BLUETTI AC200P Expandable Power Station Review

Aug 19, 2023

Wednesday August 9, 2023

By Ali Jennings

Price when reviewed

If you need mains power on location, then the BLUETTI AC200P then impressive 2KW capacity and simplicity make it an ideal choice. The AC (Mains) electricity is delivered at 230-240V (UK Version) at up to 2200W, so you can run most photography and videography devices directly from it at home or in the studio without needing to draw on mains power.

Through the test the AC200Max showed wide compatibility with different lighting, camera, computing and audio devices, and the upper limit of 2000W was only hit when attaching an extension lead and plugging in every device we had with us.

Its charge speed via AC is slower than some of the smaller units, such as the excellent Bluetti AC180, and when it comes to weight, it’s realistically a two-person lift, however in practical terms that additional KW of power does make a difference.

On-site, the power was more than enough for two days of solid work, charging batteries and powering three MacBooks without a top-up. In the studio, the Bluetti was paired with JA Solar 385W solar panels, which kept the cells nicely topped up.

The 2KW capacity is welcome, especially on multi-day shoots when mains power is limited or unavailable. In truth, using the AC200P is just like using the mains, and aside from the off whir of a fan, the unit runs quietly and efficiently, supplying you with power when needed.

The BLUETTI AC200P is a step-up from the compact 1KW portable power stations that have flooded the market, with a design and capacity that meets the energy demands of photographers, videographers, and of course outdoor enthusiasts. Boasting a 2KW capacity it’s also one of a growing number of home back-up power systems that can if required be used as a home power backup.

Teh power station features 2KW capacity with a 2000W max output, and is engineered to power various equipment, from lighting and laptops, cameras, monitors, speakers and most importantly kettles.

What makes these power stations such as the AC200P so easy to use, isthat they have been adapted to work in much ythe same was as a standard house hold socket. Plug in your device and off you go. This is quite unlike the diesel generators or 12V systems that would either require starting and long extension leads to be used, or were limited through invertors as to what you could actually use. The AC200P makes things simple, for the most part use the touch screen or App to select AC or DC sockets or ports and then plug in your devices.

The AC200P is a slightly updated version of the AC200Max that I looked at last September, and many of the features run through the two products.

Features such as 4800W surge protection, that ensures safety in high-demand situations, ability to charge through AC mains, or solar charging and the compatibility with additional battery modules like the B230 or B300.

Just as a note during this review, the Bluetti AC200P was used extensively both in-studio and in the field with the majority of charge coming through two JA Solar 385W panels.

The BLUETTI AC200P features a solid build that reflects the other Bluetti power banks that I have looked at in the past. One thing to note, especially if you’re in the UK, is that the Bluetti power banks are readily available while there are many power station solutions that haven’t yet passed all British safety standards.

While the AC200P is large and at 27.5kg is heavy that two large carry handles make it relatively easy to carry, although an extra pair of hands when moving is definitely helpful.

The general features layout is well thought out, with two standard AC sockets and USB-C, PD power options as well as 12v. The buttons and controls are all accessed through the touch screen making it easy to use and see, even when the light is low.

In the test due to the size the AC200P spent most of its time either in the base room being used as a charging station or in the van with extension cables running power to where it was needed. While the two AC sockets on the front were slightly less, four less, than I was expecting due to the website specifications using an extension lead or making the most of the PD power proved that there were ample power options.

The BLUETTI AC200P is designed as a power station for those looking for off grid power, be that for camping, garages or to meet the demanding needs of photography and videography professionals. The power station features a 2KW capacity and a 2000W max output, meaning it can power multiple devices simultaneously. When it comes to topping the AC200P up with electricity it supports dual charging, including AC mains charging at 400W, or 700W with a compatible solar panel array like the 385W JA Solar. As the 200P supports dual charging the two can be combined for an 1100W input charge, taking the full charge time to less than two hours.

The AC200P also features an impressive 4800W surge protection that ensures sudden power spikes won’t cause damage, adding reliability during intense shoots. All this means is that if you have a light that suddenly blows or another piece of kit that sudden’t ups it’s power draw you won’t fry the electronics of the power station. What it doesn’t mean is that you can plugin devices with up to a 4800W draw, so no kettles and Iron running at the same time.

