After the success of their popular Bluetti AC300 + B300S solar kit, Bluetti has launched another combo with the same modular design.
The Bluetti AC500 & B300S system is designed for home backup and off-grid power. It comes with a 5000W inverter, making it one of the most powerful solar generator kits in the market.
The B300S battery module has a 3,072Wh capacity, expandable to 18.4kWh. You can also link to AC500 power stations to get 10kW 240V power and a max capacity of 36.8kWh.
Read on for my in-depth review of the AC500 + B300S system and why I think it’s one of the best home standby and off-grid solar generators in the market right now.
If it’s not what you are looking for, I have reviewed other large power stations in my 3000+ watt solar generator buying guide.
Bluetti AC500 & B300S Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Best Features
Modular Battery
The Bluetti AC500 and B300S system has the same modular design as the AC300 & B300 system. The power module and the battery pack are separate.
The B300S battery pack comes with a 3072Wh LiFePO4 battery. It has a similar capacity to the B300 battery that’s included with the AC300.
But the B300S can charge faster from solar thanks to the built-in 500W input MPPT charge controller. In contrast, the B300 accepts up to 200W of solar.
The B300S battery pack also has a self-heating feature that kicks in when it gets cold. This maintains battery performance in cold weather.
You can connect up to 6 B300S battery modules to a single AC500 for a total capacity of 18,432Wh.
What Can The AC500 + B300S Power?
Here’s roughly how long you can expect to run various appliances using the AC500 + B300S combo.
CPAP (40W) | 65.2hrs |
Mini fridge (60W) | 43.52hrs |
Full refrigerator (300W) | 8.7hrs |
Laptop (60Wh) | 43 recharges |
Microwave (700W) | 3.7hrs |
AC (1800W) | 1.4hrs |
Remember you can expand capacity to 18.4kWh to get longer run times especially for consumption-heavy appliances like AC, space heaters and washers.
5000W Inverter
The AC500 power module has a built-in 5000W (10,000W surge) pure sine wave inverter. This makes the AC500 + B300S system the most powerful solar generator Bluetti sells.
Even the high-capacity Bluetti EP500 Pro has a lower output of 3000W. The AC500 also beats other large solar generators like the EcoFlow Delta Pro and the Renogy Lycan 5000.
The AC500 can power pretty much any household appliance and run multiple large appliances. It’s also a great pick if you want a solar generator you can integrate into your home. It can easily power several circuits.
240V Split Phase Power
If you have some 240V appliances like a well pump, water heater, or an air conditioner, you can set up the AC500 + B300S to provide split phase 240V power.
You’ll need a second set of AC500 & B300S plus the Bluetti fusion box to connect them. The fusion box has a 240V 30 amp outlet that you can plug appliances into or wire to a sub panel.
The split phase setup doubles power output to 10,000W, plenty enough to power large appliances like a HVAC system or a water heater.
Capacity also increases to 6144Wh and you can add up to 10 additional batteries (6 batteries total per AC500) for a max capacity of 36.8kWh.
Multiple Outlets
If you prefer running appliances and electronics directly off a solar generator (instead of integrating it into your home), the Bluetti AC500 has plenty of outlets — 16 to be specific.
For appliances, there are six 120V AC outlets: three 20A outlets, a 30A NEMA L14-30 outlet, a TT-30 RV port, and a 50A NEMA14-50 outlet.
For 12V appliances, you get a 12V/30A RV port and a 24V/10A car outlet. And for gadgets and devices, there are two 100W USB-C ports, four USB-A ports (two with 18W fast charging) and two wireless charging pads.
The B300S battery pack has an additional 100W USB-C port, an 18W USB-A port and a 12V/10A car port. This means you can carry just the battery pack when going camping, on road trips and anywhere else where you don't need AC power.
Fast Solar & AC Charging
Bluetti solar generators have always had impressive charging performance. The AC500 + B300S solar generator is no different.
The AC500 has an MPPT charge controller that accepts solar input of up to 3000W. On a sunny day, you can charge the B300S in 1.5 to 3 hours.
AC charging from a wall outlet is even faster. The included charger puts in up to 4500W of power, charging the B300S to 80% in under an hour.
You can also combine solar and AC charging for an even shorter charge time. Other charging options include a lead-acid battery, gas generator and your vehicle’s 12V/24V outlet.
Note: The battery pack has its own smaller 500W charge controller. It can also recharge from a wall outlet or a 12V/24V car outlet. So when you leave the AC500 power module at home, you can still keep the battery pack charged.
Easy Home/RV/Boat Integration
Bluetti makes it easy to integrate the AC500 and B300S into your home grid. If you have an RV, boat, van or motorhome, you can plug it directly into the 120V TT-30 outlet or the 12V/30A RV port.
