We inherited a 2 year old AC200 along with a new in the box PV200. The AC200 was only slightly used. We charged it up using AC current and it reached 100%. We charged our phones and also plugged in the freezer for about 5 hours. Both were successful. Today we took the panels out of the box and placed them in full Arizona sun. No clouds, no trees just bright blue sky and hot sun. All the connections are correct and the unit read 79% battery charge when we started. The AC200 does not show any power coming in when we look at the PV icon on the home page. Under settings we have changed the DC1 input to PV. It’s been about 1.5 hours and the battery charge is still sitting at 79%. Being an old unit, I’m not sure where to go to get help. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I read to try to charge it from the car to see if that works.
The issue is that the single PV200 panel does not output the minimum 35 needed for solar charging to begin. You will need a minimum of two panels connected in series in order for charging to occur. Bluetti does sell a charge enhancer unit that will raise the voltage of the single panel allowing charging but for my money, I would use that to buy a second panel and greatly increase the charging rate. A very large single panel could work as long as the panel outputs (under load) at least 35 volts. I bought two of the first AC200 units offered and they are very good units. They do however lack some of the newer and more advanced features such as single panel charging allowed, app control and built in charger eliminating the need for a charging brick among others.