Copyright Gizmodo
Power outages don’t care about your schedule and they seem to have a knack for striking during the coldest nights of winter when your heating system, refrigerator, and every other essential appliance suddenly goes silent. Portable power stations have become the modern answer to this problem and provide instant backup power without the noise, fumes or maintenance headaches of traditional gas generators: The Anker Solix C1000 delivers 1800W of continuous power with a massive 1056Wh battery capacity, and right now it’s dropped to an all-time low of $397 on Amazon, slashed from its usual $799 price. See at Amazon Anker’s UltraFast recharging technology pushes the battery to 80% capacity in just 43 minutes and achieves a full charge in under 58 minutes when plugged into a wall outlet. That speed matters during emergencies when you need power quickly or during camping trips when you want to top up during a lunch break before heading deeper into the backcountry. Most portable power stations in this capacity range take three to four hours for a full charge, so cutting that time down to under an hour represents a genuine advantage. Battery Technology Designed to Withstand the Long Haul The LiFePO4 chemistry within the Anker Solix C1000 provides serious durability over common lithium-ion batteries. Anker supports this unit for 3,000 charge cycles until the battery falls to 80% of its initial capacity which translates to approximately 10 years of repeated usage. The LiFePO4 batteries also perform better with temperature fluctuations than common lithium batteries, are safer with lower risk of fires, and retain consistent performance over their life cycle. The 1800W continuous output is more than enough for home appliances as well as power tools. It can be used to power a space heater to keep you warm through winter power blackouts, power a regular-sized refrigerator to keep your perishables from going bad, or power up to 11 devices simultaneously through available ports. The SurgePad technology brings up to 2400W of peak output so that you can power those initial power spikes when turning on devices like refrigerators or power compressors. The port selection covers every connection type you might need. Six AC outlets handle standard plug-in devices while four USB ports charge phones, tablets, and other small electronics. There’s also a car outlet for 12V devices like portable coolers or tire inflators. This variety means you can power your essential appliances while simultaneously keeping communication devices charged. The slim design keeps storage and transportation under control despite the high-capacity battery pack. This unit was designed by Anker to be 15% more compact than rival 1kWh power stations and while it’s on the heavy side at about 28 pounds, it’s light enough that a single person can transport it easily. Integrated handles simplify loading it on your vehicle or moving it within your home office or house and its lower footprint doesn’t give it center stage in your garage when you store it between uses. At $397, we consider it outstanding value for a high-capacity power station from a well-known brand. Winter storms and power outages do occur, and with this lowest-ever price it makes taking a precaution against them a whole lot simpler.
