All Powers Portable Power Station review for van life car camping hiking and general recreation use

Introduction

Welcome to another segment of the Van of Action series! Today, we’re diving into the world of portable power packs, specifically the All Powers Portable Power Station model S300. As someone who has explored the camping and van life scene extensively, I want to share my honest review of this compact power station, offering insight into its practicality for van life, car camping, and more.

Overview of the All Powers S300

The All Powers S300 is the most compact power station offered by the company, boasting a battery capacity of 288 watt-hours. For context, watt-hours can be broken down to amp-hours using the formula: [ \text(Watt-hours) = \text(Amp-hours) \times \text(Volts) ] Thus, you can determine that the S300 provides approximately 24 amp-hours of energy, which is about a quarter of one of my van's two batteries.

Design and Features

Across the front, the S300 features:

Two AC Universal Outputs: Standard three-prong sockets for household appliances.
LED Lamp: Activated by a red switch that produces a bright light.
Bluetooth Power: An on/off switch for Bluetooth functionality.
DC Power and USB Ports: Quickly activated with a button press.
Digital Display: Shows remaining battery life, power usage, and time left before the battery is depleted.

In terms of charging options, the S300 offers:

Wall socket charging at home.
USB-C charging.
Car energy charging while driving.
Solar panel charging.

Charging times range between 4-6 hours, but the unique feature is that multiple charging methods can be used simultaneously, speeding the charging time down to 2-3 hours.

Practical Applications

While initially doubting the practicality of the S300 for everyday van life needs, I eventually found several valuable uses for it:

Limitations

It’s crucial to understand what the power station can’t do:

Cannot power induction cooktops, small electric heaters, or toaster ovens due to insufficient power.

Positive Uses

Despite its limitations, the S300 excels in charging electronics. It can charge phones, laptops, and cameras effectively, making it ideal for weekend car camping. During one camping trip, it kept all our devices charged, which was a game changer.

I tested smaller appliances like a 12V electric kettle and a small 12V oven, which both worked seamlessly. The kettle boiled water quickly, perfect for early morning coffee, while the oven heated snacks efficiently.

Furthermore, I discovered that it can charge my eBike battery, adding about 25 km to my range, making it a fantastic companion for cycling adventures.

Conclusion

The All Powers S300 Portable Power Station is an excellent supplementary power source, particularly for recreational activities such as van life, car camping, and hiking. While it cannot replace a full van battery system, its portability and versatility do make it a valuable addition for charging devices and powering smaller appliances on the go. Priced around $ 250 CAD, it’s worth considering if you find yourself needing that extra bit of power in your travels.

Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to check out the other videos on portable power packs linked below. Be sure to subscribe for more content like this!

Keyword

All Powers S300
Portable power station
Van life
Car camping
Hiking
USB charging
Solar charging
Compact power source

FAQ

Q: What can the All Powers S300 power? A: The S300 can power small devices such as phones, laptops, and low-power appliances like hair dryers on low settings.

Q: How long does it take to charge the S300? A: Charging time is typically between 4-6 hours, but can be reduced to 2-3 hours when using multiple charging methods simultaneously.

Q: Can it power induction cooktops or electric heaters? A: No, the S300 does not have enough capacity to power induction cooktops, electric heaters, or toaster ovens.

Q: How much does the All Powers S300 cost? A: The retail price is approximately $ 250 CAD.

Q: Is it good for eBike charging? A: Yes, the S300 can charge eBike batteries, offering about 25 km of additional range dependent on specs.