For regular households, you can connect the Bluetti AC500 + B300S to your home using a sub panel or a transfer switch.
Once you set up the split phase system, you can even supply select circuits with 240V power.
App Control
The AC500 is equipped with both WiFi and Bluetooth connections, so you don't need to keep checking the small display on the solar generator.
Instead, you can monitor and control the solar generator from an app.
Issues & Limitations
Pricey
Given its capacity and power output, it’s not surprising that the Bluetti AC500 + B300S is on the pricier end of the scale.
It gets even more expensive if you want to expand capacity.
If you are shopping for a budget solar generator for home backup, consider getting a cheaper option like the Bluetti AC200MAX or the EcoFlow Delta Pro that you can then expand slowly over time.
Top 3 Alternatives To The Bluetti AC500 + B300S
Cheaper Alternative: Bluetti AC300 + B300
If the Bluetti AC500 + B300S is beyond your budget, consider getting the AC300 and B300 combo. It’s about $1300 cheaper.
The AC300 + B300 has the same capacity of 3072Wh and you can expand it to 12,288Wh using three additional B300 batteries.
Power output is lower at 3000W. But you can bump this up to 6000W by setting up split phase 240V power.
Non-Modular Solar Generator: EcoFlow Delta Pro
The modular design of the AC500 + B300S is great but it’s not for everyone. If you prefer a compact all-in-one solar generator that’s easy to move around, I recommend the EcoFlow Delta Pro.
The Delta Pro has a 3600Wh LiFePO4 battery. It has more capacity than either the B300 or the B300S. You can expand the Delta Pro to 25kWh, which is more than what you can expand the AC300 or AC500 to.
As for power output, the Delta Pro boasts a powerful 3600W pure sine wave inverter. It’s not quite as powerful as the AC500, but it outmatches the AC300.
You have the option of turning the EcoFlow Delta Pro into a 240V split phase system using a second Delta Pro and the EcoFlow double voltage hub.
This doubles output to 7200W and max possible capacity to 50kWh.
Where the Bluetti AC500 + B300S beats the Delta Pro is charging performance. The Delta Pro has a max AC input of 1800W and solar input of 1600W. It takes longer to charge especially once you start adding extra batteries.
That said, the Delta Pro has a unique feature that lets you charge it from any level 2 EV charging station. This puts in 3400W of power to recharge the battery in just 1.7 hours.
Highly Expandable Solar Generator: Hysolis Apollo 5K
If you think the Bluetti AC500 + B300S is not expandable enough, try the Hysolis Apollo 5K. It costs about the same as the Bluetti combo.
The Apollo 5K features a massive 5,376Wh LiFePO4 battery. You can link together up to eight additional expansion batteries for a total capacity of about 48.4kWh.
Power output is 3000W. That’s not as much as the AC500’s 5000W output, but we are not done.
In addition to expanding capacity, you can also expand the Apollo’s output. You can link up to 9 units together for a total AC output of 27000W (27kW). No other solar generator even comes close to this.
Since each unit accepts up to 9 batteries, you can set up a massive system with a capacity of 435.6kWh.
If you want to power your entire home with solar generators, you could do so with the Hysolis Apollo 5K.
It also has a 240V split phase option that puts out up to 6000W of AC power. You’ll need two Apollo 5K solar generators for this.
When it comes to charging performance, the Apollo 5K matches and outdoes the Bluetti AC500 + B300S. It has a max AC input of 3000W, and even higher solar input of 4000W and a combined AC + solar input of 6000W.
Bluetti AC500 + B300S Care and Maintenance
Like other solar generators, the AC500 + B300S system doesn't need much maintenance. Just keep the two units well protected from elements and within the recommended temperature range.
If you plan to store the solar generator for a long time, charge it to at least 80% every 3-6 months.
Warranty
Bluetti offers a 4-year warranty on the AC500 + B300S solar generator kit.
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight: | 66.2lbs (AC500), 83.8lbs (B300S) |
Size: | 20.5 x 12.8 x 14.1 in (AC500), 20.5 x 12.5 x 10.5 in (B300S) |
Capacity: | 3072Wh, expandable to 18.4kWh |
AC output: | 5000W continuous, 10000W surge pure sine wave inverter |
Outlets: | 6xAC, 6xUSB-A, 2xWireless charging pads, 3x12V/24V DC |
Max solar input: | 3000W |
Charging time: | 1-2 hours with AC adapter, 1.5-3 hours with 3000W solar |
Battery chemistry: | LiFePO4 |
Battery lifespan: | 3500 cycles to 80% |
Operating temperature: | -4℉-104℉ |
Where To Buy?
Currently, the Bluetti AC500 + B300S solar generator is available on Amazon as well as the official Bluetti website.
