Bluetti solar generators review: Mr. Blue Sky

Problem: power outages and the need for energy supply on a trip. Solution: solar generator, like the ones that Bluetti offers. Are they any good though? Let’s take a close look at them in our Bluetti solar generators review. 

Bluetti is a Chinese company

Bluetti is a trademarked name of PowerOak. Shenzhen PowerOak Newener Co Ltd was established in 2013. It is headquartered in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, China. Bluetti stands for Blue Sky, Tomorrow, Technology, Innovation. 

You can find Bluetti products in more than 100 countries around the world. The company has branches in Japan, the United States, Germany, Australia, and other major markets.

The company makes portable power stations, solar kits, panels, standalone batteries and all kinds of accessories. Bluetti products are designed mostly for campers, tourists and sailors but some of them can be used at home as well. What we are particularly interested in are solar generators from a Chinese manufacturer.

Solar generator = Panels + Power station

A solar generator is a term for a kit with solar panels and a power station. A power station combines in itself an inverter, a battery and a charge controller. A solar panel produces direct current (DC) on its own. An inverter inside a power station turns DC into AC, and you can plug your appliances into it as if it was a standard home outlet.

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Solar generators are likely to take over gas generators in a little while. They don’t need fuel, have no smell and are silent. Small models make for great travel companions and large ones become an emergency backup at home.

Bluetti solar generators: Performance, cost, lifespan

Bluetti power stations range in size from a little over 250 Wh to over 5 kWh. These are modular models that can be paired with several batteries. At full capacity, such a power station can reach up to 18 kWh capacity. Using two stations you can get to 36 kWh capacity which can be enough to keep your home powered for a few days.

Vasilii Smirnov

Solar Installation Expert

Bluetti shows that batteries in solar generator kits can reach a capacity comparable to standard home battery systems such as Powerwall. At the same time, they are much easier to set up. Still, Powerwall and alternatives last longer and their power ratings are generally higher.

The maximum power rating of a single Bluetti station reaches 5000 W. While it’s more than enough for travelers, homeowners might have difficulty using even the most powerful models for all the loads at a large home.

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The company pairs its stations with solar panels that are rated from 100 W to 420 W power output. They are portable, and it’s easy to set them up whenever and wherever with a kickstand. These portable panels are significantly more expensive than solar panels for homes though. For example, a 430 W panel comes at $900 as of summer 2023. They usually come with a 1-year warranty.

Power stations range in price from around $300 all the way up to over $5,000. How much a Bluetti solar generator costs depend on the size and power output of the model. Overall, the prices are close to the average numbers for the market or slightly cheaper.

Bluetti solar generators last for 5-10 years. LFP batteries that some of their stations have can withstand over 2,500 charge cycles. The company usually offers a 2-year warranty on their products and some products come with 5-year coverage. Given the complexity of devices, it’s hard to expect more and the competitors offer similar guarantees.

Bluetti generators: Pros

Let’s take a look at the strong sides of Bluetti products that customers point out:

• High product quality and positive reviews. Customers are overall satisfied with the service that Bluetti power stations provide.
• Wide range of outputs to power a variety of devices and appliances. There are generators and stations for travelers and home use.
• Competitive pricing. Bluetti solar generator prices are close to the average numbers for the market or slightly cheaper. 

Bluetti generators: Cons

What about the downsides? Most complaints in Bluetti solar generator reviews circle around questionable or outdated design decisions.

• Customers claim that wheelless models can be too heavy to carry around
• Some users note that the usability of Bluetti generators can suffer because of tiny buttons, small screens, and not enough info on the display.
• The limited capacity and relatively low power ratings of power stations can make it hard to use them at home.

Top 3 Bluetti solar generators: For home and traveling

Let’s look at the generator models put out on the market. We’ve picked three models that can be a solid choice for your home or a mobile installation. 

BLUETTI EB3A — Travel companion

This is the power station that Bluetti offers in terms of size and capacity. EB3A has a 268 Wh LiFePO4 battery. It can withstand over 2500 recharge cycles. The battery takes only 1-2 hours to recharge with a maximum of 3 hours when you use the car outlet. The station is rated for 600 W. It comes with a 200 W portable solar panel: a great solar generator to take with you on a trip.

BLUETTI AC300 + B300 — Modular battery bank

The AC300 generator is modular and it can accept up to four B300 battery modules per unit, adding up to a total of 12,288 Wh energy capacity. A 12 kWh battery bank can be used at home to protect you from power outages. It comes with a 3000 W pure sine wave inverter. You can charge it with wall outlets or with solar energy. AC300 can receive 2,400 W of unrivaled solar charging input. With Bluetti’s MPPT controller, you can juice up a 3,072 Wh B300 battery module as soon as in 1.5 hours using only sunshine!

BLUETTI EP500Pro Solar Power Station — Home protector

This movable power station has a 5100 Wh battery. LiFePO4 chemistry ensures over 3500 charge cycles. The station has a built-in 3000 W pure sine wave inverter. You can order a bundle with three 350 W solar panels. This Bluetti off-grid solar generator is best designed for home use and it will power essential appliances during power outages. The device comes with a 5-year warranty.

Andrey Gorichenski

Senior Editor

Andrey had been a news editor and freelance writer for a number of medias before joining A1SolarStore team. Climate change and its impact on people's lives has always been among his interests and it partially explains his degree in Philosophy and Ethics.

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