Portable Power Supplies

Power Boxes: Simultaneous Charging & Output Capabilities

This page summarises how the units that I own behave when charging and supplying power at the same time—something that is often unclear from the manufacturer's specifications. The information here may help in deciding what to look for when buying a power box.

For the record, these boxes are:

• Jackery Explorer 500 (released January 2021; purchased August 2022)
• Bluetti EB70 (released December 2021; purchased May 2023)
• Hinen PS3000 (first showing May 2023; purchased April 2026)

Jackery Explorer 500

• Charging port: DC7909 (100 W max)
  • From AC power brick
  • From solar panel
  • From car cigarette lighter
  • From suitable DC-DC source
• Pass-through charging ✖
• Charging with AC output ✖
• Charging with DC output ✔

Bluetti EB70

• Charging port: DC7909 (200 W max)
  • From AC power brick
  • From solar panel
  • From car cigarette lighter
  • From suitable DC-DC source
• Pass-through charging ✖
• Charging with AC output ✔
• Charging with DC output ✔
• Charging with AC and DC output ✖

Hinen PS3000

• Direct AC mains charging (2.3 kW max)
• Two DC charging ports: DC7909 (800 W max)
  • From solar panels
  • From car cigarette lighter
  • From suitable DC-DC source
• Pass-through charging ✔
• Charging with AC output ✔
• Charging with DC output ✔
• Charging with AC and DC output ✔

Summary

Capability	Jackery 500	Bluetti EB70	Hinen PS3000
Weight (kg)	6.0	9.7	34
Capacity (Wh)	518	716	2560
Pass-through charging	✖	✖	✔
AC output while charging	✖	✔	✔
DC output while charging	✔	✔	✔
AC + DC output while charging	✖	✖	✔

Notes

• Hinen PS3000: Supports simultaneous AC and DC input during charging, allowing higher combined charge power (2.56 kW max).
• Pass-through charging: Mains power flows directly to a connected device first. Any remaining power is then used to charge the power supply's own battery.
• UPS behaviour: With pass-through charging, when mains power fails, there is a finite time between switching from mains power to the inverter. The switchover times vary between units and may not be suitable for sensitive equipment. A device such as the Bluetti EB70 is already using the inverter when powering an AC appliance while being charged, so there is no time lag when the charging power is disconnected.
• Battery capacities: The values shown are those from the manufacturers and may differ from usable energy depending on inverter losses, operating conditions, and load type (as well as over-rating by the manufacturer).

What to look for

• If you need to run equipment continuously while charging, ensure that the unit explicitly supports this. Not all units do.
• For low-power devices (routers, lighting, USB devices), DC output while charging is often sufficient and more widely supported.
• Simultaneous AC and DC output while charging is not always supported. This can prevent simple tasks such as charging a mobile device while an AC load is in use, and should be checked if both are required.
• Camping use: If running a 12 V fridge or similar equipment, ensure that the DC output remains active while charging. This allows the box to be charged (for example from solar panels) without interrupting the load.
• UPS functionality varies between units. If you intend to power sensitive equipment, check switchover behaviour carefully.
• Although not directly related to input/ouput capabilities, the weight of the unit can have a major impact on portability — even units with wheels can be difficult to move, particularly in camping or home-use situations where the unit may need repositioning to be charged or to power appliances.

(updated: 30 April 2026)

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