Verdict
Rugged, sensible, and nearly unflappable, the Anker SOLIX F1200 is an excellent gadget for backup energy across the dwelling, or medium-duty gadgets on a tenting journey. Whereas it’s unavoidably pretty large, heavy and costly, it shops loads of energy, has fairly a excessive output, and gives a variety of inputs and outputs. It’s very best for all however heavy-duty functions.
Professionals
- Good vary of ports and capabilities
- Rugged, sensible design
- Wonderful output efficiency
Cons
- Can’t deal with probably the most highly effective gadgets
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A medium-large energy financial institutionThis is a pretty big and heavy energy financial institution, able to offering off-grid or backup energy to all however probably the most demanding gadgets -
An excellent vary of ports and capabilitiesLoads of extremely specified output ports, along with a number of charging choices
Introduction
Smaller energy banks are excellent for informal campers, or maintaining small devices entering into an influence minimize, however you’ll want one thing with a bit extra poke to energy family gadgets. The Anker SOLIX F1200 is likely to be simply the ticket.
Previously generally known as the Anker PowerHouse 757, it might retailer 1226 watt-hours (Wh) of energy, and supply as much as 1500W to gadgets related to its AC sockets. That makes it a medium to heavy-duty energy supply, ideally suited to longer tenting journeys, or getting fridges, espresso machines and different family gadgets by means of a protracted energy minimize.
Design and options
- Rugged and sensible, however heavy
- Nice choice of ports and capabilities
- Considerate design and format
There’s no getting away from it: with a capability north of 1.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), the SOLIX F1200 comprises a whole lot of batteries. Accordingly, it’s fairly heavy, weighing in at 20.1kg, however Anker has achieved a fantastic job with the design. For a begin, it feels bullet-proof – Anker says its ‘drop-proof design’ protects the batteries and electrics in a sturdy aluminium body, wrapped in thick, moulded plastic. There are two large handles, so you possibly can lug it round the home, or share the load if you happen to’re strolling it to a tenting berth.
I don’t suppose it’s fairly as simple to hold because the Jackery Explorer 1500 Professional, which has one very giant deal with.
Beneath, two big, ribbed rubber pads present a steady and slip-free base.
The F1200’s entrance panel gives two AC energy ports and a 120W cigarette lighter-style automotive energy port. Each have on/off switches, and each have a power-saving mode that shuts them down if there’s no vital load. You’ll be able to flip this off for essential, low-power gadgets akin to a CPAP machine.
As well as, you’ll discover 4 USB-A ports, every rated at 12W, along with two USB-C ports. One among these is rated for 60W and the opposite a mighty 100W.
On the high there’s a warm-white strip gentle with three brightness ranges and a most 4W energy consumption. One among this energy financial institution’s greatest options is its giant, clear show, which amongst different issues reveals share battery cost, what number of watts are coming in and going out, and the way lengthy it’ll be till the battery is full or empty, relying on the stability.
On the again there’s a flap protecting an XT60 photo voltaic panel port and a kettle-style mains socket. The previous helps as much as 300W of photo voltaic enter, whereas the F1200 will cost at one kilowatt (1kW) from the mains – sufficient to get to 80% in an hour.
Anker says the SOLIX F1200 will energy 95% of dwelling home equipment, by which it signifies that 95% of gadgets devour lower than the 1500W this energy financial institution can ship. It’s price noting, that’s shared between each AC ports, so you possibly can’t join two gadgets totalling greater than that. All of the ports can be utilized concurrently, nevertheless, giving the F1200 a theoretical complete peak output of 1.8kW. At that price, its 1.2kWh battery can be emptied in 40 minutes.
This energy financial institution is suited to make use of as an uninterruptible energy provide or battery backup. There’s an AC bypass circuit, so it might present its full rated energy even when charging the battery. Nonetheless, there’s no alarm to warn you when the cost is sort of exhausted, and no knowledge connection to power the orderly shutdown of related laptop gadgets.
Charging
- Cost from mains, automotive or the solar
- Most 1,000W enter
- Quick charging, even whereas offering energy
The Anker SOLIX F1200 is sort of effectively specified with regards to charging. As I’ve talked about, it might cost the battery at 1kW, however this isn’t decreased by small or reasonable masses plugged into its ports. Mains electrical energy bypasses the charging circuit, which is extra environment friendly than first changing it to direct present and again once more.
This bypass association signifies that, like a real UPS, the F1200 wants to change its AC ports over to battery output if there’s an influence minimize. Anker says this occurs in lower than 20 milliseconds, which should be quick sufficient to forestall IT gear falling over. Certain sufficient, it labored seamlessly with the gadgets in my dwelling workplace setup.
Though I’m testing the F1200 as a stand-alone product, you should purchase it bundled with three 100W photo voltaic panels in a package costing round £2200. On this kind it’s generally known as the Anker SOLIX Photo voltaic Generator 757, which begins to get a bit complicated. The bundle consists of three Anker 625 Photo voltaic Panels, which I examined as a part of my Photo voltaic Generator 521 assessment.
In optimum circumstances these elective panels may recharge the F1200 in a bit over 4 hours, nevertheless it’s more likely to take a bit longer – particularly if you happen to’re powering a load on the identical time. You’ll additionally want a good quantity of floor or roof area for 3 1.5 metre lengthy panels. I examined it with a single panel at actually the optimum second – lunchtime on the longest day of the yr. It produced an indicated 86W within the barely hazy daylight: near the said most.
