The EASY way to power your van | BLUETTI AC200MAX Portable Power Station

🔋 Thanks to Bluetti for sponsoring this video and making this overhaul possible. AC200MAX: bit.ly/44hiiSs use code Bkxc200 for 3% off. #bluetti #bluettiac200max #sponsored
It’s been a while since I did a van video! I have wanted to clean up and modernize the power for my van for a long time, especially after seeing how well our power stations do at Everstoke (when I keep them from freezing). There are bigger and smaller options, but I think this unit checks all the boxes.
DC cable I used to power my load center: amzn.to/3upurYd

[@joysassoon9003]

I am using the same Bluetti in my van. I even charge my pivot shuttle. Still haven't charged it all the way from 10% to 100%, but I think it's great. I also wired my bluetti to the roof solar panels. I can charge from them or while driving. pretty cool thing to have when in a van.

[@bkxc]

That's great! I always forget about how nice it is to have a plug to charge up an eBike!

[@JosephShelton]

Can you daisy chain these for more watt hours?

[@aname5091]

Do you use it to heat your van? How long does it last? Thanks

[@joysassoon9003]

I don't use for heating. I have a buddy runs on propane for now. @@aname5091

[@Fail1st]

@@aname5091I have my diesel heater connected to mine. It uses very little energy. No issues making it 24hrs at least.

[@minttea4972]

THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS!! Just about to wire in my lights, water pump and fan and wondered how the heck it could be done from the Bluetti. Your video has been marvellously helpful. Thank you from the UK

[@bkxc]

Fantastic to hear!

[@SeanKWhite-lk5zf]

Bought one of these on Prime Day for this exact purpose. Great video.

[@sdmtbguy]

We have the AC200 Max plus two B230s in our Sprinter. A great setup by Bluetti. Thanks for posting the video. Love your content!

[@bkxc]

Very cool, that sounds like a lot of power!

[@cryptowolf-zf3fs]

I have a Bluetti AC 200 Max. That is a sixty pound mass that could break loose from that tape and fly towards the rear of your van if you get hit from the front. If you dont mind me suggesting this. Anchor it down with some straps on the handles and bolt those straps into the wood behind the Bluetti. Keep it from turning into a missile flying to the rear of the van.

[@bkxc]

Very good point!

[@aaronweiser5421]

60 lbs? IM NOT BUYING ONE

[@cryptowolf-zf3fs]

@@aaronweiser5421 newer Bluetti models have come out. There is a nice one that is 30 Pounds, one size down and can still run a microwave.

[@aaronweiser5421]

@cryptowolf-zf3fs good to know, 2k is over kill anyways and ues i need to powe my microwave.

[@cryptowolf-zf3fs]

@@aaronweiser5421 I have two bluetti's. The 200 Max and the AC-180. I got the AC 180 on sale for $590. I could not beat that price so I got it. Its the 30 Pound model.

[@michaeld4502]

You could use your 2 batteries that you took out to charge at night thru MPPT after charging them during the day from old charge controller.... cheaper than buying extra bluetti batteries

[@renebeussen3374]

We have the Ac200max with 400watt on the Sprinter roof. On a cold but very bright day it charged 420watt ! Considering expanding with 2 more units of the B300 to have enough for warm shower

[@petermurphymurphy5477]

GREAT video man. Thanks.

[@geezers10]

Did the same with 2 Bluettis back in 2021. One is for 12v usage charged by 1 400w panel and the other is for our 110 usage and is charged by the van while driving. We switch the charging points if/as needed.

[@bkxc]

Very smart!

[@thecampingbiker]

Good job brain! You been on a roll lately with this video

[@bkxc]

Thanks!

[@jonmarshall1502]

4 years already! Well done with that Brian.

[@bkxc]

Yes!! It went by in a flash!

[@B1KER]

That's pretty cool and definitely seems cleaner than the old way.

[@bkxc]

Yeah, I'm glad to get everything decluttered and streamlined!

