New gear: NRGVault portable power station

A new range of portable lithium battery power packs has been released, aimed at tent campers and those who want to run or charge a few small appliances when on the go.

Launched by NSW-based Laser Corporation International, the new NRGVault PV500 (288Wh capacity) and PV1500 (1228Wh capacity) portable power stations are designed to have enough grunt to run camp lights, a mini-fridge, portable speaker, bug zapper and a small coffee maker.

Laser says they’re also aimed at caravanners who want to run a coffee machine, lights or entertainment unit away from the caravan or around a campfire, as well as those who want to run small power tools and keep phones, drones and other camera equipment charged up.

The NRGVault PV500 weighs 3.8kg and has a 288Wh capacity, 2 x AC outputs, 3 x USB ports and a car socket. The larger 15.8kg PV1500 comes with 4 x AC outputs, 6 x USB ports and a car socket.

Laser claims the PV500 can charge a mini-fridge, TV or MacBook Pro for four hours, or charge an iPhone or drone 17 times over, while the PV1500 can keep an electric drill going for three hours, a CPAP machine running for 22 hours, a mini-fridge for 18 hours and charge an iPhone or drone 74 times over.

The LiFePo4 batteries used are rated for more than 2500 charge cycles when discharged to zero, and each unit incorporates a pure sine wave inverter and an LCD information screen.

As well as traditional charging via a wall socket, the NRGVault battery packs can be charged with a 12V DC cable for car charging along with the option of solar panel charging.

The PV500 has a RRP of $599.95 and the PV1500 $1799.95. See NRGVault for stockists.