Abstract

• Utilizing photo voltaic panels with greater voltage can harm transportable energy stations, so pay further consideration to the beneficial voltage.
• This harm will be instantaneous and full, leaving you with a bricked unit.
• One of these person error will not be coated below guarantee.

This can be a story of person error. I’m the person who made the error, and I am placing this on the market in order that you do not make the identical mistake. Here is how I killed not one, however two small transportable energy stations earlier than I charged a single machine.

I Purchased Two Anker C300s

The machine in query is the Anker C300. This can be a small transportable energy station with a capability of 288 watts and sufficient energy to cost telephones, laptops, and small home equipment. With a max output of 300 watts, it is not of a lot use within the kitchen, however it’s the form of energy station that is nice for teenagers throughout an outage. It may cost their tablets, Nintendo handhelds, and nightlights.

I like these stations as a result of they’re light-weight and simple to hold round. They’re the primary ones I might seize in an outage for something minor. They will energy a lamp or allow us to watch TV for a couple of hours. They will recharge the Nebula portable smart projector we bought instead of a smart TV. They’re additionally sufficiently small to toss within the trunk earlier than a street journey in case we have to cost something whereas we’re within the automobile that the automobile’s USB port cannot deal with.

These items are the precise reverse of the giant Anker F3800s we bought to power our home during an outage. That factor weighs over 130 kilos (round 60KG).

I’ve written earlier than about how I intend to purchase one of Anker’s solar powered umbrellas after they come out later this 12 months. This little energy station is exactly the form of factor I might like to attach it to for passive energy era.

How I Killed Each Moveable Energy Stations

The Anker C300 technically qualifies as a tiny photo voltaic generator, because it has an enter for charging instantly from photo voltaic panels. This is likely one of the major methods I meant to cost my items.

This mannequin has a max enter of 100 watts, however I used to be curious if a 200-watt panel would nonetheless work. In spite of everything, I even have the Anker C1000—that mannequin has a max charging score of 600 watts, however the quickest approach to cost it’s by utilizing two of Anker’s 400-watt panels. I adopted this recommendation when testing out how rapidly I might cost my C1000. As you’ll be able to see under, this labored as marketed.

Photo voltaic panels not often attain their most charging functionality, so two 400 watt panels usually tend to produce nearer to 600 watts than 800 watts. Nonetheless, these panels can produce over 600 watts of energy, so the C1000 should apparently throttle what it takes in to 600 watts, since utilizing two 400-watt panels is likely one of the methods Anker recommends charging the unit. That is why it made sense to me that regardless that 200 watts is greater than 100, a 200W panel would in all probability nonetheless work with my C300.

So I pulled out my panels. I’ve each an Anker PS100 and a PS200. The PS100 is product of two photo voltaic panels, whereas the PS200 is made of 4.

Once I plugged my 200W Anker PS200 panel into my first Anker C300, nothing occurred. I attempted urgent the ability button. Nothing. I will need to have gotten a dud.

I had ordered two energy stations on the similar time, however the second arrived a couple of days later. This time I plugged the unit right into a wall first to ensure it wasn’t additionally a dud. It got here on! So I took it outdoors and plugged in the identical panel. This time I heard a scorching sound. I instantly unplugged the panel, however it was already too late. Once I pressed the ability button, nothing occurred. It hasn’t come again on since.

This was new to me. Like I stated, I anticipated the ability stations would in all probability solely pull within the quantity of power they may safely deal with. In the event that they could not try this, I anticipated some type of message indicating that the ability station is incompatible with these panels.

In spite of everything, once I plug my Kia Niro EV in to the 11kW automobile charger we’ve at dwelling, it solely pulls in its max charging pace of seven.2kW regardless of the quicker capabilities of the charger. Once I plug a 65W charger into my Galaxy Z Fold 6, it solely pulls in 25W. And like I discussed earlier than, once I plugged two 400W panels into my C1000, it continued to work.

Photo voltaic panels and transportable energy stations apparently don’t operate like the opposite electronics in my life.

Pay Cautious Consideration to Voltage, Not Simply Watts

After coming to the conclusion that I had fried each of my energy stations, I began re-reading the manual to see if there was an express warning. It seems the limitation about wattage wasn’t the primary challenge. Fairly, it is a limitation on voltage. It is a digital handbook, so I’ve taken a screenshot.

There it’s, in black and white. It appears apparent now. However on the time, I did not perceive why exceeding 600 watts of enter was nice for the C1000 however the C300 had a tough restrict of 100 watts. The reply is within the voltage.

The PS100 photo voltaic panels that Anker recommends utilizing have an working voltage of 24.5V and an open circuit voltage of 28.5V. That is inside the supported vary of 11V to 28V.

The PS200 panels have double the working voltage at 48V, with an open circuit voltage of 57.6V. As for the bigger PS400 panels, that are additionally secure to plug into the C1000? Regardless that they produce twice the wattage of the PS200, they’ve the identical 48V working voltage and 57.6V open circuit voltage.

It is the distinction in voltage, not the distinction in wattage, that apparently led to the moment demise of my two C300s. I do know there are individuals who perceive electrical energy shaking their heads at me all through this whole story. That is legitimate. When you already know, you already know. When you do not, effectively, it may value you.

Do not Anticipate Guarantee Protection

You may count on this to be coated below guarantee. In spite of everything, I by no means received to cost a single factor with both unit. However this sits firmly within the camp of person error. Once more, after studying the small print within the handbook, I get it. Trying on the picture above, you’ll be able to see the voltage limitation is even written on the entrance of the unit!

Now that I perceive what occurred, my error appears apparent, however I might have appreciated rather more express warnings. There’s a distinction between “not beneficial” or “not suitable” and “will completely and instantaneously destroy your machine.” I cowl software program for a residing, and ignoring the recommended limitations is part of the job description.

Likewise, whereas the wattage of the photo voltaic panels is apparent, the voltage is not. You need to know to search for that data. My assumption was that Anker panels in all probability all used the identical voltage, and I did not suppose to examine. It isn’t one thing I’ve ever had to think about to earlier than, and that is one thing to remember when releasing merchandise like this to folks like me who aren’t used to excessive stakes after we plug stuff in.

Disturbing cable administration for me entails plugging in a USB cable, flipping it over as a result of it wasn’t confronted the correct manner, then flipping it over once more as a result of it seems I used to be proper the primary time.

If I did not have already got an Anker C1000 and PS200 panel mendacity round, I seemingly would not have made this error. I might have performed it secure by ordering only a PS100 panel and been performed with it. In spite of everything, I did order a PS100 to go along with my C300. I used to be simply curious and figured I might give the extra highly effective panel a shot. They’re all Anker merchandise. The ports are all the identical. Absolutely they will talk correctly.

Seems, there is not any communication concerned. Simply uncooked energy supply. That is one case the place curiosity could not have killed the cat, however it certain killed two transportable energy stations. Now I do know, and so do you.

---

Do not take this in any respect as an indictment of Anker merchandise. I hope getting these items repaired does not value me an arm and a leg. I will in all probability order a pair extra regardless. They’re nice at what they do. Simply, no matter you do, do not plug within the unsuitable photo voltaic panel.