For whom is the Anker PowerHouse II 800 suitable?
- The Anker PowerHouse II 800 is a portable power supply with 777 watt hours
- The PowerHouse II 800 has four USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, two AC outlets, two DC outlets and a vehicle-compatible power socket
- This is the ultimate portable charger for camping or as an emergency backup
The Anker PowerHouse II 800 is a massive battery that can power a wide variety of devices
We looked at a few portable chargers here at the International Business Times, but all of them were designed with smartphones in mind. However, Anker has a portable charger that not only charges a cellphone but can also run some fairly large devices for several hours. The Anker PowerHouse II 800 is very big and heavy, but really lives up to its name as a powerhouse.
A massive brick
The Anker PowerHouse II 800 is by no means a small device. This tall boy is about a foot wide, eight inches high, and seven inches deep. This space is almost entirely taken up by batteries, which is reflected in the PowerHouse II 800's weight of over 18 pounds. While the PowerHouse II 800 is technically portable, it cannot be carried around all day.
The PowerHouse II 800 can easily charge all of these phones at the same time
However, the PowerHouse II 800 is designed to last. There is a very thick rubber handle on the top of the PowerHouse that makes it easy to carry, and that's about it. Three buttons on the front of the charger switch the device on and can switch the vehicle-compatible socket and the AC sockets on and off. There is also a bright LED screen on the front that provides information on how much power is currently being used with the PowerHouse II 800 and how much charge the PowerHouse still has.
The whole PowerHouse II 800 also screams for longevity. This was clearly designed to be used outdoors and is likely to be able to withstand a lot. I didn't exactly knock the PowerHouse off the cliff during my trial, but I expect it to be up to the challenge of a camping trip.
The AC and car sockets are covered with protective rubber flaps
Despite all of its power outlets, the PowerHouse II 800 has a single input to recharge. This requires a special cable to charge the PowerHouse, which is included with the device. Unfortunately, this means that the PowerHouse cannot be charged with a different cable. So don't expect to be able to power this guy back up with just a USB cable. It also takes a couple of hours to charge, but it's faster than I would expect.
There is a second way to charge the PowerHouse II 800, which is more convenient for campers who have no power for a long period of time but need additional hardware. It is possible to connect solar panels to the PowerHouse to charge the battery. I wasn't given solar panels to test this out for myself, but it's a pretty nice feature and seems like something that would interest the hardcore campers out there.
Works exactly as expected
The Anker PowerHouse II 800 works exactly as expected, ie devices can be connected to the PowerHouse and receive the energy necessary for operation. Do you need to charge a cell phone? Just connect a USB-A or USB-C cable and you're good to go. Do you need to power something bigger like a laptop or even a CPAP machine? Simply press the button above the sockets to activate them, then plug in the device. It’s all that simple.
The DC-In ports are used to charge the PowerHouse II 800, either with the supplied adapter or an optional solar panel
The USB ports are also designed to help speed up the charging process. The USB-C ports can operate at up to 60W, so phones that have them can take advantage of their fast-charging capabilities. The USB-A ports are also not to be trifled with with up to 30 W each. This won't break any charging speeds, but it will likely be faster than most wall chargers.
The great thing about using the PowerHouse II 800 is that the LED screen on the front provides real-time usage data. When a device is connected, the screen shows how many watts are being used. The screen also shows the percentage of charge remaining in the PowerHouse II 800 and there is even a timer to estimate how long the PowerHouse can run at the current wattage. Of course, when two devices are connected, the wattage used increases and the estimated time remaining decreases. It's all very easy to understand even if you're like me and don't have an electronics degree.
One end has a flashlight that can get very bright
It should be noted that the PowerHouse II 800 cannot supply power to every single device. The PowerHouse can only deliver up to 500W, which covers most of the electronics but leaves out some larger devices. Things like toasters, hairdryers, microwaves, and electric vehicles all consume more than 500W, so don't plug them into the PowerHouse. Any device below that 500W limit is ready to go, including mini-fridges, blenders, televisions, and even some desktop computers.
A couple of bonus features
The Anker PowerHouse II 800 has a few additional features that are pretty … revealing. Sorry for the bad joke. No, I'm not so sorry, let's face it.
Two different lights are built into the Anker PowerHouse II 800. The first is built on the short end and has two different functions. This light is designed to act like a flashlight and provides a decent amount of light when needed. The downside here is that users will likely have to carry the PowerHouse around to actually use the light as a flashlight, which is heavy and inconvenient. The second function of the flashlight is the ability to flash Morse code for SOS in an emergency situation.
The light on the back has a much softer shine, which makes it more suitable for ambient use
The second light is installed on the back of the PowerHouse II 800. This is much softer and does not emit quite as much light as the flashlight, but is designed more as room light. This would be helpful for walking through the front door of a trailer while camping, or lighting a small room if the power goes out. This ambient light can only be turned on and off and has no secondary modes.
A high price for a large battery
The Anker PowerHouse II 800 has a lot going for it, but that means it comes at a pretty high price. The PowerHouse II 800 is available now on Amazon for $ 700, which is by no means cheap. While the PowerHouse is simple and convenient to use, that price may put some potential buyers off.
The PowerHouse II 800 is designed to last
If you want to buy the PowerHouse II 800, you should act quickly, because there is currently a coupon on Amazon that reduces the price by 25 percent. That's around $ 170 in savings. That still makes the PowerHouse expensive, but it's at least a reasonable price.
Final thoughts
The Anker PowerHouse II 800 is just that, a power pack. It has enough power to charge a phone 55 times, making it ideal for a weekend camping weekend. The fact that larger devices can be powered by the PowerHouse also means that those in need of a CPAP machine or other medical device can sleep safely and comfortably through the night outside of a home with a PowerHouse nearby.
Yes, the PowerHouse is heavy and expensive, but the massive battery makes it a clean and quiet alternative to a more traditional generator and doesn't require gasoline or any other fuel source. If you need power on the go, the PowerHouse II 800 is more than capable of helping you.