[@FMTFXE22]

Great video. You did exactly what I did, although I swapped out my two 12 volt lead acid batteries for two 100 amp hour lithium batteries for a total of 200. From my 2 solar panels 630 watts total I installed an A&B switch to select between who to charge between the Bluetti or the lithium. And everything charges from the engine alternator while driving. The system works great.

[@bkxc]

That's fantastic!

[@axxxxman]

This is a nice installation, would have made a great marathon live stream.

[@bkxc]

Hahahaha! A real deal marathon

[@KestrelYI]

Oh man.. I hear you on the mouse story. We had a squirrel in the attic and it was a months-long awful experience.

[@bkxc]

Hahaha, dang critters!

[@annshephard3929]

Nice that the AC200MAX has the DC 30A outlet (not all power stations in its price range do). Perfect for your setup.

[@bkxc]

Most definitely!

[@KurtisPape]

Awesome, despite it being a sponsor it's still really good see this put to the test in the real world. Hopefully it will replace your old setup for good, if it does it will be very impressive considering how much is packed into that box like the solar regulator, ac-power adapter, inverter etc. I recently purchased a small 300w portable power station and it only has 1 power outlet but it works with a 4x outlet, so now I can charge all my camera batteries and it hardly uses any power despite overloading it with 4 plugs.

[@bkxc]

These things are getting better and better! So far so good in the van over about 3 weeks.

[@Bofum69]

For the price it’s not worth it. Your homemade system can do more power for about 60% of the price

[@kenjuicekrajewski9577]

Great to know about that 30 amp cable so i can run my stuff off the same fusebox and charge at the same time in my off grid cabin instead of my 2 batterys awesome

[@bkxc]

Yep! It's great

[@kjracz15]

Speaking of Everstoke, I've been watching MTBing Adventures, and I hope to see an update from your end about it soon. 😊

[@bkxc]

I've been traveling a ton but getting back to Everstoke soon!

[@Bellasafari]

I don’t know how many DIY systems haven’t caught fire. That was my concern and went with Bluetti AC300/ with 2 B300 (1k solar panels). no worries about power for days! 🎉 - My touch screen isn’t working and their customer service is non existent (have had for 2 years). Thankfully they have an app which they need to upgrade:)

[@bkxc]

Exactly! Especially in a vehicle that's jostling around for thousands of miles a year!

[@ricklavis5292]

I charge the 200 max in my van with the AC power brick plugged into a 1200 watt inverter connected to my Transit van charging system. That gives me close to 500 watts and I can also charge from the cigarette style plug at the same time for about 550 watts. I rarely have to use my portable solar panel.

[@bkxc]

Beautiful!

[@squarestar326]

Doesnt it empty ur car battery? And also , how long does it take to refill it? I m completely new to all this btw.

[@CheeseyChazHD]

Yeah curious to know how you can automatically stop the inverter from draining your start battery, and to start when car is on

[@Sr_iRL]

I have the Bluetti EB70s that I bought used for a good price, it does well, I got it as a temporary battery for my van. I have a mini fridge and one light source, I also charge my laptop and camera batteries. It does well but I'm thinking maybe I should upgrade to the AC100 as the AC200 is a bit out of the budget

[@tomassanesson902]

Sooo awesome

[@angelsmusica]

Awesome! I dont have a blue Eddie.. In my case I have a jackery 2000 plus any recommendations on what wire plug I could use to connect the 12v fuse black for power?

[@IthacaDon]

I went the portable lithium/solar panel route in 2018 using the Renogy. It didn't work for me. The cigarette lighter adapter sucked and my 3 100w panels never charged my pack back up to 100%. In upstate NY I had to bring the renogy inside when temps dropped below freezing. I switched to 3 AGM batteries charging from my alternator and I connected a cheap trickle charger to the batteries and put in an all weather female AC socket just underneath the van near the sliding door and passenger seat. I could run an extension cord from the van to a 15amp wall socket and keep the batteries topped up all the time. Looking forward to a report after a week at Everstoke and daily use. Love your channel and your content.

[@bkxc]

That's a bummer! I think things have come far enough now where you'd be good to go, but if your system is working good then that's great. Love the idea of the all weather AC socket. I've wanted to do an input and output on my van forever!

