BLUETTI AC60 + B80
Assessment:
What did we like?
What didn't we like?
Unboxing
The power station Bluetti AC60 together with the expansion battery Bluetti B80 arrived from the Polish warehouse. Since it is an EU warehouse, therefore, as everyone understands, no customs duties had to be paid. The parcel was transported by the DPD courier service. This logistics company turned around in 4 days. Both packages were completely healthy, so there were no damages.
Both packages were placed in shipping boxes. AC60 package contents: power station, charging cable from the solar collector, charging cable from the car 12/24V plug, charging cable from the home power network, instructions and several information cards. Contents of the B80 extension battery package: battery, connection cable (extended battery expansion cable), instruction.
Quality
I think I can safely repeat once again that Bluetti products are characterized by modern and stylish design. Like the previous models, the AC60 and B80 are rectangular in shape. The body is made of strong plastic, the connectors have rubber covers. The bottoms of the handles have rubber padding for a comfortable grip when carrying.
AC60 front has: LCD screen, 2x EU sockets, 2x USB-A connector, 1x USB-C connector, car 12/24V socket, AC power button, DC power button, main power button.
On the left side: two connectors for connecting expansion batteries. Right: ground screw, AC current fuse, DC charging socket, AC charging socket. An LED lamp is installed in the rear part along with its activation button. And on top, as is usual for Bluetti products, a 15W wireless charging pad. Weight ~9.1 kg.
The extension battery B80 has the following connections on the front: 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, car 12/24V socket, DC connection. Also visible on the front: main power button, DC power button, battery level indicator consists of 5 LED lights. Left side: battery expansion connector, fuse. Weight ~9.9 kg.
Functionality
Like most Bluetti electrical stations, this one can be controlled both using an app and by pressing physical buttons on the electrical station itself.
App control: the principle remained the same as the models tested earlier. After opening the Bluetti APP, it is possible to turn on/off different electrical currents, AC or DC, on the main screen. Also visible: battery remaining percentage, charging power using different charging types. Energy consumption also through different types of electric current.
By selecting "Battery information", we can see how many battery blocks (or otherwise - modules) are currently connected. After pressing the settings icon, the options are identical to those of the previously tested models: charging type, "power lifting", ECO mode, LED light type (bright light, dim, and SOS flashing), software update, and additional settings. It is worth noting that the app can only control the AC60 power station, the extension battery B80 BT is not supported.
What is the difference between AC60 and B80? The AC60 is a charging station, and the B80 is an expandable battery that connects with a separate cable to the electrical station and thus expands the total battery capacity. B80 can also be called a large powerbank battery.
Let's say if the connected device consumes AC current ~201W, then using only AC60 your device will be able to work for ~2 hours. By connecting both batteries with the cable provided by the manufacturer, such a device would work for about 5.7 hours. Two such expansion batteries can be connected to the AC60 power station at the same time.
The B80 expansion battery can be charged using the charging unit provided for it or by connecting this battery to a power station. Using the power station AC60, you can connect all devices that do not exceed 600W power. Devices that require more power when turned on can be activated in "power lifting" mode.
What did we like?
Device control with the app. The app is informative and easy to understand. It is convenient when you can set the timer for the operation of the electric station. For example when camping, before going to bed, you set it to turn off after an hour, so you don't have to get up and turn off the lighting.
The Bluetti manufacturer gives this AC60 power station and B80 battery an IP65 resistance rating. This makes it completely safe to use outdoors. Rain or beach sand should not harm these devices. Operating temperature from -20°C to +40°C.
The rubber covers of the connectors close tightly, so you can be completely calm that unexpected rain or strong wind could damage this station.
Connecting expansion batteries. A smart solution, because when the battery capacity runs out, you can simply buy an extension battery and connect it to the power station you already have. This way your device will last longer. And when charging the power station, the expansion battery will be charged at the same time
What we didn't like?
You will not find a charging block in the B80 kit, you will have to purchase it separately. In this area, the manufacturer played well, because it can be charged only through the block or by connecting. No USB charging is provided. If you want to buy the B80 as a powerbank, be sure to grab the charging block.
The AC60's rear LED light only turns on when the power station is turned on. It's a little inconvenient to have to do an extra step to create lighting in a darker environment.
Is it worth buying?
Bluetti products are of really high quality. And I think I can safely say that all the tested models failed. As for the test stand AC60 and the plug-in battery B80, I have no complaints about the performance.
The housings are solid, the connections are conveniently located, the AC60 information display and the B80 battery indicator LED lights are easy to understand for everyone. And the most important aspect is that these models have an IP65 resistance class.
As expected, electrical devices that are up to 600W connected to AC60 work without any problems. When more powerful devices are connected, the fuses are triggered and the electrical station shuts down. The only reason why it would be worthwhile to take this particular set is because of the IP65 rating. On the YouTube platform, you can find what challenges this model had to overcome, after which it continued to work successfully.
After browsing the Internet, I found that a similar product is Arkpax Ark, which is even IP67 rated. We haven't tried it yet, so we can't say anything more, but the price is very high. If you are looking for an electrical station for indoor use only, then at this price point you can buy the Newsmy N1200P, which can store 3 times more electricity than the AC60 model. You can find an overview of this power station by clicking here.
