I was very pleased to receive the Solix C300 DC power station for testing because it has no AC output. It cannot run a household appliance, unlike all the other power stations I have reviewed in the past. Initially, you may see this as a negative, but the removal of AC power reduces the weight, size and price of this power station.
Having a 288Wh battery is comparable to small power stations available from other brands — including Anker, which does have a sister unit, the C300 power station — that all include AC output. A 288Wh battery will not last long with an appliance drawing a reasonable wattage, such as a TV, which lasts about three hours. You also lose capacity in the process of changing DC power from the batteries to AC power.
What I see as the real advantage of this product is in its ability to power USB-C supported products. USB-C is the new standard, and the Anker can provide power from four sockets, two of which are rated at 140W, one at 100W, and one at 15W. There are also two USB-A sockets rated at 15W and a cigarette socket rated at 120W. The total output of all seven sockets cannot exceed 300W at once.
When travelling, being able to power my devices with DC is the most economical. My wife’s PC, with a full battery, draws 20 to 30 watts, and my laptop with a discrete graphics card draws up to 75 watts. To charge a smartphone quickly, you will need 20 – 60 watts, depending on the brand. Drones, camera torches, and other devices will all charge comfortably from this DC power station. The cig socket can easily power a camping fridge, drawing around 40W.
Can I run a hairdryer? No, but similar-sized power stations will not really run one either, and the battery would be used up in around five minutes. If you want to do that, buy a larger power station.
Putting the ‘portable’ in portable power station
The Anker Solix C300DC weighs only 2.8 kg, making it easy to carry in a backpack for a hike. The size difference is evident in this image, which compares it to the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 power station with the same size battery, with the Anker measuring 12.5 x 12 x 20 cm.
A 140W USB-C to USB-C cable is the only accessory found in the box. This cable can be used to charge the C300 or to draw power to charge an attached device, such as a phone. To charge the power station from the mains, you will need a PD USB-C wall charger, which can be purchased separately. The ideal model is rated at 140W, but a 20W phone charger will work, albeit at a much slower charging rate. Two 140W chargers (280W) can be plugged in to deliver an 80% charge in 1 hour.
I duplicated this with two 140W outputs, but when I used a 60W charger and a 100W charger, both plugged in, only the 100W charger was accepted (not 160W). I am assuming both chargers need to be the same wattage. If you need to buy a 140W charger, keep in mind that they retail for approximately $120, so take this into account when purchasing. If weight and size are no issue, the Anker C300 AC model sells for $399 and includes a mains power cord for charging.
Powering the C300 can also be done through an optional cigarette lighter car plug or by using a 100W solar panel, both of which take around 2.5 hours. I would have liked to have seen support for 200W solar panels, which are much more common but heavier.
A pop-up light with three brightness settings, drawing less than 3W, makes the Anker a handy tool at a campsite, not only for charging your devices but also for providing light at night.
For those who want to monitor their power station, Anker offers an app that connects to the power station via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, allowing you to track input and output power by socket and remotely control the cigarette lighter socket and light. Similar information and control are available on the unit itself.
Anker Solix C300 DC power station price and availability
The Anker Solix C300 DC power station is available from Anker for $449 (on sale for $299 at the time of writing). After testing, it has earned its rightful place in my camping and caravanning setup, and will help keep our USB-C devices charged on the go.
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