[@Talaria567]

The ac200max can be touchy from time to time. Be careful on your charge settings in the menu, there’s a solar and car charger option. If you get them mixed up it can cause a fire. It almost melted my cigarette lighter because after an update it switched back to pv rather than car charger. Also, it’s picky on the solar panels used. I had a cheap 200 watt panel that was putting out 150 on a Chinese power bank but the bluetti would only max out at 80-90 watts

[@SnowIsMyTerrain]

At least mine also likes to randomly decide to go all whacked out in terms of the BMS capacity monitoring. I'd give mine a 6/10. I much prefer my built system and I haven't found anything that can get close to the efficiency (the Bluetti inverter is TERRIBLE at low wattage/idle draw like laptops and starlink). He also touches on how terrible and expensive these panels aimed at overlanding/RV/vans, but also a huge misconception: You have to realize you're probably NOT getting 1000W/m^2 where you are.

[@Cassienope]

​@@SnowIsMyTerrainwhat is your setup?

[@Talaria567]

My capacity also goes all whacky sometimes. This last time I used it it dropped from 100% to 75% on its own while turned off.

[@bkxc]

Oh wow, I am mindful about the various settings! That's also interesting about the MPPT having different results.

[@somethingelsehere8089]

Just ordered a 200P. Hope your max is working well for you.

[@bkxc]

It's been good!

[@Michiganfootmodels_tickled]

I know this is totally off topic from this video. But Brian would you ever consider doing a video of workout routines that you do to prepare yourself for your bike rides? I think it would be a great idea to show everyone what you do to prepare your body for the ultimate rides you take! I ask because your arms are totally jacked now compared to a year ago and I would love to know how to get to that point with my body. Great job on the videos and welcome back to the States from your awesome adventures overseas 👋🙏😎

[@mineadventures7938]

Not sure if you knew, he doesn't read the comments, from what I recall.

[@bkxc]

There's only one workout routine I do now: 3 rounds 20 pull ups 30 push ups 40 sit ups 50 air squats Take a break between each round. This is a CrossFit workout where they do 5 rounds for time and only take a 2 minute break between rounds. Absolutely ridiculous at 5 rounds. But 3 rounds is always doable for me and leaves me sore the next day.

[@DexterGoneWild]

I think they wanted a video for a chance at seeing them feet 😂@@bkxc

[@user-tn7sn2td4j]

Hello, Me and my partner are rebuilding a sprinter van and looking for the best electricity for full time off grid van life, we are deciding if we should adventure into the DIY electrical system build or purchase a power bank like the Bluetti you talk highly about. We would love to hear how your experience with that product has been and any advice!? Thank you!

[@sunseeker8457]

Thinking of buying this unit or maybe the new 200L. But can you run say the 12v lights and fridges at the same time as using the AC with boiling watch with a kettle?

[@bkxc]

Yep, the kettle will be pulling the most watts, and the 12v lights will be negligible compared to that. 1,000 watts versus 10.

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

I could never swap out a good solar power system like that for a mere power station.

[@Fail1st]

I’m using same unit but need to power AC mini split and I’m not sure where to go from here for powering that.

[@SuperBlobsterMan]

I read a review on Amazon that Bluetti will shut off if power is not being drawn. Bluetti does this because the idle power will drain the battery. But the problem is that fridges only kick on periodically. Also another complaint is that Bluetti will not start charging from Solar on its own, you have to unplug and plug the solar connection once their is enough voltage input. These are terrible problems.

[@bkxc]

There's a setting to keep the power running all the time, just gotta turn off ECO mode. I've never had problems with it not charging from solar on it's own. I have it plugged in all day every day.

[@shahboy6474]

nice bro...

[@wanderbybike]

Great video. I recently purchased the 200Max and planned the same type of set up when I found this video. A couple questions for you please. 1. Did you run a circuit breaker or fuse between your +12vt output to the distribution block? 2. How did you incorporate the AC aspect? ie…Did you use a power strip to the AC out on the Bluetti? Thanks!

