DJI Power 1000 :: Field Tested

One of the challenges when overlanding is having a reliable source of sustainable electricity on tap to power lights, charge an array of electronics from cellphones to computers to drones, and run convenience items such as 12-volt fridges, 110-volt grills, and cooktops. Most off-road RV trailers have that covered with a deep-cycle house battery. But those who tent camp out of a car, pickup, or van may not have that luxury. That’s why portable battery packs that contain lithium batteries are becoming more popular among eco-friendly adventurers in need of an auxiliary power supply.

The DJI Power 1000 can be recharged from 20 percent capacity to full capacity in 70 minutes when plugged into a 110-volt AC wall socket.

The DJI Power 1000, which made its North America debut earlier this year, is the newest entry in the battery pack category. DJI is world-renowned for its drones and Lithium battery technology, and this 28-pound battery pack of LiFePO4 (lithium ferrophosphate) cells reflects that expertise. The Power 1000, which retails for $999 but sells for $699, has 1,024 watt-hours of electrical muscle available to deliver in a variety of ways. Inside the molded plastic case is an integrated charge controller and inverter to manage both the re-charging and output of the LiFePO4 battery cells. It’s also compact, measuring about 9.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 18 inches, or similar in size to a deep-cycle battery. 

The DJI Power 1000 has all the right features and specifications when it comes to powering a wide variety of electrical devices, too. It has two AC outlets with a maximum continuous output of 2,200 watts, dual USB-A ports, two USB-C  ports, and a pair of 240-watt bidirectional SDC/SDC Lite outlets. The SDC ports are used to charge DJI drone batteries, or where you plug in the adapter to charge the battery through up to 400 watts of solar panels. A single push-button energizes the two AC outlets, and another push-button on the right upper edge turns the battery pack on/off. All the ports are well-marked, and the solar connections are protected from dust and dirt with rubber covers. 

The Power 1000 can be recharged from 20 percent in just over an hour when plugging into a 110-volt AC outlet, and the dual-rate (600 watt/1200 watt) charge mode is set to 1200 watts. DJI partnered with Zignes to use the 100-watt solar panel kit ($299) as the solar charge solution. I found the foldable solar panel simple to use, and it kept the battery pack charging while I was away from camp. Using a vehicle’s 12-volt cigarette lighter socket while driving between destinations or connecting to a solar panel at camp takes a few hours to reach full charge depending on the state of the battery pack’s discharge. What I experienced is using the sun to recharge the battery pack from 30 percent to 100 percent can take up to four hours under ideal conditions, or all day under partially cloudy skies. The Zignes solar panel requires purchasing a DJI Power Solar Panel Adapter Module ($59). 

Dual AC outlets, along with a half-dozen USB/SDC-type ports, provide overlanders with plenty of options for using the DJI Power 1000 battery pack while boondocking.

Something overlanders need to keep in mind is the charge rate of solar panels fluctuates dramatically depending on the amount of cloud cover blocking the sunlight. Fortunately, the Power 1000 LED screen displays the type and amount of charge the battery pack is receiving, along with how much time is left before the battery is at 100 percent charge. Similarly, the screen displays the amount of discharge and the approximate time left before the battery drops to 20 percent capacity, at which time it reduces its output by about half. The screen readouts really help keep an eye on the power drain, like when I plugged in a watt-hungry portable induction cooktop to cook breakfast, and that evening, I used the battery pack to cook dinner on a Kenyon flameless grill. The fully-charged DJI Power 1000 battery pack could power either of these for up to 45 minutes, and it had no problem keeping the 12-volt Koolatron fridge running overnight and during the daytime.  I also used the battery pack to plug in the chargers for the 60V Li battery packs that power my DeWalt cordless chainsaw and the smaller 20-volt battery packs for the cordless drill/driver kit that I keep in my boondocking vehicle.   

Vehicle-based overland adventurers who need a 12-volt/110-volt primary power source in lieu of a gas-powered generator or want a secondary power supply to use in conjunction with an off-road trailer’s house battery will find the Power 1000 a good choice. It’s also a convenient battery pack to have around the home in case of power failure. DJI’s Power 1000 portable battery pack is well designed, and, despite its heft and high list price, it’s the next best thing to having an electrical wall outlet at your remote campsite. DJI also offers a smaller version called the Power 500 that has half the capacity of its big brother. 

$700 | dji.com 

DJI 1000 Operation @ Full Charge

Read more: Full Power: The Wescotts’ Turtle V Gets a Solar and Electrical Upgrade for its Next Adventure

Images: Bruce Smith, DJI

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