Info on Allpowers power bank 2,500 (1 Viewer)

[Alfie2024]

I have Autotrail Frontier Comanche and I was wondering if anybody has bought Allpowers power banks and would they recommend the Company and its products??
Linda.
I also still require to buy a Scooter rack poss Scomadi/Vespa but NOT over towbar.

 

[MisterB]

I'm not a fan of any power banks if they're only ever going to be used in the motorhome. If that's the case, I would suggest considering a lithium leisure battery of at least 200Ah instead of the power bank ....

 

[1967bowesj]

I'm not a fan of any power banks if they're only ever going to be used in the motorhome. If that's the case, I would suggest considering a lithium leisure battery of at least 200Ah instead of the power bank ....

For the sake if the op could you explain your view and reason, and cost comparisom?

 

[eddie]

For the sake if the op could you explain your view and reason, and cost comparisom?

Because power banks are a lithium battery inside a box with an inverter

Great for a camping weekend in a tent

In a motorhome you already have the infrastructure with mains wiring 12 volt possibly solar so it’s much better to enhance what’s already there if you find you need more energy

 

[MisterB]

For the sake if the op could you explain your view and reason, and cost comparisom?

I think eddie has explained succinctly, without me having to add anything else ...

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[DangerMousy]

There's been quite a few discussions on the topic of power banks recently, here's one: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/power-banks.278770/ (but there are many more - just search for power bank and you'll see lots of opinions).

In a nutshell: some people on here don't see the point of them, they'd prefer to upgrade their MH systems instead. There's no doubt that it's more convenient to do that, and probably a good idea if you spend a lot of time off grid. But its also a much more expensive option...though if you're confident at DIYing it it then probably comes out about the same cost, depending on exactly what your MH already has.

On the other hand, a number of us do use power banks as a quick and cheaper way of getting 240v power off grid for specific use-cases. We are very happy with our choice and it works well. Yes I'd love the convenience of having the inverter integrated into the MH and not have to carry the power bank around with us (its pretty small, but obviously still takes up space), but we can't justify the cost of upgrading the MH right now.

I don't have any opinion on the Allpowers ones (and I'm probably not qualified to make a technical assessment), but I did notice that the only contact address on the Allpowers website is in China. So if you go for one, make sure you buy it from a reputable UK-based retailer in case of any issues.

 

[yorkiebar]

Rick from Rick & Heather Campervanners did a review recently:

 

[1967bowesj]

Because power banks are a lithium battery inside a box with an inverter

Great for a camping weekend in a tent

In a motorhome you already have the infrastructure with mains wiring 12 volt possibly solar so it’s much better to enhance what’s already there if you find you need more energy

eddie both yourself and MisterB make valid points for your own thoughts on power banks and Im sure the op will take these onboard.
Not really what he asked for but knowledge for them.
Most people that are considering the power bank route dont want to spend the vast outlay (take Lennyhb example here 3.5k) and see the power bank as an option.
Too blanket dissmis something if it diesnt fit your ideal is your right.
As is the op too ask for oppinions which im sure will be forthcoming.

 

[eddie]

eddie both yourself and MisterB make valid points for your own thoughts on power banks and Im sure the op will take these onboard.
Not really what he asked for but knowledge for them.
Most people that are considering the power bank route dont want to spend the vast outlay (take Lennyhb example here 3.5k) and see the power bank as an option.
Too blanket dissmis something if it diesnt fit your ideal is your right.
As is the op too ask for oppinions which im sure will be forthcoming.

Well my opinion is based on over thirty years specialising working exclusively on motorhome electrics

It is a misnomer to call them a "power bank" its a battery in box with a small inverter and a small charger.

None of them will compete with a fully installed system, hence my dismissive attitude to them when they are be discussed on a like for like basis.

Once discharged they simply do not recharge quick enough so really are a "one shot" product, designed to take home and recharge it ready for the next trip

I can recharge up to 120 amps an hour so can hammer my lithium batteries drive on to the next place a couple of hours away and everything is ready to go again

As I said camping trips or fishing trips they would be quite useful, if you didn't have a motorhome

 

[DangerMousy]

It is a misnomer to call them a "power bank" its a battery in box with a small inverter and a small charger.

Its not a misnomer at all, the definition of a "power bank" is a portable battery to recharge things. Which is exactly what these are. The same principle as the small ones you carry around to charge your phone: charge it up, use it, recharge it.

None of them will compete with a fully installed system, hence my dismissive attitude to them when they are be discussed on a like for like basis.

I don't think anyone is discussing them on a like-for-like basis though, or claiming that they are better than a fully installed system. In fact those of us who use them are very clear that they're two very different things.

