Hey…good review, thanks. For anyone wondering about musical uses for the R 300, I’ve had one for about a week. Today I powered my 40 watt guitar amp (Victory Duchess) and an 8 pedal board..(mostly analog 9 volters, and an 18 volt eq…) for three hours on the amp’s full power setting, playing at fairly loud volume (avg 86db@ 1 meter), and on standby for roughly an hour between sets. The R300 went from start at full charge down to 71%. So, less than a third. Absolutely no issues with weird amp or pedal behavior. Great.😎
Thank you for reviewing the differing capacities of these 3 products. I requested a solar wire from Bluetti and rec'd it free of charge in less than a week.
Great, well presented review, and good info. The Bluetti is a great entry level unit. My starting point was a Suaoki S270, and the Blue is light years ahead of that one.
Thank you! I loved the EB3A so much I ended up buying a second to replace a UPS because it has these LiFePO4 batteries. I just got in an Ecoflow Delta 2 which I think will be the go-to for Mid-Level Power Stations, a video on that will be coming soon.
Another problem with the GoLabs is that it will shut off its AC after a certain number of hours (something like 8 or so), whether you are drawing a load on it or not. So it can't be used to run a fridge or cooler continuously unattended. The bluetti EB3A is generally the better unit, I agree there. Its too bad the capacity is so low though. Other bluetti's like the EB55 have pass-through charging but do not have a UPS mode and do not necessarily restart charging automatically after power events (like brown-outs). For larger units I would also consider the FFPower P2001. It has a really nice UPS mode (10ms switching time) and excellent firmware. The capacity is a bit overstated but it is price-competitive and doesn't have any firmware quirks. For example, it will automatically retry after a power event rather than just shutdown the charging input like the EB55.
I agree with everything you said. I actually use the GoLabs R300 to continuously run a raspberry pi completely on Solar power (unless it rains for more than a day) since USB will stay on unlike AC as you said. I am using the EB3A as a UPS for a desktop computer since my original Cyber power UPS just stopped working (probably dead batteries). I tested the UPS mode at 300 watts and it works great and has longer runtime than my old CyberPower but at 400 watts it could not keep the desktop powered on during the time it switches from grid to battery. I am hoping they make a new EB3A with a larger battery and inverter... Until then I am buying EB3As to replace my old UPS since these batteries should last 10 years+ instead of just 2 years with lead acid batteries. Thank you for your comment!
I have the eb3a, the biggest down side is it's battery's capacity and efficiency. You need to hook another battery to it to make it really usable. I'm searching for a battery with 12v in and out, solar can change both batteries through the eb3a then hook the battery to the eb3a solar input to extend the run time of the eb3a. Might have to make my own battery setup.
thank you, you have given more info than all the others by telling me about the delta pro ac 200 and the delta pro ac200 max by Blue Eddie, may not seem like much but it is , thank you Justin
The bigger units are more expensive but the manufacturer often has sales on both the new and refurbished units. I recently bought an EcoFlow Delta 2 that was refurbished directly from the manufacturer on eBay and it works great.
thank you Justin the delta's are way out of my reach, just ordered the EB3A and that's about all my money for now but will expand to it in dew time, the extra's cost maybe more than the EB but it gives me hope, my needs out weigh my money, needing oxygen 24/7, have small tanks on hand, Justin thanks, let's hope it's not needed, take care
The EB3A is a great product, I actually use it as a UPS for a computer server so it should work well for you too. Hopefully inflation and cost of living go down soon. Take care!
Justin, don't mean to bother you but, thinking of buying VTOMAN Jump 1000 Portable Power Station 1000W, 1408Wh Solar, it's expandable by that get another battery to add , what do you think, me not knowing much about solar and be 77 it's a little late for me, but do you think, needing oxygen 24/7 that's a must and maybe 10 watt light, well answer if you want , take care, thanks George
the ryobi inverter output then into the bluetti eb series for charging its battery works, but not to power larger devices because the bluetti has a UPS feature which shuts down its inverter and so the power coming out is actually the power from the ryobi inverter. Pass through charging works, but you would have to have a large inverter to power your fridge from and charge the bluetti.
Yes you are correct, if my fridge uses more than 300 watts the Ryobi inverter will fail and the EB3A will have to use battery power. However, my newer model refrigerator typically uses less than 100 watts while idle. I just got in a mid level Refurbished Ecoflow Delta 2 Power Station that I just started running tests on. The refurbished price is reasonable and the inverter can handle 1800 watts! Hopefully I will have a video on it done in 2 weeks since running tests takes so long.
