Is Bluetti planning on making future Power Stations that will be backwards-compatible, with the B230 expansion batteries? (and is it still worth getting 2 expansion batteries in the long term?) The reason for asking this question is: Currently the B230 is only compatible with the AC200max and a limited number of smaller power stations.
And if the AC200max someday breaks down and is no longer available for purchase anywhere. What does one do with the B230 expansion batteries, especially if they’re still in good condition?
The option to buy newer models to use the batteries with, would be a great upgrade path or at the very at least help, in not making the B230 unusable in the long term.
Also on average how long would the AC200max last, before no longer working? I hear the batteries should last 10 years+ but what about the system itself? will repairs be available 5 to 10 years from now.
Good question. On which I don’t have an exact answer.
I expect the battery cells to outlast the electronics of the battery’s BMS and the AC200Max. This of course very much depends on the intensity of the battery use. If you use your AC200Max with B230 every day with a lot of charge/discharge cycles things may be different.
I chose the AC300+B300 system over the AC200Max because it has the power station and the batteries as separate units which can be independently replaced if needed. Of course, the safest solution for futureproofing would be a non-integrated solution with a separate inverter, battery charger and battery (set). But of course, people are buying integrated Bluetti systems to not have to deal with that.
As old Bluetti models slowly get replaced by new Bluetti models there may come a time where paid parts, paid repairs or warranty is no longer available. Some of their early models have reached this state now because parts of these out-of-production models have ran out of stock. Third party repairs may sometimes be still and option. For example to replace a blown capacitor or resistor on a board.
I would add that at least the B230 is usable without a power station attached. It has 100w USB C port and the outdated but still useful 12vdc cigarette lighter socket. And you can charge it without a power station as well. You would have to buy the D050S but you have the means to charge and then use the power as a standalone unit. Thats an advantage IMO. The newest battery in the lineup is the B300K which is a great battery but only has a single USB A 15w port. It must be connected to a power station to charge and get the potential out of it.
I think the not being able to repair or finding newer models to work backwards with the expansion batteries is why I’m starting to feel hesitant about buying a second battery. If you have 2 or 4 expansion batteries, and 5 years after purchasing your system it breaks down and is no longer available. You’re stuck with 2,4 or more expansion batteries with no practical use for them. (aside from DC ports on the actual battery itself)
My concern was more so, if you have 2,4 or possibly more expansion batteries after the system is no longer available anywhere for sale. (It ends up feeling more like a waste to have 2 or more batteries, just to use them for their DC ports only). Also would the (AC charger -or- D050S charger) always be available for purchase if our current ones break down many years later? (or are we left with no way to charge the expansion batteries)
I just thought making newer models backwards compatible, would make it a more economical option to buy something newer and use the old batteries instead of having to discard them for newer battery-packs every time.
If the batteries are expected to last 10 years, maybe having a newer model made 8 years later, have backwards compatibility for the many expansion batteries that would still be alive and kicking, might be a good idea.
Agreed. I would be hesitant to buy a new B230 as they are no longer being produced. I have a AC200Max and one B230 as well. I also have a B300K that is backwards compatible with the AC 200 but I’m not sure if it would work with the B230 in the stack. It’s always a safe choice to go with the newest and latest version if you are buying new. one of the good (and bad) things about Bluetti is they are growing so fast that their product line keeps expanding, so somewhat new products are being replaced by newer versions before the current product has even matured. My AC200Max and B230 is probably 4 or 5 years old but has only seen light use. It’s still in perfect condition and functions well. I haven’t even kept up with firmware updates because everything works to my satisfaction and I don’t want to take a chance of having a problem with it due to a new firmware issue. I think the 2000w inverter offerings by Bluetti are the sweet spot for consumer needs and that’s why they are so popular.
I have a B230 and a B300k.
I agree with doecliff.
I’d add that with a B230 and these cables
you can put the B230 in power bank mode and output up to 500W and a little more than 50V.
Finally, if you have an AC200max, it turns off after a while, and when the sun comes back out, it turns back on but isn’t able to turn on either the B230 or the B300k to recharge them. However, with the B230, you can press the DC “on” button, and this prevents the B230 from turning off, even when the AC200max turns off by itself…
The question is : do you need all the B230’s features? If the answer is no, the B300k is for you!
I have an AC200P, 3 x AC180s & 2 x AC70s. None of them are compatible with expansion batteries, other than in power bank mode. This is limited by the DC MPPT input relative to each and primarily ref the B80.
I have the Charger 1 and a spare 100Ah LFP deep cycle. This will enable me to input up to 500W into the AC70 & AC180 and 560W to the 200P.