Once discharged they simply do not recharge quick enough so really are a "one shot" product, designed to take home and recharge it ready for the next trip

Ours charges to 80% in less than an hour, we simply charge it the next time we have EHU. It works perfectly for us for the odd occasions we need 240v off grid.

I can recharge up to 120 amps an hour so can hammer my lithium batteries drive on to the next place a couple of hours away and everything is ready to go again

Sounds ideal, but how much does your setup cost? Can I get it for less than £600?

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[eddie]

You could get a battery and an inverter for less than a hundred quid if that's all you want

If you can charge to 80% in under an hour your capacity is small, simple physics EG if you had a 100 amp capacity you'd need to charge at 80amps in one hour

If its a plug in 12v charger? 10 amps maximum

So I'm intrigued

 

[MisterB]

I'm not a fan of any power banks if they're only ever going to be used in the motorhome. If that's the case, I would suggest considering a lithium leisure battery of at least 200Ah instead of the power bank ....

eddie both yourself and MisterB
Too blanket dissmis something if it diesnt fit your ideal is your right.

With all due respect, if you read my initial post it clearly says I am not a fan of ANY power banks IF they're ONLY ever going to be used in the motorhome

I think that comment covers the OP as we don't know whether it is just the specific brand or if they find that unsuitable would they look at other brands.

If the OP intends to use the power bank for lots of things besides the motorhome, then they are worth considering, it's not about my ideal it's about helping people consider their use of what they spend their hard earned on!

As DangerMousy said, they come into their own in different circumstances and I believe they could be the 'ideal' purchase outside of single use in the motorhome.

As for pricing, Fogstar do a 305Ah ec for under £500, team that with a Renogy inverter for @£200 and you've got a brilliant setup for not a lot more than the £600 ...

 

[DangerMousy]

You could get a battery and an inverter for less than a hundred quid if that's all you want

But what battery and inverter for that price? Our power bank has a 1260Wh/105Ah capacity with an 1800W PSW inverter, when I costed it last year it was upwards of £1100 just for the parts to upgrade the MH to a similar spec, never mind the labour charge to fit everything.

If you can charge to 80% in under an hour your capacity is small, simple physics EG if you had a 100 amp capacity you'd need to charge at 80amps in one hour

If its a plug in 12v charger? 10 amps maximum

So I'm intrigued

You're assuming we're charging it at 12V, but as I said above, we wait until the next time we have EHU....its not running any critical systems so there isn't any urgency to recharge it asap.

With all due respect, if you read my initial post it clearly says I am not a fan of ANY power banks IF they're ONLY ever going to be used in the motorhome

We only ever use ours in the MH: charging the bikes, running the Starlink, my hairdryer and hubby's Tassimo. Nothing that important, but its nice to have. Which is why we can't justify the cost to upgrade the MH itself.

As for pricing, Fogstar do a 305Ah ec for under £500, team that with a Renogy inverter for @£200 and you've got a brilliant setup for not a lot more than the £600 ...

Those aren't fitted prices though are they? Not everyone is able (or willing) to DIY it. And most fitters will only fit items they've also provided (understandable if they're providing a warranty).


These threads always go the same way (same as the EV ones) I get that some people don't like power banks and can't see a use for them in their setup. And I agree that in an ideal world where money isn't a consideration then upgrading the MH system is a far better option. But we're all different and sadly the world isn't ideal, so power banks are a cost-effective and useful tool for some of us.

 

[Langtoftlad]

My powerbank has recently proved invaluable, being independent of the van but used in the van.
It also has doubled my battery capacity.
It has come to the rescue of a fellow camper whose battery died.

 

[barryd]

Can't help on the powerbanks, (I'm about to go Lithium) but for the scooter rack talk to Armitage Trailers in Ferrybridge. They fitted my first rack back in 2008 and I used it for 16 years before changing vans a couple of months back and the fitted a new one. Best rack you can get I reckon. They do a couple of different chassis mounted racks. Ours is on an extended Alko chassis.

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[peterc10]

But what battery and inverter for that price? Our power bank has a 1260Wh/105Ah capacity with an 1800W PSW inverter, when I costed it last year it was £1100

Not sure where you get your figures from. A 105Ah LiFePO4 battery can now be bought for well under £400 and a 2000w pure sine wave inverter for £200. Easy to fit yourself. Add another £100 for cables and bits.

