ALLPOWERS R2500 V2 (portable power station for your motorhome stopovers): our review

The rain is rattling the kitchen window when the electricity disappears, leaving supper unfinished and the broadband router dark. The ALLPOWERS R2500 V2 offers 1920 Wh of stored energy, a substantial reserve for keeping selected essentials supplied through that sort of interruption. Think lighting, communications and appliances you have chosen to prioritise. The reserve needs a plan.

Which appliance would earn its socket first? A freezer might matter more than entertainment, while someone working remotely could put their laptop and router ahead of everything else. Actual running time depends on consumption and the usable energy available, so we would resist promises about hours. We consider this model well placed overall, with a convincing purpose for households wanting a separate source of electricity when the usual supply stops.

At a campsite, an electric cooking appliance asks a different question from a phone charger. 2500 W of rated output gives this station scope to supply a demanding appliance, provided its requirements stay below that limit. Watts describe the load it can support at a given moment; the energy reserve determines how much electricity there is to spend. Your kettle remains blissfully unaware of the distinction.

With 4 sockets, there is useful room to connect mains equipment without constantly swapping plugs. Those sockets share the available output, though: count the combined demand before switching everything on. An appliance with a motor can also draw a surge as it starts, which needs checking separately. We like the practical combination of substantial output and socket provision for a motorhome kitchen or a carefully chosen collection of household essentials.

At a touring pitch, a clear morning could be an opportunity to replenish the battery while you get on with breakfast. The R2500 V2 accepts solar charging, with 1000 W of maximum solar input offering scope for several panels. That is a generous input ceiling for someone planning to spend time away from an electric hook-up.

The ceiling is not a promise of what the panels will produce. Sunshine, orientation and the panels themselves determine the incoming power, so a passing cloud can change the picture without warning. We would treat solar as a useful part of the motorhome routine, with consumption planned around the energy actually arriving. Keep the station sheltered from rain and charge it somewhere ventilated, away from high temperatures. Wi-Fi connectivity is included too, although that feature alone is no reason to choose it.

A station can make sense once parked and still be the wrong companion for the journey. The R2500 V2 suits a motorhome routine where equipment has a settled place and the electricity needs are substantial. Frequent changes of pitch call for a different balance between carrying and capability.

The Anker SOLIX C300X for frequent carrying is better suited to frequent carrying, with 4.13 kg making repeated moves less demanding. Although less well rated overall, the Anker SOLIX C300X has a clear purpose for someone whose equipment travels regularly. The AFERIY P310 is better suited to backup power at home, with 3840 Wh providing a larger reserve for selected essentials. The AFERIY P310 is also better rated overall.

Choose around the job you actually have. For a motorhome with mains appliances to support, this station has a persuasive purpose; for daily carrying, portability should lead the decision.