra backup that had really fast

              240V and solar charging speeds which impressed me. This Voltx is a different beast, hopefully will

              be able to run a small pod coffee machine haha.

            • cute as duck on 02/12/2023 - 21:48

              @snuke: They are drip feeding these every hour right now for $199

              https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/817805

          • NotRegYet on 07/11/2023 - 02:12
            +2

            @ozhunter68: you may be able to find this item from Ebay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/204372836976 for the same item + 100W solar panel + a carry bag. after 22% off ebay plus deal, it reduces to $436.79. For any one who may be interested. works out the same as the amazon launch price $349 + $90 for 100W solar panel and a carry bag. Pretty good deal.

            • ozhunter68 on 07/11/2023 - 10:18

              @NotRegYet: Wow, great find for others as I have the Power Station already and a different

              solar blanket and panels from earlier. Top deal for ebay Plus customers, getting the Power

              Station for the lowest price of $349 and solar panel for only $90 like you said which is pretty

              reasonable as fully compatible plug/socket wise.

              • NotRegYet on 07/11/2023 - 17:54
                +1

                @ozhunter68: sorry. I can't edit my post anymore. forget to mention, the ebay plus is now $9.99 a year. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/808968. which may be helpful if the extra saving is more than $10. :)

                • ozhunter68 on 07/11/2023 - 18:11
                  +1

                  @NotRegYet: Thanks for reply, but I am already an eBay Plus member (paid full price this year (:- as needed to buy discounted stuff on the spot, so paid for itself in a few days anyway). I already have this Allpowers power station (from Amazon at $349 introductory offer), but good deal for a friend and others who would benefit if needed/wanted.

                  • cute as duck on 02/12/2023 - 21:47
                    +2

                    @ozhunter68: They are drip feeding these every hour right now for $199

                    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/817805

                    • ozhunter68 on 02/12/2023 - 21:52

                      @cute as duck: Thanks for the heads up, but out of stock within a minute of getting your message

                      right now at 8.50pm. Shame as know a friend that would have loved one at that price.

                      Been busy working all day till last hour and not on Ozbargain this afternoon.

                      • cute as duck on 02/12/2023 - 21:55
                        +1

                        @ozhunter68: Refer to my comments in that deal. They are restocking 5 at a time X:20-X:22, so likely if you quick enough there will be more at 10:20-22pm and every hour after 11:20-22, 00:20-22 and so on

                        • ozhunter68 on 02/12/2023 - 21:59
                          +1

                          @cute as duck: Thanks, appreciate the follow up. Going through the comments on that post now, so yeah

                          there was and still is a chance. Will keep eye out for another hour or so as close now to my

                          sleep time haha.

    • zacy on 06/11/2023 - 14:25

      I'd like to set up solar off-grid for camping trip(mainly just need for charging phones and little fridge) but have no idea where to start..
      If I have a solar panel, do I just need to connect to VoltX? or Does it need to connect to inverter, regulator etc..
      Any advice would be great!

      • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 14:34
        +4

        Yep, you just plug the solar panel into the power station and charge it. The inverter, regulator etc is all built into the power station.

        Phones don't need a lot of power to charge. The fridge will use most of what you need.

        How much depends on the fridge, as they can vary a lot.

        What model fridge do you have?

        Generally though something like this deal would work well. I have a medium size camping fridge and freezer, and it uses 250Wh - 750Wh a day, depending on weather, if I am using the freezer, and how much stuff is being cycled through (drinks etc).

        So this 1484Wh power station is enough to run it for at least 2 days, even with no solar.

        How much solar you need depends on how much power the fridge uses a day.

        • zacy on 06/11/2023 - 15:13

          Thanks for the info! it's just a small 50L fridge, is a 200w Solar panel sufficient enough?

          • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 15:37
            +2

            @zacy: Yep, 200W should be enough, unless you are adding a lot of stuff during to the fridge each day.

            The power station in this deal is not clear on the max solar panel amperage that can be connected, but based on the info it has, then it likely will be less than 150W. And more likely 120W. It does not say if it can handle solar overprovisioning, and how the internal voltage conversions work is unclear.

            This means a 200W panel may be too much, and definitely is likely to only ever charge at less than 150W.

            I would suggest that this may not be the best power station for you. As it likely has more capacity than you need, but slower charging. The best power station depends on your budget - these ones are very cheap though.

            Your fridge probably uses about 250Wh a day normally but perhaps more.

