AC180 not charging from solar input

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 :-)