On May 29, UGREEN released the PowerRoam 1200, a portable power supply with a rated output of 1200W (1024Wh capacity). We were able to touch the product before it went on sale, so we will introduce its usage and other details. The “PowerRoam 600” with a rated 600W (680Wh capacity) is already on sale, and this is the long-awaited appearance of a model with increased capacity. The price is 138,000 yen on Amazon.co.jp.
1024Wh portable power supply with 100% fast charge in 1.5 hours
UGREEN is such a major manufacturer that if you have ever searched Amazon for cables and chargers for smartphones and other devices, you have surely seen them along with ANKER, etc. Founded in Shenzhen, China in 2012, the company sells its products in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. As a manufacturer that is quick to incorporate new technologies, such as gallium nitride chargers, the company is also quick to incorporate technological trends such as lithium-ion iron phosphate batteries, short-time quick charging, USB Type-C ports, and dedicated app control into its portable power supplies.
Incidentally, a portable power supply can be thought of as a larger version of the mobile battery that everyone has at least one for their smartphone. Naturally, it can be used to charge smartphones and portable game consoles, but it also has a 100 VAC outlet so that home appliances can be used as long as the power used is within the range of the battery. There is also a terminal that can be connected to a solar panel, making it possible to charge the unit directly from sunlight outdoors. This is useful for camping or securing power sources in times of disaster.
PowerRoam 1200 has a body size of 33.5 x 22 x 27 cm and weighs 11.5 kg, which means that it can be managed to lift and move with one hand. If held with both hands, it is within the range of most adults to move it around. It is quite convenient to experience the ability to use electrical appliances in one’s home, regardless of the location of electrical outlets.
There are 13 output ports, supporting up to 1565W in total: 6 AC100V (1200W), 2 USB Type-C (100W PD), 2 USB Type-A (22.5W), 2 DC5521 and a cigarette lighter socket (120W for both) can be used simultaneously. Incidentally, the DC5521 is a DC jack with an outer diameter of 5.5 mm and an inner diameter of 2.1 mm; it can be used as a general-purpose port for extracting 12 V (5 A).
When shipped, the battery is at about 30% charge, so it needs to be charged before use. All you have to do is connect the PowerRoam 1200 to a wall outlet, but there are a few caveats. When you plug it into an outlet, it will suddenly start charging at a rapid rate of over 1000W to 800W for almost an hour. To avoid tripping the breaker, charge the batteries during a time when electricity use in the home is low.
Also, plug directly into wall outlets instead of table taps, never use extension cables, and connect a ground wire just in case. Grounding is usually provided at the outlet where refrigerators, microwave ovens, and washing machines are installed. And be sure to use the power cables provided and connect them in a straight line, not rolled up or bundled together. This is because they are much thicker than ordinary cables and are made to withstand the heat generated by a large current.
Charging was completed in about 50 minutes. Even when charging from near 0%, it takes about 1.5 hours. Even if you forget to charge the battery on the day you want to take it out, you will be ready in a short time. During this quick charge, there is a loud fan noise, but other than that, the fan noise is low and hardly bothersome, even at high loads. It is only when you look at the indicator that you notice that it is turning.
One of the features of the lithium-ion iron phosphate battery used in the PowerRoam 1200 is its resistance to repeated recharging; even after more than 3000 repeated recharges, there is virtually no degradation in performance, and the manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty. If the battery is recharged 3000 times every day, it will last a little over 8 years, or 3,600 times after 10 years of use. It can be expected that the product can be used for approximately this long without performance degradation.
Press and hold the “IoT” button on the unit to register it with the UGREEN app. The connection to the app supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Bluetooth is used in environments where Wi-Fi is not available. The app will allow real-time checking of usage status, various detailed settings, and firmware updates.
The PowerRoam 1200 can be connected to up to two 200W solar panels. A branching cable is included to connect two panels in parallel, so that one more panel can be connected in parallel to achieve a maximum power output of 400W, which would cut the charging time by about one-half. Incidentally, a 100W model “SC100” is also available, which can be connected to up to four 100W cards (branching cable is required separately). The PowerRoam 1200 comes with a branch cable.
The only output from the panel is the XT60 terminal, and a 2m cable with XT60 female at both ends that can be connected to the PowerRoam 1200’s XT60 is included. There is another cable included, but this one is a conversion cable to MC4, which is commonly used for solar panel connections, so it is not used in this set.
The manufacturer’s nominal charging time for a single SC200 unit is 6 hours. We actually charged the battery at 10:00 a.m. from 50%, half capacity, and it was fully charged by 2:30 p.m. During the charging on this day, it was mostly sunny and rarely lightly cloudy. Although the battery is IP67 waterproof, it is best not to think of charging the battery in the rain. This pace of recharging is practical enough if the battery is used for supplemental recharging without using it up the previous day.
Note that the orientation of the panel was adjusted precisely every hour this time. Rotating a 240-cm-long panel requires a certain amount of space. If it is troublesome to rotate them, it may be a good idea to install several of them in different directions.
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