REVIEW: Bluetti EB240 Solar Generator Pros & Cons
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The article discusses the Bluetti EB240, a new solar generator from MaxOak, highlighting its features, pros, and cons. The EB240 boasts a massive 2400Wh battery capacity, fast solar charging, and a variety of outlets for different devices. It uses lithium-ion technology from LG, providing over 2,500 cycles of use. However, it has a limited solar input capability, a relatively low output capacity compared to some competitors, and a relatively slow AC charging time. Despite these drawbacks, the EB240 is praised for its massive storage capacity, efficient battery, and fast solar charging. It is recommended for those looking for a reliable backup source of power for homes, cabins, RVs, or for outdoor activities like camping. The EB240 retails for $1,599 on the MaxOak website and $1,899 on Amazon, offering a competitive price for its features.
MaxOak has done it again. In the chaos that was 2020, the company that made a name for itself with the Bluetti Solar Generator has released an exciting new product. Thanks to its massive battery bank and affordable price point, the Bluetti EB240 is quickly becoming one of the most popular solar generators on the market.
Introduction
If you're familiar with any of the company’s previous products, like the Bluetti EB150, then you know that the EB240 is likely to be a high-performing solar generator. But how does it stack up against previous models?
In this in depth review, look at the product features, pros, cons, and capabilities of the Bluetti EB240.
Product Features:
- Battery Capacity: 2400Wh
- Battery: LG Li-ion battery cell
- AC/PV Input: 7.9*0.9mm DC, 42V/160W,
- OCV 16V~60V /MAX.10A
- AC Output: 110V, Max.1000W
- Carport: DC 12V/9A
- USB Ports: 1*PD 45W USB-C(5-20V), 4*5V,3A USB-A
- Solar Charge Mode: MPPT
- Efficiency: 99.5%
- Size:19.4*6.5*14.4inch
- Weight: 48.5lb
Included with your purchase:
- Bluetti EB240 2,400wH Solar Generator / Portable Power Station
- AC wall charger
- MC4 Solar Panel Connector for connecting solar panels
- 1-Year warranty certificate
- User & setup Manual
What can the Bluetti EB240 Power?
| Appliance | Run Time |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator (150 watts) | 16+ hours |
| Smartphones (5-7 watts) | 400+ hours |
| Tablets (25-40 watts) | 80+ hours |
| Laptops (50 watts) | 48+ hours |
| Electric Blanket (Queen Size, 75 watts) | 32 hours |
| 50" LED LCD TV* (65 watts) | 37 hours |
| Microwave (1,000 watts) | 2+ hours |
| Basecamp LED Light (6 watts) | 400 hours |
| CPAP Machine (30 watts) | 80+ hours |
Pros of the Bluetti EB240
There are plenty of perks that come with the Bluetti EB240. Here are the top benefits of choosing this solar generator from MaxOak.
Massive Battery Bank and Battery Life
Undoubtedly, the eyebrow-raising highlight of this device is its massive storage capability. The EB240 gets its name from its 2400wH battery bank, making it one of the largest capacity all-in-one solar power stations available today. As you can, the storage included in this solar generator can last long enough to recharge hundreds of smartphones or power several nights of CPAP sleeping.
The battery included in the Bluetti EB240 utilizes lithium-ion technology from LG. This massively efficient battery helps power the Bluetti EB240 for over 2,500 cycles. To illustrate how amazing that is, let’s say you were to charge and discharge the battery in its entirety every day (which, again, would be difficult to do, due to its massive size). In these circumstances, the Bluetti EB240 is rated to last for nearly seven years of daily use.
Fast Solar Charging
Many people consider the Bluetti EB240 as a home backup system and for the right reasons. If you plug it into the wall and put it on a shelf, you are guaranteed access to a great source of electricity for indoor or outdoor use. That said, it was really built to be used with solar panels.
The Bluetti EB240 comes with an MPPT solar charge controller built right into the hardware. This charge controller is the most efficient kind available today. If you use the recommend solar input for this device (400W) in direct sunlight, then the battery will take between five and six hours to charge, which is an incredibly fast charging rate, knowing that comparable solar generators take similar amounts of time to charge batteries half the size.