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Congrats on the new power station. Just remember, when trying to power motor loads or high drain loads, not to use the UPS function unless your power source is powerful enough for the load. The Delta 2 and the eb3a both have ups function so it would be cool to see how those work in tandem!
My goal is to make some Mac n cheese in the microwave using the Delta 2. Since the EB3A has a car charger port, the Delta 2 could be charged using the provided car charger to xt60 cable as if the EB3A were a set of solar panels.
Thanks! Yes, since this video, the cheapest power station has started shutting off in the 30% range while the Bluetti continues to work great. I actually just ordered a second Bluetti EB3A to replace my CyberPower UPS that needs new batteries. The EB3A UPS works great at under 300 watts to keep my desktop powered and the batteries will last longer as far as longevity and run time.
Very interesting! I thought about the Same, and purchased a CTECHi 518 for about the price of the bluetti. 518wh, 1000w surge, but sadly no passtrough (except via dc, and that’s the way i use it, since i already have a dc 12v to ac converter for the car). I wanted „more range“ since i already had a small power station, and it’s ok and all, but the „range“ is quite limited… regards from Europe 👋🙂
I have the EB3A and the UPS fails sometimes for no reason. Also on overcast days that you can only pick up 5 or 10 watts on your panel it won't charge. If you want a emergency power station that charges fast off AC power then it is great...it will go from 0 to a full charge in around 90 minutes!
Hey Frank, I have been using the EB3A as a UPS on load between 220 and 300 watts, I find the UPS does not switch over fast enough for a desktop computer after 300 watts. If yours is failing before 300 watts you should probably return it. I just bought a second EB3A because the UPS lasts longer than a traditional Cyber Power or APC UPS. The MPPT controller for solar may not be the best but it works well enough and the AC charging is superb. Thanks for watching!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 I had my CPAP plugged into it which is why I bought it. It just cut off for no reason at 100% power. Also it my run a 600 watt load but not more than about 10-15 minutes since it is only a 268 WH.
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 I am not sure what you are referring to? If it is the low run time at 600WH the unit is 256WH and the large 600 watt inverter uses a good deal of power so it won't last ling at that wattage.
Thank you! The Somikon is no longer listed on Amazon, but the new EcoFlow River 2 was recently on sale for a similar price. It is sold out currently on Amazon but you could try a refurbished unit from eBay for around $155
Justin am living in a mobile home and want about 300 watts for a few lights and a fridge, don't need to be portable just something cheep, just getting started, any quick idea's, heard that a mppt is best, don't really know what everything is yet, but soon to learn, hopefully, thanks, George PS where to buy would be helpful. maybe a small outdoor camera to use my echo show
How many hours would you want it to run? Even though the entry level ones support 300 watts, they can only run less than an hour on the battery. You might need a much more expensive unit like an EcoFlow Delta Pro which has a higher capacity and can accept more than 300 watts of solar panels.
Good video.. why don't you include a review of the CTechi gt200 320wh? It's cheaper than the jackery and eb3a and has a nice aluminium body, really well built
The gt200 only has a 200 watt inverter so it wouldn't be possible to run my refrigerator, but it seems like it would be a nice budget option for anyone who mostly wants the USB options. Thanks for watching!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Most people who buy a small power station probably won't be using it to run a fridge but the gt200 will be suitable for running everything under 200watts, laptop, TV, small 12volt fridge. It's a bonus that it has 2 way PD usb quick charge.
I think I focused only on power outage situations rather than camping. I would definitely consider the ctechi gt200 for camping and powering those low wattage devices you listed, it says it supports pass thru charging so it would be an ideal power station at that price point for camping purposes.
What a strange comparison of products ... why? First, these powerstations do not play in the same category. Then, even if it is informative to compare technical sheets and manufacturer specifications, it does not indicate much about the real behavior of these powerstations in their daily use. But still, it is easy to compare discharge tests, but where are the charging tests? However, these products are announced "solar". This is supposed to be their main function: to help out and recharge by Off GRID. Then, the minimum would be to compare 3 points : 1) the full charging time in solar (not on a wall outlet) 2) the solar load holding 3) the ghost consumption (load loss in standby)
Finally, other aspects should be included in any comparison, concerning brands: - the frequency of firmware updates, - the availability of parts in the event of a breakdown - the responsiveness of customer support. I have a Bluetti EB3A and, as many others owners, it has a major problem : Solar charging, known as "Input Blinking issue" Concretely, this means that it does not recharge by PV unless you have very good sunshine. In addition, I noted that the solar charge is much less good than the charge on wall outlet. Of course, Bluetti technical support answer, but never precisely to this solar charging problem. Thank you for your review
I agree with all of your points, thank you for helping me improve. I was going to buy the new ecoflow and compare against the EB3A but my CyberPower UPS went out so I just bought another EB3A to act as a UPS with no solar input.
