I do have a 180 as well as several other models that have the same situation with regards to solar input amperage limits creating a lower than optimal real world solar yield. I think I did a review on the 56 a few years back that brought this point up as a negative as well. With car charge mode being recognized as 12 to 26 volts or so (to include 24 volt vehicles) that does not leave much room between that voltage and the solar recognized voltage. Many people were (and still do) burn up their car socket or car charge plug due to a steady high amp draw. 8 amps is now common amongst the major players as max car charge amperage and a single panel does not put out high enough voltage to not be recognized as car charge instead of a solar panel attached. Does Bluetti do a great job communicating this detail? Of course they do not and could improve. The interesting thing to me is a lack of recognition that all models of power stations have combinations of panel types and quantities that youāre less than optimal results. Any combination of panels which output exceeds the amperage input limits will result in less than optimal solar charging wattage. In the specific case of the 180 I would simply recommend removing the 24 V car charge as a recognize car charge voltage and only recognized 12 V systems. This would expand the lower limit of solar charging and therefore would recognize a single 200 W panel at the max amp rate of 10.
Thatās answers my question too. BLUETTI_CARE I was only getting 8a il check that when it goes over 30v it goes to 10a
This solar panel illustrates the issue pretty well. The AC180 may never let you get more than 8amps into it with that panel. But if they had a programmable voltage threshold you could. Their answer has been just run out and buy a different solar panel. There you go, problem solved.
This post has the merit of explaining the subject of current limiting as a function of input voltage. I know itās not the answer youāre looking for, but itās not very expensive and it could still be useful one day and maybe solve your problem:
https://www.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-Controller-Regulator-Lead-Acid-Batteries/dp/B0B4SL5C2X
You can search for other models with the keywords āboost MPPT solarā
One of the reasons for the DC current limitation is vehicle related. I drive a 2022 Toyota Landcruiser Prado, it has a power socket near the driver seat and another for the second row passengers. The rated power output is 12V @ 10amps, or 120W. However, that is the total limit for both outlets, not each. As an example, if you are drawing the full 8A charging a Bluetti from the front socket and at the same time powering a portable fridge from the rear socket at say 4A, the vehicle fuse will likely blow.
I would imagine that Bluetti have placed the current limitation for that very reason. :)
Kid. Buddy. My Man. Iām not sure why youāre posting as a āmoderatorā in this tread, because you are as helpful as a stubbed toe, and a childish and immature one at thatā¦ What you keep repeating is neither insightful, nor productive. WE ALL GET WHAT YOU ARE SAYING Squirt, and what you are repeating is irrelevant to the conversation. KaMann is correct, and you are incorrect. Bluetti is not forthcoming in their documentation about an 8 amp limit on voltages below 30, which applies to a VAST array of PV products, including my own which is sitting at 29.5V , which is why Iām in here trying to figure out how to get this product at the 10 amp limit that is advertised. If I canāt get a fix for this asap Iāll be returning the product as not delivering as promised. Iām really not sure how you have the free time necessary to spam-post in what can only be described as trolling, but Iād encourage you to go outsideā¦
We shouldnāt HAVE to buy another solar panel, ESPECIALLY if you sell the AC180 in bundle with your 200 watt panel. When a product doesnāt perform up to what is represented, it diminishes trust. Donāt get me wrong, I love my AC180, but please see what you can do firmware wise to address this issue. Otherwise my Bluetti 200 watt panel is basically a big awkward paper weight to me, and I would have rather put that extra money from that solar panel toward another Bluetti product.
Bluetti is just ignoring this completely. They just say itās so you donāt blow the fuse on your carās lighter socket. But how many car lighter sockets out there output more than 14VDC? Answer: NONE. So why is the 8A limit all the way up to 30V? Apparently itās for a 24V car lighter socket that does not exist.
Giving up on Bluetti product now. I complained and they sent me a cheap volt meter to shut me up. It didnāt fix the issue.
This can not be the answer from a company that sells the AC180 in combination with 200-watt panels. please give us an option in the firmware to select the changing source. Protecting carās battery is OK, but you canāt cut the capabilities of our hardware without advertising.
I own 2 bluetti power stations. EB150 and AC180. I liked their products but this will definitely be my last. This 8amp charging limit is absurd. Not to mention the phone app is beyond limited. Go compare it to an Ecoflow where you can adjust the charging parameters etc. It is night and day for control.