Expandability is another feature worthy of note, with the option to connect additional battery modules such as B230 or B300, effectively boosting the available power capacity.

Alongside the physical features the AC200P also offers an app that enables you to control the AC and DC ports, or at least switch them on or off and monitor the power in and out as well as the remaining capcity. The app like the onboard touch screen interface is well thought out and one of the easiest to use on the market.

The BLUETTI AC200P is designed for a variety of uses and isn’t soley designed for the imaging world. However, the size and capacity make it an ideal choice with the maximum output and capacity making it a great on site power solution for photography and videography professionals.

The unit supplies up to 2000W of continuous power, which meant that through the test it was able to power various devices simultaneously; including large lighting setups (2x ANOVA 2, 2x ZHIYUN FIVERAY F100), computers (3X MacBook Pro’s and two 27-inch BenQ monitors), cameras, and chargers. The compatibility with different equipment, from Canon R5 C to smartphones, with options like USB-C and wireless charging pads, enhances its versatility.

The power stations ability to keep everything topped up with the charge was a definatel asset to the shoot and while the weight was a little bit of an issue, requiring two of us to move it over any distance, this was a minor inconvenience compared with the benefit of not having to run back to a base room or the van to charge equipement. It also meant that a base could be set-up and left with full sized monitors for editing and checking images and video when needed.

Another point that is that unlike the images on the Bluetti site that show the AC200P from other territories the UK socket design only enables two AC sockets to fit on the front of the device. So if you have several devices requiring power then an extension cable is definately required.

Another point to note is that the PD Power is 60W rather than the more usual and useful 100W. This means that larger laptops such as the MacBook Pro 16-inch really need to be plugged in using the AC socket rather than the USB Type-C socket.

In use with all devices plugged in the noise level was surprisingly low, even when handling big lights like the Godox MG1200Bi, that noise only really became noticeable when multiple devices were plugged in and with the noise of the shoot wasn’t an issue. In quieter locations, and when shooting interviews, I did pop the AC200P in another room and ran a simple extension cable as the hum of the fans was noticable.

Heat generation was minimal and while you can feel the heat if you put your hand near the vent it wasn’t too much although you can hear the fans working overtime during extended use. What I did like was the expandability with additional battery modules like B300 which helped to boost usage times, especially with some of the larger equipment.

Although tested during poor weather, solar charging showed promising efficiency when the clouds parted, hitting an impressive 300W dual charge, so 400W through the AC mains and 300W through the Solar panel array, the full charge time averaged around 4-5 hours.

As ever the Bluetti App provided useful, but the application of the technology only offers basic monitoring and control over the power station. Really I’d like to be able to see a breakdown of power per port, and if there was a compatible extension or breakout board that would do the same that would be ideal.

When it came to performance there’s more going for the AC200P than against, but if I do look at the unit’s main drawbacks they are the slower AC charging compared to models like AC180, the 60W PD power, and the weight, but these were manageable with planning and the right accessories.

There is no doubt that the BLUETTI AC200P hits the mark when it comes to off-grid power for photography and videography professionals. Its compatibility with various equipment, expandable battery options, and solar charging capabilities make it versatile and reliable. Through the test, I used it in the studio and on location, and in both situations, the AC200P provides ample power.

While the power station is good, there are a few small issues, the first is that there are only two AC sockets, although an extension lead soon solves that one. Then there’s the 60W PD power which just seems a little underpowered for a power station of this size, there’s also the relatively slow charging, although due to the capacity, this actually wasn’t an issue.

When it comes to actual use the 2000W output was actually spot on, and it was only when pushing to see the surge protection in action that we got anywhere near the full 2000W. Regarding longevity, the AC200P supplied power without charge for two days of on-and-off charging of devices and batteries and being used as the main power for lights and computing.

Moving the AC200P takes quite an effort so I would highly recommend a luggage trolly, but otherwise, the two carry handles make it relatively easy to move.

While the AC200P may not directly improve image quality, the freedom it gives you is extremely helpful. If you have the need for on-location power then this is an ideal solution. However, if you’re looking to build or power an off-grid studio then for most people the relatively compact size and large capacity of the AC200P along with a couple of solar panels is a relatively inexpensive way to run off the grid.

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