Every once in a while, you come across an absolute game changer, and the Bluetti Charger 1 is exactly that.
This device gets wired into your vehicle (specifically to the vehicle’s main battery), and the output connects to the solar (PV) input of your battery bank. So what makes it different than connecting your power pack to either the 12v cigarette adapter, or the 110v power outlet found in most modern vehicles? Those are limited to 100W of power. The Charger 1 can pump out well over 500W of power, making it similar to plugging into a wall outlet, allowing for 5-6x the charging power than any other outlet in your vehicle.
So what’s the downside? It can be tough on your alternator and your main vehicle battery. It’s for this reason that the Charger 1 only operates while actually driving when the alternator is producing enough power. There is a safety system so that it doesn’t draw power from the vehicle battery while the vehicle is idling, or while off. Another possible issue, is that by the nature of the system, your alternator has to work harder in general, and could lead to premature wear and tear of the alternator.
This is a reasonable argument, and it has been a known weak point of similar devices from other manufacturers. So far though, I haven’t seen any hard real-world evidence of that being the case with the Bluetti Charger 1, especially with the built-in safety protocols in place to prevent exactly this from happening. Having said that though, the alternator is working harder, and more often, so it’s something to consider. Although, if your vehicle is equipped with a towing package, you probably have an over-sized alternator, so this really isn’t a concern.
Installing the Charger 1 does require some basic knowledge of electrical wiring to be installed correctly, so if you aren’t knowledgeable in this area, you may want to seek some professional assistance to install it for you.
Once everything is installed, you can use the app to pair the Charger 1 to your mobile device. This allows you to monitor the efficiency of the charge. All you need to do is select the model of your Bluetti battery from the available devices. However, if your battery pack isn’t listed (some of the newer models aren’t listed), you just need to select one that matches the solar charging specs of your battery. You can also create a custom setting should your battery be from a different manufacturer. This allows you to charge nearly every battery bank available on the market… not just Bluetti batteries.
Due to it’s power, versatility, and safety programming, the Charger 1 allows for a wide range of camping styles and setups. This would also work well installed in motorhomes with additional battery banks. Rumour has it, that Bluetti is working on a new line of lithium batteries designed to replace the standard batteries that motorhomes typically come with.
Regardless of what battery bank/solar generator you choose, the Charger 1 should be your very next purchase. Whatever anxiety you had about having enough power will be pretty much eliminated once you have this installed.