            With a 120W charge rate, and after efficiency losses, I'd say you need at least 4 hours of direct sun. More if you don't keep the panel pointed at the sun.

            Keep in mind that cloudy days can mean you only collect 50% (or as little as 10%) of the normal power. The power station has enough capacity to go multiple days with a 250Wh a day fridge connected even without being charged, so even extended cloudy weather isn't a huge issue.

            • zacy on 06/11/2023 - 16:31

              @Prong: I see..thanks mate

              • Prong on 07/11/2023 - 16:16
                +1

                @zacy: Further down the comments, someone mentions they asked VoltX more details, and 200W solar input is supported.

                Based on that, the VoltX power station and a 200W panel would be a decent combo and would handle your fridge without drama, even if there are some cloudy days.

      • antojamo on 06/11/2023 - 14:56
        +2

        Look into the difference between PWM and MPPT charging. This one uses PWM which isnt as efficient.
        https://voltx.com.au/products/voltx-1500w-portable-power-sta…

        This one "2100W, 1536Wh", posted above, has MPPT but is more expensive.
        https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/166413639803

        • Prong on 06/11/2023 - 16:03
          +2

          Yeah, and annoyingly there don't appear to be proper specs listed anywhere.

          Probably the bigger downside is the actual charge wattage - it seems limited to perhaps 150W max solar at 30V. Depending on how it deals with overcurrent, a larger panel (200W) likely more than compensates for PWM vs MPPT losses.

          I also wondered about configuring an external charge controller, but that may not be viable.

          In terms of the spec listed - charging from AC uses an external, 24V, 5A PSU. Solar charging is 12 - 30V. USB-C charging is 100W (so likely 20V, 5A.) The actual battery is listed as 25.6V.

          You can charge with both USB-C and the DC input at the same time.

          But how it does the actual charging internally is unknown. It could step up the incoming DC voltage, and the USB-C and DC input each have their own step up circuit, so can charge at the same time with no issue. In which case, the step up circuit is before the PWM charger, so works a bit like a MPPT setup, but probably a very inefficient one, if it does not actually figure out the maximum power point.

          Or maybe it has some complex system where it charges both 12.8 "sides" of a 25.6V battery separately, so does not need any voltage step up. Or maybe the battery voltage is not actually 25.6V, and might be 12.8V.

  • glyptothek on 07/11/2023 - 11:37
    +2

    Contacted VoltX they emailed me up to 500W solar via XT60 connector - but does this unit have an XT60 connector?
    VoltX got back to me and said doesn't do 500W solar, but 200W solar

    • Prong on 07/11/2023 - 13:50
      +2

      Very interesting. 200W solar is still pretty useful, depending on exactly what the current rating is.

  • Click_It on 07/11/2023 - 12:37
    +1

    Advice needed please! (Asking for a friend…)

    They lost all their savings recently in an online fraud and will be moving into their car in weeks. They have a few smart devices (laptop, phones, tablet, 4 x 20,000mah portable chargers) as well as some other bits and pieces we all have in our lives. Their main concern is not having the power to to keep these devices powered. They have a 57Ah car battery which is overkill for their small simple car but still that will be drained quickly without much driving to recharge with the alternator, otherwise they'll need to idle the car for an hour or 2 most days chewing fuel. I've done the math and this unit should get them approx 14 days of uptime, then it's just a matter of charging the power station once a fortnight somewhere.

    Would this be suitable for this use case?

    EDIT: Their goal is to rebuild their life using technology, including remote work, online side hustles, and embracing a digital nomad lifestyle.

    • Prong on 07/11/2023 - 13:49
      +2

      Yes, it would be suitable based on what you have said.

      One key downside is that it is relatively slow to charge, and if run to 0%, will take 12 hours or so on the included charger. Since their daily power use is low (100Wh a day based on what you said) then solar might be an option. You can still collect decent solar from a panel sitting inside a car on the dashboard, provided the sun is shining in. Or sitting in a park with a fold out panel.

      It also has a car charger, so if plugged in while driving then you could expect 50Wh - 80Wh charged each hour.

      Keep in mind though this power bank is not super small, and weighs 19KG, and has a large power brick for AC charging, so may not be easy to carry around to charge somewhere discretely.

      Further back up this deal, there are some ALLPOWERS deals discussed (though it is not a brand I have used or tested myself). They are much lower Wh, but cheaper, and some of the deals are good value with a bundled solar panel. For example, this 299Wh model for $436 would need charging every 3 days, but is lightweight and portable, so easy to take somewhere to plug in. Or take and sit in a park with the solar panel in the sun, while doing remote work.

