When the solar pannel is connected to the machine, does the solar pannel icon light up in the top left corner of the screen? And when the solar pannel is plugged into the machine, listen carefully for a click sound。
No sign of the solar icon. Weather good and solar panels producing enough current. Unit charges from car charger and ac. I have ordered replacement solar cables since that seems to be the last possible hardware malfunction possibility. I DIY’d the current cable and I have heard that some MC4 connectors don’t play well with others. It’s strange that I have measurable (enough to charge) current measured at the solar plug (DC7909) to the unit. Thanks all.
Hi, since you’ve tried multiple things, I can only think of one other thing. What is the state of charge of your AC180? You probably know this, but if it is already at 100% charge it won’t do anything. Maybe try turning on the AC side, plugging a load on, and running the battery down a percent or two.
Yeah, unit was at 84% when I tried charging so, ‘the beat goes on’. Thanks though.
My money is on that you are not receiving power from your solar panel or the wiring you are using is incorrect polarity
Yes, if car charging works, that means there is no problem with the DC input port. You can try to change a solar charging cable to test.
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Agreed, thanks. I’ll check back when cables arrive.
Yeah, that’s my take on it, just waiting for the new cables, thanks
I’m glad to help you. Waiting for your update.
Apologies - I can’t find where to add a new issue. Just signed up to the channel. Can someone please move this question to the correct page, and apologies to the person who started this thread.
Just bought my Bluetti AC180. Sunshine has been great here, but the AC180 keeps running out of power.
Set up as this:
2 x 120W each Eco-Worthy solar panels with VOC of 24.5 Volts each.
Stuck my multimeter in both positive and negative solar MC4 cables and got 46v total so that’s about 3V less than the VOC’s added together, so that is about right - the solar panels are fine.
The AC180 shows input of 111 at 24%, after being in the sun all day.
I swapped out my Eco-Worthy panels for Bluetti’s own 200W portable foldable solar panel. The AC180 unit charged quicker but still around 111 and 33% charge 1 hour later, in full sunshine with Bluetti’s own portable solar panel.
My tests show that the solar panels are fine as I used two different sets, but the same problem occurred. - The Bluetti will not charge past 24%
This was all without my electronic items being connected.
Here are the electronic items that I connected in the first place though, that all xut out when the AC180 drained to zero per cent:
1 x TP-Link 4G router - output 5W
1 x NVR 24/7 recorder - PoE, output 11W
2 x cctv cameras at 0.5W each
1 x Monitor - output 16W
Total Watts = 33W max.
As there are only 2 x 3-pin sockets on the AC180, I have to use a white power extension lead to run the 3 devices above. The 2 cameras are PoE (Power over Ethernet).
As I said, I disconnected all those items but the Bluetti AC180 will not charge past 24%.
Oddly, stick it on power with it’s 3 pin plug to the power outlet in my kitchen and it will charge to 100%. This indicates to me that it is weak solar when I compare ot to the solar performance (South West facing), but I used 2 different sets of solar panels. The secibd set facing South directly. Surely the sun isn’t to blame. We have had a heatwave here for about 3 weeks, i.e. between 25 degrees to a shopping 46 degrees a few days ago …
I an using it in Eco Mode.
Any ideas why the AC180 won’t charge.
When you say this, do you mean that the AC180 is literally outside in direct sunlight? The unit cannot charge if the internal battery temperature exceeds 104F/40C. This means if you are exposing the power station to direct sunlight, it’s very possible that it is reaching an unsafe temperature after a few hours of usage and thus explains your 24% limitation.
Hi,
Thanks for responding.
No, sorry - the AC180 is 'inside’a log cabin.
The 2 x 120W Eco-Worthy solar panels are on the external roof of the cabin facing South.
The open voltage of each solar panel is 24.5V. When testing with a multi-meter, they showed as 46V combined, hence the panels are working fine.
The AC180 is on ECO mode, and not on silent.
The Bluetti software has been updated on the AC180 (yesterday) to the latest versions…
I have the following additional set up, which are all attached to the AC180 via a UK white power extension lead (in the UK):
1 x 4G router at 5 W
1 x CCTV NVR at 5W
1 x CCTV Monitor at 16W
2 x PoE CCTV cameras at 0.5W each (plugged directly into the NVR)
Total Output is therefore 27W max.
That’s all that I am trying to use, apart from 2 x 45W log cabin LED strip lights that, whilst plugged in to the white UK power extension lead, have not been powered on.
Checked thr Bluetti at 6pm tonight, and it had gone down to 25%, despite the fact we have had full sunshine days here (unusually) for about 3 or 4 weeks now.
Hope this clarifies.