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Thank you for being open minded. I had great expectations with powerstations. I got already 3 bad experiences with different brands (GZ, BLUETTI, No Brand). My conclusion is that powerstations are overvaluated, overpriced and absolutely not long lasting. This is a shame that the end user cannot change the batteries. My next project will be more traditionnal with separate elements... MPPT, inverter, batteries, etc. It will be cheaper and i could do my own maintenance and repairs.
At the time this video was made, their entry level LiFePO4 option only had a 200 watt inverter which makes what it can power very limited. Otherwise it seems similar to the R300 as far as features and could be a good budget option. The next video I am working on is the Mid Level Ecoflow Delta 2 Power Station. Thanks for watching!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Thanks ! It's also the only point I saw. If you get 600w out of the EB3A it will be drained in no time. Realisticaly no ones drains that much. For weekend camping, a macbook (15w) + a light and a fan (15w) it's plenty enough.
The EB3A supports 200 watts of solar input which would help extend the battery, but yes the lower capacity of the EB3A makes the 600 watt inverter less useful.
Hey…good review, thanks. For anyone wondering about musical uses for the R 300, I’ve had one for about a week. Today I powered my 40 watt guitar amp (Victory Duchess) and an 8 pedal board..(mostly analog 9 volters, and an 18 volt eq…) for three hours on the amp’s full power setting, playing at fairly loud volume (avg 86db@ 1 meter), and on standby for roughly an hour between sets. The R300 went from start at full charge down to 71%. So, less than a third. Absolutely no issues with weird amp or pedal behavior. Great.😎
Thank you for reviewing the differing capacities of these 3 products.
I requested a solar wire from Bluetti and rec'd it free of charge in less than a week.
Great, well presented review, and good info. The Bluetti is a great entry level unit. My starting point was a Suaoki S270, and the Blue is light years ahead of that one.
Thank you! I loved the EB3A so much I ended up buying a second to replace a UPS because it has these LiFePO4 batteries. I just got in an Ecoflow Delta 2 which I think will be the go-to for Mid-Level Power Stations, a video on that will be coming soon.
Another problem with the GoLabs is that it will shut off its AC after a certain number of hours (something like 8 or so), whether you are drawing a load on it or not. So it can't be used to run a fridge or cooler continuously unattended. The bluetti EB3A is generally the better unit, I agree there. Its too bad the capacity is so low though. Other bluetti's like the EB55 have pass-through charging but do not have a UPS mode and do not necessarily restart charging automatically after power events (like brown-outs).
For larger units I would also consider the FFPower P2001. It has a really nice UPS mode (10ms switching time) and excellent firmware. The capacity is a bit overstated but it is price-competitive and doesn't have any firmware quirks. For example, it will automatically retry after a power event rather than just shutdown the charging input like the EB55.
I agree with everything you said. I actually use the GoLabs R300 to continuously run a raspberry pi completely on Solar power (unless it rains for more than a day) since USB will stay on unlike AC as you said. I am using the EB3A as a UPS for a desktop computer since my original Cyber power UPS just stopped working (probably dead batteries). I tested the UPS mode at 300 watts and it works great and has longer runtime than my old CyberPower but at 400 watts it could not keep the desktop powered on during the time it switches from grid to battery. I am hoping they make a new EB3A with a larger battery and inverter... Until then I am buying EB3As to replace my old UPS since these batteries should last 10 years+ instead of just 2 years with lead acid batteries. Thank you for your comment!
I have the eb3a, the biggest down side is it's battery's capacity and efficiency. You need to hook another battery to it to make it really usable. I'm searching for a battery with 12v in and out, solar can change both batteries through the eb3a then hook the battery to the eb3a solar input to extend the run time of the eb3a. Might have to make my own battery setup.