      There is a 606Wh model with 200W panel, on sale for $529, but it uses different battery chemistry, so while it is no heavier than the 299Wh model, it will last for fewer cycles (1000 or so, vs 3000+). Which may not be much of an issue in this use.

      The best option may come down to how your friend plans to charge. Certainly the VoltX power station is great because there is nothing else that comes close in terms of Wh for the dollars.

      • Click_It on 07/11/2023 - 14:45
        +1

        Thank you very much for your detailed response.

        Yes, I saw that 606Wh model with the 200W panel which would be very tempting. The 1,000 cycles won't be a problem. I guess for a good comparison I should also find out how much a decent solar panel would be for the VOLTX 1500W as that would knock out the biggest con for his situation.

        Are there any you could recommend that would be able to recharge the unit? Bit by bit is fine, it wouldn't need to all happen in one session given the overall capacity of the VOLTX. It would be the best of both worlds though if he could independently charge it without needing to find power

        • aldroid on 07/11/2023 - 15:57
          +2

          I'm going to try my luck with this one. It seems to get ok reviews and the price is pretty good: https://voltx.com.au/products/voltx-12v-200-m

          • Click_It on 07/11/2023 - 16:05

            @aldroid: That looks slick, thanks I'll check out some reviews.

        • Prong on 07/11/2023 - 16:06
          +3

          The VoltX unit can only handle 200W of solar, which could be from a single 200W panel, or two 100W panels in parallel. After charging efficiency losses, less than 200W peak will make it into the battery. But if only using 100Wh a day, then half a day in the sun each week should be more than enough. Even a single 100W panel might be enough.

          Taking a quick look, Allpowers have a reasonable looking 100W folding panel which is priced strangely, as it is much less than the same seller has it elsewhere. And then 22% off, so just $93.59.

          https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/204092705021

          That panel is listed as coming with "MC-4 to Anderson cable" which provided it is the right size, should plug straight into the VoltX unit.

          With a MC-4 Y connector, two of these panels could also be connected in parallel.

          Alternatively, the Allpowers 200W panel (refurbished) is ~$171 after discount.

          Or refurb 100W panels are $78 each after discount. ($156 for two)

          https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/295870745014

          I am not sure what refurbed means in this case. Probably just returns, but they may have micro cracks in the panels and generate a bit less power.

          Also keep in mind that these solar panels are quite large. the 100W one set up is 1.2m wide, and 60cm tall. And the 200W panel is 2.2m wide. So for things like leaving a panel on the dashboard of the car, the 200W is much too big.

          VoltX also have some decent looking panels, and some sellers have them with the eBay discount. You can get folding panels, but there are also the solid panels, which can be a fair bit cheaper per watt. Just awkward to move around and set up.

          https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/314493281350
          https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/314899940303
          https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/314899940060

          If looking at other panels, be aware that 90% of the cheap ones are scam ratings. A quick way to check is to look at the size of the panel. Take the size of the actual solar panel sections and get the area in meters square. Multiply that by 200, for a rough idea of the wattage. (200 is because for an average efficiency, we get 200W per m2)

          For folding panels, look at the folded size (to more easily exclude the bits that hang out), subtract a few centimeters for the borders, then multiply it by the number of panels.

          For example, the 100W Allpowers panel.

          Folded = 0.51m x 0.65m. The borders eat up a few cm, so call it 0.45m x 0.6m. Which = 0.270 m2, x 2 panels = 0.540 m2. Times 200 = 108W.

          So we know that the Allpowers panel has enough physical area to be making the 100W rating.

          As a comparison, other brands (such as Mobi) have the exact same size as the Allpowers panel, but claim it is 200W. Other sellers have the same size with a claimed 300W.

          But as long as the calculated wattage is close to the listed wattage, it is likely a genuine panel. That said, cheap brands may not output the full amount, or won't last as long. But generally they are good enough.

          • Click_It on 07/11/2023 - 17:23
            +1

            @Prong: You are a legend! Thanks for this very helpful reply, I'm going to go through it now, check out all the links etc

          • Click_It on 07/11/2023 - 18:47
            +1

            @Prong: I've been going down this rabbit hole. Firstly I think that 160W Solar Blanket could be the sweet spot for size, price, and efficiency. Ordinarily the 100W fixed panel would be the pick but they will be living in a rather small car so being able to fold up and pack away is going to be a huge bonus. I also ran a bunch of numbers through ChatGPT based on anticipated (sandbagging these numbers slightly) and got around 200Wh a day. Still no biggie really, at worst that's about 7 days instead of 14 days and with solar, unless it's a week of rain, he should be able to keep on top of that or as a last resort need to find a power outlet somewhere or start running the car to charge via 12V.

