Anker PowerHouse: Portable Power for More Than Smartphones And Laptops

When most of us think of Anker, the first thought that comes to mind is smartphones. They are one of the more well-known players in aftermarket solutions for charging and batteries. So when Anker announced last month that they were going to release something called the PowerHouse, a 430 watt-hour battery with multiple charging methods as well as discharge methods… that got the attention of many of its customers. So when I recently received my PowerHouse from Amazon, I figured it was time to put it through the paces and see what it could do.

Let’s first start off with the reminder that this is not a power generator. It is though a very large battery. The initial charge took less than 4 hours to get a full charge; charges from a full discharge are estimated between 8 to 10 hours. While it is not available yet, a very important feature will be the option of purchasing solar panels which can fully charge the PowerHouse with 16 hours of sunlight. And if you don’t fully discharge it each day, that makes the charge a likely solution for the camper, so long as they’re not parked under trees. And when looking at the side panel to see what can be charged, it becomes obvious that this opens many possibilities.

There are 3 options for connecting to the PowerHouse:

• A 12V cigarette lighter port (120W max)
• 4 USB ports that support up to 5V max
• A 120V AC plug with max draw of 1.36A (About 160W draw)

Enabling a charger is as simple as pressing the button above each charge option. As power starts to discharge a timer estimating hours remaining at current draw will begin to update. To turn off the discharge, either unplug and/or press the button again. USB also seems to support up to Quick Charge 2.0 but a test with the LG G5 indicated that 3.0 is not supported. Anker even offers a few suggestions on what the PowerHouse can power, but what about things not on the list?

• Office Desktop: I was able to power my PC (HP Prodesk 600 G1 SFF w/i7-4790K), 2 LCD monitors and my office LAN switch.  But turn on my printer (HP Laserjet M401dn) and it was too much for the PowerHouse. My estimated draw would have let me power for several hours, handy for short power outages.
• Home Refrigerator: Obviously people’s results will vary here since the size and power draw of a refrigerator may vary. Anker indicates that a mini fridge can be powered for at least 7 hours – but my full-size refrigerator was under the draw limit as well. It may not last long, but that short time may be enough to help someone find an alternative for their frozen foods if power isn’t restored promptly.
• Living Room: My TV (Sony Bravia KDL-40HX800), cable box and cable modem were all under the draw limit. Perhaps not good in a power outage but might work for parties.
• Lights: Anker notes a camping light will be supported but owners could easily power a floor lamp or string of lights with the PowerHouse. Again, great for power outages and for outdoor use, but by no means a long-term power solution without charging.

In the office, I found a few unique solutions as well. The USB ports allowed me to keep power to tablets as I needed to apply OTAs as part of their initial setup – an option that before would have required me to get a long extension cord with a power strip at the end to plug in multiple tablets. The availability of power long enough for road trips also meant I could keep the family iPad Mini plugged in and have power for the 8-hour drives that we occasionally make. This could easily also work to power a person’s CPAP system while camping or on the go, or possibly with a low enough draw support a projector. While the PowerHouse does a lot of good it’s also important to compare to competitors already in the scene – and so I looked up the specifications on a Goal Zero Yeti 400. The Yeti is similar in specifications but the differences are something that Anker should really consider looking to add to the PowerHouse. The Yeti allows for a 300W power draw with a 600W power burst, which could offer larger options such as DJ usage at events or parties. It can also be chained, which the PowerHouse does not appear to support. I am trying to confirm this with Anker and will update if they respond.

How about price? Currently, Anker has it priced at $499 on Amazon – about $50 more than the Yeti 400 and offers more power. When considering how long the life of such a portable power solution would be it’s easy to see how someone who is outdoors often or is prone to needing portable power of this strength might easily come out on top by buying one. But short of camping and mobile power cases the PowerHouse is more of a “what if” $499 investment. If you are one to be out camping or outdoors very often and can use this to solve a smaller power need it may be the right choice. Those who may use it very little or not may want to give it some consideration before jumping on one.

All in all, Anker seems to have pulled off a good product here. With perhaps a bit more aggressive pricing and expansion options like chaining multiple PowerHouses together they could address the small concerns that may hold some back from purchasing this. If you’re a reader that likes Anker products and have been considering a solution like this, the PowerHouse may be right up your alley.

Pros:

• 434Wh/120,000 mAh capacity
• Charging solutions both on AC and solar, allowing for extended use such as road trips and camping
• Easily supports most needs for a product in this category
• Power time remaining is very handy when it updates

Cons:

• Priced slightly higher than competitors like the Goal Zero Yeti 400.
• Unable to chain multiple PowerHouses together (confirming with Anker)
• Lower AC max draw compared to competitors like the Yeti 400

Amazon Product Link: Anker Powerhouse

Contributor’s Note: A PowerHouse was obtained from Anker via their recent social media promotion and used for the purposes of the review.

After reading about the PowerHouse are you interested in one? Or do you believe this is more of a niche product instead of a mainstream one? Let us know by sounding off in the comments below!