Top Rated Portable Solar Generator Oupes Mega 2 Review

The Mega 2 portable power station from Oupes Power is an impressive unit for emergency power needs. It packs a beefy 20500W pure sine wave inverter into a compact and portable 58lb frame. This allows you to run most appliances, power tools, medical devices, CPAP machines, and electronics during power outages.

Key features of the Mega 2 include:

20500W inverter with 1600W rated output
255Wh LiFePO4 battery
Expandable with additional detachable batteries
1500W AC wall charging
15A 12V-150V solar input on main unit & each battery
Fast charging capabilities from solar and AC
12V DC outputs for running direct DC appliances
Advanced MPPT charge controller
LCD display of wattage usage
Multiple output ports like AC, USB, DC car outlet

With the ability to add extra batteries and blazing fast solar recharging, the Mega 2 aims to provide reliable and sustainable off-grid power for a variety of emergency uses. Its performance and scalability make it a versatile power station worth considering.

Unboxing the OUPES Mega 2 Portable Power Station

Upon unboxing the Mega 2, I was impressed by the compact yet sturdy design. Despite weighing 48 lbs, the unit felt solid with a high-quality build.

Inside the box, I found the following accessories:

Fast 120W AC wall charger
4ft charging cable with C19 plug
12V car charger cable with Anderson connector
Anderson to MC4 solar adapter cable
Thin 10AWG solar charging cables

My initial impressions are that OUPES paid close attention to providing versatile charging options out of the box. The included Anderson solar connector is a nice touch, allowing easy connectivity with third-party solar panels.

The AC wall charger appears sufficiently specced at 120W with a 16A max input. This should allow rapid recharges from a wall outlet when necessary.

While handy, the solar charging cables included seem worryingly thin at first glance. However, initial testing shows they can handle the expected amperage without issue.

Overall, the unboxing reveals an attractive, well-built power station with thoughtful accessories for versatile charging setups. While lacking some premium touches, the Mega 2 delivers solidly on core functionality out of the box.

AC Charging

The Mega 2 has fast built-in AC charging capabilities. I tested the AC charging speed by plugging it into a wall outlet using the included AC charging cable.

The unit charged consistently at around 1500 watts, which is very close to its rated 16 amp 120 volt AC input. This allowed it to charge up surprisingly quickly from a standard wall outlet.

The fast charging speed makes the Mega 2 very convenient to top off at home or from a generator when grid power is available. In just a few hours, I was able to recharge a fully depleted battery bank.

The AC charging definitely exceeded my expectations. Many comparably sized power stations often charge at closer to 500-800 watts. But the Mega 2 leverages that full 16 amps of AC input to charge at a blazing fast speed.

Overall, the AC charging performance is top notch. It delivered on the fast charging promises and makes repowering the unit very quick and straightforward. This is a huge advantage for emergency power needs when you need to replenish the battery capacity as rapidly as possible.

Solar Charging

The Mega 2 has impressive solar charging capabilities. I tested the solar input extensively using different configurations of 400W solar panels.

With 4 panels in series, I achieved a Voc of 146V which is under the 150V max input. After connecting to the Mega 2, the charging voltage dropped to 137V. This is expected, as Voc is the open circuit voltage before a load is applied, and Vmp is the voltage at maximum power after connection.

With those 4 panels, I initially achieved only 200-400W of solar input due to cloudy conditions. After repositioning the panels, I was able to achieve 350-450W input despite the clouds. This demonstrates the Mega 2’s ability to harvest solar energy even in low light.

The specs list the Mega 2 as having a max 2100W solar input. To achieve this, you would need a solar array outputting over 3000W, as the conversion efficiency results in some power loss. I was not able to test the full 2100W input capacity, but the 400W test panels delivered power on par with the specs.

Adding a 200W portable foldable panel from OUPES boosted input in cloudy conditions. The smart adjustable kickstands made positioning easy. I was impressed that the Mega 2 charged smoothly from both fixed and portable panels.

The ability to expand solar input alongside battery capacity makes the Mega 2 ideal for off-grid solar setups. With sufficient panels, the Mega 2 can recharge from solar even with multiple batteries attached. I’m excited to test the full solar capabilities in sunny conditions soon.

Pass-Through Charging

One of the key features of the Mega 2 is its pass-through charging capability, also known as EPS (Electric Power Supply) mode. This allows the power station to simultaneously charge its internal battery while also powering connected devices.

To test this, I connected a 1,100W load to the Mega 2. With just the load connected, the LCD display showed it drawing about 1,200W. Then I plugged the Mega 2 into AC wall power. The display now showed 500W going into the battery and 1,100W to the load, for a total of 1,600W. This matched the specified 1,600W AC input rating.

So in pass-through mode, any excess AC power above what is required for the load will go into charging the battery. This avoids conversion losses from AC to DC and back that you would get if the power had to route through the battery. It’s a smart design that prolongs the battery life.