            It looks like a true workhorse to be honest and with solar he won't need to put himself in difficult/awkward situations trying to charge it each time. He keeps to himself especially after this incident has placed him in financial hardship. From company owner to homeless guy, independence will be important and this seems to tick that box.

            • Prong on 07/11/2023 - 20:11
              +2

              @Click_It: Yeah sounds like a good call, and that 160W panel looks good. And your numbers sound about right to me.

              It's not clear to me what cables the solar panel comes with. Elsewhere it seems to include a basic MPPT solar controller (which is not needed in this case) that attaches using 50A SB50 Anderson plugs. But these are different size Anderson plugs than the one on the front of the VoltX power station. I suspect the ones on the VoltX are Anderson Powerpole 15/45 connectors.

              The solar panel probably also has the usual MC4 connectors. In which case the following MC4 to Anderson cable would be needed. I am fairly sure the cable uses the 15/45 connectors, but it does not say. Either way it is stupidly cheap ($3.89!) so worth grabbing. Worst case, some other adaptor is needed, but it should be no issue.

              https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/295784657476

              • cranny on 08/11/2023 - 20:13
                +1

                @Prong: The MC4 to Anderson is Cheap! It's 16 gauge cable though, is that thick enough?
                The VoltX has 30 Amp Anderson input.
                I have borrowed a VoltX solar Panel which has Anderson 50 Amp and I'm having to make an adapter cable as one is not supplied and I couldn't find a cable online I could get delivered in time, so am making one!

                • Prong on 08/11/2023 - 21:36
                  +1

                  @cranny: Hmmmm I only paid attention to the 3.0 mm2 rating, which upon checking is much thicker than 16 AWG.

                  Either way it's ok for the short length. It will lose a watt or two in the cabling if 16 AWG.

                  One trick with 50 amp Anderson connectors if you are ever stuck and can't crimp them. You can sit the pin open end up and heat it with a small blowtorch, and melt solder in. Then dip the wire in, and let it cool. (There's plenty of YouTube vids that show how to do this)

                  • ozhunter68 on 08/11/2023 - 22:17
                    +1

                    @Prong: Great advice. I learnt to do this for my off-grid power on my van. Did it properly with large guage

                    wires and lugs etc. Been running a 100Ah lithium battery getting charged via solar and dc-dc charger

                    and powering a fridge 24/7 for over two years and have not even blown a fuse or any problems.

                    They call that "flood soldering" and takes a bit of practice ( make sure to strip wire correct lengh and

                    bit extra as the heat can melt 1/2 cm further and lose some flexing strenght even after covering them

                    with heat shrink.Also make sure you are soldering the inner metal clips facing both the same

                    direction as thick cable can be hard to twist.

                • Prong on 09/11/2023 - 14:49

                  @cranny: I had ordered one these, and it arrived today.

                  No surprise, it's 16 AWG rather than 3 mm2.

                  A 100W solar panel would be fine, but beyond that I would consider thicker cable to avoid voltage drop.

          • NotRegYet on 10/11/2023 - 14:11

            @Prong: thanks for your detailed explanation.
            I've got the 60w solar panel today from allpowers. tested under the sunny 32c day in melbourne (I assume it's the best sun light day today, shall boost to 60w (at least 50W) but it only gave me 30W charging.
            Not sure if it's the 'not using anderson plug' thing. the solar panel forgot to attach the anderson plug cable so I charged with my power station with normal DC input slot.
            Calculated the size of solar panel according to your math, it comes to 65W as result. Not sure if it's because mine is a refurb one or it's not the right angel. I tried all ways tho. flat on the ground; standing facing to the sun; different angel to the ground. only give me 20w-30w. interesting finding is the flat on the ground way doesn't give me the best result.
            I'm thinking of trying other brands to see if it could gave me at least 60w (maybe have to be from a 100w panel). the wattage rating is very confusing. although I understand if a not sunny enough day it could be lower % of power. But for today, I thought it shall be the max. :(

            • Prong on 10/11/2023 - 15:06
              +1

              @NotRegYet: Yeah that doesn't sound like it is giving full output.

