EnginStar Portable Power Station 300W 296Wh Solar Generator

March 16, 2026 Update: Been using this power station on and off including with 100w solar panels ... still performing very well and no complaints so far. One item to note, it's not really built rugged and it will require a large weatherproof electric-box or equivalent, to use in an outside dusty, wet work environment, otherwise you run the risk of damaging it or worse shorting something on it since all ports are wide open. This dawned on me recently when I got caught in torrential rain while using it and had to rush it back to the truck and dry everything off carefully. ======================================================================================= This is the third brand I'm trying ahead of a planned semi-off-the-grid trip on a budget, and as a permanent UPS system (Uninterrupted Power Supply) replacement to ensure power continuity for my Internet service, sump pumps and various other sub 240w surge devices as part of my periodic swapping of current UPS devices which are no longer viable. As such I have purchased 3 of these 300w EnginStar units and as it turns out they are far more cost effective and powerful, then some of my most expensive UPS units NOT attached to my computers which now after many years require very expensive non-standard battery replacements (e.g. APC units NOT attached to my computers which can run from $113 to $320 per battery configuration). I also plan on taking a variety of other standard non-solar charging batteries on the trip, and I'll have the car lighter/battery connection as a last resort, but absolutely don't plan on actually using it as I've read too many horror stories where people run down or damage their car batteries and electric systems with all kinds of experimenting that doesn't make sense to me considering that the car battery is meant for a select and specific type of usage, recharging from your alternator, slow trickle with a controlled system or jump start when depleted and in a very controlled fashion. So far I'm cautiously optimistic that this unit may be the answer to what I'm looking for in a total sub $200 configuration including the solar panels for light duty work and ready standby UPS electricity availability. I will update more in a couple of weeks after I use it on a daily basis with various loads and under various scenarios. I'm evaluating this unit as compared to an: Apowking Portable Power Station 300W, Outdoor Solar Generator and an Anker Portable Power Station SOLIX C300 300w which was the most expensive of the three and my least likely to recommend for overall price/performance/design/outlets and inputs, or solar panels. Just so we all know I'm doing apples to apples, all are rated for 300w and about the same Wh give or take as follows: 220Wh for the Apowking; 288Wh for the Anker and 296Wh for this unit EnginStar Solar Generator. All have the option for solar charging; AC charging plug-in to outlet and DC charging via a cigarette lighter port from your car or equivalent. -On sale (Amazon flash) this EnginStar is the least expensive unit, the most power, best design and best overall performance and flexibility. -Right out of the box this unit had 2 bars of standby charge and funny enough so did the other two units - exactly 2 bars. -Design wise, this unit far outperforms the other two for what you'd reasonably expect in types and numbers of outputs and inputs. In fact, you would have to combine both the other 2 units to get most of what you get on this one unit and you may still be missing some. -Of specific note, this unit has the very best display with the most comprehensive information and built in intelligence on data that you actually need to know about and monitor in the field. It doesn't require any ancillary app or connectivity complications to your phone like the Anker which also doesn't give you the full spectrum of data that this unit displays. The Apowking was better than Anker, but still nowhere near this EnginStar. -This unit will show you which connections are getting what power both input and output, and you can adjust what devices you hook up accordingly to maximize what you need fastest which makes it very clever and useful. -This unit comes with a power attachment which looks like a laptop power unit (2 pieces) and delivers a strong 59W input making recharging via AC a breeze. It also has a cigarette lighter attachment which of course will be limited to output from your car and which I didn't test at all. It compares well with the Apowking which has a similar set of attachments but charges much, much slower on AC and also with the Anker which I found actually charged relatively fast, but was lacking ANY attachments other than for the solar panel and a lone USB-C cable. Very strange that it's advertised as an off the grid unit when it doesn't even include a basic POWER BRICK which you have to pay a lot more for because of the power requirement. -This unit allows passthrough charging, meaning it allows you to hook up your outputs and use them/charge them while you're plugged into an outlet making it very clever and convenient that you don't have to que up stuff while the unit charges. The Apowking had a similar feature albeit much less power in and out. The Anker was glitchy at best and downright unreliable at worst, as it frequently freaked out with full outputs loaded and plugged in -- yet another reason not to recommend it. -I tried three versions of solar panels, Anker 60w, Apowking 60w mono-crystalline and Voominhtec 100w mono-crystalline. Of specific note - the Anker supplied solar panels ABSOLUTELY DID NOT charge at all unless in full blown sunlight therefore I can't recommend them - they had not even a trickle of power in just plain daylight, or when exposed to other sources of light. The Apowking and Voominhtec both performed with limited sunlight and other sources of light. Of course the output was lessened accordingly, but still charged as long as there was sufficient daylight or other sources of light. -I performed separate tests over 3 days with the solar panels to make sure I had repeatable test scores (approximations) for each unit. As expected the 100w charged quicker across all units, but both of the 60w panels in the other brands also performed very well with the specific note that the Anker requires full blown sunlight or it will simply not work at all. Price wise the Apowking 60w and the Vominhtec 100w were extremely competitive and have a nice on panel direct connections for USB-A and USB-C that did an awesome fast double duty without any problems with additional devices connected in addition to the power station. The Anker has more convoluted connection and no additional output for anything except the power station. The Anker panels are also much more expensive without any notable differences in build, power, or convenience and the pitfall of only working in direct sunlight - for this reason once again I can't recommend the panels at all. -Of the three units, only EnginStar and Apowking can perform well as a UPS replacement primarily because of the 2 prong/3 prong outlets they have readily designed into the units and also because both can provide uninterrupted passthrough power even when there is an electric outage without blinking (i.e. doesn't need to switch off and on like other UPS units) therefore my devices don't reset or lose power unexpectedly - these make them a multi use device in my configuration and extremely flexible traveling, around the house and around the yard without needing to run extension cords to various locations at the pool, gazebo or shed. That's it for now ... more to follow in a week or two ...

