My local Costco is now selling the Duracell Powerblock 500 Gasless Generator which is essentially an oversized rechargeable lithium ion battery back with multiple outlets.
Several companies make a version of this product and they are exploding in popularity both for emergency home use and as a portable power option for campers, tailgating, etc.
Let’s see if the Powerblock belongs in your shopping cart!
Key Features of the Duracell Powerblock 500
The Powerblock is a massive lithium ion battery with a fancy control panel. The Powerblock has seven different outlets to power your devices including:
- 3 Household AC 120V
- 2 USB type A
- 1 USB type C
- 1 12 V DC “car lighter”
The power from the AC outlets is in the form of a 60 hz pure sine wave which simply means that it is completely safe to plug sensitive electronics like you computer directly into the generator.
This is the same type of clean power that you get from Firman’s inverter generators but, unlike a traditional generator, is completely safe for indoor use as the Powerblock does not produce any carbon monoxide.
The generator can be recharged either by plugging it into a household wall outlet or by hooking it up to a solar panel through the Solar Input connection on the back of the unit.
It takes about seven hours to fully charge the generator through a household wall outlet and about four hours when hooked up to a 200 watt solar power in full sun.
An important feature of the unit is that it supports “Pass Through Charging” which means that you can hook up a solar panel and charge the unit at the same time you are using the generator to power your devices.
The unit does NOT come with a solar panel.
The Powerblock is highly portable with dimensions of 11 x 9 x 8 inches (LWH) and a weight of just under 11 pounds. It is easy to grab it by the top mounted handle and go!
The unit features an LED Smart Display that tells you:
- Current Energy Usage
- How Long Until the Battery is Dead
- How Long Until the Battery is Fully Charged
What You Can Power With The Unit
The Powerblock 500 is capable of continuously delivering 500 watts for one hour and, with PowerBoost Mode can sustain:
- 650 watts for 5 minutes
- 1000 watts for 3 seconds
The PowerBoost is a nice feature that handles the short power surges needed when an appliance motor first kicks on.
The continuous power output can handle the following appliances:
- LED String Lights (3.3 watts) for 151 hours
- Cable Modem and Wi-Fi Router (12.5 watts) for 40 hours
- CPAP (53 watts) for 10 hours
- LED TV (50 watts) for 10 hours
- Mid Sized Fridge (78 watts) for 7 hours
If you purchase a 100 watt solar panel then, in ideal sun, you could run any of these appliances and drain any of the battery as the solar panel will generate more energy than any of these devices use.
Once you get a solar panel you can start having silly fun with the free energy it produces. For example, I have a similar powerbank from a different company, Jackery, and use the solar panel to charge my Jetson electric bike.
Price
In general the cost of lithium ion power banks are in the $1 per watt range. The Duracell Powerblock 500 currently costs $549 at Costco which gives it a cost per watt of $1.10.
This means that the cost of the Duracell product is in the right range but it is absolutely not a bargain.
If you are at Costco and want to grab it then go ahead as you will not be grossly overpaying. If you are willing to do a little shopping online then you can save yourself about $50-75.
The cost is $1.10 per watt, rather than $1.5 ($550/500 watts = $1.1)
Thank you for the catch!
Would it be possible to charge the Duracell from a 12VDC outlet if you fabricated an appropriate cable and used the solar input?
Duracell webpage says you can charge it from your car…
” recharge with your car via the MPPT Controller and CLA Plug (CLA Plug not included)”
Do you know what type of cells are in the box?
The box says it has 11.1V @ 44.3Ah.
44.3Ah = 44,300 mAh
If it’s 18650 size cells, that would be 3S15P, if the cells were 3000mAh each.
3S15P = 3×15 = 45 cells. That’s a little less than 5 lbs.
Does that seem realistic?
I do not know what type of cells are in the box but Duracell says the unit weighs 10.6 pounds.
IT’S ON SALE this week in Costco, ONLY $ 399.. and if in FLORIDA NO sales tax during Hurrican season time frame
I bought one, and took the side-cover off, to look inside.
They are LG 21700 5000mAh cells.
INR21700M50LT
I can’t see all the cells, but I’m pretty sure there are 27 of them.
This is 3S9P arrangement.
9 x 5000mAh = 45000mAh
Which is a hair above what it says on the box.
