Bluetti have changed the game once again with the release of their AC60 Power Station and it’s companion, the B80 Expansion Battery by making them IP65 water and dust resistant!
This is a welcome addition for those of us that love camping & road trips that often include a liberal dose of rain and dust.
AC60 Power Station
B80 Expansion Battery
KEY FEATURES
• IP65 Rating for water & dust resistance
• Long life – 3000 charge cycles with 80% battery capacity
• Modular system for scalability
• 6 year warranty
IP65 Weather & Dust Resistance
The IP65 rating means that the units must be able to keep out dust and low pressure water spray from any direction, like rain for example or the spray from your boat crashing through the waves.
They are not submersible so don’t go dunking them in a river but they should easily withstand rain showers which is the most likely scenario when out camping.
Dust resistance is also a welcome addition especially for those of us with 4WD’s that suck in the dust through leaky weather seals or gear storage areas that are not fully weather sealed (utes, trailers, etc.)
All of the power ports are protected by rubber covers so make sure to keep these closed tight when not in use.
3000 Charge Cycles with 80% Capacity
The LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery is what gives these units there extremely long life.
3000 charge cycles is equivalent to a complete recharge every single day for more than 8 years and far more than you’re ever likely to use the systems in the real world.
At the end of 3000 charge cycles you should expect to still have 80% of the batteries original capacity available.
Along with their 6 year warranty, it effectively means that you won’t be throwing away an otherwise fully operational power system because the batteries have reached end of life.
We’ve certainly come a long way from the days of lead acid batteries with charge cycles measured in the hundreds!
The AC60 + B80 Modular System
The beauty of two separate power systems rather than purchasing a single large capacity system, is that you can start with the AC60 then add more capacity with the B80 as and when needed, potentially spreading your cashflow over time.
On shorter trips you may even be able to leave the B80 home to reduce weight and packing space and just take the AC60.
You can also use the two units independently of each other – The B80 doesn’t have any AC output but it does have DC ports so for example you could potentially have it powering your 12VDC camping fridge while the AC60 takes care of all of you other devices.
If you need even more power, you can connect a second B80 battery to the AC60 for a total capacity of 2015Wh.
The bottom line is that you have more options than with just one large system.
6 Year Warranty
In what we believe is an industry first, Bluetti is backing it’s AC60 and B80 systems with a 6 year warranty.
According to Bluetti, “The AC60 boasts premium materials that ensure its longevity, including a solid aluminium alloy casing and a durable LiFePO4 battery with a lifespan of over 10 years”.
Coupled with it’s rated capacity to be re-charged 3000 times while still retaining 80% battery life, you could recharge it from flat every day for 8 years, retain 80% of the batteries capacity after that time and have it covered by a warranty for most of that time as well.
Power systems like this do require a significant investment of capital so it is reassuring to know that investment is covered for the realistic lifespan of the product.
Solar Charging
Both the AC60 and B80 can be recharged using solar panels up to 200 watts capacity including the Bluetti PV120 and PV200 shown below.
Both the AC60 and B80 have built in MPPT controllers and you can connect other branded solar panels up to 200W. I’d personally recommend only using quality panels from a reputable business.
PV120 Solar Panel
PV200 Solar Panel
What can be powered from the AC60 and B80?
The AC60 has a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery with a capacity of 403Wh and a built in 600W pure sine wave inverter providing up to 600W of clean AC power through two 230V AC outlets.
The AC60’s 600 watt maximum AC output is enough power for most smaller devices like lights, phones, tablets, laptops, camping fridges etc. but isn’t enough to power larger power hungry devices like microwaves, kettles, induction cooktops, toasters, heaters.
These more power hungry devices can draw up to 2400 watts so you’ll need to purchase a higher output system if they are on your ‘must work’ list.
| ✅ YES | ❌ NO |
| LED lights | Microwave oven |
| Phones | Kettle |
| Tablets | Induction cooktop |
| Laptops | Toaster |
| Camping fridge/freezers | Heaters |
| Small fans |
The B80 triples the capacity of the AC60 by adding 806Wh of battery power but does not have any built in AC inverter so adding the B80 doesn’t increase the AC power output of the system, only the amount of power you have in reserve.
AC60 Power Station Specs
BATTERY INFO
| Capacity: | 403Wh(22.4V,18Ah) |
| Type: | LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) |
| Life Cycles: | 3,000+ Cycles to 80% Original Capacity |
| Shelf-life: | Recharge to 80% Every 3-6 Months |
| Management System: | MPPT Controller, BMS, etc |
OUTPUT
| AC Output: | 2 × 230V/2.6A, 600W in total |
| Inverter Type: | Pure Sine Wave |
| Surge Power: | 1,200W |
| USB-C Port: | 1 × 100W Max. (Built-in eMark chip) |
| USB-A Port: | 2 × 5V/3A |
| 12V DC Outlets: | 1 × 12V/10A (Car outlet, regulated.) |
| Wireless Charging Pad: | 1 × 15W Max. |
INPUT
| AC Input: | 600W Max. |
| Solar Input: | 200W Max., VOC 12-28V, 8A |
| Car Input: | 12/24V from Cigarette Lighter Port |
| Max Input: | 600W |
RECHARGE TIMES
| AC Charging Cable (600W Turbo Charging): | ≈ 1-1.5 Hours |
| Solar Panel (s) (200W): | ≈ 2.5-3 Hours (With prime sunshine, ideal orientation and low temperature) |
| 12V/24V Car Outlet (100W/200W): | ≈ 4.5-5 Hours / 2.5-3 Hours |
GENERAL
| Weight (AC60) | 9.1kg |
| Warranty | 6 years |
See Bluetti website for full AC60 specs
B80 Expansion Battery Specs
BATTERY INFO
| Capacity: | 806Wh |
| Type: | LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) |
| Life Cycles: | 3,000+ Cycles to 80% Original Capacity |
| Shelf-life: | Recharge to 80% Every 3-6 Months |
| Management System: | MPPT Controller, BMS, etc |
OUTPUT
| USB-C Port: | 1 × 100W Max. |
| USB-A Port: | 1 ×18W |
| 12V DC Outlets: | 1 ×12V/10A (Car outlet, regulated.) |
INPUT
| AC Input: | 200W Max. |
| Solar Input: | 200W Max., VOC 12-28VDC, 8A |
| Car Input: | 12/24V from Cigarette Lighter Port |
RECHARGE TIMES
| AC Adapter (200W Max.): | ≈4.5-5 Hours |
| Solar Panel (200W Max.): | ≈4.5-5 Hours (With prime sunshine, ideal orientation and low temperature) |
| 12V/24V Car Outlet (100W/200W): | ≈8.5-9 or 4.5-5 Hours |
GENERAL
| Weight (B80) | 9.9kg |
| Warranty | 6 years |
See Bluetti website for full B80 specs
Pricing & Where To Buy The AC60 & B80
The AC60 and B80 both have RRP of AUD$999 each.
The AC60 and B80 along with the full range of Bluetti Power Products can be purchased directly from the Bluetti website.
www.bluettipower.com.au
AC60 Power Station
B80 Expansion Battery
Written by Steve Baile, Founder of Expedition Australia and creator of 'The Big Lap' film series.