              You get the most generation when the flat face of the panel is pointed directly at the sun. It's very important to make sure there is not even a little bit of shading on the panels.

              You may be getting some extra resistance and losses by using the DC input, but certainly I would not expect 50% loss.

              The other thing is we don't know how the power station converts the the incoming voltage from the solar panel, and uses it to charge the battery. If the system used is not very efficient, that could create significant losses. But again, 50% seems like too much.

              Your panel could be faulty, and only one side is working. Refurbs are often returns (I don't have any experience with VoltX refurbs, or if these are refurbs from the eBay seller), but if not checked properly, it might have been a faulty one that got resold. The easiest way to test this is to set it up in the sun, then cover just one side completely, but don't shade the other side. Does the power level drop? Then try covering the other side instead. If the power drop is the same for each, then the panel is probably good.

              The next thing would be to try charging it via the DC port from some other DC source. For example, a 12V PSU for some gadget. They are often 12V, 1.5A (but higher A is better for testing). So should give around 18W. What it shows up from that might give another clue.

              • NotRegYet on 10/11/2023 - 18:39
                +1

                @Prong: Thanks for sharing your thoughts and some decent advice to check the panel. I did receive some seconds, the input as highest as 41w but bounced back to 20-30w immediately. I did attempt to lay flat at 1pm-2pm, but it didn't give me any better figures.

                I'm thinking of trying with some other brands together to see if it's a panel issue or brand issue. (ebay sellers may hate me when returning ;-p) Could be the person issue, myself (too stupid to get the max output). First time in solar panel tho. thanks again for your input! you are the legend!

                • ozhunter68 on 11/11/2023 - 21:33

                  @NotRegYet: Many solar panels only put out 50% of the stated Max output, and that might only be for an

                  hour or two on a good day at best. The other days and times maybe 10 % to 30 % or 40 %.

                  There are brands and panels out there that have been tried and tested to put out up to

                  and even beyond their stated Watts and Amps under the right conditions, but they will not be

                  the cheaper brands out there.

                  • Prong on 12/11/2023 - 07:33
                    +1

                    @ozhunter68: That's true for solar panels with fake ratings.

                    A cheap but not fake rated solar panel will happily put out near to 100% of its rating. And do so for most of the day, if kept facing the sun.

                    The easiest way to check is to look at the physical size of the light collecting area of the panel, and the rated efficiency, and calculate the wattage based on the max it could collect.

                    I give a rough rule of thumb method in an earlier comment.

                    The Allpowers 60W has the physical size need to generate 60W. And as far as I can tell, Allpowers gives quite reasonable ratings for their gear.

                    • ozhunter68 on 12/11/2023 - 07:55

                      @Prong: Yep, I agree. Looked at a lot of reviews before commuting to by the AllPowers Power Station and tested as decent gear and great with impressive specs for some of their low prices and introductory deals. For my next van conversion I'm currently working on I wanted flexible solar panel for weight and curved angles, so went with the Renogy 200 W. Hope that puts out close to stated Max as I will be running a big 75 Lt dual zone fridge etc.

                      Update on the Voltx Power Station. Got to 70 % last night and stopped charging, noticed display stayed on. This morning display still on and still at 70 %. Now charging to full using 240 V again, should be another 2 hours, so let's see.

                    • NotRegYet on 14/11/2023 - 15:22

                      @Prong: can't @ two people in one comment I think.

                      mine was only about 30w (60w panel) in genreal under a direct sunlight. can bump into 40w (as a consistent input) from time to time. But not often. Only got 50w - ish for a sec and reduce to certain more consistent input as 30-40w in a bright sunny day. Assume the 60w rate is reasonable in a perfect environment?

                      I guess it's still an eligible 60W panel, you recken?

                      • Prong on 15/11/2023 - 16:10

                        @NotRegYet: A 60W panel should have no issue outputting close to 60W in full sun. Anything under 50W would indicate a problem IMO.

                        But that assumes the solar panel is being operated close to the ideal voltage, with an efficient MPPT solar charge controller, and accurate wattage measurements. The VoltX system does not use MPPT as far as the specs say, so it could be causing the loss.

                        The solar panel could be perfectly fine, and you need to do more testing to find out. Try and use the anderson input if possible.

                        Like I mentioned above, the easiest way to test this is to set it up in the sun, then cover just one side completely, but don't shade the other side. Does the power level drop? Then try covering the other side instead. If the power drop is the same for each, then the panel is probably good.

