Portable power and solar generators

X-Boost, Power Lifting and SurgePad: What the Second, Bigger Wattage on a Power Station Is For

Published · By the SolarPanelX editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Each brand prints two AC figures: a rating, and a larger number under a trade name. EcoFlow calls it X-Boost (RIVER 3 Plus: 600 W rated, 1,200 W X-Boost; DELTA Pro 3: 4,000 W, up to 6,000 W). BLUETTI calls it Power Lifting (Elite 30 V2: 600 W, 1,500 W; AC180: 1,800 W, 2,700 W; Elite 200 V2: 2,600 W, 3,900 W). Anker calls it SurgePad (C300: 300 W, 600 W; C1000: 1,800 W, 2,400 W surge). Only one page we read states the condition: BLUETTI's Elite 200 V2 page says Power Lifting supports up to 3,900 W "for resistive loads." Size by the rating; treat the boost figure as a mode for the specific loads the maker names.

The figures, as printed

UnitRated ACBoost figureMaker's nameCondition stated on the page we read
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus600 W1,200 WX-Boost (also 1,200 W surge)none in the text we read
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 34,000 Wup to 6,000 WX-Boost"when needed"; no load type stated
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2600 W1,500 WPower Liftingnone in the text we read
BLUETTI AC1801,800 W2,700 WPower Lifting Modenone in the text we read
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,600 Wup to 3,900 WPower Lifting"for resistive loads"
Anker SOLIX C300300 W600 WSurgePadnone in the text we read
Anker SOLIX C10001,800 W2,400 Wsurgenone in the text we read

Resistive loads, and why that is the condition

A resistive load, a heater element, a kettle, a hair dryer on heat, a toaster, draws power in proportion to the voltage it receives and does not mind receiving less. A mode that lets a 600 W inverter run a 1,200 W kettle works by delivering less than full voltage, so the kettle draws less and heats more slowly. Motors and electronics do not tolerate that, which is why BLUETTI limits the claim to resistive loads and why the safe reading of every other brand's number is the same, whether or not the page says so.

Boost is not surge

Surge is the inverter's capacity to exceed its rating for a moment while a motor starts, measured in seconds; RIVER 3 Plus and C1000 print surge figures that happen to coincide with their boost numbers. Boost is a sustained mode for a narrower class of loads. A compressor that needs a 1,500 W start is a surge question; a 1,200 W space heater on a 600 W unit is a boost question; a 1,200 W microwave on a 600 W unit is neither, and will not run properly.

What to do with the numbers

Shopping for one? Browse portable power stations →

Sources

  1. EcoFlow US — RIVER 3 Max (RIVER 3 Plus + Extra Battery 300)
  2. EcoFlow US — DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station
  3. BLUETTI — Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station
  4. BLUETTI — AC180 Portable Power Station
  5. BLUETTI — Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station
  6. Anker SOLIX — C300 Portable Power Station
  7. Anker SOLIX — C1000 Portable Power Station

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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