I drive UBER about 12 hrs a day and I wanted to have a way to keep sandwiches and water cool and fresh here in the Arizona Desert Heat (sometimes over 110 degrees). So, I purchased a small 16 qt (VIVOR Car Refrigerator) cooler for my car that runs off of the cigarette lighter outlet in the back. However, when I turn off the ignition the cooler would turn off so I would have to unload everything overnight. My solution was to purchase this 300 W Portable Power Station to run the cooler and then when the ignition was on the unit would recharge. Over this weekend the unit kept the cooler running at 35 degrees for 24 hrs with the car sitting in the sun during the day and after 24 hrs it was still at that temp. The unit did finally go dead after about 32 hrs and the cooler was at 50 degrees but I am very happy and impressed with the unit. One of the favorite things about it is that it will charge while running the cooler, and it tells me the power going into the charger from the lighter plug (~ 34Watts) and the power being drawn by the cooler (~32Watts) so I can monitor where it is at along with the battery charged state. At the end of my day/night of driving it is completely charged and the cooler is ice cold. I would definitely buy it again, in fact I would buy 10 more if I hade a need for them. Very Happy Customer and would recommend it for anyone with similar needs. As a bonus I can monitor the temp from my phone as I am driving and adjust it if I so desire with the temp slide bar in the app.

This EnginStar 300W power station has become my reliable companion for camping, ballgames and outdoor activities.. It's lightweight and very versatile. We take it with us to power the iphone chargers and inflate air mattresses and rafts. All outdoor adventures would not be complete without it. I don't think we could do without it. I have run electronics like laptops and cameras without any issues. I've successfully powered my laptop for several hours, charged multiple devices simultaneously, and run a small LED light setup without any performance issues or device problems. I even ran a blender for on the beach smoothies. The battery will last 2-3 days with the occasional charge up of devices and the use of fans. We can power a fan all day if need be. It charges in about 7 hours and even will charge in your car or by solar. It even has a bright flashlight if need be. There is a convenient switch from AC to DC power as well as ports for USB and USB-C. Our family would be lost without this Enginstar Power Charger. We highly recommend it. And think it would be a great addition to any family!