                        The next thing would be to try charging it via the DC port from some other DC source. For example, a 12V PSU for some gadget. They are often 12V, 1.5A (but higher A is better for testing). So should give around 18W. What it shows up from that might give another clue.

                        Re: your comment below about charging your 299Wh power station. The final stage of the battery charge is at very low amperage, so can be slow or it may not complete on solar. Not getting to 100% is no issue, and as ozhunter68 mentioned, charging to less than 100% is better for the cells.

                        • NotRegYet on 15/11/2023 - 16:21

                          @Prong: thanks for the throughts.

                          Yes, I did follow your suggestion to cover half and it's roughly 50% the output as when both are oprating. either side is similar. which means 30w in full and then one side is about 12-16w.

                          never got exact 60w although I did try to put them 90 degree towards the sunlight in a full sun day. as I mentioned. somehow bump into 40-45w on a consistent base as max. also bump into 50w+ but just for a few seconds.

                          I was using a Vtoman power station (coming with MPPT) testing it not the Voltx coz this one is too heavy. Didn't test with Anderson plug coz my seller didn't send it (missing parts). Unfortunately. But also Vtoman 600x doesn't come with an anderson plug input also.

                          maybe run some test later with Voltx when having a chance. but I'm pretty much give it up for the Solar charging. Just way to slow with a 60w solar panel. lol.

                          Thanks for all your sharing. Very useful! appreciate it

                          • Prong on 15/11/2023 - 16:34

                            @NotRegYet: No worries - based on your experiments with the shading, it sounds like the solar panel is fine.

                            The DC connector could be creating some power loss. The are various reasons why the reported power levels could be occasionally jumping up. Testing with the VoltX unit when you can may give some insight.

                            One other thing that may impact the displayed power from the solar panel is how fast the power station is choosing to charge the battery. Anything over about 80% capacity and it will start to limit the charge rate. Ideally you would test with the capacity of the power station down at or under 50%.

                            You could also try plugging something into the power station that uses a fair bit of power, at the same time as you are are charging it. That way it will divert any excess power to the output, and make sure it is getting the maximum from the solar panel. Though it may only report power going in or out of the battery, so the extra won't show up.

                            • NotRegYet on 16/11/2023 - 10:22

                              @Prong: you are legend! Thanks for all of these insights. I've spent quite a bit time to investigate online but got nothing valuable until saw your comments. which solved all my questions! Thanks a lot

                  • NotRegYet on 14/11/2023 - 15:19

                    @ozhunter68: Thanks @ozhunter68 for this. Yes, mine was only about 30w (60w panel) in genreal under a direct sunlight. can bump into 40w (as a consistent input) from time to time. But not often. Only got 50w - ish for a sec and reduce to certain more consistent input as 30-40w in a bright sunny day. Assume the 60w rate is reasonable in a perfect environment? Thanks @Prong: for the input also. I guess it's still an eligible 60W panel, you recken?

                    • ozhunter68 on 14/11/2023 - 15:23
                      +1

                      @NotRegYet: Maybe, but like @Prong explained, unless you test the voltage and amps/watts

                      output by shading one side and then the equal other you really won't know if you have a

                      perfectly 100% working overstated spec panel, or a panel that is performing below spec

                      because of damage or failure. Have a play around, good experience.

                      • NotRegYet on 14/11/2023 - 15:26

                        @ozhunter68: thanks for your input. Yes. Don't really know if mine is a broken one or it's just normal. it's the only solar panel I've got now. can't compare apple to apple. I'm definitely not trying to using Solar panel to charge the big brick Voltx. But was curious if can charge my small volume (299wh) one at back yard for one day. seems be difficult. I attempted for two days charged from 60% to 99% and cant reach 100% even for hours then gave up. ;)

                        • ozhunter68 on 14/11/2023 - 15:31
                          +1

                          @NotRegYet: Thats still good. You know lithium batteries actuslly don't like being 100% full

                          for long anyway, especially for long term storage of more than a few weeks without

                          getting some drawn out. Consider that a feature then and just enjoy slower but healthier

                          charging too.

  • cranny on 08/11/2023 - 20:19
    +1

    Another problem I had… After charging the power station I tried to run a camping fridge from the AC port…. LCD came on, no watts output, turned off! I tried the USB outputs…. same thing, no detection! Tried to phone VoltX but I'm an Optus customer so…. that didnt happen.
    By chance I tried tirning on the LCD light and then the AC and USB outputs suddenly kicked in and started working.

    Definitely not a smooth experience so far.

