Biolite is a company that makes innovative outdoor and off-grid energy products, such as stoves, fire pits, lanterns, headlamps, batteries and solar panels. But one of their most impressive products is their power station, a portable battery unit that can store and deliver electricity to multiple devices at once. Biolite power stations are reliable, safe and easy to use portable power solutions that can power a variety of devices and appliances with wall-outlet quality electricity. They are also compatible with solar panels for renewable energy generation.
But which Biolite power station is best for you? Biolite currently offers two models of power stations: the BaseCharge 600 and the BaseCharge 1500. They have different battery capacities, outputs, features and prices. In this post, we’ll compare these two models and help you decide which one suits your needs better.
The Biolite BaseCharge 600 is best for you if you need a lightweight, compact and affordable portable power station that can power up to 10 devices at once. The Biolite BaseCharge 1500 is best for you if you need a high-capacity, durable and versatile portable power station that can power up to 14 devices at once, including high-power appliances.
Biolite BaseCharge 600
The Biolite BaseCharge 600 is the smaller and cheaper model of the two. It has a battery capacity of 600 Wh (watt-hours) and can output up to 1200 W (watts) of surge power. It can power up to 10 devices at once, including:
- 4 AC outlets for laptops
- 1200 W (watts) of surge power. It can power up to 10 devices at once, including:
- 2 AC outlets for laptops, fans, lights, etc.
- 2 DC ports for car chargers, air pumps, etc.
- 2 USB-A ports for phones, tablets, cameras, etc.
- 2 USB-C ports for phones, tablets, laptops, etc.
- 1 USB-C PD port for fast charging laptops or other high-power devices
- 1 wireless charging pad for phones or other Qi-compatible devices
The Biolite BaseCharge 600 also has an easy-read dashboard that shows the power input, output, battery level and other useful information. It has a cycle life of 1000 cycles to 80%+ capacity, which means it can be recharged and used for a long time without losing much performance. It also has a 12 checkpoint safety system that protects the power station and the devices from shorts, glitches, overloads or overheating.
The Biolite BaseCharge 600 weighs 15 pounds and measures 11 x 7 x 9 inches. It has a handle for easy carrying and transport. It can be recharged in three ways:
- By plugging it into a wall outlet using the included AC adapter. It takes about 6 hours to fully charge.
- By plugging it into a car cigarette lighter socket using the included car charger. It takes about 8 hours to fully charge.
- By connecting it to solar panels using the included MC4 cable. You can use any non-Biolite 12V solar panel rated up to 400W, or you can use Biolite’s SolarPanel 100 for a fully integrated solar generator system. You can chain up to four SolarPanel 100s for a total of 400W of input. The charging time depends on the solar panel wattage and the sunlight conditions.
Comparison
The Biolite BaseCharge 1500 and the BaseCharge 600 have many similarities, but also some differences. Here is a table that summarizes their main features and specifications:
| Feature | BaseCharge 1500 | BaseCharge 600 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 1521 Wh | 600 Wh |
| Surge power | 1200 W | 1200 W |
| AC outlets | 4 | 2 |
| DC ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-C PD port | 1 | 1 |
| Wireless charging pad | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs | 15 lbs |
| Dimensions | 15 x 11 x 9 inches | 11 x 7 x 9 inches |
| Price | $1699 | $699 |
As you can see, the BaseCharge 1500 has more battery capacity, more AC outlets and a larger size and weight than the BaseCharge
