BLUETTI Solar Generator AC180, 1152Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup w/ 4 1800W (2700W peak) AC Outlets, 0-80% in 45Min, for Camping, Off-grid, Power Outage

More comprehensive review of Bluetti AC180 Power Bank, Jan 3, 2025I purchased the AC180 on Amazon on Dec 1, 2024. Price was $479 plus $49.58 in sales tax for a total of $528.58. I considered this to be a great price, lower than it appears to have ever been previously over it’s life. As of today (Jan 3, 2025) it remains at $479 when using the Amazon included coupon.The device claims to have an 1152 watt hour LiFePO4 battery. Their manual states that you need to de-rate that first by 10%, then again by another 15%. So 1152 * .9 = 1063.8 * .85 = 904.23 watt hours available (when using AC outlets via built in inverter). My testing suggests this is a pretty accurate value. Assume this has a 900 watt hour battery for planning purposes and you should be close.Overall Pros: Self contained, reasonably light weight unit with an 1800 watt continuous, 2700 watt peak, AC inverter. This is big enough to run any individual 120V appliance in my kitchen (toaster oven, microwave, coffee pot). None of those would normally be operated for more than about 5 minutes at any given time, meaning the AC180 could support their intermittent use as needed over a number of hours. It is portable and light weight enough to be moved into the kitchen when needed, and powerful enough to do the job while in there, for a while.Overal Cons: The relatively small internal battery. The other goal I had for this unit was to run my refrigerator during a power outage, and I wanted this to handle that load for 12 hours, plus intermittent heavier loads noted above for short periods of time. My fridge averages about 70 watts over time (with peaks as high as 400 watts when it goes into a de-icing cycle). So assuming a continuous 70 watt draw for 12 hours I would need 840 watt hours, very close to the maximum I could draw from the internal battery. If I added any load at all (brief use of other appliances, or even an LED light bulb), I wouldn’t make my 12 hour goal.My solution: I added an external 100 Amp Hour, 1280 Watt Hour, 12 volt LiFePO4 battery, and connected it to the Bluetti’s solar/charging input port. At 12 volts, it provided about 98 watts of input power. At 24 volts (using a 12 to 24 volt buck converter) it provided about 150 watts of input power. Using a continuous 90 watt draw (through the inverter) and the external battery supplementing the internal battery (at 12 volts), I was able to run over 16 hours and had about 10% of the internal battery remaining. Using a continuous 183 watt draw (via the inverter), and the external battery supplementing at 24 volts (150 watts), I achieved a total of 9 hours of run time (and had 3% left on the internal battery). In both cases, I drew the total 1280 watt hours from the external battery. Another con: The input charging voltage takes a hit also, it took a 107 watt draw from my external battery to produce 98 watts of charge into the AC180. So a hit on the input, and a hit on the output. With the 9 hour, 183 watt test, the overall efficiency (total input watt hours to total load watt hours) was about 77%. Acceptable, but not great. With the 16 hour 90 watt test, the efficiency was about 69%, a bit poorer than with the higher load. Internal inverter inefficiency regardless of how much load is applied took a greater hit with the lower load.Bottom line: Despite the not really great efficiency, I’m happy with the Bluetti. I’ve built a couple of my own “solar generators”, none of which matched the Bluetti for size, weight, and capability in a single package. By adding the external 12V 100AH battery, I’ve given the AC180 the run time I’m looking for with it. Individually, the AC180 and the external battery, are very portable and can be paired at the needed location. With the pair, I can use this in my kitchen to run my fridge for an extended period of time while also using some heavy draw appliances briefly from time to time. Also, this combination is much more cost effective than the newer AC180 V2 with the larger battery. I paid $150 for the external battery.

The media could not be loaded. About a month ago, my area was hit with a storm that knocked out our power for over an hour. My two teenagers were home alone at the time. No lights, no Internet, no way to communicate easily—and I couldn’t get home right away. That experience made me realize how much we rely on power, especially for safety and staying connected.⸻⚙️ Setup & InstallationAfter researching a lot of options, I decided on the Bluetti AC180 because it offered:• Enough power for essentials• A built-in UPS (uninterrupted power supply)• A price that didn’t require me to fully commit to a whole-house backup systemSetup was surprisingly straightforward. I:1. Connected the AC180 to my regular wall outlet so it stays charged and in standby.2. Disconnected the power source to one set of outlets in our basement that covered TV, and lamps to (our family room).3. Ran that broken circuit through an 8-gauge outdoor extension cord plugged directly into the AC180.That room powers:• Two ceiling lights (5w)• A floor lamp (2w)• A Smart TV (110-200 W)• Our Internet router (10-20 W)• A couple of outlets for laptopsAs soon as I tested it, everything worked perfectly. The best part is when the power goes out, it switches over instantly. You don’t even notice—Internet and devices stay on without interruption.⸻💡 Real-World UseSince installing it, I’ve tested it a few times and trained my kids on how to monitor the battery life. The AC180 display shows exactly how many hours are left depending on the load. If the power drain gets too fast, they know to turn off the TV or dim the lights to stretch the runtime.It’s given me huge peace of mind knowing that if I’m away and the grid fails, they can just go downstairs, turn on the lights, stay online, and wait safely.⸻✅ Pros• Very easy setup for anyone comfortable with basic wiring• Instant switchover with UPS—no disruption to Internet or devices• Clear display showing runtime and load• Compact and portable—can double as backup power in a car or camper• Good value compared to larger systems❌ Cons• If you want to power multiple large appliances, you’ll eventually want a higher-capacity unit• Extension cords need to be properly rated (8 gauge worked great for me)⸻🎯 Who This Is ForIf you:• Have a small family or kids at home• Want an affordable, reliable backup solution• Need something you can set up without hiring an electrician…the AC180 is fantastic. It’s also a great intro step before moving to a whole-house generator.⸻📷 Videos UploadedI’ve included videos showing:• How I set up the device• The room it powers• How the switchover works⸻Bottom Line:This was a lifesaver for us. It’s easy to use, dependable, and makes me feel prepared without spending thousands. Highly recommended for peace of mind in unpredictable weather.