    • Prong on 08/11/2023 - 21:36

      Ahhh interesting. Does it come with a manual at all?

      • ballistykx on 09/11/2023 - 12:10
        +1

        Got mine today and there is a manual in the box.
        Currently charging it with the included brick and it's charging at 185W, fans kick in every few minutes but silent otherwise. Will add an USB charger to see how fast it charges..

        • Prong on 09/11/2023 - 14:37
          +1

          Does it give any detail about max solar input amperage?

          • ballistykx on 09/11/2023 - 19:58
            +2

            @Prong: No, just says 30V. Can't find anything on input amperage, only output which is 10A.

        • cranny on 09/11/2023 - 20:03
          +1

          The LED situation was weird, however seems functional since. But not user error. Just weird.

          My first charge up had 183W input from the AC Brick, I added USB charging as well and got 200 (Not sure if that is Max input, Maua; doesn't say). It does say Wall charger + USB Type C PD100W together is 6 hours charge time.

          I made a 50 Amp to 30 Amp cable today and the Solar input worked fine (Using the Powerpole crimper tool, which I ordered of Amazon, was so much better than trying to solder!.)

          @ozhunter68, I bought mine on Ebay. I was surprised by the quick delivery. Seller was "smart-flash". They replied to my query on clarifying the Solar input plug type (Anderson 30 Amp), and confirmed the adapter cable does not come with the unit as standard.

          Hope the info helps. Using it this weekend, so will see how it goes.

          • ballistykx on 09/11/2023 - 20:05
            +1

            @cranny: I was able to get 277W with brick and 100W USB.

          • ozhunter68 on 11/11/2023 - 11:21

            @cranny: Verry weird situation indeed. Mine is worse so far than yours. Was delivered yesterday but as

            returning home late, could only start charging this Power Station today. Pushed all power output

            buttons with no avail, then tried your trick with LED light, even double press and long presses to

            all buttons, nothing. Plugged in 240 V charging and display came on with a beep sound and

            showed flashing 1 % charge. Not a good start at all! At 14 % charge tried again pushing all buttons

            one by one with No Power output showing as on, even LED light did Nothing. Then unplugged

            charging and tried it all again and nothing. Will now try again and just plug devices into all the

            various outputs to see if that triggers an On Output State, but so far really not what normally

            you would expect from a Power Station, so not at all happy Yet. Let's hope it comes good

            somehow with more experimental trouble shooting experiments lol

            Edit: update on comment at bottom.

            • Prong on 11/11/2023 - 12:15
              +1

              @ozhunter68: This sounds like self discharge took it down to zero while waiting to be sold.

              There's a decent chance that after a deep discharge, the control circuitry is designed not enable the outputs until it has fully charged, or reaches a certain charge level. That would be a good thing, and you see similar on devices with quality BMS. Or the control circuitry could just be doing weird stuff…

              The battery voltage didn't get so low the protection circuitry kicked in (in which case it would have refused to charge), but it's still not ideal. Though shouldn't have done any noticeable wear for a once off. I'd keep an eye on the self discharge rate longer term though just to be sure.

              It may be a contributing reason why these were being sold so cheap - they had been sitting long enough self discharge was approaching the point units were ending up DOA. So either they'd need to be unpacked and charged, or sold ASAP.

              • ozhunter68 on 11/11/2023 - 12:27
                +1

                @Prong: Yep, pretty much my thoughts too, and you have elaborated nicely which I totally agree with that are

                possible likely reasons why they were so cheap. I added a comment below, but no better yet at 29 %

                for now. It's possible that the BMS comes back on line at a certain voltage/battery %, I hope so, we

                will see. These Power Stations cannot be that old considering they include 100 W PD two way

                charging and seem to have the wirless charging inbuild feature which have only started appearing

                on the market in Australia in the last 12 months or so? I have a 100 Ah lithium battery that was

                delivered six months ago fully charged and is still sitting on around 98%. I know different

                design/BMS and extra output circuit, but to go to 00 is bad. Another person on here got it at 57%+-

                which is pretty good and normal.

                • Prong on 11/11/2023 - 13:05
                  +1

                  @ozhunter68: Yeah, I would not normally expect self discharge to be an issue yet. But self discharge in this case isn't just the battery cells - for the system it depends on how much power the BMS uses, or if there is other "sleep" mode power draw.

                  Ideally it should be very low, but I would not be concerned by sleep mode that could drain it in a year if starting from a partial charge. That's about 0.1W. It's also possible something woke the unit up while in the box, or it didn't sleep properly. I've had a different brand power station that occasionally didn't sleep properly.