[@bkxc]

No circuit breaker between the output and distribution block, but it's always a good thing. It's easy to switch the DC output off in the app. Just using a couple extension cords to power strips, very simple setup!

[@wanderbybike]

Thanks!

[@joeblow1942]

5:40 Start here for wiring Bluetti to vans load center with 12 volt 30 amp RV cord.

[@onionface5835]

So expensive, but so handy.

[@bkxc]

Most definitely!

[@keithsullivan7992]

can you (amazon) link the cable from the Battery unit to the fuse box that's hard wired in ... so I get the correct one ? thx

[@bkxc]

Whoops! I thought I had posted the link in the description: amzn.to/3upurYd Then I just cut the end off the red/black side and then wired that up to my DC load center.

[@pijanysamuraj]

hey whats your solar panel wattage on the roof? you think it can be charged with the alternator maybe? thanks for the video. very helpful

[@bkxc]

The wattage on the roof is pretty small, I only see about 75 watts on the most clear days. You can definitely do better!

[@imbonnie]

you need 9bb solar panels if you’re only getting 80 watts. JJN has some cheap 9bb 100 watt panels. I swapped out all my old renogy panels that only get 80 to 85 watts. I’ve gotten as much as 104 watts on the JJN’s. Usually they get around 94 watts.

[@bkxc]

Yeah, I think I could swap my panels out for something new and get much better watts. But the Bluetti still fills up nicely without a bigger panel.

[@AndyHernandez1236]

What kind of wiring do you use?

[@Friskee62]

Cool setup...

[@deanchristianson1572]

Question for you... I have a JUPITEK Portable Power Station S1200, 1228Wh LiFePo4 Battery... I really only need to run my Alpicool C15,12 Volt Car Refrigerator and charge a couple phones and led lights. Do I need a load station or can I just go direct from a 200w solar panel direct to my Jupitek (which it has a direct plug station for solar power)?????

[@bkxc]

You don't need a load center unless you want to run a BUNCH of different 12volt appliances. You should be able to plug in your refrigerator and be good to go. But I have my fridge, vent fan, lights, USB chargers and my water pump all running 12 volt, so I needed more ways to plug in.

[@katekaos]

I started with this. Still need panels. I use a bike lock to attach to the back to secure it.

[@bkxc]

Panels are a game changer!

[@katekaos]

@@bkxc which panels do you use? I want them fixed to the roof. I have a PM 159wb

[@carlossilviotube]

Nice job and thanks for sharing. Is there anyway you can put a link to the 12v cable to the fuse box. I cant find a 30amps one. And i know there is 2. The xt60 to the fusebox is easier to find. But the cigarrete lighter 30amps to xt60 i was no able to located. Thanks

[@bkxc]

I've got the link in the description! DC cable I used to power my load center: amzn.to/3upurYd

[@carlossilviotube]

@@bkxc aweome i did miss it. Thanks

[@thoughtsfrom3am919]

With one 12-volt cigarette input and by the looks from you're video you ran that cable to a junction box with the fuses .. to allow you to run more 12-volt appliances would that be correct

[@bkxc]

Yep, that's correct!

[@Jesse123xd]

Man this thing is a killer deal. I only wish they had a more waterproof solar panel that came with it like the Anker one. Trying to mix and match this power station or others with a different company's waterproof solar panel, the companies don't like you to buy the solar panel on it's own and charge a premium! About $800 for a 400W panel from Anker on it's own.

[@bkxc]

Interesting, aren’t all solar panels waterproof?

[@Jesse123xd]

@@bkxc for mobile panels, Anker is the only that is ip67 rated that I have found so far as well as reviews saying bluetti ones don't do well with heavy rain. Bluetti is ip65

[@manubisbee1]

Wow your fridge uses so little watts. Mind posting the link to it? Thanks for the great videos

[@bkxc]

This is the one I have: amzn.to/41uHhRr I'm guessing there will be some newer-ish version by now.

