The best portable AC power supply
By Mark Smirniotis
This message was produced in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to purchase the editorial choices chosen by The Wirecutter, they can earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read the full article here.
If you want to power or charge a small AC device, such as a laptop, when power outlets are out of range, you must purchase the ChargeTech portable power plug (27 amps / hour). It's essentially the same as a USB battery, but with a higher capacity and a power outlet. The ChargeTech stood out among the small models that we tested because it offered the best balance between size, capacity and price. If you need to power more than a laptop or other small device, but a gas generator is out of the question, we love the Goal Zero Yeti 400 solar generator for its superior capacity, power and superior workmanship - even if it's too big and too heavy to lug around all the time.
For whom is this?
You need an AC power source if you want to charge devices that require AC power, such as laptops and battery chargers, or if you want to power AC devices such as lighting fixtures, fans or certain musical devices. AC power sources can also be useful at conferences and conventions, when traveling by car, for remote workers, during photo expeditions, or during outdoor adventures.
Our smallest choice, the ChargeTech, is better suited to someone looking for a portable option in the short term, for example, if you need to power a laptop in a cafe or airport and you do not have access to a point of contact. sale. If you stay away from the grid longer, if you have a big device to power or if you want to support several small devices, you should consider a larger pack such as the Goal Zero Yeti 400. Weighing 10 to 30 pounds, these packages be kept in a vehicle or transported to a place to stay in place for a period of time - consider camping or tailgating, portable presentations or professional work sites.
How we chose and tested. Best Portable Power Supplie
For smaller models, we tested the Xcellon PB-1200AC (left), the ChargeTech portable power plug (right) and the Goal Zero Sherpa 100 with the Sherpa inverter (bottom). Photo: Michael Hession
If you need a power outlet on a battery, you do not have a lot of choice - the 12 models we've considered make up the bulk of the options for portable and affordable AC power sources. We divide these models into two groups based on capacity and price. The first group of small batteries included eight reasonably affordable models suitable for hand luggage, a laptop bag or a backpack. We focused on the most portable models, usually lithium units weighing less than 5 pounds. The second group contained a handful of larger models for outdoor enthusiasts and field professionals who needed more power than smaller models could pack.
We charged each complete unit and drained it using a 50 watt light bulb - our easily reproducible stand-in for a small laptop. We monitored the use of cumulative power and watt hours with a single Kill A Watt counter, and repeated the process three times. We then repeated this test using a 2012 11-inch MacBook Air to better simulate how people actually use these things in the real world.
We also took into account the number of watts that each battery could turn off at a given time, as well as the power of a generated output. In addition, we paid attention to the quality of construction and all the quirks of ergonomics that have emerged using one of these batteries during an average day's work.
Our choice for most people
Photo: Michael Hession
For those looking for a portable power source to charge a laptop or other small electronic devices powered by a standard power outlet, the ChargeTech portable power plug (27 amp-hours) offers the best combination of size and of capacity. justify its price. It has a capacity of approximately 97 watt hours (Wh), and has a maximum power of 90 watts. It should handle any laptop, battery charger or other small electronics without a problem, and you could even run a good sized LED TV at a pinch.
Because the ChargeTech is about the size and weight of a small hardcover book, it's compact enough for you to carry it in your purse when you go out with your laptop. The trade-off for this small size is the lack of a fan, which seems to be a trap for manufacturers. Although the ChargeTech was uncomfortably hot in our tests, including a fan would have added weight and made the battery a little stronger. That said, it's hot enough that we do not leave it unattended, just to be on the safe side.
A disadvantage of ChargeTech is that none of the ports has a reliable protection against debris: the USB ports are not covered at all, and although the plug is delivered with a small cover, this part is not attached in no way. , just plan to lose coverage the first time. Even some basic protections would make the ChargeTech as competent in a campsite as in a café.
When you need more power. Best Portable Power Supplie
The Goal Zero Yeti 400 comes with AC, DC and USB plugs to power or charge a wide variety of devices. Photo: Mark Smirniotis
If you're looking for more punch, the Goal Zero Yeti 400 solar generator should do the trick, as long as you do not need to carry its 30 pounds away, that's all. In our tests, it offered four times more power than the ChargeTech portable power outlet, but it was only twice as expensive as when it was written. With such power, the Yeti 400 can charge a 13-inch notebook a handful of times or keep a 75-watt TV for almost four hours. It can power up to 300 watts continuously, and offers both a second AC outlet, two USB ports and three DC outlets. You can also charge the battery with a vehicle or solar kit, although the solar charger does not seem convenient unless you have other options.
The dependence of the Yeti 400 on the old lead-acid battery is the reason for the greater capacity at the front of the vehicle, more affordable, but it is also the reason for the greater disadvantage of the product, its considerable weight. The Yeti 400 is a small, solid box (10 by 8 by 8 inches) that fits easily into a plastic milk crate; every time we raised it, we were surprised at how heavy it was. (Fortunately, it has a sturdy and expandable handle on the top.) The lead-acid battery inside the Yeti is user-replaceable and not too expensive - a brand replacement currently costs $ 100, and a generic comparable is available for less.
The Yeti also uses a pure sinusoidal inverter of better quality than our small sensor. This means that instead of a coarser power than a small portion of the devices do not handle well (such as audio equipment, power tools or motors), the Yeti produces a smoother power than any other apparatus. send to standard wall outlets.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here. Best Portable Power Supplies
This message was produced in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to purchase the editorial choices chosen by The Wirecutter, they can earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read the full article here.