Thanks.
The battery will consume around 15W non-stop just to “run” the AC inverter when it is on. Your 27W is likely just the running watts and not apparent power (also known as VA). Assume those devices has a power factor of 0.67, it is really using 27W / 0.67 ≈ 40.3 VA (or 40.3 watts). Add 15 watts to keep the inverter on and that’s 55 watts constant over AC.
Assume you get 8 hours of “useful” sunlight and 16 hours of no sunlight in a typical day. 16 X 55= 880Wh Averaging 100 watts for 8 hours of sunlight results in a net negative loss of 80Wh. If the time remaining on the SOC displays a larger number (like say 10/12/14 hours) its saying that your device is LOSING charge but will last another 14 hours or so. If it says “2.5 hours” it means its maintaining a net positive charge and will be fully topped off in 2.5 hours.
So you can generally tell if you are losing charge or gaining charge by simply looking at the remaining time. Regardless of how many watts you are actually getting coming in, you want that number to be as low as possible. Most importantly, low enough to get you through a solar day.
Another way to look at it is, if I had 25% battery left and 14 hour runtime, it means I’m losing around 18 watts per hour. So for example, I’m consuming 118 watts, but getting back 100 watts from the sun. Granted you actually only get around 85-90% charge efficiency, I was just more so illustrating a point.
Your runtime will paint a good picture of whether or not your solar array is sufficient enough to sustain you. Since your Bluetti power station has a 90% depth of discharge, just divide 1036 (1152 * 0.90) by however many hours the Bluetti tells you it has left. So you plug in everything and it says 20 hours, you know you are consuming 51.8 watts per hour. Granted this formula only works if the battery is at 100%, otherwise you’ll have to do the math for whatever remaining SOC you have.
So if it was at 25% and I had 4 hours remaining, it would be (1152X0.90*0.25)/4 This means you will use the ENTIRE battery before 24 hours and in “24 hours” you would have consumed 1,243 watts. This means a 350 watt panel, which produces 250 watts on average for 5 hours will net you 1200 watts, or essentially break even. AC appliances are unforgiving for constant 24/7 use. TLDR your solar array is insufficient to sustain a net charge for you.
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Hi,
Thanks, but what does TLDR mean?
What if I add another 2 panels to make it up to 4 panels of 480W (4 panels x 120W), keeping it to under 500W.
Thank you.
TLDR = Too Long Didnt Read
You can only run 2 panels in series because any more then that, you will exceed the PV voltage input of the AC180 (60V) and damage the unit. Generally you want to shoot for around 54V max to give enough buffer for colder weather. The best I can do on my AC180 is two PV350s in parallel which maxes me out at 10A and gets me around 36-38V giving me around 350-380W. With that said you’ll likely want to shoot for a 2S1P configuration (2 series 1 parallel). So you have 4 total panels. 2 in series, 2 in series, then join the “sets” in parallel. 46V/5A + 46V/5A combined in parallel would be 46V/10A or 460W.
For context - I understand your panel array is actually 240W (120X2) but the reason why I said you averaged “100 watt hours” over an 8 hour day is reflective of real world conditions (i.e. the panel is hot, gets shaded from time to time, non-optimal angles during the day). 50% is a good rule of thumb to use for a normal solar day. So if have a 200 watt solar panel, just assume over a full solar day you’ll “average” 100 watts per hour. Since your AC appliances use 1320Wh (55X24) over the course of a 24 hour day you need to average 165 watts per hour assuming you get 8 hours of sunlight. Half of 240 is 120 which doesn’t cut it, but half of 460 (or 230 watts) DOES.
Hi,
So, as a new solar user, did I buy the incorrect Bluetti then? - Not powerful enough?
Is there a solution to my own setup?
Could you or anyone recommend please.
Thanks.
No worries. It is a common mistake we all make when we purchase solar gear for the first time. We size our system to the requirements we “think” will work only to find out our system sizing is wrong. In your case, if you want to run those network/electronic devices 24/7, and it consumes around 55 (actual) watts per hour from your power station, you need panels capable of producing more than 1.3kW per day. The AC180 is likely undersized for your load demand, since the most solar it can output is 500W, realistically your maximum solar input for the day is 1500Wh (1.5kWh). This doesn’t work well if you have a cloudy day and output is only 1,000 watts. Since you need 1,300 a day MINIMUM to run those devices 24/7. You either have to size up your solar potential (more battery will do you no good if you cannot maintain a net charge) or downsize your runtime (i.e. don’t run those devices 24/7). Shut them down when not using them. For example if you simply turn them off for 8 hours when you sleep, your usage over 24 hour is then just 850Wh, so producing 1000Wh a day is JUST enough. There are more expensive Bluetti options that allow for expansion batteries to compensate for cloudy days, but they get pricey, and it all depends on your budget. In the end you need to produce more solar power than you consume, otherwise MORE battery is pointless. All the expansion batteries do is store more energy potential, but if you consume more than you store, you can store nothing. To put it simply, the AC180 is adequate if you don’t need to run those devices 24/7, but if you need to, then you should upgrade to something like the Elite 100 V2 or Elite 200 which supports double the amperage/current (thus doubling your solar potential), allowing you to put for example two 400 watt panels on your roof, to maintain a net charge.