[@YouGotJakeD]

Can you post a link to the that cable on amazon @5:45? Bluetti is sold out and cannot find the right one on amazon (there's one but its female and not male)

[@bkxc]

Oh shoot! I thought I had posted the link in the description: amzn.to/3upurYd Then I just cut the end off the red/black side and then wired that up to my DC load center.

[@codyleehanson]

Have there been any issues with using the 12v/30A RV cable? Is it enough to run all of that through?

[@bkxc]

360 watts (30A) would be pretty extreme for everything I have hooked up. The fan is very low watts, phone charging doesn’t spike it much. Fridge is very low wattage too, a crazy 35 watts or so when I monitor it in the Bluetti app. The 12v stuff I have is all very minor.

[@codyleehanson]

@@bkxcThank you for the reply! I’ve been trying to figure out what to do instead but realizing just how much 30A is helped a lot. Excited to finally get this all wired up now

[@yami3960]

If I get two of these, would it double my watt usage and be effective? i work multiple jobs every single day for at least 8 hrs/day on one laptop/one PC/fridge/fans/air conditioner/water heater/steam shower/electric stove and oven. How do you charge it? In a coffee shop?

[@bkxc]

Yeah, you can get two and double your wattage, but I'm not sure if 240volt will work for the more big appliances. Lots of research to figure it out!

[@gustavgron2252]

I would love to get one, but they are crazy expensive

[@bkxc]

There's a few different price points!

[@ElevateEveryMan]

Whete did you find that load center? I can’t find it on Amazon

[@bkxc]

Here you go: amzn.to/490c0YS

[@dkvech]

I love my acmax200 and 600 watts of solar. I run my rv on it

[@bkxc]

Nice! Glad it's working for you

[@dkvech]

@@bkxc hell yeah! He replied back.

[@bjarkejahn812]

Can every random solar panel be used with the bluetti power station?

[@bkxc]

Pretty much, but you have to check the minimum and maximum voltages. If you have a really dinky solar panel it might not have enough voltage to work with the Bluetti. If you have a massive solar array, it might be too much for the Bluetti.

[@Dyshof]

Do you have to ground the powerstation to the van's chassis?

[@bkxc]

I don't, but you can

[@Dyshof]

@@bkxc Thanx

[@almostrvperfect6203]

At min 9:15 you showed the cigarette lighter cord as a third way to recharge the AC200 and mentioned a way to improve the charging time using that 10 Amp plug. How can you improve the charging time with that device? I'm a car camper with no solar and recharging while driving will be a necessity for me. Thanks

[@bkxc]

I bet if you took it into a car audio place they could get you hooked up with a better connection to the battery for a better charge through the cig lighter. As it stands, the charging from the cig lighter is pretty slow.

[@djaj423]

what type of kettle/burner is that. tia. .awesome new subscriber

[@bkxc]

The kettle is from Fellow: fellowproducts.com/products/stagg-ekg-pro-electric-kettle-studio-edition

[@AbarzuaRules]

Dumb question. Can I do the same if I get the Ecoflow delta max 2 ?

[@bkxc]

Yup, you should be able to do all the same things I did with the Bluetti!

[@kennethgarcia25]

I purchased the newest Anker equivalent to the Bluetti. Have you AB'ed these systems?

[@bkxc]

I haven't, but I'm sure someone out there on KZbin has!

[@CherokezPittman]

User's Comment: "I love camping with my family and having a reliable power source is always a challenge. This PowerStation seems like it could be a game-changer for us! Definitely going to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!"Response: "I totally understand the struggle of finding a reliable power source during camping trips. The Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series is definitely worth considering. It offers massive capacity, fast recharging, and a durable waterproof design. It could be a great addition to your camping gear! Enjoy your quality family time in the outdoors!"

[@MotoM1234]

Ideally I would want hook this up so that it hooks into a 30 amp feed for all the power in the Rv from the inside…. And it charges when hooked to sure power, while driving, or when I hook up the generator…. And allows me to charge with solar.. without plugging and unplugging to change charge input…. None of these videos seem to cover that exact setup….

[@bkxc]

Yeah, that's a little more involved and something like the Victron system might be better because it is so modular with a bunch of different components.