The F1200’s last charging possibility is by way of the included automotive charging lead, which is restricted to 120W. It’s a great function, supplying you with the prospect to recharge if you happen to’re driving between campsites, though a full recharge may take longer than 10 hours.
Efficiency
- Rock-solid energy output
- Good effectivity, besides with low loading
- Loud followers on heavy load
I examined the Anker SOLIX F1200 throughout a wide range of masses, each on battery energy and whereas recharging the battery. As you’d most likely count on, it coped completely in low and medium load conditions, barely breaking a sweat even when supplying a couple of hundred watts for lengthy durations. In my lowest load check, it powered a 33W air air purifier for greater than 19 hours, which I measured as a complete output of 644 watt-hours (Wh). That’s solely a bit greater than half the rated 1,226Wh capability of the battery, although.
I had related outcomes after I used the F1200 to energy my fridge in a single day – it lasted 18 hours, and delivered a measured 672Wh. These comparatively low outcomes, equal to a discharge effectivity of solely round 53%, counsel fairly a little bit of energy loss within the AC inverter, used to show direct present (DC) from the battery into usable mains energy. As there’s next-to-no loss when supplying DC, utilizing the USB ports the place potential is extra environment friendly.
The F1200 excelled with heavier masses. As these deplete the battery extra shortly, its inverter is working for much less time and fewer energy is wasted. I used this energy financial institution to function a number of high-power gadgets in my kitchen over a day and a bit: it delivered 949kWh earlier than the battery was lastly drained. Assuming it was crammed to capability earlier than I began, that’s an altogether extra spectacular 77.2% discharge effectivity.
Related to my energy meter, the F1200 consumed 1.36kWh to completely recharge. Assuming that corresponded to a full refill of its 1.23kWh battery pack, that’s a good cost effectivity of 90%. Utilizing these figures, I calculated a best-case round-trip (cost and discharge) effectivity of 70%, which isn’t unhealthy in any respect.
Anker says this energy financial institution’s LFP batteries will final for 3000 cycles – and it backs that up with a beneficiant five-year guarantee. Calculated for an 80% cost, which means the F1200 may retailer nearly three megawatt-hours of electrical energy over its lifetime. Divide its buy worth by this capability, and it comes out at a aggressive 37.3p per kWh.
Given Anker’s declare that this can energy 95% of gadgets, I carried out some further checks at very excessive masses. The F1200 was fully comfy supplying about 1.1kW to my toaster and, individually, about 1.3kW to the microwave. Such excessive masses prompted the cooling followers to fireplace up, however whereas they have been fairly loud, they shortly stopped once more as soon as my toast had popped.
This energy financial institution is rated for a 1.5kW most, however I examined it with my kettle, rated at 1.8kW. Whereas I don’t suggest you overload any energy financial institution on this approach, the F1200 was completely unphased. I used my energy meter to verify it was supplying 1,518W at 225V, with the present restricted to six.8A. It was capable of maintain this for the 5 minutes wanted to boil a full jug, then boil a second full load instantly afterwards – a formidable show that means this can be a well-engineered product. After I added my toaster, for a requirement nearly twice the rated output, the F1200 shut down immediately.
I repeated the kettle check with the F1200 charging at an indicated 999W. On this case the mains bypass allowed it to fulfill the kettle’s full 1.8kW demand, whereas the charging price dropped to an indicated 450W. Once more, I wouldn’t suggest this check, however the F1200’s glorious efficiency in these checks suggests it has a little bit of spare capability, and is constructed to take some abuse.
Newest offers
Do you have to purchase it?
You want a whole lot of energy on the go: If you happen to want a conveyable, steady energy provide, that is impressively stable and versatile
You may have lighter necessities: It’s overkill for smaller journeys or light-weight functions
Closing Ideas
With an underwhelming effectivity on gentle AC masses, I can’t strongly suggest the Anker SOLIS F1200 for low-load functions – except you possibly can join by way of USB.
This caveat apart, it’s a superb little bit of package. It’s rugged and complete, has a reasonably excessive capability, and is comfy powering excessive masses as much as its 1.5kW most. Add in photo voltaic compatibility and a quick, 1kW recharge price, and it’s very best for group tenting journeys or as battery backup for medium-duty home equipment across the dwelling. If you happen to want extra energy, then the expandable Dabbsson DBS2300 is a greater guess.
How we check
We check each battery station we assessment totally over an prolonged time period. We use normal checks to match options correctly. We’ll all the time let you know what we discover. We by no means, ever, settle for cash to assessment a product.
Discover out extra about how we check in our ethics coverage.
We check with a wide range of gadgets to see how lengthy the battery will final.
We check totally different charging strategies to see how shortly the battery will be topped up.
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FAQs
This energy financial institution will fortunately provide a fridge, and most toasters, espresso machines or microwaves. Though it did energy my 1.8kW kettle, it’s not heavy-duty sufficient for a typical 2.2-3.0kW kettle. It’s additionally not highly effective sufficient for a washer or dishwasher. The Anker SOLIX F1200 is highly effective sufficient for many condenser tumble driers, however it might’t meet the calls for of an older vented drier.
Though it’s obtained two large handles, this can be a heavy gadget. A match particular person may most likely carry it up a few flights of stairs or maybe a couple of tens of metres, however it might shortly show very exhausting work. It doesn’t take up an excessive amount of area in an enormous automotive boot or a camper van, nevertheless, and two individuals working collectively may simply get it a couple of hundred metres from automotive park to campsite.
Sure – you don’t have to make use of Anker’s panels. It ought to work with any set rated between 11-30 volts with a ten amp most output. It makes use of an ordinary XT60 connector.
