A Portable power station is basically a large power bank, but with an AC output. This, in combination with a large capacity battery, ensures that you can connect all kinds of appliances, wherever you are.
What is the difference between a Portable Power Station and a smaller power bank?
The main difference is in the capacity and the connections. A power station almost always has one or more AC outputs, and enough power to connect all kinds of devices.
Because of this Power Stations are larger in size, unlike normal power banks. These are focused on portability and are more suitable for day trips or air travel.
Which products are suitable to connect to the Power Station?
The Power Station has a wide selection of outputs, so you'll have the right solution anywhere. They include one or more 220V power outlets, a 12V car charger (cigarette lighter) outlet, and for easy charging of your mobile devices it also has USB ports, one of which is Quick Charge 3.0. In addition, there is also a 60W USB-C PD input/output.
Which products are suitable to connect to the Power Station's AC output, and for how long?
The most important question to answer first in this case is: What is the wattage is of the product you would like to connect?
Namely, the MP300 has a maximum output of 300W, so the connected device must use less than 300W to function properly. For the MP500, this is 500W.
The next logical question is then, how long can the connected device be powered? If you know the wattage of the device, and the capacity of the powerbank, this is fairly easy to calculate.
You can usually find the power consumption of the product on the specification label on the product, or by looking it up online.
The battery capacity of the XP300 is 281Wh. Wh here stands for Watt/hour, so how many watts it could handle in 1 hour until it runs out of power.
However, this capacity is the pure battery capacity. The actual capacity that`s usable through the AC output is lower, around 175Wh. Why exactly is a very technical story.
In short, the power from a battery is a different "kind" of power than that from a wall outlet. Namely, direct current (DC), versus alternating current (AC). Converting from one type to the other involves some power loss. Hence the difference between battery capacity and usable capacity. This difference could be up to 40% less.
So the math goes as follows:
175Wh / (insert wattage of your device) = number of hours of power supply
As an example, if you were to connect a 10W fan:
175Wh / 10W = 17.5 hours
For the XP500, the usable capacity via AC power is about 367Wh. This means you could run the same fan for almost 37 hours!
What is "Pure Sine Wave" and what can I do with it?
The portable power station has an AC output with pure sine wave, but why is this important?
To prevent it from becoming too long and too technical, we are going to try to keep it as simple as possible.
There are two terms that are important in this story:
1. Pure sine wave
2. Modified sine wave
The difference between the two is easiest to make clear by making a comparison with water.
Pure water, as you would expect to get from the tap at home, can be used for all sorts of things. For drinking, washing, cooking, cleaning, etc.
But what if the water were less pure? Then it is not unusable, but it is less useful. For example, you could probably use it to clean and wash, but not to drink or cook food.
The difference between a pure and modified sine wave is similar. A pure sine wave will work with all devices, but a modified "impure" sine wave will not. With a radio or television, you will notice that you hear a hum, or get interference in your picture. If you connect a device with a motor in it, it will probably not work at all.
Also all (old fashioned) devices that have a transformer in them will give problems. A well-known example of what can go wrong is the electric toothbrush charger. In most cases they will break down immediately.
Xtorm deliberately chooses the pure sine wave in our Power Stations, to guarantee quality and usability.
How do I charge my Portable Power Station?
There are several ways to charge the PPS. The Power Station comes with several charging cables:
- A regular charger with plug for charging at home
- A charger with a 12V car connection (cigarette lighter socket)
- MC4 cable for use with a Solar Panel
The Power Station can also be charged with a USB-C PD charger and cable. (not included)
With this versatility you can charge and use your Power Station almost anywhere!
What is the best way to store my Portable Power Station to keep it in the best condition?
The Portable Power Station is best stored in a dry place, at living room temperature.
Temperatures below 0°C and above 40°C are not recommended. This has a negative effect on the capacity and lifespan of the batteries.
To keep the battery in optimal condition when not in use, please recharge between 3-6 months.
