First of all, you need to know that we have received this product from EBL itself to use and review on our Pan American adventure driving from Alaska to Argentina.
Although we received the power bank free of charge, we assure you that our review is impartial.
As travelers, we know the importance of having a reliable portable power source, especially when on the road for long periods of time.
In this article, we will be discussing the features, performance, and battery life of the EBL Portable Power Station 500, as well as our personal experience using it on our journey.
Features and Specifications
Let’s dive into the features and specifications of the EBL Portable Power Station 500.
The dimensions of the power bank are 11.95″L x 7.95″W x 7.64″H, making it a compact and easily transportable option.
The EBL Portable Power Station 500 has a range of features and specifications that make it a powerful and versatile tool for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. With a battery capacity of 500Wh, this power bank can charge multiple devices at once.
The output options include three 14V DC outlets, two 110V AC outlets, one USB-C PD Quick 60W port, three Quick Charge 3.0 ports, and even a wireless charging pad for your phone.
What’s more, this power station can be charged in three different ways: using a compatible 100W solar panel, an AC wall outlet, or a car outlet. With the latest fast-charging technology, it can be fully charged in just 6-9 hours (using a wall charger).
The EBL Portable Power Station 500 is also incredibly portable, weighing in at just under 6 Kg and featuring a foldable handle for easy carrying. It’s perfect for camping, traveling, and home emergency use.
Plus, with its 500W high capacity, it can power a range of appliances and devices, such as electric grills, coffee makers, fridges, microwaves, and electric stoves.
In the package, you will receive the EBL Voyager 500 Portable Power Station, an MC4-7909 Connector Cable, an AC 100-240V Wall Plug Power Adapter, a 12V Car Charger Cable, and a user manual. EBL offers a 12-month warranty and high-quality customer service.
One very important feature of the 110V AC outlets is that it produces pure-sine wave energy, which is very important for charging sensitive devices such as laptops and drones.
Design and Build Quality
The design and build quality of the EBL Portable Power Station 500 are impressive.
The power bank has a sturdy and durable shell that is made of high-quality ABS material, ensuring it can withstand some wear and tear.
We’re travelling a lot through remote areas with rough roads, oftentimes off-road, and naturally that takes a toll on our gear. So far we can’t see any marks or damages on the EBL Power Station, so it’s handling our lifestyle very well.
The power bank also features an ergonomic handle for easy carrying, making it a great option for on-the-go use. Overall, the design is sleek and functional, and the build quality is top-notch.
Performance
The performance of the EBL Portable Power Station 500 is impressive. It is capable of powering a variety of devices, including laptops, phones, tablets, and even small appliances like mini-fridges.
During our current Pan American adventure, we are able to charge our devices multiple times on a single charge, and the power bank held up well over time.
Overall, the performance of the EBL Portable Power Station 500 is reliable and efficient. It does what a 500W power station is expected to do.
Battery Life
The battery life of the EBL Portable Power Station 500 is impressive, especially considering its compact size. On a single charge, it is capable of powering a phone for up to 40 times, a laptop for up to 8 times, and a mini-fridge for up to 10 hours.
The charging time of the power bank from AC is around 6-7 hours, while from a DC source, it takes around 7-8 hours.
The EBL 100W or 200W solar panel would be a great addition. Click on the image above to check it out.
However, given that we’re using it to power a Starlink dish and router, it is not quite capable of providing energy for such an energy-intensive device for too long time.
Portability
The EBL Portable Power Station 500 is highly portable, thanks to its compact size and ergonomic handle. Weighing in at just over 13 pounds (6 kg) , it’s easy to carry around and take with you on outdoor adventures. In addition, we were provided with a carry bag that doubles as an insulator as well.
The dimensions of the power bank are 11.95″L x 7.95″W x 7.64″H, making it easy to fit into a backpack or other gear. Its sturdy construction and ability to be recharged using a solar panel also make it a great option for outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
Overall, the EBL Portable Power Station 500 is an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable and portable power source.
Personal Use and Experience
If you’d like to know further details about how the EBL Portable Power Station 500 performs in real-life situations, we’re happy to share our personal use and experience with the product.
Our primary use for the power station is to power our Starlink device, but we also use it to charge two laptops, phones, a drone, and cameras.
As we’re on a long journey driving from Alaska to Argentina, having a reliable portable power source is critical. We’ve found the EBL 500 to be invaluable as it complements our vehicle’s leisure battery. The leisure battery primarily powers our fridge, so using the EBL power station to charge our electronic devices instead ensures we’re not draining the battery that keeps our perishables cool.
We charge the EBL Portable Power Station 500 while we drive from a 12-volt AC socket. However, it takes a long time to charge fully from a low-amperage 12-volt source. We can’t directly connect it to our solar panels as they are hard-wired in our vehicle to charge the leisure battery.
But, indirectly, we can charge it from the solar panels when we’re connecting the EBL power station to the AC socket. (indirect because the solar panels are connected to our leisure battery first, then the battery powers the AC socket)
It’s worth noting that since the Starlink dish and router require a lot of power, we only get one or two days of use out of the EBL battery. This is not 48 hours of continuous use; we use it for a few hours each day.
If you’re planning to power a Starlink device from the EBL Portable Power Station, the EBL 1000 would be a better choice. Otherwise, with the 500W version, you need to have a solar panel attached to it for continuous charging.
Value for Money
The EBL Portable Power Station 500 is priced competitively, especially when compared to similar products on the market. Its price range is between $350 and $500, depending on the retailer.
When compared to other portable power stations with similar capacity, such as the Jackery Explorer 500 and the Goal Zero Yeti 500X, the EBL Portable Power Station 500 is priced slightly lower while offering comparable specifications.
Overall, the EBL Portable Power Station 500 provides good value for money considering its battery capacity, output options, and input options.
Compared specifically to the Jackery Explorer 500, the EBL Portable Power Station 500 has more AC outputs, and the EBL device also features a USB-C output, whereas the Jackery is lacking that. In addition, the EBL 500 is more portable, due to it’s foldable handle design, as opposed to the Jackery’s fixed handle.
Pros and Cons
The advantages and disadvantages of the EBL Portable Power Station 500 based on our personal experience and evaluation can be summarized as follows:
Pros:
- Solid build quality and durable materials
- Multiple output and input options
- Lightweight and compact design for easy transport
- Provides reliable power for a variety of devices
- Competitive pricing compared to similar products on the market
- Pure-Sine Wave AC output
Cons:
- Longer charging time when using a low amperage source
- Not suitable for long-term usage without a solar panel or AC source
- Limited battery life when powering high-energy devices such as a Starlink router (not really a disadvantage, it’s by design)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the EBL Portable Power Station 500 is a reliable and efficient portable power source that can be used to charge a wide range of electronic devices.
Its compact design, high-quality build, and impressive battery life make it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts, digital nomads, and anyone in need of a reliable source of power on the go.
While the product has some minor drawbacks such as its relatively long charging time and limited capacity for powering high-demand devices like the Starlink dish and router, these are outweighed by its numerous benefits.
As we continue on our Pan American adventure, we will keep using and testing the EBL Portable Power Station 500 on a daily basis to provide updates on its performance and reliability.
Overall, we highly recommend the EBL Portable Power Station 500 for anyone in need of a reliable and versatile portable power source.
Do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
