With a wide variety of portable power stations offered by Bluetti, you might be wondering which can power an electric heater.
The larger Bluettis AC200P and AC200MAX can power an electric heater for almost an hour. However, the smaller Bluetti portable power stations cannot run an electric heater, as most require large amounts of power. The ability to run and the exact runtime will depend on the required output to power the electric heater.
Electric heaters can be great around the house, a cold office or camping. But which Bluetti is best for your electric heater, and how long will they last? Let’s take a look.
Table of contents
Different electric heaters have different power requirements; however most will need 2000w, or 2kw. Various models of Bluetti have varying capacities, so let’s look at how long each of them will power an average 2kw electric heater.
2kw Electric heater - 2,000 watts
| Model |
2KW electric heater Runtime |
| EB3A | Unable to power. Output wattage too low. |
| EB55 | Unable to power. Output wattage too low. |
| EB70 | Unable to power. Output wattage too low. |
| AC60 | Unable to power. Output wattage too low. |
| AC180 | Unable to power. Output wattage too low. |
| AC200P | 0 hours, 53 minutes |
| AC200MAX | 0 hours, 54 minutes |
As you can see, the smaller Bluetti's can’t run the electric heater, as they don’t provide the output wattage required. However, the AC200P offers 2000W output, and the AC200MAX 2200W, enough to power most electric heaters.
It's worth mentioning that the estimated run times are based on power consumption when the electric heater is set to its highest heat. If you are using it at lower temperatures, the electric heater will last for longer, as less power is required.
You might wonder, can’t I just put the heater on a lower temperature and use a smaller Bluetti?
Unfortunately, this isn’t usually an option as most electric heaters have a heating element.
Typically, the heating element will either be “on” or “off”. Therefore, even on the lowest heat, the wattage will spike up to its maximum stated output, and reduce to its minimum power quickly. If this spike is higher than the output wattage for the portable power station, it will trip the system.
However, if the electric heater requires a little less power, you may be able to use Bluetti’s Power Lifting Mode.
Bluetti Power Lifting Mode
This feature built into Bluetti’s app allows some of their portable power stations to increase their maximum output by lowering the output voltage. This is only recommended for devices with heating elements, such as most electric heaters. It should not be used to run devices like air conditioners and washing machines, as it can damage the circuitry.
With Power Lifting Mode:
| Model |
Maximum Output Wattage |
| EB3A |
1,200 watts |
| EB55 |
Power lifting not available |
| EB70 |
Power lifting not available |
| AC180 |
2,700 watts |
| AC200P |
Power lifting not available |
| AC200MAX |
Power lifting not available |
When estimating how long your Bluetti will power an electric heater will last, you should consider what heat setting you will be using.
How do you calculate how long your electric heater will run?
To calculate how long your electric heater will run, you will need the following:
- The battery capacity of the power station,
- the power consumption of the electric heater, and,
- the power station efficiency.
To help, I built a simple calculator for each model of Bluetti.
Alternatively, you can use the following calculation to determine how long your electric heater will run for any portable power station.
Run-time calculation
Battery capacity (watt-hours) / Electric heater power (watts) * Power Station efficiency (%) = run-time (hours)
To build my calculator, I used the following details.
Bluetti Power Station battery capacity
| Model |
Battery Capacity |
| EB3A | 268Wh |
| EB55 | 537Wh |
| EB70 | 716Wh |
| AC60 | 403Wh |
| AC180 | 1,152Wh |
| AC200P | 2,000Wh |
| AC200MAX | 2,048Wh |
Electric heater power consumption
Your electric heater will likely have a sticker indicating its power consumption. However, if there isn’t, you can also find the power consumption in the user manual which you can often download online if you have no longer got yours to hand.
Remember, if you have various settings, which most electric heaters do, your overall electric heater power consumption will vary. As the heat increases, so will the power required.
Most electric heaters will state their wattage based on the maximum required output.
Different Bluetti's will have varying efficiencies, and there will be a difference between AC and DC powering.
But, most electric heaters will need to be powered by AC, so let's look at the AC inverter efficiencies by each model:
| Model |
AC Inverter Efficiency |
| EB3A | 78% |
| EB55 | 87% |
| EB70 | 81% |
| AC60 | 85% |
| AC180 | 84% |
| AC200P | 88% |
| AC200MAX | 88% |
Straight out of the box, your Bluetti should be configured to run A/C appliances, including an electric heater.
But, before using your Bluetti to power your electric heater, you should first charge its internal battery.
Your user guide will explain how to charge your specific power station. You can find a digital copy of your user guide on the Bluetti website here.
In general, one of the easiest ways to charge your Bluetti will be using the included power cable in a wall outlet tied to the grid.
Once your power station is charged, you can plug your electric heater straight into the A/C outlet on the Bluetti.
The larger models, including the Bluetti AC200P and AC200MAX should be able to power most electric heaters, as well as the AC180 while using the Bluetti’s Power Lifting mode. But which one is best?
Bliuetti AC200MAX
We recommend the AC200MAX when choosing a Bluetti to run an electric heater.
The AC200MAX can comfortably power most electric heaters up to 2KW.
Boasting a 2200W output and a 2048WH battery, it can run a 2KW electric heater for almost an hour.
But how does the Bluetti stack up with its competition?
Bluetti makes some fantastic portable power stations. However, you may consider cheaper alternatives or other brands which offer more features for your money.