Excepting efficiency losses this will expand all of my Bluetti PS by approx 1,300Wh albeit one at a time. It’s safer than using a step up voltage converter (in my opinion - they get very hot) and adjustable to lower output as my loads are less than 500W and nearer <200W.
It’s also future proofing in that a. I could purchase additional LFP batteries, and, b. will work with any power station and likely those not yet designed.
Please do not misunderstand me, I am not against expansion batteries on power stations designed for them to work in conjunction with. My power stations are not.
I’ve worked around my problem to provide what works for me.
And the link for the connection cable you posted, will come in very handy for me. I didn’t know so many cables where available to use with the expansion batteries. I guess the only option for now, if worst came to worst, would be to try and adapt so that you’re not forced to discard hardware that’s still in good condition, if replacement systems are no longer available.
I just thought or at the very least hoped, since all these expansion batteries are made by the same manufacturer, they’d be able to be backwards compatible with each other (even if they came with limitations or loss of features) but still functional as part of the system.
Also I wanted to get a B300 since it’s still available where I live, but I read a few posts on the forum saying you can’t stack them (using them both at the same time). Does the B300K also have this limitation or can they be used at the same time as the B230?
I guess the gist of it, (is to adapt and survive if worst came to worst) which I understand — I took the plunge and purchased my 1st B230 battery, and the added capacity has really come in handy especially being able to work more hours after the sun had gone down. (I think my asking the question, was to more or less see if it would be worth getting a 2nd Battery or not in the long run). Since these batteries are quite expensive you’d hope to always have a way to be able to use them well into the future.
If the batteries are supposed to last 10 years, chances are they might outlive my AC200max. Being able to purchase a new system and plugging them in would give some peace-of-mind especially if you’re considering investing a lot of money into the system.
Looking at the Bluetti website, it seems that the B230 and B300K can be used simultaneously on an AC200MAX (I don’t know if the way they are daisy-chained in the image below is important).
I’ve never connected the two together on a single AC200MAX because I actually have two AC200MAXs, each with his expansion battery.
@niotumi Don’t get too fixated on the 10year life span, either power station or expansion battery. If you think in terms of a car - Drive it sedately and it may well last a lot longer than if you drive hard and fast. In other words, battery life is subjective and affected by environment, how deep you cycle before recharge and how quickly you recharge. A second B230 will not go to waste, even if a future power station does not directly connect to it, it is still a battery that can be connected in some way. It may need to be in power bank mode, or indeed interface with a future PS.
The primary specification is battery voltage compatibility. That’s why I like the Charger 1 as a variable voltage DC charger. My AC200P will accept 135V, so the 56V max of the C1 will still work. Where the danger occurs is putting more voltage than the power station is rated for.
An example of life span - A number of years ago I had an AGM 100Ah deep cycle, most people I know that used these batteries got around 5-6 years of life out of theirs. I got 10+ years out of my last one as I cycled it to no more than 35% and I charged it correctly. It was in the rear of vehicles its whole life.
This is why I only charge my 70s & 180s in Silent mode as it’s kinder to the battery cells.
Occasional higher charge is OK, but using Turbo charge constantly will shorten life span.
@Snips1 Thank you for this, it does give me a little more assurance in the longevity and multiple ways, of being able to use these products in future. I also registered my hardware for the extended warranty on the Bluetti website, a little more peace-of-mind. (Even though I hope, to never be in a situation where I need to use it).
The B300K isn’t yet available where I live (I checked last night). We only have the B300 and B300s available but if it should pop up, it’ll be my next go-to battery.
@Mandp You make a great point, I should do my best to get the most use out of the batteries now, while I still can. I will consider taking the plunge and hope for the best. And with the extended warranty I registered for on the Bluetti website it will help give me more peace-of-mind. (which is what I was essentially looking for).
It also seems like an artificial restriction that you can’t use a B230 battery with an AC300/Apex 300 at the end of a daisy chain of B300/B300S/B300K batteries. It uses the same P090D connector as the rest. I guess the auto-on/off limitation is a hardware thing, but if Bluetti could enable the use of the B230 with an AC300/Apex 300 it would greatly extend its life span.
@Wretched_Refuse Thank you very much for the reply…
This was my original thought process as well, they’re all products made by the same manufacturer, the cables for the most part are similar if not the same. Wouldn’t it be possible to design future products with a way to leverage, the capacity of older battery packs? (The B230’s technology, can’t be so outdated that there’s no way to connect it to future products).
Also I never thought of that, but you’re right…If you were somehow able to connect the B230, to the end of a daisy chain, that would make life a lot more simpler. When buying newer models years later, you could just connect the B230 to the end of the newer battery’s daisy chain. (Or have firmware to recognize older Expansion-Batteries on newer hardware).
I wonder why it can’t work at the end of a daisy chain, or work on newer systems in general. (even if it had limited features)
