Anker 521 Portable Power Station Upgraded with LiFePO4 Battery, 256Wh 6-Port PowerHouse, 300W (Peak 600W) Solar Generator (Solar Panel Optional), 2 AC Outlets, 60W USB-C PD Output, Outdoor Generator

I bought this as an auxiliary power source for use in a vehicle--I need to carry a 12 volt refrigerator with me (special dietary needs, road food, etc.), and occasionally charge up Milwaukee tool or DSLR batteries even if the vehicle is not running.The packaging of the 521 is ideal, although I wish the two 120V outlets had "real" 3-prong outlets. The size is perfect when a vehicle is loaded up--it uses little space.I ran two tests with the refrigerator connected to the 12 volt outlet. The refrigerator operates in both ECO and MAX modes. The ECO mode draws 30-35 watts while operating, while the MAX runs at anywhere from 40-50 watts. I ran the refrigerator indoors somewhat near a heat outlet, to simulate being inside a warm vehicle. The refrigerator is rated to deliver 256Wh of power, so I calculated that worst case would be the refrigerator running constantly for 5.5 hours. Turns out that with the refrigerator cycling on and off, it ran over 20 hours before the battery was down to about 2-4% capacity.EDIT: I had a charging issue that was partly my own misunderstanding and partly my car's wiring. I was at first unsuccessful in getting the 521 to charge from both inputs.First, I had to use a USB-C PD charger, which provides higher voltages than standard USB chargers. This allowed a full 65 watts on the USB-C input for charging. But I would add the 120 volt charger that came with the 521 in tandem with the USB-C charger wasn't getting the ~120 watts of charging. I later realized that for battery health, the 120 watt charging through both DC inputs only happens when the battery's state of charge is lower. If it's nearly fully charged, it cuts back to only a single DC input.Yet, I still could not get both to work in the car. I have a 150 watt 120-volt inverter in the car, which plugs into a rear accessory outlet using a lighter plug. It turns out that if I have both the 521's 120 volt charger and a USB-C PD charger plugged into the inverter, the inverter stops working. Likewise, if I use a separate USB-C charger that plugs into the accessory outlet (I have a 1:3 adapter with a voltage readout), the inverter cuts out. It seems the inverter is cutting out when voltage drops below a nominal value like 12.8 volts. In essence, the wiring from the fuse box to the accessory outlet cannot provide full wattage without voltage sag. When I plug the USB-C PD adapter into an accessory outlet in the center console (which is on its own 15 amp circuit), I can get 120 watts of charging to the 521.I will wire up my own circuit with 6-gauge wire to run a 300 or 400 watt inverter and a pair of accessory outlets, as this will eliminate the voltage drop.With ~120 watts, this provides a quicker recovery for the battery while the refrigerator is operating, which is exactly what I needed.

Anker has done it again by putting another great product out there!! I finally did the test I was waiting for 😁 This baby charges pretty quick no matter what percentage its on......mine was at 16% & it only took 1.5 hrs to charge back to 100%, that was car charging, awesome!! Performance is flawless 👍 I've charged my phone numerous times, my tablet, even my portable solar chargers (2) & my usb portable fans, this box lasted 4 whole days on 1 charge 😁 Portability is great & lightweight, looks heavy but it's not! It's a great little box that gives you plenty of uses which has 2 usb ports, 1 c port, has 2 outlet plugs, 1 car socket which works very fast!! I got it for $200, very good value for the money. You can take this box anywhere you need charging, has eco mode, very bright light.....Overall I'm extremely happy w/this charger, money well spent 😁 THANK YOU ANKER for another great product you've made, I have several of your products & I ❤️ them all....Job well done on this box!!! I HIGHLY recommend especially to the campers & hikers, it won't disappoint you!!!

I purchased this specifically to run an Airmini CPAP while camping, and I desired 2 nights of capacity. I don’t review many products, but because this one matched up with my camping CPAP needs perfectly, decided to write one.My testing at home, using the regular Airmini AC adapter (not the DC adapter for Airmini, I haven’t bought one of those yet) resulted in 66% of charge left after one 8 hour night of use.My CPAP pressure is between 8 and 9. I recently used the Anker 521 for two nights while camping, again with the standard AC Airmini adapter. I used the built in light for about 10 mins, but didn’t charge any phones or other devices. I only plugged in the AC adapter when I was going to use the Airmini, and unplugged it when I got up in the morning.The first night was 6hrs 45 min of Airmini CPAP use, the second night 9 hours 20 min. After both nights, the charge was 38%. The temp the first night was in the high 20s F, and the second night, low 30s F. So I didn’t experience any loss of capacity due to the lower temperatures than my at home testing.Right now I’m very pleased with the Anker box. Next trip I will use the built in light longer and probably charge my phone a few times.Things I really like about the Anker 521, and why I chose it for my Airmini power supply:Can turn on or off different sections of the power box, to save power when not using the other types of power (12v, USB, AC, etc)Has a trickle charge (regular) and eco mode (my terms, can’t remember the actual Anker terms) for power output modes. In regular, even if your device doesn’t draw much power, the Anker stays on. I wanted this, as many battery boxes would turn off after 3-4 hours because someone’s CPAP didn’t draw enough current, and the battery box then turned off. I wanted it on, when I told it to be on!LiFePo4 battery is supposedly safer than standard Li batteries.Built in light was plenty to see inside my tent.Weight and size I considered to be great given the power output.I believe the unit can be plugged into the wall and also powering devices, performing like an UPS. I don’t need this currently, so didn’t test it, so can’t say for sure.Cons: none yet!I’d love to try this with a solar panel, but don’t have one yet.Conclusion: I’d buy it again!