Outlet Variety
Besides the LED display screen, you get a great amount of outlet variety on the Bluetti EB240. The device includes two AC (wall plug) outlets, a DC 12V (Car Cigarette Lighter) Outlet, a type-C USB-C outlet, and four traditional USB outlets. The variety of outlets allows users to charge and power a large number of devices at once in the most efficient way possible.
You can charge smartphones, tablets, and even some laptops by plugging them into one of the USB outlets, which use DC power. By bypassing the inverter, these devices use less overall energy than the limited AC outlets. Thus, users can maximize the battery life and the number of things they can power with the EB240 by using the outlet variety to its fullest.
Cons of the Bluetti EB240
Of course, nothing is perfect. The Bluetti 240 is far superior to most other solar generators, but when compared to other elite devices, there are some drawbacks in choosing this device from MaxOak.
Limited Solar Input
First and foremost, there is a limited amount of solar input capability that comes with the EB240. The manufacturer claims a maximum solar input of 500W, but after some testing and consideration of device longevity, we recommend using only 300W or 400W of solar input.
We said earlier that the fast solar charging is one of the best features about this device, and five or six hours is just about the maximum amount of peak sunlight you can expect on any given day. If you are in an area with more limited sunlight or using a portable solar system on an RV or van, you may struggle to fill the EB240’s battery to capacity. That said, the battery is enormous, and you may not need it fully charged to power all of your devices.
Low Output Capacity
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Bluetti EB240 is the size of the inverter. This model has the same 1000W inverter that MaxOak included in the EB150. Although 1000W is plenty to run most household devices, it still feels a bit limited, especially with other solar generators boasting 1500W & 1600W continuous output capacity. The EB240 is still powerful enough for most home and emergency devices, but users have to be careful when running larger appliances simultaneously.
Weight
With great power comes great responsibility. The responsibility, in this case, is burdened by whoever can carry the Bluetti EB240. The EB240 works great as a home backup system or as a permanent solar installation, but some may struggle to use it as a portable device. The Bluetti EB240 weighs in at just under 50 lbs, which may be a little heavy for some people. It should be noted, though, that the generator has a durable handle on top to make moving it as easy as possible.
Relatively Slow AC (Wall Plug-In) Charge Time
As we noted earlier, the Bluetti EB240 was built with solar in mind. Not only is it extremely efficient in charging with solar, but it also includes the hardware you need to do so with every purchase. Despite this, many people also take advantage of AC charging capability.
If you plug the EB240 into your home’s wall outlet, it charges to capacity in about 10 hours. There are a few top tier solar generators that can charge in less than four hours, but faster charging devices have batteries that much smaller than the EB240's. Ultimately, the ten hour AC charge time is inconvenient, but if you remember to plug in your device overnight, it will charge at a faster watt-hour rate than most solar generators.
The EB240 vs Other MaxOak Solar Generators
As mentioned, the EB240 is not the first premium solar generator available from MaxOak. The massively popular Bluetti EB150 may be a better choice for someone on a budget. Although the EB150 has a battery that is only ⅝ the size of the EB240, it still has plenty of great features. The EB150 comes with the same 1000W output capability as the 240 and weighs significantly less, making it a great portable power generator.
Bluetti EB240 Price
The Bluetti retails on the MaxOak website for $1,599 and on Amazon for $1,899. At just under $2k, this price is incredible. If you were to purchase similar size and quality battery banks and inverters separately, they would likely be much more expensive than the Bluetti, which comes in a convenient, portable package.
At Shop Solar Kits, we work with the manufacturer directly to offer discounted prices on solar generators like this one.
Final Words
We recommend the Bluetti EB240 from MaxOak, and customers do, too. It consistent gets top marks in user reviews. This solar generator works perfectly as portable source for renewable backup power in a home, cabin, or RV. You can also use it as a mobile power station for long weekend trips, camping, festivals, or tailgating.
We hope that this in-depth review gave you with the answer about whether the Bluetti EB240 is the right choice for you. Ultimately, we highly recommend this high-capacity solar generator to anyone who wants a reliable backup source of power.
Also, have a look at our Bluetti EB240 vs AC200P comparison for more info.
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