Of course people can also buy B2Bs and solar panels, but that is not a like for like comparison, because the power bank does not have their equivalent

 

[jumar]

My van has space for one battery only...a 160ah Roamer Lithium takes up this available space quite well...
We are big consumers of off grid power to recharge eMTBs and replenish batteries with Fixed and portable Solar...this works well for us, we've tested other options...
We have a Bluetti power bank...it's a great back up to charge smaller items and run smaller capacity appliance's,
Also great for working on the van as we live out of reach of mains electric whilst at home...on a couple of occasions whilst we have the van parked in shade, I've topped up the bikes with the power bank supported by a 200w portable solar..
So the bottom line is. Powerbanks do have their place in the way we use our MH.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

We have a couple I take them fishing and camping and are ok for a couple of charges of phone etc. in my my experience I would avoid The type with integrated solder!

 

[DangerMousy]

Not sure where you get your figures from. A 105Ah LiFePO4 battery can now be bought for well under £400 and a 2000w pure sine wave inverter for £200. Easy to fit yourself. Add another £100 for cables and bits.

Of course people can also buy B2Bs and solar panels, but that is not a like for like comparison, because the power bank does not have their equivalent

My workings are here - it was last year though so prices and tech specs have probably changed since then (for example I don't think the Renogy website still tells you that you need 2 batteries for a 2kW inverter). But even so, your solution remains more expensive, and doesn't account for installation costs - not everyone is happy/able/willing to install themselves.

 

[headlight]

Not sure where you get your figures from. A 105Ah LiFePO4 battery can now be bought for well under £400 and a 2000w pure sine wave inverter for £200. Easy to fit yourself. Add another £100 for cables and bits.

Of course people can also buy B2Bs and solar panels, but that is not a like for like comparison, because the power bank does not have their equivalent

You can get a 100AH LifePo4 for circa £250 so even cheaper

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[peterc10]

My workings are here - it was last year though so prices and tech specs have probably changed since then (for example I don't think the Renogy website still tells you that you need 2 batteries for a 2kW inverter). But even so, your solution remains more expensive, and doesn't account for installation costs - not everyone is happy/able/willing to install themselves.

That is not a like for like comparison.

Your power bank does not have a solar panel. As for needing 2 batteries you seem to be happy using only one for your 1800w inverter. I did not buy Renogy batteries.

The crucial point is that LiFePO4 batteries are much cheaper this year than last.

 

[starquake]

I have Autotrail Frontier Comanche and I was wondering if anybody has bought Allpowers power banks and would they recommend the Company and its products??
Linda.
I also still require to buy a Scooter rack poss Scomadi/Vespa but NOT over towbar.

I have an Allpowers and would NOT reccomend. Battery self-discharges in no time (like a week of non-use). The charging off solar is poor, ditto off mains and 12V (max of 70W on all 3), takes HOURS.

Inverter doesn't run all appliances. I could go on.

I ended up buying an Ecoflow Delta 2 for not much more in end and returning the higher Allpowers -> still have an older 288W Allpowers, but it's our "backup" to run the 12V compressor as it does manage that "okay" but filling all 4 tyres uses about 3/4 of the battery.

Ecoflow I CAN reccomend, good product, reasonable price (if got in sale).

 

[DangerMousy]

That is not a like for like comparison.

Your power bank does not have a solar panel.

Ignore the solar part from last year's workings, it's not relevant to this thread (which was why I didnt include it).

As for needing 2 batteries you seem to be happy using only one for your 1800w inverter. I did not buy Renogy batteries.

Last year the Renogy website said two batteries were required for a 2kW inverter, if I remember correctly it was due to the discharge rate. That was never an issue for the EcoFlow.

The crucial point is that LiFePO4 batteries are much cheaper this year than last.

Whilst that is true, it doesn't overcome the cost of installation.

 

[MisterB]

Last year the Renogy website said two batteries were required for a 2kW inverter, if I remember correctly it was due to the discharge rate. That was never an issue for the EcoFlow.

It seems as though you think I am against power banks, I'm not against them as I feel they plug a hole in the market for some people in circumstances that suit their needs.

With regards to the Renogy 2kw inverter, we have a 3kw Renogy inverter and only one battery (304Ah) and can run the microwave and kettle at the same time when off EHU, in fact it's been that good that we haven't used gas for cooking for over 12 months inside or out, in EHU or off EHU ...

 

[Just smiffy]

My workings are here - it was last year though so prices and tech specs have probably changed since then (for example I don't think the Renogy website still tells you that you need 2 batteries for a 2kW inverter). But even so, your solution remains more expensive, and doesn't account for installation costs - not everyone is happy/able/willing to install themselves.

I’m a disabled person in a wheelchair with no legs waiting for a triple heart bypass, I fitted 400w of solar on my roof and controllers and all the necessary stuff to go with it all on my own and I’m an electrical numpty…

If I can do it anyone can…

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