                  But certainly it could be a sign that one of the cells has a much higher than usual self discharge rate (so a bad cell) and the BMS balancing then spreads that across the entire battery. If you have the power station unused for a while (probably at least a week) then check the charge level before and after. Ideally you'd measure the cell voltage directly for more accuracy, but that's harder in this case.

                  And to answer your other question. No I didn't buy one, as I already have a power station. But I was looking into it for a friend, but they ended up going for a higher output model.

                  • ozhunter68 on 11/11/2023 - 14:45

                    @Prong: Thanks again for your input. I should have mentioned earlier that the small user manual states if AC is on and draw is below 1w then it will turn off after 45 mins which is good.
                    The DC if draw is also below 1w will shut down after 8 hours. The Power Station was double packed in good cardboard box, with top and bottom foam spacers which under normal circumstances not allow accidental pushing of buttons, but who knows what happened. If one cell has low voltage as you pointed out could be possible, I will certainly keep close eye over next few days and try to return/exchange if capacity drops above average. What would you say is acceptable for this capacity/type of Power Station, not more than 1% per 24 hrs I would think?

    • ozhunter68 on 08/11/2023 - 22:24

      Sorry to hear from your challenges. How did you get yours delivered so quickly, Amazon or ebay?

      Mine on the way but hope we can iron out these issues. Do you think you have a faulty unit then?

      • Click_It on 09/11/2023 - 14:52
        +1

        Hopefully, we can get more tests from owners. I haven't pulled the trigger yet. Only have 1 more day to decide.

        • ozhunter68 on 09/11/2023 - 15:47

          Pretty sure that was an unfortunate faulty unit (or beginner user error or mix up), as I have never heard of needing to put light on a power bank/car battery jump pack/power station before getting power to either USB, 12 V or 240 V. Newer power stations usually have individual on/off switches to power on/off either USB, 12 V or 240 V. Sometimes there is a master switch before any others can be turned on too. Have had dozens to use over the years, never had this issue, but other similar faults over the years after much use.

        • ballistykx on 09/11/2023 - 20:00

          The bloody fans run every few minutes when using the AC ports! Seems like cooling is an issue when running. Not happy with this.

          • Click_It on 09/11/2023 - 21:29

            @ballistykx: Is this normal for these power stations, anyone?

            • Prong on 09/11/2023 - 21:59
              +1

              @Click_It: Yep, the ones I have used have cooling fans running during AC use. But at a pretty low level unless power use is high.

              • ozhunter68 on 11/11/2023 - 11:06

                @Prong: Correct ^^^This^^^

                Some Power Stations have louder fans than others, many eeven come on whilst charging the

                Power Station itself especially if using a fast charging mode if available.

            • ballistykx on 09/11/2023 - 22:11
              +1

              @Click_It: I've got a smaller 700W Bluetti one that doesn't. Maybe I just haven't used such a big one before.

    • FuRyZ on 09/11/2023 - 19:25
      +1

      I got worried when you said this and tested mine out using a microwave at home. I did slightly overload the VoltX as the Microwave pulled 1058W while it was running but it ran just fine.

      Sounds like you got a faulty one unfortunately. Hopefully support helps you out.

      • NotRegYet on 10/11/2023 - 18:43
        +1

        I tested with nespresso machine. was no luck. although it says 800-1280w (under 1500w) at the bottom of the machine. Heater was working fine as slightly over 1000w as about 1050w. Kettle (2200w) killed straight (Although my the other power station boiled with reduced 400w at least made it working. But nespresso didn't work on that one either).

        did anyone test with 1500w yet? any luck?

        • foxxo on 10/11/2023 - 20:13
          +1

          I tested with a 1500w dumb resistance heater, the battery showed it running at 1280watts or so, ran for over an hour. It warns some beeps as you near 5% charge. Pretty impressed with it.

          • NotRegYet on 12/11/2023 - 06:55

            @foxxo: Thanks for sharing your results. I tested with Heaters they all worked and shows me lower than the rated wattage at the back of heaters.

            I also tested with my nespresso again after I recharged the battery with higher % of power and two times with different time both worked to me. Not sure my first case was because the remaining power was under 10%.

            I'm still concerning another power station Vtoman, which could hold higher wattage without trip the fuse but only reduce the wattage to the power station rated one so you can still use your devices. I tested with a kettle 2200w, which worked on my Vtoman power station tho.

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