We have tested models from the leading portable power station brands, Bluetti, Ecoflow, and Jackery.
| Portable Power Station |
Inverter Power |
Battery Size |
| Bluetti AC200MAX |
2,200 watts |
2,048 Wh |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 Maxx |
2,400 watts |
2,048 Wh |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro |
2,200 watts |
2,160 Wh |
Based on its build quality, and price, the Bluetti AC200MAX is the best in its class.
However, if you were looking at running slightly more power hungry appliances, I would also strongly consider the Ecoflow DELTA 2 Max; especially if it were on sale cheaper than the Bluetti AC200MAX.
You will often find Bluetti and EcoFlow products on sale. Check out their latest prices below:
Bluetti AC200MAX Latest Price
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Latest Price
Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro Latest Price
A great feature of a Bluetti is that you can charge your battery while powering an electric heater. If you are at home, you can use your mains power to keep your Bluetti fully charged while using your electric heater.
This can be a great option to use your Bluetti as a UPS to keep your electric heater running during a power outage.
But what if you are on the road or don't have access to mains power?
Two other great ways to keep your power station charged are:
- Solar power
- DC power
Solar power
Bluetti works excellently with solar panels. Whether you have yours hard mounted on the roof of your house or portable for camping, using the sun's rays to charge your battery is a great way to boost performance.
Your power station will include a solar charge cable pre-terminated to MC4, a widespread solar connector.
While Bluetti sells solar panels specifically for their power stations, they can be expensive compared to others on the market.
Bluetti PV350 Solar Panel
The PV350 Solar Panel is compatible with many of Bluetti’s portable power stations, including the AC180, AC200P and AC200MAX.
It provides 350W of solar power. However, they can cost more than double what you can pay for a similar-performing panel from other manufacturers.
But, if you use your own solar panels, be careful; you must ensure that they are within the specification of your Bluetti.
Important!
Ensure you refer to the owner's guide, which will tell you the Open Current Voltage (OCV), maximum input current, and maximum input power.
Do not exceed these parameters, or you will damage your power station!
DC power
Charging your portable power station with DC power is one of my favourite ways to extend its run-time.
Bluetti offers pass-through charging, meaning you can charge your power station while simultaneously powering an electric heater.
You can charge your Bluetti AC200MAX with:
- 12V/24 Car Outlet (100W / 200W) or,
- 10-145VDC (15 max, 900W max) - Often for Solar, but see below for use with a DC battery.
How to increase the Bluetti’s Battery Capacity
A great feature that the Bluetti AC200MAX offers is an easily expandable battery with their battery expansion packs. You can simply use the battery connection cable supplied with the expansion pack to combine them together, creating a larger battery capacity for your portable power station.
The battery expansion packs available for the Bluetti AC200MAX are the B230, and the B300.
| Battery Expansion |
Capacity |
| B230 |
2,048wh |
| B300 |
3,072wh |
The Bluetti AC200MAX allows two battery expansions. So with two B300s, you could extend the battery capacity to a whopping 8,192 watt hours! This could power a 2kw electric heater for over 3 ½ hours.
However, when increasing the Bluetti’s battery capacity, the expansion batteries must be the same model. This means you cannot plug one B230 and one B300 in at the same time to “mix and match” them.
Cheaper alternative to increase the Bluetti’s battery capacity.
Powering by another DC battery is one of my favourite ways to add extra battery capacity cheaply! This could help you reach the battery capacity you need to power your electric heater for longer. It also helps avoid the need to purchase Bluetti’s home battery backups, which are both a step up in price and less portable.
To do this, I would suggest the following:
- 24V battery
- 24V to 48V 10A or 15A step-up converter (Max 900W)
- XT90 cable
- Basic wiring tools (wire cutters, strippers, crimpers)
Although on a smaller scale, you can see below as to what it will look like.
This is my setup to increase the Bluetti EB3A’s battery capacity with a DC battery.
Most energy efficient electric heater
By finding an energy efficient electric heater, you could save money on your monthly electric bill and allow your electric heater to be powered for longer. Plus, it's more green for our planet!
Dreo Space Heater Atom One
We suggest the best energy efficient electric heater is the Dreo Space Heater Atom One. It is a ceramic heater with four heating modes, including the energy-saving ECO mode. This mode adjusts its power consumption based on the temperature around you, saving on money while keeping you as warm as you would like.
It is easy to use and only requires a 1500W input. This means it is easily powered by most of Bluetti’s Portable Power Station range, including the AC180, AC200P and AC200MAX.
As it is small, it doesn’t only stay in my home. I use it in the office during the winter, and even take it camping.
Bluetti to power an electric blanket
Alternatively, if your portable power station doesn't have the inverter to power an electric heater, you could consider powering an electric blanket instead.
Even the smallet Bluetti, the EB3A, can power an electric blanket, making it a great alternative.
I have written a complete guide on using a Bluetti to run an electric blanket.
To be honest, if you only have the budget for a smaller portable power station, this is the best way to keep warm.
Don't heat the whole room - warm yourself with an electric blanket!
While powering your electric heater off-grid with a portable power station is a great solution, it will only be suitable for some.
Some other alternative ways to power your electric heater include:
- solar
- diesel generator
- gas (propane) generator
- UPS
To stay as green as possible, we always recommend, where possible, powering your electric heater and other devices using solar power.
Alternatively, purchase a gas powered space heater.
About the author
Andy Vickery has been DIY'ing energy projects for years. From solar and home electrics, to car rewires, Andy is passionate about sharing his personal experiences.