We have been impressed with the SuperTank Professional energy financial institution from Zendure, so we could not wait to get our fingers on this massive-capacity energy station. If the standard and performance of the ability financial institution have been something to go by, we have been in for a deal with.
Whereas we do not but have a standalone energy station shopping for information, we selected to evaluation this product given our earlier optimistic impression of Zendure merchandise that sit in our Greatest energy banks information, and it could be simply what you are on the lookout for should you run group sky-watching periods or astrophotography workshops.
Be aware that there are two variations of the Zendure SuperBase Professional — 1500W and 2000W; We have now reviewed the 1500W model. The fashions additionally range relying on which a part of the world you’re in — ours took UK 3-pin AC plugs however the US fashions settle for 2-pin plugs.
An influence station is aptly named for it’s a transportable technique of powering up a number of units directly; Whether or not that is the greatest star trackers, helpful headlamps, subtle Computerized GoTo telescopes or devoted astro cameras such because the ZWO ASI533MC Professional.
Zendure Superbase Professional Energy Station evaluation
Zendure SuperBase Professional: Design
- Telescopic deal with
- Chunky all-terrain wheels
- No two units are the identical
This Zendure PowerBase Professional seems to be trendy and complicated, but rugged and menacing all on the identical time.
ADDITIONAL KIT
MC4 to AC Cable
MC4 to XT60 Cable
AC cable
USB-C to USB-A adapter
Arduous-sided Accent Pouch
Stickers
Fast Begin Information
Guarantee card (24 month)
The telescopic deal with and all-terrain wheels make it resemble a small suitcase, or as certainly one of our colleagues described it, a ‘cool field on wheels’. Zendure highlights this design of their advertising, saying that it may be used that will help you carry equipment (put your gear on prime and pull the whole thing with the deal with). That is particularly helpful when taking the ability station to festivals the place you normally should lug your equipment a good distance.
You may additionally transport your digicam backpack on prime by securing it to the telescopic deal with. Trendy baggage just like the Billingham Hadley Professional have a strap exactly for this objective. With out the deal with and wheels, it will be close to unimaginable to move this 41.5 lbs/18.8 kg monster comfortably.
The 6.1-inch LCD panel exhibits all the knowledge you might have to know concerning the system’s current state — present enter and output, recharge time, remaining energy and whether or not any modes like ‘quiet charging’ are lively.
An ambient mild shines when the system costs or distributes energy, giving the identical really feel because the LED tubes you discover below quick vehicles. You’ll be able to modify the colour and brightness within the app. The sunshine appears superfluous, however some might love its futuristic vibe.
The principle physique is constituted of recycled plastic, giving every system its personal distinctive sample; No two will ever be the identical. Once more, this does not add to the performance of the system, nevertheless it’s a neat little reality.
Zendure SuperBase Professional: Efficiency
- Very loud followers when charging or distributing AC energy
- Exceptionally fast to recharge
- Cost all of the units you want concurrently
On receiving and plugging within the Zendure SuperBase Professional, we thought it was simply the preliminary cost that might be noisy — and by noisy, we imply followers whirring like in an outdated PC that is being put to heavy use.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
Capability: 1440Wh (1500 mannequin) or 2096Wh (2000 mannequin)
Output ports: 14
Charging time: 1.5 hours to full
IP ranking: None
Weight: 41.5lbs/18.8kg (1500 mannequin) or 46.5lbs/21.2kg (2000 mannequin)
Dimensions: 17.56 x 10.51 x 13.86-in/446 x 276 x 352mm
Sadly, we have been handled to this identical noise every time it charged through mains energy, with solely a small lower in noise when it wasn’t charging and was simply performing its obligation as an influence station. There’s a ‘quiet charging’ possibility within the app which limits the enter/charging pace, however attending to sleep with it whirring away within the background can be difficult.
We might have anticipated the followers to solely kick in if the unit began to get too sizzling, however they appear to be on on a regular basis. We started reviewing this mannequin within the UK when it was winter and the within temperature was sitting at about 62.6°F / 17°C, so there ought to have been no want for the followers until we have been pushing it to its most output limits.