On sale now for $399
Just picked it up at Costco for $400. It was marked down $150.00 so now a real bargain.
Thanks for taking the time to post multiple reviews. I was looking at the duracell but ended up going with a Jackery Explorer 1000 + 2 solar panel kit after reading up and checking specs.
I have two of these, and they work great. Solar charging works well, and plug in works well, but I have not been able to charge it in my car? I would still highly recommend getting it.
what type of solar panels would you recommend with the power block?
I have the same question and am trying to research the “Anderson Connector” noted and will try to share what I found but appreciate any comments others have.
Ditto. What’s a good one? Duracell has theirs out of stock.
Search for “Anderson Power Pole” connectors on Amazon
I have the Duracell 660 and with a separate purchase of an Anderson to 8mm connector I am able to hook up to my Goal Zero solar panels. I am now looking at buying the Duracell 500 for its portability and am looking at buying two Luvknit 100 watt solar panels for the price. The Luvknit panels look like they come with an Anderson connector which the Duracell generators need for solar charging. But any 100 to 200 watt solar panel with an Anderson connector or one that can use a Anderson adaptor should work.
Recently seen at my Costco for $499.99.
$400 in the Bay Area
Warning, the Duracell Powerblock 500 seems to have an auto off feature if there is not a draw after a certain amount of time (or too little draw). I have had it turn off while charging phones as they were trying to top off. During a power outage I had attached it to a fridge only to find it had turned itself off later even though it was still practically fully charged. Still trying to find out if this feature can be disabled.
I was wondering why get the ‘Output Overload’ message when plugging in a 200w inverter to the ‘cigarette lighter’ 12v accessory socket. I was trying to see if I could have an extra household receptacle in a pinch. Nothing else was plugged in. Otherwise, I’m confused as to what/when I’d use this round receptacle.
I use the PowerBlock 500 and a 200 watt inverter in my RV. And I, too, get the “Output Overload” error. I think it’s trying to charge a capacitor in the inverter, pulling too much current and overloading. The trick is to plug in the inverter to the PowerBlock (or the CLA in your car/RV/truck if that’s where you’re using it), let it get some charge, then turn off the inverter saving some charge in it, reset the PB and plug it in again. Eventually, the capacitor gets charged enough to not overload the PB.
Poor design on Duracell’s part, I think.
I bought a duracell powerbloick 500 powerblock solar generator bought a massimo 100w solar panel what kind of connector do i need can i buy it on amazon?
An “Anderson” Connector !!
This item is now selling at Costco for $299. would that be a bargain? under the newer price?
AVOID! Do not buy! I bought one in case of power outages…. it didn’t work at all and Duracell said to return it – they take their dear sweet time doing anything about it even after explaining it’s a $400 doorstop basically and I’ve been without power 3x – it’s been alost 3 weeks and they said I won’t get a replacement for another 3 weeks or so….. They admit it was defective from the factory but have a “could care less” attitude about it.
Just found it at my Costco in MN for $250. Felt like a good deal. After standing there forever, I grabbed one. they had 7 left. But, I did see one in a return cart when I walked in.. wondered if someone returned theirs from the higher price and bought a new one at the cheaper price. But, seems the reviews are not good. I’m going to return it, I s’pose.
I have a rarely used Duracell Power 500 bought from a local Costco warehouse last year. I kept it connected to the power outlet so it can be fully charged. However, it is maxs out at 99% instead of 100%. Is this normal?
Also once in a while, its display shows “OUTPUT OVERLOAD” and “LOW BATTERY” when connected to the power outlet with 00:04 hours to full with 59 watts power cable. There’s nothing connected to the output plugs to charge anything and it shows 99% battery juice. I just wanted to charge this Power 500 to 100% full. If I disconnect from the power outlet, then it only shows 99% and “LOW BATTERY”. If I leave its power AC unplugged for almost a hour and then replug it into the power outlet, then it will recharge without “LOW BATTERY” and “OUTPUT OVERLOAD” messages. What’s wrong? Is this unit broken?
Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon.
Just grabbed one on clearance for 199.97*. First time charging was stuck at 99%. After 2nd recharge it went to 100% . I also have been running last 24 hours and it does randomly power offer off while running for 3/4+ hours. Read somewhere to hold the power button on for extra 3 seconds to disable but unsure if that really works.