Great little solar charge station and panel! Very portable, and good for little things like cell phone, airpods, bike lights, etc. Bigger stuff will eat-up the charge, and it does take a seemingly long time to charge the inverter station back up to full charge, which is why I give 4 and not 5 stars. Still happy with the purchase.

Compact and powerful portable power station! I’m very impressed with this EnginStar power station. The 296Wh capacity and 300W pure sine wave AC output make it useful for camping, road trips, and emergency backup. I like having multiple charging options, including AC outlets, USB ports, and the 12V car outlet. It’s compact enough to carry around without taking up too much space. Overall, a very useful backup power solution.

This power generator worked so well for my adult son’s CPAP on a recent camping trip. Reviews had said it would supply power for a CPAP machine for 2 or 3 nights and it certainly did that. There are 5 bars on the unit when it is fully charged. After the first night it was still at 5 bars. After the second night it was at 4 bars. And after the third night 3 bars remained. So it would have probably supplied power for at least another night, or maybe two. He does not/did not use the humidifier or heating element. The unit was very simple to operate and can supply power to several different devices easily. A great product overall!

I recently purchased this portable power station, and it has quickly become one of my go-to pieces of gear for outdoor activities and emergency power backup. Whether I’m camping, road tripping, or facing a power outage, this device provides reliable and consistent power for all my essentials. Key Features I Loved: Power Capacity: The battery size is more than enough to charge my phone multiple times, keep my laptop running, and even power small appliances like a mini-fridge. It has a solid capacity, and I never worry about running out of juice. Also I used it for my husband's Cpap machine! Lasted for 3 days! Multiple Outputs: It offers a variety of output ports, including USB, AC, and DC options, allowing me to charge multiple devices simultaneously. The addition of a fast-charging port is a great bonus. Compact & Lightweight: Despite its impressive power, the unit is surprisingly compact and lightweight. It’s easy to carry around and fits nicely in my car or backpack without taking up too much space. Durable Build: The design is rugged, and it feels sturdy. I’ve taken it on a few trips now, and it has held up well to the elements, including a bit of rain and rough handling. Solar Charging Compatibility: I love that it’s compatible with solar panels (sold separately). It’s great for long camping trips or emergencies when there’s no access to an outlet. Areas for Improvement: The only minor downside is that it takes a bit of time to recharge fully if you’re using a standard wall outlet, but this is typical for larger capacity units. The solar recharge is a fantastic option but depends on sunlight availability. Overall Verdict: This portable power station is a fantastic investment for anyone who needs reliable power on the go. It’s versatile, well-designed, and offers great peace of mind, whether you’re off the grid or just need a reliable backup power source. Highly recommend!

I order from Amazon all the time, but almost never write product reviews. But I felt the need to write a review after having this machine for a little more than a month. I did quite a bit of research before purchasing this. Over the course of a few weeks, I probably looked at somewhere around 100 of these. I had very specific requirements when it came to what I needed this for. This has exceeded my expectations and then some. It takes a little while to charge. I haven’t tried it with solar panels but I have use the cigarette lighter charger and the wall charger. It comes with both of those cables it does not come with solar panels just to be clear.you have to buy those separately. But I must say I use a hair straightener with it. As well as various other devices. I like how you can see in real time exactly what the wattage being used is of each device like on my straightener it tells me in real time what why did just being used. It shows the surge when you first turn it on and it starts heating up. And then immediately starts to fall down to the 25 walks that it says on the straightener. I can use my hair straightener. Can it can charge my phone and my car vacuum and the battery only goes down like a bar. You can use it while it’s charging as long as the wattage that you’re trying to output is less than the wattage that is being taken in. Meaning it will tell you how many watts is going into charge it which is about 60 so as long as you are using less than that, it will charge as you’re using it which was one of my requirements actually when I was looking at these things. I could go on and on about the different features but all in all I’ve been using this for about a month now almost daily and I must say I am so glad I bought it each time I use it I know I made the right choice. It is only 300 W so you’re looking for something to power a lot of stuff this isn’t the thing for you but on a day-to-day basis to do the things that I needed to do it does effortlessly I hit a home run with this little machine.