ANSMANN PS600AC (portable power station for home backup power): our review

The streetlights have gone out, dinner is cooling and a small fridge suddenly matters more than the television. The ANSMANN PS600AC has a credible role here: keeping selected equipment supplied while you wait for the electricity to return. Its 640 Wh reserve sits in the middle ground, with scope for a short power cut or charging duties over a camping weekend. It cannot promise a particular duration: appliance consumption and the energy available at the outputs determine how far that reserve goes.

Keep the priorities simple. A battery earns its place by supplying what matters, rather than collecting plugs. We regard this model as well placed overall for that focused role. Compatibility with an expansion battery also gives you a route to more stored energy if your needs grow.

At a campsite without electric hook-up, a small fridge could be a sensible job for the 600 W rated output. A light-duty tool at the far end of the garden is another plausible use, provided its electrical requirements fit. The continuous output is shared by everything connected, so adding another appliance means checking the combined demand. A motor's starting surge needs consideration too; its running consumption does not tell the whole story.

There are 2 sockets, giving you a few mains connections for selected equipment. The 12 V cigarette lighter socket provides a connection for compatible car accessories. That gives this portable battery flexibility when your equipment uses different connections. The camping kettle can sit this trip out. Heating appliances fall outside the intended workload, however persuasive the promise of another brew.

A panel unfolded beside a campervan overlooking a loch could gather energy while you make lunch inside. With a maximum solar input of 100 W, this station belongs with a modest supplementary panel, rather than an extensive array. Solar compatibility adds another way to replenish the reserve, but sunshine, panel angle and the panel's own characteristics govern the electricity collected. A bright forecast is welcome; it is not a charging timetable.

The battery chemistry is LiFePO4, identifying the type of battery storing that energy. A carry handle gives you a dedicated grip for moving the station between storage and its next job. Keep the setup sheltered from rain and excessive heat, and charge in a ventilated place, following the manufacturer's guidance. Outdoor electricity still needs somewhere dry to live.

Does your equipment call for a different sort of station? The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is better suited to demanding appliances, with 2200 W of rated output providing room for a more substantial electrical workload. That is a concrete reason to change direction when the equipment you need to supply carries greater demands. Start with the appliances you actually need, rather than finding jobs for a bigger battery afterwards.

The ALLPOWERS R2500 V2 for solar charging is better suited to a generous solar charging setup, with a maximum input of 1000 W offering scope for a larger panel arrangement. That extra scope matters if collecting solar energy is central to your plans. We would keep the PS600AC on the shortlist for selective backup and modest camping duties; a larger appliance plan or solar setup gives those alternatives a clearer purpose.