Regardless of the noise, there is not any denying this factor is exceptionally quick to recharge. It is advisable that you simply solely cost it to 80%, nevertheless it solely takes 1.5 hours for a full cost with AC. Superb for last-minute journeys, it is faster to cost than quite a lot of pocketable energy banks.
Zendure SuperTank Professional: Performance
- App for added management, customization & monitoring
- A mess of ports to cost/energy many units directly
- Tremendous fast charging
The Zendure app unlocks extra customization choices and options over and above what you’ll be able to management through the buttons on the system’s predominant physique. As soon as you’ve got registered for an account (you’ll want to examine your junk folder for the verification electronic mail), you are walked by means of the setup course of. Initially, we had plenty of niggles with the app, which have been resolved after speaking to Zendure customer support (who have been superb). Lengthy story brief, it wanted just a few full reboots and upgrades earlier than the ability station would ‘speak’ to the app and vice versa.
Inside the app, you have got extra visibility and management. You’ll be able to see precisely how a lot cost is left within the energy station and, in case you have issues plugged in, you’ll be able to view what number of watts are going out and in, in addition to how a lot time is left till empty. That is particularly helpful should you’re not close to the system. We presently have it hooked as much as photo voltaic panels in one other room (the photo voltaic panels are outdoors), however we will see precisely what number of watts are being fed into the SuperBase Professional at any given time, which modifications always relying on the daylight ranges.
You may as well activate quiet(er) charging, change the colour of the ambient mild, flip AC/DC charging on or off, see how a lot vitality you have got used by means of the ability station (and the place that vitality got here from — the grid or photo voltaic) and the way a lot carbon has been saved. You’ll be able to examine your inexperienced vitality use with different people who find themselves utilizing the ability station.
The SuperBase Professional is provided with a household-grade Uninterruptible Energy Provide (UPS). If the ability in your own home goes off, it is going to change over to the battery, protecting your whole important family electronics powered up within the occasion of energy outages.
The info on the app is displayed in real-time and matches the show on the LCD display screen on the unit more often than not, with just a few blips the place they aren’t fairly in sync. Typically, although, it is spot on.
One factor we’ve not managed to get to work but is the ‘location’ operate. The app constantly tells us we’re in the course of the ocean, which we will guarantee you, we aren’t. This isn’t a deal breaker for us, so we’ve not tried too laborious to repair this, although we will positively see the profit if you are going to be leaving the ability station unattended (e.g., at a music competition) as in idea the app will present you precisely the place the ability station is.
You may as well share the system’s location with pals. Should you’re going ‘off-grid’ or out at sea, they’ll examine in to see the place it’s (and hopefully you may be with it). The SuperBase Professional is upgradeable by firmware so it is going to solely enhance over time.
Do you have to purchase the Zendure SuperBase Professional?
There is no denying the spectacular capabilities of this factor. It has six AC plug sockets, 4 USB-C ports (two 100W and two 20W) and three 13.6V DC outputs. It costs ridiculously rapidly with AC, and with photo voltaic in the best situations and with respectable photo voltaic panels (although it is nonetheless impressively fast even when it is overcast).
Should you’re somebody who’s going to be operating sky-watching periods with teams of individuals out within the area for nights on finish ready for the proper darkish sky, or just eager to go ‘off-grid’ for a few nights, the Zendure SuperBase Professional will hold you powered up, no drawback. Simply keep in mind a pair of noise-canceling earplugs should you’re sleeping in shut proximity to it (like in a campervan) and charging units utilizing AC on the identical time.
If the Zendure SuperBase Professional is not for you:
Should you got here right here from our greatest energy banks information, you’d have seen that that is presently the one ‘energy station’ on the listing, so maybe you have been on the lookout for one thing smaller and extra transportable for day-to-day use as an alternative.
For that, there’s the SuperTank Professional (additionally from Zendure) which offers the flexibility to cost 4 units concurrently through USB-C or utilizing an adaptor (included) for USB-A legacy units.
The BioLite Cost PD vary is a no-frills, rugged and simply transportable possibility, however should you want one thing that’s light-weight, waterproof and sensible (maybe in case you are climbing a good distance or tenting in a single day) the Celestron Components FireCel Mega 6, which additionally acts as a torch and handwarmer, could be simply what you are on the lookout for.