[@Sir-Kay]

There were a lot of backstories that distracted my attention....If I'm not mistaking, the initial hardcore setup you had at the left hand side of the van had been replaced with that minimalist clean setup of the Bluetti right? now, I know you have 3 x 100W panels on top of the van, what other gadget needs to go into what before finally plugging the charging cable into the Bluetti to get the juice flowing in? logically you would have like an extension plugged into the AC input of the Bluetti that allows u to plug in multiple devices simultaneously 'cos don't tell me u plug each device directly into the powerpack do u?

[@yorotirb3941]

Did you hook it up to your battleborns, if so how?

[@bkxc]

I have not! I think Bluetti is starting to sell some kind of DC charging thing that may allow you to do it.

[@mikerothmusic4128]

This is such a cool video!!! Do you think the Bluetti gear and solar pV panels would make a good demonstration project for my power systems class? Perhaps my class could build a little outdoor efficient home to show students how the energy and power set up can work!

[@bkxc]

Most definitely!!

[@petrag.4092]

👍

[@jmb-cm7mr]

What refrigerator are you using?

[@bkxc]

amzn.to/2ssmBx6

[@Speedracerrr43232]

What brand is your load center

[@bkxc]

I think it's this one from Amazon: amzn.to/44TeIOy

[@user-xt3bg5he7l]

Bought the 200 Max and the 420W solar panel, works perfectly. Though the panel is a bad design so I decided to buy the AC 200p. Had no end of trouble with the 200p. Turned it on for the first time, fault lights everywhere, orange icon for the PV/CAR icon and the AC load icon. Turns itself off at 2:16 every morning and the date is stuck on the 18/1/2020 at 10:4. Absolutely shocking customer support, although kudos to the guy on the phone who tries to help but has no clue. It seems like the machine has been sitting in their warehouse for many years and it looks like it might even be a returned item. Definitely do not recommend the AC 200p.

[@bkxc]

Man! That is brutal. The hardest part is having to send back a massive item like this. I hope they swap it out.

[@rns101]

Would this be ok with a dual ninja air fryer ?

[@bkxc]

You would need to figure out how many watts the air fryer uses. Then make sure the output of the bluetti can handle it!

[@jamietingey7498]

Do you have to have solar panels?

[@bkxc]

Nope, you can charge by plugging into a regular outlet or charge up with the cigarette outlet in your car, it's just much slower than a couple nice panels.

[@jamietingey7498]

@@bkxc thank you!

[@toitesting2776]

can this run portable AC

[@bkxc]

Should be able to run it, you need to know the power specs!

[@katekaos]

Like mine but doesn’t last as long as I’d hope just to power a little fridge and the outlet covers fell off so fast (3 months) and I wasn’t even using them. Cheap rubber

[@bkxc]

One of the big keys is to use DC power if you can. These power stations suck down a lot of energy with the AC output turned on. They have to constantly be running an inverter to change DC to AC. I have mostly DC appliances and it works a lot better. I only turn on the AC when I need it.

[@katekaos]

@@bkxc I get it! The fridge is AC but was recommended by a builder and van user as using less power than one of the Dometics. It has a compressor at least. It’s removable and was $200 so easy to change it out later.

[@silvermonk13]

Im sorry. I have the AC200MAX and because the power light and screen never turn off it has a horrible power draw.

[@joysassoon9003]

You have to unplug the yellow plugs and then it should turn off.

[@bkxc]

All of these types of units have some loss from the inverter, but as long as there's sun tomorrow I'm always good.

[@silvermonk13]

@@roofermanohio6636 Yeah I have it set to the shortest setting. What I noticed with solar input though is if there is any solar charge coming in the screen doesn't turn off. Maybe I have a setting messed up somewhere, but I looked through all the menus. I was using this power supply when I had to live out of my suv last year. So I had plenty of time to watch how it acted.

[@ToddNZMTB]

Sounds like some _really_ bad pasta 🍝😂

[@bkxc]

Hahaha

[@TimMillernapavalleyfilmworks]

Shnigel shicks