CleanTechnica Examined: The BioLite BaseCharge 600 + SolarPanel 100

BioLite is shifting into the moveable energy station enterprise with a variety of compact and trendy models. They despatched us the BioLite BaseCharge 600, a $699, 622 watt-hour moveable energy station for us to run by the paces.

Proper out of the gate, the BioLite BaseCharge 600 is available in an oblong kind issue with a flat prime. Retailers on the entrance of the gadget sit under a small show. It sports activities 2 AC retailers, 2 x USB-C retailers, 2 x USB-A retailers, a DC 12 volt automotive outlet, and two DC barrel plug retailers. One of many USB-C ports additionally doubles as a charging port that may pull in as much as 100 watts. It will also be charged up from an Anderson connector for photo voltaic or the included AC adapter.

Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica

The DC USB and AC sections of the outlet ports are all grouped collectively on the entrance of the unit with a single button to show them on or off. The on-off button for every part activates the DC to DC converter for the DC and USB retailers and the AC inverter for the AC ports. This permits most effectivity and activates solely the ports wanted on the time. Every button has a small LED mild that lights up when the ports are activated, making it simple to see at a look which ports are activated or not. Equally, the show up prime has a show button to show the show on and off.

Up prime, a dished-out tray homes a wi-fi charger which may push out as much as 10 watts of energy to a cellphone or different wi-fi charging succesful gadget. A pair of handles on both aspect present a stable grip on the unit, and at solely 14 kilos, it’s not too heavy which you can’t elevate it with one hand.

Charging the BioLite BaseCharge 600

Earlier than they can be utilized, moveable energy stations have to be charged up, so let’s begin there. The BioLite SolarPanel 100 is, because the title implies, a 100 watt folding photo voltaic panel designed for use whereas on the go. It’s the good complement to the corporate’s moveable energy stations, turning the BaseCharge 600 into a real photo voltaic generator system. In excellent situations, the 100 watt panel would recharge the BaseCharge 600 from 0-100% in round 7 hours. As with most photo voltaic panels, output varies all through the day relying on the angle of the panels relative to the solar, each vertically and horizontally, in addition to the time of yr within the area the place they’re getting used.

Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica

Right here in Southern California, the folding photo voltaic panel pushed out between 50 and 100 watts, relying on how I had it set it up and the time of day. That interprets to about 8 hours of sunshine for a full cost. In the true world, you gained’t sometimes be charging from 0-100% so it’s extra vital to line up the manufacturing capability of the photo voltaic panel with the anticipated utilization of the battery capability every day. For instance, if you wish to cost up 30 cell telephones at 10 watt-hours every, that will eat half the capability of the BaseCharge 600. Charging it again up through photo voltaic for about 4 hours would prime it again up once more.

In our testing, plugging the unit right into a wall outlet through the included 90W AC charger gives 85 watts of energy to the unit. This gives an 80% cost in 7 hours or a full cost in 8-9 hours. As a substitute of utilizing a DC barrel adapter, the BioLite AC charger makes use of the Anderson ports, which isn’t one thing we’ve seen earlier than.

Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica

The BaseCharge 600 will also be charged through USB-C at as much as 100 watts. If you really want to get recharged rapidly, the BaseCharge 600 can be able to quick charging through USB-C and the AC wall adapter on the identical time, charging the unit as much as 80% in 3.5 hours. It’s vital to make certain that the USB-C cable getting used is able to pushing this a lot energy down when you’re planning to make use of USB-C charging as not all cables are created equally.

Utilizing the BaseCharge 600 Transportable Energy Station

With a full cost, we headed to our check lab and started stress-testing the BioLite BaseCharge 600. On nearly each different moveable energy station we’ve examined, our Bodum scorching water kettle pulls round 800 watts. With the BaseCharge 600’s steady output of 600 watts and a surge capability of as much as 1,000 watts, that is proper within the candy spot for stress testing. We plugged the new water kettle and heated up a pot and the BaseCharge 600 didn’t bat a watch. Unusually, the show confirmed that it was solely placing out 500 watts, however the water heated up simply the identical and the BaseCharge 600 didn’t blow any gaskets.

Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica

Swapping the new water kettle out for a Vitamix blender and our tried and true KitchenAid mixer, we cranked each home equipment as much as their max speeds. Simply as with the new water kettle, the BaseCharge 600 saved up with the load and was in a position to push out sufficient energy for each. The show confirmed that it was pushing out simply over 500 watts for each units which is in step with what we see on different units.

Total

With its 622 watt-hour capability, the BaseCharge 600 can keep masses like this for a bit over an hour. The trade-off for the decrease capability is that this unit may be very mild in comparison with many of the one to 2 kilowatt-hour models we check. This makes it a terrific choice for moveable use instances like powering an electrical cooler at a soccer recreation, maintaining your units charged up for a tenting journey, or simply bringing it together with you to cost up your laptop computer while you notice it was empty as you run out the door.

The BaseCharge 600 just isn’t an entire house backup resolution, but it surely might simply function an emergency energy provide within the occasion of a grid outage. It’s nicely suited to maintaining the web on and some lights in areas the place energy outages are rare or lower than a day. It might additionally energy a fridge for a handful of hours, relying on the mannequin. Plugging it in to a photo voltaic panel additional extends its utility and capability to supply energy virtually indefinitely throughout an prolonged outage.

We love that the BioLite BaseCharge 600 and SolarPanel 100 are a compact package, enabling off-grid energy for days on finish powered by the solar. This pair would make a terrific choice for automobile campers searching for one thing to maintain their laptop computer and units charged past what their automobile is ready to do. As demonstrated by the new water kettle, it might additionally assist some mild responsibility cooking with a water kettle or perhaps a low energy induction cooktop.

For extra details about or to buy the $699.00 BioLite BaseCharge 600 or the $399.95 SolarPanel 100, head over to their respective net pages.

Specs

• Capability: 622 watt-hours
• Chemistry: NMC lithium-ion cells
• Max AC Output: 600 W steady, 1,000 W surge
• Outputs: AC, DC, DC Barrel, USB-A, USB-C, USB-C PD, 10 watt wi-fi charging pad on prime deck
• Show: Colour LCD show w/Reset-able Power Odometer to observe utilization
• Recharge Time to 80% (AC Adapter): 7 hours
• Recharge Time to 80% (AC Adapter + USB-C PD): 3.5 hours
• Recharge Time to 80% (1×100 watt Photo voltaic Panel): 6 hours
• Weight: 14.0 lb / 6.4 kg
• Value:  $699
• Guarantee: 2 years

Disclaimer: BioLite offered the BaseCharge 600 and SolarPanel 100 to the creator freed from cost for the needs of this assessment.