Yeah I agree, I almost bought a b300 from Bluetti which might be a possible solution as it has a built in MPPT controller
How long does it run u have some examples for runtimes?
thank you, you have given more info than all the others by telling me about the delta pro ac 200 and the delta pro ac200 max by Blue Eddie, may not seem like much but it is , thank you Justin
The bigger units are more expensive but the manufacturer often has sales on both the new and refurbished units. I recently bought an EcoFlow Delta 2 that was refurbished directly from the manufacturer on eBay and it works great.
thank you Justin the delta's are way out of my reach, just ordered the EB3A and that's about all my money for now but will expand to it in dew time, the extra's cost maybe more than the EB but it gives me hope, my needs out weigh my money, needing oxygen 24/7, have small tanks on hand, Justin thanks, let's hope it's not needed, take care
The EB3A is a great product, I actually use it as a UPS for a computer server so it should work well for you too. Hopefully inflation and cost of living go down soon. Take care!
Justin, don't mean to bother you but, thinking of buying VTOMAN Jump 1000 Portable Power Station 1000W, 1408Wh Solar, it's expandable by that get another battery to add , what do you think, me not knowing much about solar and be 77 it's a little late for me, but do you think, needing oxygen 24/7 that's a must and maybe 10 watt light, well answer if you want , take care, thanks George
the ryobi inverter output then into the bluetti eb series for charging its battery works, but not to power larger devices because the bluetti has a UPS feature which shuts down its inverter and so the power coming out is actually the power from the ryobi inverter. Pass through charging works, but you would have to have a large inverter to power your fridge from and charge the bluetti.
Yes you are correct, if my fridge uses more than 300 watts the Ryobi inverter will fail and the EB3A will have to use battery power. However, my newer model refrigerator typically uses less than 100 watts while idle. I just got in a mid level Refurbished Ecoflow Delta 2 Power Station that I just started running tests on. The refurbished price is reasonable and the inverter can handle 1800 watts! Hopefully I will have a video on it done in 2 weeks since running tests takes so long.
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Congrats on the new power station. Just remember, when trying to power motor loads or high drain loads, not to use the UPS function unless your power source is powerful enough for the load. The Delta 2 and the eb3a both have ups function so it would be cool to see how those work in tandem!
My goal is to make some Mac n cheese in the microwave using the Delta 2. Since the EB3A has a car charger port, the Delta 2 could be charged using the provided car charger to xt60 cable as if the EB3A were a set of solar panels.
Great review thanks mate, that Bluetti looks like the best choice
Thanks! Yes, since this video, the cheapest power station has started shutting off in the 30% range while the Bluetti continues to work great. I actually just ordered a second Bluetti EB3A to replace my CyberPower UPS that needs new batteries. The EB3A UPS works great at under 300 watts to keep my desktop powered and the batteries will last longer as far as longevity and run time.
Very interesting! I thought about the Same, and purchased a CTECHi 518 for about the price of the bluetti. 518wh, 1000w surge, but sadly no passtrough (except via dc, and that’s the way i use it, since i already have a dc 12v to ac converter for the car). I wanted „more range“ since i already had a small power station, and it’s ok and all, but the „range“ is quite limited… regards from Europe 👋🙂
Great info, thanks!
I have the EB3A and the UPS fails sometimes for no reason. Also on overcast days that you can only pick up 5 or 10 watts on your panel it won't charge. If you want a emergency power station that charges fast off AC power then it is great...it will go from 0 to a full charge in around 90 minutes!
Hey Frank, I have been using the EB3A as a UPS on load between 220 and 300 watts, I find the UPS does not switch over fast enough for a desktop computer after 300 watts. If yours is failing before 300 watts you should probably return it. I just bought a second EB3A because the UPS lasts longer than a traditional Cyber Power or APC UPS. The MPPT controller for solar may not be the best but it works well enough and the AC charging is superb. Thanks for watching!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 I had my CPAP plugged into it which is why I bought it. It just cut off for no reason at 100% power. Also it my run a 600 watt load but not more than about 10-15 minutes since it is only a 268 WH.
That's horrible, is it maybe because eco mode was on?
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 I am not sure what you are referring to? If it is the low run time at 600WH the unit is 256WH and the large 600 watt inverter uses a good deal of power so it won't last ling at that wattage.
Thanks for the info; where is the link for the Somikon MT-CN320?