The “portable” Bluetti power units, such as the AC180/Elite 100 V2/Elite 200, etc.) were not designed for constant 24/7 use of AC appliances due to a lack of limited solar potential. A proper application would be the “home backup” lineup of products such as the APEX series. Think about it. If all you consumed was 100 watts of AC input per hour, that’s still 2400Wh per day. The maximum solar a “portable” Bluetti power station can produce is 1000W. Your absolute maximum for 5 peak sun hours is 5,000W on a best case scenario. If you need to run anything above more than 200W per hour on average, you are already at 4,800Wh a day, making any portable AC Bluetti system undersized. This is why anyone with an “AC180” depends heavily on energy efficient DC loads (like 12V fridges) for constant 24/7, and even those are power hungry. I have to dedicate an entire PV350 panel and an entire Bluetti AC180 JUST to keep my 12V DC fridge topped off!
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Hi sealy1986,
Thanks again for all the great info.
I am selling the AC180 for £450 as it was purchased in error, given that it does not do what I need it to do.
Bought it brand new 21st May 2025. Only started using it on 14th July. Buyer needs to collect.
Also, I run 2 x 45W LED cabin strip lights occasionally.
I know you recommended Elite 100 V2 or Elite 200 but which one is best? Or Apex series? I so need the 247/365 reliability. Keeping the same solar panels.
What system would you recommend I purchase for my 24/7/365 cctv needs?
Also, not aware how to automate turning the Bluetti AC180 power off for e.g. 8 hours overnight, and then turn back on automatically without human interaction. I saw nothing in the manual.
I am in Edinburgh so not such strong sun in the Winter or for long …
Thanks.
Hi Sealy1986,
Just an update.
Somebody at Bluetti UK customer service was very, very good to me (applause and top marks to Leslie). Leslie took back the AC180, and is giving me a full refund and also gave me £48 off an Elite 200 V2.
I set up the Elite 200 V2 today - charged it with AC (plugged it into the wall till 100%). It took 1.5 hours. It shows there is 49.9 hours of charge available.
I removed the AC cable, so now it is reliant on the same solar panels.
It is night-time / dark now, but the DC Input icon keeps flashing on and off, making a clicking noise.
I am assuming that as it is outputting about 69-70W right now, but it is not getting any sunlight, I guess this is the problem, but not sure. I will check it tomorrow.
Thanks again for all your wonderful help :-)
Hi Folks,
I can’t find how and where to upload a new discussion on the Elite 200 V2. Asked the Administrators a while ago, but no reply, so apologies if this is the wrong place.
I now have an Elite 200 V2 (my second one - first one returned to Bluetti) , and it sits in my log cabin. It has two Ecoworthy rigid solar panels on the external log cabin roof, 120W each so total 240W.
Their VOC’s ‘each’ are 24.5V each.
I understand that I can use a max of 60V VOC but is this a max of 60V per panel or a total overall for all panels together? I want to another 2 of the same Ecoworthy panels. This would take it to 4 x 24.5V VOC.
Question 1: Can the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 handle this?
My solar is pulling in only 6V sunlight today - bright and sunny in Scotland. I have them connected as such:
First panel’s red and black cables attached to black and red MC4’s of the 4-headed y-cable supplied by Bluetti. The second solar panel is connected the same way, to leads 3 and 4 of the Bluetti y-cable.
My Elite 200 V2 is the second Elite 200 V2. The first one was not retaining power either. I sent it back to Bluetti. Now on my sevond Elite 200 V2, this leads me to think the Elite 200 is fine, but one of the following is causing the trouble in pulling in only 6V together::
- I have either connected the solar cables wrong
- There is not enough sunlight in Scotland.
- I have been very unlucky 3 times in a trot as this is 1 x AC180 and 2 x Elite V200 V2’s later, 3 Bluettis are all struggling to aquire sunlight power.
Question 2: Can anyone shed any light (pardon the pun) on what could be the issue? Stuck a multimeter into the solar panel cables and pulling 21V each.
Thanks.