The Bluetti EB150 is one of the most popular solar generators from Maxoak. It’s not as big and powerful as their newer releases - the AC200P and AC200MAX - but it’s still capable enough for use in RVs, camping and home backup.
The Bluetti EB150 is a great choice if you are looking for a portable solar generator that can charge your devices and power some appliances.
Read on for my in-depth review of the Bluetti EB150, including what I like and don’t like about it.
If this is not what you are looking for, see our reviews of other solar generators for camping and home backup.Bluetti EB150 Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
What Can The Bluetti EB150 Power
To give you an idea of the utility and capability of the EB150 solar generator, here are some appliances and devices it can power.
Laptop (60Wh) | 21 recharges |
Smartphone (10Wh/2600mAh) | 127 recharges |
Fridge (800W) | 1.6hrs |
CPAP (60W) | 21hrs |
Mini fridge (40W) | 31.8hrs |
TV (100W) | 12.8hrs |
Drone (40Wh) | 31 recharges |
Drill (800W) | 1.6hrs |
Mobility scooter battery (460Wh/36Ah) | 2-3 recharges |
Best Features
1500Wh Lithium Polymer Battery
The Bluetti EB150 comes equipped with a 1500Wh lithium battery. That’s pretty sizable for a portable solar generator. You can power small and medium size appliances for hours.
See the table above for estimates of how long you can run various appliances and devices off the 1.5kWh battery.
The battery uses a lithium polymer chemistry, not lithium phosphate like in the newer Bluetti power stations.
Li-polymer batteries are not common in solar generators. Most contain lithium-ion (NMC or LCO) or lithium phosphate (LiFePO4).
The main downside of lithium polymer batteries is their lower lifespan. The battery in the Bluetti EB150 will last about 500 cycles after which its capacity drops to 80%.
Its total lifespan is 2500 cycles, compared to 3000-5000 cycles for Li-ion and 5000+ cycles for LiFePO4.
1000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
The Bluetti EB150 can power any appliance rated at 1000W or less. AC power comes from an integrated pure sine wave inverter that’s suitable for most modern and sensitive electronics.
You can plug in common household appliances including a refrigerator, television, fan, humidifier, and CPAP.
It’s also great for smaller camping and RV appliances like a mini-fridge, personal blender, and a swamp cooler.
The surge output of the inverter is 1200W. We’ll talk more about this shortly, but that’s way lower than we expected.
AC, DC & USB Outlets
You can access AC power through two 110AC outlets. There’s also a 12V DC car port where you can plug in DC-powered electronics like a camping mini fridge, CPAP or lights.
And for your gadgets and devices, there are five USB outlets. These include four 5V USB-A ports and one 45W USB-C PD port.
Two Ways To Recharge
You can recharge the Bluetti EB150 in one of two ways.
The fastest is via a wall outlet. The included 200W AC adapter recharges the battery in about 8 hours.
In an emergency or when you are outdoors, you can also connect the Bluetti EB150 to solar panels. The max solar input power is 500W, which is high for a solar generator of this size.
If you have 500W worth of solar panels, you can recharge the EB150 in 3-5 hours depending on how sunny it is.
Note that the Bluetti EB150 doesn't come with solar panels, but you can use any solar panels with the right connectors and as long as you don't exceed 500W of input power.
You can also buy the EB150 as part of a bundle kit with 2x200W solar panels. This kit is ideal if you plan to use the solar generator for emergencies or outdoors.Decent Portability
The Bluetti EB150 is not the most portable solar generator. But it’s not too heavy either. It weighs 37.9lbs.
It’s portable enough to use in your RV, boat or camper. It’s also great for truck/car camping. At home, you can move it around the house on your own. The built-in rigid handle makes it easier to lift and carry it.
If you are shopping for something more portable, read our reviews of the best portable solar generators.Issues & Concerns
The Bluetti EB150 is an all-round excellent solar generator. We especially love how good of a bargain it is. That said, we have a couple of issues with it.
No Car Charging
The biggest issue with the EB150 is that you cannot charge it from your vehicle’s 12V port. For a solar generator designed for camping, road trips and RVs, that’s a big miss.
Car charging is slow but it can be a huge help when you are on the road and have no other way to recharge your power station.