Itās too bad, for the most part good products, but the 8 amp charging limit really kills this product and the lack of care is all I need to know
No answer here?? Itās a shame the company ignore these issues, just a firmware update must be enough, but you prefer keep your customers disappointed
I purchased an AC-180 a while back, but I only just got around to setting it up for its intended purpose, running a pools equipment (Australian summer). I sized it correctly according the specs provided by Bluetti, installed the solar panels on a wood frame. And was immediately disappointed by the charging performance. Hereās the email I sent Bluetti:
Hello,
I am disappointed with my AC-180 because the specifications you provided are not accurate. You misled me, causing the unit to not function for my needs.
My requirements:
- Output: constant 600W, peak 1600W. OK.
- Input: 400W, VOC 12-60VDC, 10A. FALSE.
I have 3x 200W panels in parallel, with voltage ranging from 29.6ā31.2V. The AC-180ās max current is 7.9A, not 10A!
Consequences:
- It charges at 244W instead of 310W.
- This is insufficient for the load.
Why did you mislead me?
Can you provide a firmware update to support 10A instead of 7.9A?
These are NOT Accurate specifications:
500W Max., VOC 12-60VDC, 10A.
Unless Bluetti can make the sun stay up longer, give me the FW for 10A or provide the equipment to boost my panel voltage, then the AC-180 is mostly useless to me.
And all they have to do to stop misleading potential customers is to amend the specs to:
500W Max., VOC 12-32VDC, 7.9A. 32-60VDC 10A.
why donāt you give us a firmware upgrade?, not that hard
Hi @carlos85, We have not intentionally limited the input current of the AC180, so there is no firmware available to remove any restriction. The maximum charging input current for the AC180 is 10A, as tested by us. Input current may vary with weather conditions, so we recommend solar charging around midday on a clear day to achieve optimal results.
If you are unsatisfied with the solar charging performance of your AC180, please provide details about your solar panels and how they are connected so we can assist with further analysis.
Good morning, of course, there are 2 topics here:
- You sold me an AC180 + 200W solar panel, it was never advertised that the panel would never work at full capacity, so a max of 200W (or less due to the 8A limit below 30V) is false
BLUETTI Solar Generator AC180 with 200W Solar Panel Included, 1152Wh Portable Power Station w/ 4 1800W (2700W Surge) AC Outlets, LiFePO4 Emergency Power for Camping, Off-grid, Power Outage
- AC180 has a limitation in charge below 30V - so If I want to charge it from the car itās not possible (in another answer you said it is to protect the carās battery, which is ok, butā¦ I can easily imagine I can use 12V- 24V - 32V - 48V to charge faster with the proper installation and battery, so? why can not I select the source and charge it faster from my carās high-performance battery? or any other source below 30V at 10A?
April 15:
" BLUETTI_CAREModerator
@DaMann Below 30V, AC180 limits the input current to 8A, and it will only be up to 10A when it is above 30V. The main reason is that the car battery may be damaged easily when operating car charging. It is recommended that you buy another solar panel and connect it in series."
Hi @carlos85, We have indeed tested our 200W solar panel, and under good weather and lighting conditions, it can achieve a solar conversion rate of over 200W. If this is not the case, it is most likely due to lighting conditions rather than any artificial setting limitations on our part.
Adding another solar panel of the same model in series can improve the charging efficiency.
If thatās not to your liking, we also recommend using our Charger 1 as a supplementary option for charging your car battery.
Check this URL, this is not what you said before, so when you sell the power station + 200W panels, already knew this was limited to 8A due to the voltage, and also limited for DC charging from the car (according to your previous own answer)
Hi @carlos85, We currently donāt have firmware to meet your requirements.
Since a single 200W solar panel has an open-circuit voltage (VOC) below 30V, it cannot reach a 10A charging rate on its own.
By connecting two panels in series, you can achieve a total open-circuit voltage above 30V, allowing for optimal charging at up to 10A. The charging effect of a single panel indeed doesnāt compare to the enhanced performance of two panels in series, which provides an effect greater than 1+1.
You have to accept that your answers are ambiguous, you previously accept having a limitation of 8A and then you deny it, which is understandable, but there should be a charging option at 10A when the voltage is 12V-24V as in the case of a vehicle with a high-performance battery.
On the other hand, I understand the capacity of the panel, however, when you sell it in a combo with the AC180 you do not warn that it will not work at 200W without buying another panel to reach the necessary voltage.