Thank you! The Somikon is no longer listed on Amazon, but the new EcoFlow River 2 was recently on sale for a similar price. It is sold out currently on Amazon but you could try a refurbished unit from eBay for around $155
Justin am living in a mobile home and want about 300 watts for a few lights and a fridge, don't need to be portable just something cheep, just getting started, any quick idea's, heard that a mppt is best, don't really know what everything is yet, but soon to learn, hopefully, thanks, George
PS where to buy would be helpful. maybe a small outdoor camera to use my echo show
How many hours would you want it to run? Even though the entry level ones support 300 watts, they can only run less than an hour on the battery. You might need a much more expensive unit like an EcoFlow Delta Pro which has a higher capacity and can accept more than 300 watts of solar panels.
The bluetti has 1,200 watt power surge rated inverter
It's not enough to run my microwave 😥 I want to eat my microwavable Mac n cheese
Good video.. why don't you include a review of the CTechi gt200 320wh? It's cheaper than the jackery and eb3a and has a nice aluminium body, really well built
The gt200 only has a 200 watt inverter so it wouldn't be possible to run my refrigerator, but it seems like it would be a nice budget option for anyone who mostly wants the USB options. Thanks for watching!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Most people who buy a small power station probably won't be using it to run a fridge but the gt200 will be suitable for running everything under 200watts, laptop, TV, small 12volt fridge. It's a bonus that it has 2 way PD usb quick charge.
I think I focused only on power outage situations rather than camping. I would definitely consider the ctechi gt200 for camping and powering those low wattage devices you listed, it says it supports pass thru charging so it would be an ideal power station at that price point for camping purposes.
Hey…good review,
Great video.
Thank you!
How to use the 320 watt with Honda-battery
Unfortunately these are not designed to jumpstart a car, but you can use them to charge a jump start device.
What a strange comparison of products ... why?
First, these powerstations do not play in the same category.
Then, even if it is informative to compare technical sheets and manufacturer specifications, it does not indicate much about the real behavior of these powerstations in their daily use.
But still, it is easy to compare discharge tests, but where are the charging tests? However, these products are announced "solar". This is supposed to be their main function: to help out and recharge by Off GRID. Then, the minimum would be to compare 3 points :
1) the full charging time in solar (not on a wall outlet)
2) the solar load holding
3) the ghost consumption (load loss in standby)
Finally, other aspects should be included in any comparison, concerning brands:
- the frequency of firmware updates,
- the availability of parts in the event of a breakdown
- the responsiveness of customer support.
I have a Bluetti EB3A and, as many others owners, it has a major problem : Solar charging, known as "Input Blinking issue"
Concretely, this means that it does not recharge by PV unless you have very good sunshine.
In addition, I noted that the solar charge is much less good than the charge on wall outlet.
Of course, Bluetti technical support answer, but never precisely to this solar charging problem.
Thank you for your review
I agree with all of your points, thank you for helping me improve. I was going to buy the new ecoflow and compare against the EB3A but my CyberPower UPS went out so I just bought another EB3A to act as a UPS with no solar input.
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Thank you for being open minded. I had great expectations with powerstations. I got already 3 bad experiences with different brands (GZ, BLUETTI, No Brand). My conclusion is that powerstations are overvaluated, overpriced and absolutely not long lasting. This is a shame that the end user cannot change the batteries. My next project will be more traditionnal with separate elements... MPPT, inverter, batteries, etc. It will be cheaper and i could do my own maintenance and repairs.
What about CTECHi ?
At the time this video was made, their entry level LiFePO4 option only had a 200 watt inverter which makes what it can power very limited. Otherwise it seems similar to the R300 as far as features and could be a good budget option. The next video I am working on is the Mid Level Ecoflow Delta 2 Power Station. Thanks for watching!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 Thanks ! It's also the only point I saw. If you get 600w out of the EB3A it will be drained in no time. Realisticaly no ones drains that much. For weekend camping, a macbook (15w) + a light and a fan (15w) it's plenty enough.
The EB3A supports 200 watts of solar input which would help extend the battery, but yes the lower capacity of the EB3A makes the 600 watt inverter less useful.
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 I'm looking at EcoFlow River 2 reviews right now. Another qualitative option for 300€.
I considered it, but I ended up getting a second EB3A instead. So far the EcoFlow Delta 2 is amazing but much more money.
Please help me
How can I help?
I'm sending my EB3A back, worst piece of garbage I've ever bought, will never buy another Bluetti product
Sorry to hear that, what went wrong? Thanks for sharing your experience!
@@justinreviewsandrepairs5246 it overheats and shuts off with just a 20 watt load
I have been using one as a UPS for a small server for months at a 200 to 300 watt load, but it is inside. Was yours outside in the sun?