Virtually all solar generators we have reviewed offer at least three recharge options: wall outlet, solar and car charging.
Low Surge Rating
The other issue is with the inverter.
The 1000W output is good for a portable solar generator of this size. But we expected a higher surge output - not the 1200W the EB150 produces.
Typically, solar generators have a surge output that’s double the continuous output.
The limited surge rating of the EB150 will limit what kind of electronics you can plug in. The solar generator cannot power anything that has a high startup consumption.
Appliances like freezers and refrigerators tend to have a high startup wattage that can be 2-3 times the running wattage.
Alternatives To The Bluetti EB150 Solar Generator
Not sure the EB150 is the right choice for your needs? Here are three alternatives to consider.
Goal Zero 1500X
If the 1000W output of the Bluetti EB150 is not enough for your needs, the Goal Zero 1500X is a more capable alternative.
It has a similar size 1516Wh lithium-ion battery, but has an inverter with twice the output at 2000W.
The higher output lets you plug in bigger appliances or multiple appliances at the same time. Even the surge rating is higher at 3500W.
The 1500X also has an edge when it comes to the input and output options.
It has a couple of AC outlets like the EB150, but also includes a Quick Charge 18W USB-A port and a more powerful 60W USB-C PD port. It also features more 12V ports than the EB150.
On the downside, the Goal Zero Yeti 1500X is about twice the price of the Bluetti EB150.
Bluetti AC200P/AC200MAX
If you’d prefer to stick to Bluetti, I recommend their more recent releases - the AC200P or AC200MAX solar generator.
Bluetti has made plenty of upgrades since releasing the EB150. These two AC series solar generators both have bigger batteries (about 2000Wh each) and higher power output (2000W for the AC200P and 2200W for the AC200MAX).
Bluetti has also changed to another battery chemistry. The newer models now use LiFePO4 batteries that last a lot longer than Li-Po and Li-ion batteries.
The AC200P and AC200MAX solar generators also feature more outlets (including two wireless charging pads), more charging options, higher solar input, and the ability to expand capacity (AC200MAX only).
They are both a bit more expensive than the Bluetti EB150, but they are worth it. And compared to other 2000W solar generators in the market, you are still getting a good bargain.
Jackery Explorer 1000
If you are shopping for a lighter, more portable solar generator that can still power appliances, we recommend the Jackery Explorer 1000.
It has a smaller 1002Wh battery but AC output is the same at 1000W. So while the battery won’t last as long as the one in the EB150, you can power most small and medium size appliances.
Surge output is 2000W, so the Explorer 1000 can handle appliances with high startup power.
Weighing 22lbs, the Explorer 1000 is almost half the weight of the Bluetti EB150, making it perfect for camping and other outdoor applications.
And unlike the EB150, you can charge your Jackery from your car outlet.
The Jackery 1000 has three AC outlets, a 12V car port, a quick charge 18W USB-A port and a USB-C PD port. It’s about the same as the Bluetti EB150.
One area the EB150 has an edge over the Jackery 1000 is solar input. The Jackery 1000 accepts a max of 200W, compared to 500W for the EB150.
Price-wise, the Bluetti EB150 has better value for money. It has more capacity, but costs roughly the same as the Jackery 1000.
Care and Maintenance
The Bluetti EB150 doesn't require much in terms of maintenance. Here are some tips to take care of it and get the longest lifespan.
Warranty
Bluetti offers a 24-month warranty on the EB150 solar generator.
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight: | 37.9lbs |
Size: | 14.6L x 6.5D x 14.4H in |
Capacity: | 1500Wh |
AC output: | 1000W continuous, 1200W surge pure sine wave inverter |
Outlets: | 2xAC, 4xUSB-A, 1xUSB-C PD, 1x12V DC |
Max solar input: | 500W |
Charging time: | 8hrs with AC adapter, 3-5 hours with 500W solar |
Battery chemistry: | Lithium polymer |
Battery lifespan: | 500 cycles to 80%, 2500 cycles total |
Operating temperature: | 14-104F |
Where To Buy
Though a bit dated, the Bluetti EB150 is a great choice for campers, RVers, emergencies and anyone shopping for a portable solar generator with fairly high capacity and output.
The solar generator is available on Bluetti’s official site.
You can also find the Bluetti EB150 on Amazon.