If you want to power or charge a small AC device, such as a laptop, when power outlets are out of range, you must purchase the ChargeTech portable power plug (27 amps / hour). It's essentially the same as a USB battery, but with a higher capacity and a power outlet. The ChargeTech stood out among the small models that we tested because it offered the best balance between size, capacity and price. If you need to power more than a laptop or other small device, but a gas generator is out of the question, we love the Goal Zero Yeti 400 solar generator for its superior capacity, power and superior workmanship - even if it's too big and too heavy to lug around all the time.
For whom is this?
You need an AC power source if you want to charge devices that require AC power, such as laptops and battery chargers, or if you want to power AC devices such as lighting fixtures, fans or certain musical devices. AC power sources can also be useful at conferences and conventions, when traveling by car, for remote workers, during photo expeditions, or during outdoor adventures.
Our smallest choice, the ChargeTech, is better suited to someone looking for a portable option in the short term, for example, if you need to power a laptop in a cafe or airport and you do not have access to a point of contact. sale. If you stay away from the grid longer, if you have a big device to power or if you want to support several small devices, you should consider a larger pack such as the Goal Zero Yeti 400. Weighing 10 to 30 pounds, these packages be kept in a vehicle or transported to a place to stay in place for a period of time - consider camping or tailgating, portable presentations or professional work sites.
How we chose and tested. Best Portable Power Supplie
For smaller models, we tested the Xcellon PB-1200AC (left), the ChargeTech portable power plug (right) and the Goal Zero Sherpa 100 with the Sherpa inverter (bottom). Photo: Michael Hession
If you need a power outlet on a battery, you do not have a lot of choice - the 12 models we've considered make up the bulk of the options for portable and affordable AC power sources. We divide these models into two groups based on capacity and price. The first group of small batteries included eight reasonably affordable models suitable for hand luggage, a laptop bag or a backpack. We focused on the most portable models, usually lithium units weighing less than 5 pounds. The second group contained a handful of larger models for outdoor enthusiasts and field professionals who needed more power than smaller models could pack.
We charged each complete unit and drained it using a 50 watt light bulb - our easily reproducible stand-in for a small laptop. We monitored the use of cumulative power and watt hours with a single Kill A Watt counter, and repeated the process three times. We then repeated this test using a 2012 11-inch MacBook Air to better simulate how people actually use these things in the real world.
We also took into account the number of watts that each battery could turn off at a given time, as well as the power of a generated output. In addition, we paid attention to the quality of construction and all the quirks of ergonomics that have emerged using one of these batteries during an average day's work.
Our choice for most people
Photo: Michael Hession
For those looking for a portable power source to charge a laptop or other small electronic devices powered by a standard power outlet, the ChargeTech portable power plug (27 amp-hours) offers the best combination of size and of capacity. justify its price. It has a capacity of approximately 97 watt hours (Wh), and has a maximum power of 90 watts. It should handle any laptop, battery charger or other small electronics without a problem, and you could even run a good sized LED TV at a pinch.
Because the ChargeTech is about the size and weight of a small hardcover book, it's compact enough for you to carry it in your purse when you go out with your laptop. The trade-off for this small size is the lack of a fan, which seems to be a trap for manufacturers. Although the ChargeTech was uncomfortably hot in our tests, including a fan would have added weight and made the battery a little stronger. That said, it's hot enough that we do not leave it unattended, just to be on the safe side.
A disadvantage of ChargeTech is that none of the ports has a reliable protection against debris: the USB ports are not covered at all, and although the plug is delivered with a small cover, this part is not attached in no way. , just plan to lose coverage the first time. Even some basic protections would make the ChargeTech as competent in a campsite as in a café.
When you need more power. Best Portable Power Supplie
The Goal Zero Yeti 400 comes with AC, DC and USB plugs to power or charge a wide variety of devices. Photo: Mark Smirniotis
If you're looking for more punch, the Goal Zero Yeti 400 solar generator should do the trick, as long as you do not need to carry its 30 pounds away, that's all. In our tests, it offered four times more power than the ChargeTech portable power outlet, but it was only twice as expensive as when it was written. With such power, the Yeti 400 can charge a 13-inch notebook a handful of times or keep a 75-watt TV for almost four hours. It can power up to 300 watts continuously, and offers both a second AC outlet, two USB ports and three DC outlets. You can also charge the battery with a vehicle or solar kit, although the solar charger does not seem convenient unless you have other options.
The dependence of the Yeti 400 on the old lead-acid battery is the reason for the greater capacity at the front of the vehicle, more affordable, but it is also the reason for the greater disadvantage of the product, its considerable weight. The Yeti 400 is a small, solid box (10 by 8 by 8 inches) that fits easily into a plastic milk crate; every time we raised it, we were surprised at how heavy it was. (Fortunately, it has a sturdy and expandable handle on the top.) The lead-acid battery inside the Yeti is user-replaceable and not too expensive - a brand replacement currently costs $ 100, and a generic comparable is available for less.
The Yeti also uses a pure sinusoidal inverter of better quality than our small sensor. This means that instead of a coarser power than a small portion of the devices do not handle well (such as audio equipment, power tools or motors), the Yeti produces a smoother power than any other apparatus. send to standard wall outlets.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here. Best Portable Power Supplies
Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to purchase our independently selected editorial choices, we can earn affiliate commissions that support our work.
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