DJI
just
launched
its
first
power
stations
that
feature
a
new
proprietary
SDC
—
aka
Smart
DC
—
port
that
can
fast
charge
(some)
DJI
drone
batteries
and
supports
lots
of
input
and
output
accessories.
The
$699 Power
1000
and
smaller
$379
Power
500
both
offer
a
bevy
of
AC
and
DC
ports
with
more
available
if
you’re
willing
to
fully
commit
to
living
DJI’s
SDC
dongle
life.
The
Power
500 has
one
SDC
Lite
port,
while
the
larger
Power
1000
has
both
regular
SDC
and
SDC
Lite.
Both
power
stations
are
fitted
with
batteries
that
use
LFP
chemistry,
which
is
safer
and
lasts
longer
(80
percent
capacity
after
3000
cycles)
than
traditional
NMC,
and
both
offer
a
0.02-second
cutover
making
them
suitable
for
use
as
a
UPS
on
unstable
grids.
They
arrive
without
an
app,
though,
which
is
a
common
and
useful
way
to
manage
power
stations
remotely.
The
1024Wh
Power
1000
is
the
flagship
offering.
Besides
the
SDC
and
SDC
Lite
ports,
its
other
notable
feature
is
two
USB-C
ports
that
each
support
a
max
output
(no
input)
of
140W
so
long
as
you’re
using
the
right
cable
to
connect
a
PD
3.1
USB-C
device
like
a
laptop.
Its
AC
outputs
can
produce
up
to
2200W
AC
(2400W
in
Europe)
which
is
enough
to
power
any
device
you
might
take
on
a
shoot
or
camping
trip.
The
power
station
itself
can
be
fully
charged
in
as
little
as
70
minutes
at
its
max
input
of
1200W,
or
it
can
be
dumbed
down
to
600W
with
a
switch
on
the
front
that
also
reduces
the
fan
noise
to
23dB
(which
is
very
quiet
for
a
power
station).
It
weighs
13kg,
or
almost
29
pounds.
A
closer
look
at
the
SDC
(top)
and
SDC
Lite
(bottom)
ports.
DJI
tells
me
that
there’s
no
real
difference
between
how
the
bi-directional
SDC
and
SDC
Lite
ports
function
right
now.
The
current
spec
sheet
lists
the
ports
as
follows:
DJI’s
SDC
ports
support
the
company’s
“Power
SDC
super-fast
charge
function,”
which
pulls
as
much
as 230W for
Metric
30
Series
TB30
Intelligent
Flight
batteries, 200W for
Inspire
3
TB51
Intelligent
batteries, 150W for
Mavic
3
Intelligent
Flight
batteries,
and 125W for
DJI
Air
3
Intelligent
Flight
batteries,
but
only
after
you
buy
the
$19
cable
specific
to
each
drone
series.
The
Power
1000
shown
with
two
solar
MPPT
controllers
bolted
on.Image:
DJI
Each
SDC
port
can
also
be
used
to
recharge
the
power
station
with
up
to
400W
of
solar
panels,
but
only
after
you
buy
the $59
DJI
Power
Solar
Panel
Adapter
Module
(MPPT).
That’s
a
unique
approach,
since
those
DC-to-DC
converters
are
something
you’d
find
standard
inside
a
class
of
power
stations
commonly
called
solar
generators.
You
can
even
plug
two
MPPTs
into
the
Power
1000
for
800W
of
total
input.
DJI
also
lets
you
bolt
these
onto
the
side
of
the
unit
to
go
full
Frankenstein.
DJI
doesn’t
make
its
own
solar
panels
but
it
is
reselling
Zignes
panels
to
help
ensure
you
don’t
screw
things
up
by
“overvolting”
your
setup.
These
12V
car
charger
ports
are
usually
standard,
but
here
you
need
a
$22
dongle.
Mmm,
beer.Image:
DJI
The
SDC
port
can
also
be
used
to
charge
the
power
station
from
your
car’s
cigarette
port,
but
only
after
you
buy
the $49
DJI
Power
Car
Power
Outlet
to
SDC
Power
Cable
(12V/24V)
—
another
feature
usually
baked
in
for
free,
just
like
the
$22
SDC
to
12V
car
charger
port.
Lastly,
DJI
also
sells
the $22
SDC
to
XT60
12v
adapter
cable
at
the
time
of
launch.
And
this
is
just
the
start.
DJI
tells
me
that
in
the
future,
the
SDC
ports
might
support
higher
power
and
capacity
accessories
through
firmware
upgrades.
The
smaller
512Wh Power
500 dials
things
back
with
a
pair
of
100W
USB-C
ports
that
can
also
be
used
to
charge
the
unit,
unlike
the
Power
1000.
It
can
be
charged
at
540W
or
270W,
and
its
AC
max
output
is
limited
to
1000W.
The
Power
500
weighs
just
7.3kg,
or
about
16
pounds.
I’m
super
curious
to
see
how
people
respond
to
DJI’s
adapter
heavy
and
proprietary
approach
to
power
stations.
I
can
see
several
pros
if
you
own
a
compatible
DJI
drone,
but
lots
of
cons
if
you
don’t.
Original author: Thomas Ricker
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