I Can't Recommend This Rugged Power Station Enough To Drone Users (and Now It's At The Lowest Price Every For Amazon Prime Day!)

1 week ago

What's nan deal?

The DJI Power 1000 is now down to $417, which is an unthinkable value for a 1,000Wh powerfulness bank, and making this a must-have for drone enthusiasts.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The DJI Power 1000 powerfulness station is disposable connected Amazon for $899 connected Amazon.
It's a powerful, premium value powerfulness position that's built to fulfill nan needs of master drone pilots.
Unfortunately, there's nary retention compartment for nan SDC accessory cables, nor is location a built-in 12V car adapter port.

I've tested dozens of powerfulness stations complete nan past year, but location was 1 that really piqued my liking from nan infinitesimal I first heard astir it. DJI, a leader successful both drones and action cameras, has utilized its expertise successful artillery exertion to participate nan competitory world of portable powerfulness stations. And nan institution made a melodramatic entranceway into this marketplace pinch its first offering -- nan Power 1000.

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For nan past week, I've been testing nan Power 1000, nan bigger of nan 2 powerfulness stations released by DJI earlier this month. It's 1 of -- if not nan first -- powerfulness position connected nan marketplace that is specifically designed to meet nan needs of master drone pilots.

DJI Power 1000 tech specs

Battery Capacity: 1024Wh
Cell Chemistry: LFP (lithium ferrophosphate)
Cycle Life: Maintains complete 70% capacity aft 4000 cycles.
Ports: 2x AC Output, 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, SDC, SDC Lite, AC Input
AC Output: AC 100-120 V, 50/60Hz, max continuous output: 2200W, AC 220-240 V, 50/60Hz, max continuous output: 2200W, max output: 2400W (total)
AC Output (Bypass Mode): AC 100-120 V, 12 A, 1440 W, AC 220-240 V, 10 A, 2200W
USB-A Output: 5V, 3A, 9V, 2A, 12V, 2A, Max output powerfulness per channel: 24W
USB–C Output: 5V, 5A, 9V, 5A, 12V, 5A, 15V, 5A, 20V, 5A, 28V, 5A (EPR), Max output powerfulness per channel: 140W
SDC and SDC Lite Output: SDC: 9-27 V, max current: 10A, max output power: 240W, SDC Lite: 9-27V, max current: 10A, max output power: 240W
Net Weight: Approx. 13 kg
Dimensions: 448 × 225 × 230 mm

Note: The merchandise featured successful this reappraisal was tested pinch UK sockets.

I've tested galore powerfulness stations successful nan 1,000Wh range, and nan size and weight of nan Power 1000 align pinch my expectations. However, 1 facet that stood retired instantly to maine was its coagulated construction: The outer ammunition is tough, efficaciously resisting knocks and bumps without flexing aliases bowing, which is what a powerfulness position for illustration this – thing that's been built to return retired and astir -- really needs.

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The "ammo crate" style handles facilitate easy movement, whether pinch 1 manus aliases two, and they are soft and comfortable to grip, which is decidedly an advantage since this portion is simply a importantly weighty spot of kit.

The interface of nan Power 1000 is refreshingly simple, featuring conscionable a fewer buttons and switches on pinch an LCD. It avoids nan disorder of tiny, difficult-to-identify "mystery meat" buttons aliases nan request to trust connected an app for basal functions.

I peculiarly admit nan deficiency of app dependency for controlling nan powerfulness station, though connecting nan portion to a machine for firmware updates tin beryllium somewhat cumbersome.

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The LED show seems to beryllium a quality, civilization portion -- a invited deviation from nan lower-quality panels I've seen utilized by galore different powerfulness position manufacturers. It remains clear moreover successful agleam sunlight, offering an uncluttered position that makes it easy to quickly return successful each nan important accusation connected display.

The ports are sensible: you person 2 AC outlets, 2 USB-C ports supporting 24W output, and a brace of USB-C ports that tin present a afloat 240W.

I admit nan coagulated larboard covers connected nan AC inlet and nan DC ports of nan Power 1000. They're robust and don't look apt to rip aliases autumn disconnected easily, dissimilar immoderate others I've seen. However, it's a spot astonishing that DJI chose to screen these ports while leaving nan AC sockets and USB ports exposed. Ideally, each ports would person covers to supply immoderate level of protection from ungraded and moisture, enhancing nan unit's durability and functionality successful inclement environments.

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I carried retired my accustomed barrage of tests connected nan Power 1000, which included verifying nan unit's artillery capacity and complaint times, checking if nan ports present their rated power, and testing really nan AC outlets grip being overloaded. The Power 1000 passed each tests successfully.

Port covers connected nan Power 1000 are robust

Charge times for nan Power 1000 are astir 70 to 75 minutes successful fast-charge mode and astir 130 minutes successful modular mode. While nan fast-charge action is convenient if you're successful a hurry, utilizing modular mode is mostly recommended. This slower charging gait puts little accent connected nan batteries, perchance extending their lifespan.

And nether terrible overloading, nan portion simply shuts disconnected without immoderate adverse effects, which is simply a reassuring information feature.

In use, nan Power 1000 is quiet, pinch nan cooling instrumentality only kicking successful erstwhile needed, and moreover past not being each that noticeable, which is useful erstwhile utilizing nan powerfulness position indoors.

Overloading nan Power 1000 pinch a kettle

The portion besides supports star charging, but this requires a abstracted solar powerfulness adapter module, and arsenic I was not sent 1 for testing, I can't remark connected this. However, I do for illustration this thought of not having to salary for nan star charging module if you won't ever request star charging, arsenic this keeps nan value down.

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The SDC ports connected nan Power 1000, designed specifically for fast-charging DJI drone batteries, are so a thoughtful and useful summation for drone pilots. Each larboard tin beryllium utilized to complaint 1 artillery astatine a time, which useful efficiently if you consistently recharge your batteries instantly aft use, alternatively than waiting until you person a heap of them.

However, to complaint your drone batteries you will request bespoke cables, which are sold separately, adding to nan cost. There are cables for nan Air 3, Mavic 3, Matrice 30, and Inspire 3 drones.

It's besides somewhat inconvenient that location is nary retention abstraction for these cables connected nan unit. As a workaround, I've taken to tying them astir nan handles of nan Power 1000, which, while effective, isn't nan astir elegant solution. This is 1 facet that could beryllium improved for amended personification convenience.

There are besides cables to toggle shape nan SDC ports to a 12 V car adapter outlet and XT60 port.

ZDNET's buying advice

I was impressed pinch nan DJI Power 1000. It has each nan features you'd expect from a wide mid-sized unit, but pinch nan added functionality that it's been built pinch drone pilots successful mind.

The 1000Wh capacity is astir nan limit of what you want to lug about, and it has capable ports to administer this powerfulness successful a sensible way. I've seen powerfulness stations perfectly festooned pinch ports, but 2 AC, USB-A, and USB-C ports, on pinch nan SBC and SBC Lite ports, is simply a sensible loadout.

Given that DJI was a caller kid connected nan artifact erstwhile it came to powerfulness banks, I was funny astir nan longer word capacity of this unit, and betwixt nan clip of penning nan reappraisal successful April and later updating it successful December, I've put this done immoderate harsh usage and it has performed flawlessly.

The Power 1000 is priced astatine $899, which aligns pinch akin units connected nan market, truthful you're not being made to salary much for drone-specific features, which is nice.