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Last Updated on June 22, 2021 by Scott
Rockpals was nice enough to send me their newly designed 500W li-ion battery pack, the PS500.
This new design has a much curvier look than their previous 500W model. It is a budget price for the capacity of 505Wh.
- POWERFUL & LONG-LASTING: The ROCKPALS 500W power station provides 500Wh (140,400mAh) of energy, enough juice to power all kinds of electronics on your next great adventure. It can fully charge an iPhone 12 about 50 times, a 12” MacBook about 9 times, a drone (60Wh) about 7 times. It can power a camera for about 20hrs, a fan (20W) for about 18hrs, a mini car refrigerator (40W) for about 10 hrs, and a projector (60W) for about 7hrs.
While I like the ergonomics and price point of the PS500 – it still can’t match my favorite for this size of power station: The Ecoflow River 600. That is my favorite mid-size power station because it charges so dang fast.
The Rockpals has a standard charging time, taking in around 68W from the AC charger when charge level was at 75%. This is a similar charging speed to most power stations. The Jackery 300 recently added the ability to charge with two inputs, A/C and USB-C power. But that is two cords to add 60-70% more charging speed…handy, but still not as convenient as Ecoflow’s speed.
But, back to the Rockpal. Compared to the previous 500W model, the aesthetics are dramatically better. Take a look at this older ugly box model:
- UPGRADED ROCKPALS 500W POWERFUL PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATOR: Comparing to most similar power station, upgraded Rockpals 500w is equipped with built-in 1*Type-C(5V~9V/2A), 2*USB(5V/3.1A) and 1*Quick Charge 3.0 USB(5V~9V/2A) output for 40% faster charge, The AC output of outdoor generators has upgraded to 110V/500W(Peak 1000W). Charging up your tablets, iPhone, iPad, laptops, fans, TV, lights and CPAP machine (*Use Rockpals DC converter from your CPAP would get longer hours)
Unboxing the Rockpals 500W PS500
I unboxed the Rockpals PS500, while out in central Oregon on vacation, from the back of my truck. The unit is quite light and compact for its capacity size, which is a huge plus. I could see myself putting this in the back of my car for road trips or just everyday use if I am out to the river or working from a coffee shop and want to make sure I can keep all my devices charged.
Features of the ROCKPALS PS500 I Like
1. Ergonomics
I like the overall weight and feel of this battery pack a lot.
2. Price
At $.67 per Wh of capacity, this is a good choice if you need cheap capacity
Features of the ROCKPALS PS500 I Don’t Like
1. Charging Speed
The PS500 charges at around 70W in from the AC wall charger. This is half the Ecoflow River 600 speed.
2. Low USB-C output (only 45W)
Only 1 USB-C and its just 45W output. Not nearly close to the 100W of the Ecoflow River or 60W of the Jackery 300 or Nitecore NES 300.
Overall review
If I could find a good deal and needed a 500Wh range battery pack, and didn’t care about quick charging or need more than a 45W USB-c – this is a good pick. The ergonomics of the ROCKPALS PS500 are great, and its a solid budget pick in this capacity size range. At around $0.67 per Wh of capacity, this is definitely a good value in terms of capacity. Most Li-ion battery packs in this range are usually closer to the $1 per Wh capacity wise. That number continues to fall.
- POWERFUL & LONG-LASTING: The ROCKPALS 500W power station provides 500Wh (140,400mAh) of energy, enough juice to power all kinds of electronics on your next great adventure. It can fully charge an iPhone 12 about 50 times, a 12” MacBook about 9 times, a drone (60Wh) about 7 times. It can power a camera for about 20hrs, a fan (20W) for about 18hrs, a mini car refrigerator (40W) for about 10 hrs, and a projector (60W) for about 7hrs.
Scott Krager purchased generatorgrid.com in the summer of 2020 and quickly began to buy every generator under the sun! He currently has over a dozen generators and the number is growing quickly. He lives in Portland, OR near his family and friends.
Last update on 2021-11-24 Affiliate links & images from Amazon Product Advertising API