Empowering Your Home: The Bluetti AC300 & B300
Words by Nick Govatsos, photos by Chad Quinn
There’s a dream that many of us have had when we look out into the distance across a vast valley set against mountains. We think: “I’d love to live here someday.”
That is exactly the dream that Andy McDell has turned into a reality for himself out in Moffat, CO on his newly named “XOXO Ranch”. Andy has been working on the homestead for nearly 4 months, which was a totally off-grid and an empty lot at the time of his purchase.
Since then, he’s powered its construction through a combination of a gas generator, solar panels, and the expandable Bluetti AC300 & B300 home battery backup & power station, with the homes of turning the camp into a home both for himself and for his nomadic friends & family.
With 1200w of solar and 2 Bluetti B300 expansion batteries, Andy is able to power and charge everything on his property without the need of his generator for several days.
One of the key features, beyond its 6k+ watt-hours of storage, is the number of outlets that it comes equipped with: seven 120v outlets and two 12v plugs as well as numerous usb and usb-c plugs.
And aside from using the wall plugs on the battery, Andy has gone ahead and wired all his house outlets directly to the battery, meaning he does not have to plug any devices directly into the station to use its power.
And with a built-in 3,000 watt inverter he is able to power high-draw products like hair dryers, drills, air fryers, etc.
Key features
3,000W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (6,000W Surge)
3,072Wh Capacity (Expandable w/ up to 4 × B300 for 12,288Wh)
LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
240V Split Phase Bonding ( With *2 AC300 & *2 B300 )
7 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/Lead-acid Battery/Dual AC/AC+Solar)
2400W Max. Solar Input
5400W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC)
Further, given the complexity and variability of the draw on the grid, for Andy having the ability to remotely monitor the power input and output of the system via the Bluetti iOS application has been a real benefit.
For example, when the decking and fencing subcontractors were on-sight at the same time using multiple high amperage/wattage devices, Andy was able to accurately predict the need for for additional power by early afternoon, even going so far as to toggle off unnecessary components such as the air conditioning with the simple push of a button.
Winter comes early in the San Luis Valley, and as the first phase of the build of XOXO Ranch winds to a close Andy is already looking towards its expansion next year to include temporary spaces for for nomadic friends and family who will also have energy needs, and is grateful to have an expandable home power grid in the AC300 & B300 that can grow with his needs.
To follow along with Andy and the development of XOXO Ranch, visit him on Instagram.
