Power anywhere: EBL Portable Power Station 500 review

EBL sent us their rugged EBL Portable Power Station 500. We used it on a quick night photography trip and around the house, and reported back.

Note: EBL sent us the EBL Portable Power Station 500. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this item are our own.

Pros

• Flexible power output options (AC, DC, USB, car charger), and is capable of charging up to ten devices simultaneously.
• You can charge it from an AC wall outlet, solar panels, or a car outlet.
• Offers convenient wireless charging for smartphones.
• Very simple to use, even without a user manual.
• The LCD readout is easy to read and informative.
• Small and lightweight.
• Bright light for camping, emergencies, or various low-light situations.

Cons

• I cannot find any shortcomings.

EBL Portable Power Station 500 — Technical Specifications

All of the technical specifications for the Smart Rapid Battery Charger for Rechargeable 3.7V/3.6V Li-ion IMR Batteries are from the Amazon website, which EBL directed me to use. Some of the information, including using a 4-stroke engine, was incorrect, so I have omitted it from here.

• Brand: EBL
• Wattage: 500 watts
• Power Source: Battery Powered
• Recommended Uses For Product: Residential, Camping
• Item Weight: 15 Pounds
• Voltage: 110 Volts
• Output Wattage: 500
• Special Feature: Foldable Handle, Overload Protection, Automatic Shut Down, Extra-Long Run Time, USB Port
• Included Components: 1×EBL 500 Portable Power Station, 1×AC 100-240V Wall Plug Power Adapter, 1×MC4-7909 Connector Cable, 1×12V Car Charger Cable, and 1×User Manual
• Color: Black+Orange
• Product Dimensions: 11.5″L x 7.95″W x 7.64″H (292mm x 202mm x 194mm)
• Total Power Outlets: 10
• Frequency: 60 Hz
• Manufacturer: Huizhou Intelligent Energy Co., Ltd.
• Item Weight: 15 pounds (6.8kg)

EBL Portable Power Station 500 — Ergonomics and build quality

Ergonomics

The Portable Power Station 500 is about the size of a large lunch box, and comes with a robust handle. Weighing in at only 15 pounds, it’s easy to carry.

The buttons and labels are easy to read and operate. The bright light can be activated whether you have turned on the power or not.

Build quality

Like all EBL products I have seen, the build quality is robust. The handle and buttons are solid and do not wiggle, and the entire unit feels well-built.

These can be used and recharged for over 3000 cycles.

EBL Portable Power Station 500 — In the field

All about charging

In the field, you may charge this via a solar charger (100W takes 7-9 hours depending on solar conditions), car (12V, 7-8 hours when car is running), or from a wall charger (110V 6-7 hours). The unit was already 55% charged upon arrival. It was fully charged in less than three hours via the wall charger. The cables for charging these three ways are all included with the power station.

If you wanted to continually use this in the field, EBL recommends that you purchase a Solar Apollo 100W Solar Panel. This connects via the MC4 connector. As a bonus, the waterproof EBL solar panels come with an adjustable kickstand. Sometimes, it’s really the little things that make a product.

The buttons for the various charging outputs are labeled clearly, and are located directly above the ports. To charge, you simply press the button and plug in your device.

According to the manufacturer, you can charge a smartphone (10Wh) 44 times, recharge a laptop (41.4WH) 10 times, or use a floodlight (4W) for 110 hours. It will also run a mini-refrigerator (40W) for 11 hours.

If you wish to have a larger, longer-lasting unit, EBL offers a hefty 2400W version. However, these are 55 pounds, so you may not want to move them around as much.

Lights

I took the Power Station with me on a short night photography trip. The first thing I noticed is that the light comes in handy when you are in the dark or camping, as it is rather bright. If you double-click on the Light Button, this will cause the light to blink in SOS Mode.

While in the dark, pressing the power button allows you to see the battery level indicator as well as what was being used for charging (AC, DC, USB).

USB

The Power Station 500 also allows you to charge your phone wirelessly via its 10W charger. Place the phone on top, then press the USB Button. No charging cables are necessary, although of course, you can do that too. This was extremely convenient at night, as there was no need to find and insert cables.

One of the four USB ports is a PD 60W charging port. This provides higher power output and faster charging speed. It is used for fast charging USB-C devices like smartphones, tablets, and smaller laptops, delivering power efficiently and safely through the USB Power Delivery protocol. As mentioned above, you can recharge a laptop ten times.

Other

While using this at night in approximately 60-degree weather for two hours, the cooling fan never kicked on, so it was completely quiet.

Where can I use this?

I used this on a short night photography trip, charging phones, a small laptop, a Kindle, and using its light. In the future, it will also be handy for working in parts of the property where an extension cord might not reach, so I can use worklights or run equipment, power tools, and so forth. This would also be great to use in things such as a Camper Pod or RV. Sadly, I don’t have one of these!

Because the unit is so easy to use, I did not need to use the included owner’s manual. However, the manual is very clear and well-written.

About EBL

EBL has been around for over 26 years, making Ni-MH and lithium-ion batteries in many different forms, including AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 18650, and more. The products I have seen so far are often innovative and seem to be solidly made. They also are responsive to my questions.