We’re in the process of building an off-grid campsite on Manitoulin Island. Along with some other projects we’ve started to work on (like our outhouse), we’re also sorting out power and solar options. This has led to us testing the Bluetti EB70S portable battery power station along with the Bluetti 200W solar panel.
What is the Bluetti EB70S?
The Bluetti EB70S is an 800W, 716Wh capacity portable battery generator. It has four 110V AC outlets, two 100W USB-C ports, two 5V/3A USB-A ports, two regulated 12V/10A DC outputs, a 12V/10A car port, and a 15W wireless charging pad. It can be charged via an AC outlet, 12V car port or via a solar panel up to 200W.
I’ve been using the Bluetti EB70S for various tests over the last few months and it hasn’t let me down. Along with the 200W solar panel, I was able to keep a trailer running over the course of a weekend and I kept everyone’s devices charged during a road trip. So on a recent camping venture up north, I wanted to push it by attempting to make waffles for all the kids in our group.
Pushing the power of the Bluetti EB70S
Before taking it up north I tested my waffle maker with the Bluetti at home. To my delight, it worked! The Bluetti powered the waffle maker without any issues. But the waffle maker was almost maxing out the Bluetti’s capabilities with a draw of over 700W, which was a concern. We would be using the Bluetti to power lights on our campsite and to charge our devices for an entire night before getting to the waffles the next morning, so it wouldn’t be fully charged for the test (I also had five kids to feed and I didn’t want to disappoint any of them).
Making waffles in the woods
When it was time to make the waffles in the morning the Bluetti was at about 80 per cent. I set it up in a sunny area so I could also have the 200W solar panel charging it while I was running the waffle maker. With my son helping me, we got cooking.
We got through the entire batch of batter, which made six waffles. With all five kids and one adult happy, the test was a certified success and I was the hero of the day.
After we finished making the waffles the Bluetti had dropped to about 60 per cent. Without the solar panel attached I feel it would have probably been closer to 40 per cent in the end. Leaving the panel in direct sunlight after the test, we were able to fully charge the EB70S in about three hours.
Final thoughts
Would I use the Bluetti EB70S to make waffles again? Probably not. The risk of draining the EB70S (especially if it’s an overcast day and we can’t charge it off solar) is way too high. But knowing it can be done is all I really wanted to find out.