I also tested pass-through operation from solar while powering the 1,100W load. With 400W of solar input, the Mega 2 directed 300W to the load and 100W to charge the battery. This demonstrates how solar and AC can work simultaneously to power devices and charge the battery.

Overall, the pass-through charging of the Mega 2 worked seamlessly in my testing. This is an essential feature for energy-efficient operation during grid or generator AC charging.

Expandable Batteries

The Mega 2 allows you to add additional lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries to increase the overall capacity and runtime.

The main unit comes with a 248Wh battery, and you can add up to 2 more expansion batteries which are sold separately. So in total, you can have up to 3 batteries connected.
To add an extra battery, simply use the expansion battery cable that connects to the 4-pin port on the side of the unit and the battery. Make sure the system is powered off before connecting.
With each added 248Wh battery, you increase the total capacity by 248Wh. So with 2 additional batteries, the total capacity grows to 744Wh.
More batteries means more stored power and longer runtimes during an outage or when off-grid. This makes the system better suited for high power draws like running AC units, freezers, medical devices etc for extended periods.
The expansion batteries also come with built-in MPPT solar charge controllers. So each added battery increases the total solar input wattage, up to 2100W max with 3 batteries.
Having spare batteries ready to connect can be useful for emergencies or planned power needs. You can stock up on extra batteries over time as your budget allows.
The modular expandability gives flexibility to scale up the system gradually. You can start smaller and add more capacity later as needs change.

Overall, the ability to add more LiFePO4 batteries is a major benefit of the Mega 2 system. It allows customizing the capacity and solar input for your unique power requirements.

12V DC Output Provides Versatility

One aspect that makes the Mega 2 stand out is the versatile 12V DC output options it provides. This allows you to power or charge 12V devices without needing the inverter.

There are two 12V DC ports on the main unit. One provides 30A, which would be useful for high-draw devices like power tools or pumps. The other is a regulated 12V port providing up to 10A.

In addition, each connected expansion battery adds two USB-C PD ports capable of 100W laptop charging. The batteries also have their own 12V 30A port.

With multiple expansion batteries, you could run several 12V devices simultaneously. This makes the system well-suited for off-grid and RV applications where 12V DC is commonly used.

For charging in a vehicle, an Anderson to 12V car charger adapter is included. This connects to the Anderson port used for solar input, allowing you to charge from a car alternator without needing an inverter. The batteries can also be charged this way.

Overall, the extensive 12V DC capabilities provide flexibility and enable the system to power a wider range of devices and vehicles efficiently. This adds to the versatility of the Mega 2 for portable power needs.

LCD Display

The Mega 2 has a bright, easy to read LCD display that shows all the key information you need when using the power station. The display is conveniently located on the front panel and shows the following information:

Input power – Shows the wattage coming into the unit from solar, AC, or car charging. This is helpful to see how fast it’s charging from different sources.
Output power – Displays the wattage being drawn from the outlets to power your devices.
Battery percentage – Shows the remaining battery capacity as a percentage. Helpful to see runtime left and know when to recharge.
Volts – Displays the voltage of the AC output. Standard voltage is 110V in North America.
Estimated runtime remaining – Calculates the estimated hours of runtime you have left based on current usage and remaining battery percentage.

I found the LCD on the Mega 2 very easy to read and interpret. The screen uses large text and icons making it visible from a distance. There are no complicated menus or settings to scroll through. It shows the core stats you need in a straightforward way. The backlight brightness can also be adjusted based on lighting conditions.

Overall, the LCD display on the Mega 2 provides an intuitive at-a-glance view of the unit’s status and current usage. The key stats are displayed clearly without cluttering the screen. It’s a well-designed display that enhances the user experience when operating the power station.

Efficiency Testing

I ran a full discharge test on the Mega 2 to get a realistic measure of its efficiency and battery capacity.

To test it, I connected a 1200W load until the battery was fully depleted. This is considered a “3C” discharge rate, as the 4000Wh battery was discharged at 3 times its capacity.

The Mega 2 lasted for 3.68kWh before shutting off, indicating an impressive 90% efficiency. Most lithium batteries tend to be around 85-88% efficient, so this is better than expected.

After fully depleting the battery, I recharged it back to 100% to test the round trip efficiency. It took 5.25kWh of AC input to replenish the 3.68kWh discharged.

This equates to a 70% round trip efficiency. The 30% loss is likely due to some energy being used to power the inverter and battery management system. 70% is lower than some competitors but still a decent real-world result.

Overall, the discharge test proves the Mega 2 can deliver nearly its full rated capacity. And while the recharge efficiency could be slightly better, it’s on par or better than many similar portables in this price range.

Safety Features

The Mega 2 has robust safety features built in to protect you and your home during operation. This includes:

Overload Protection – If you exceed the power capacity of the Mega 2, it will automatically shut off output to prevent damage to the unit. This protects both your devices as well as the power station.
Short Circuit Protection – If there is a short circuit on an attached device, the Mega 2 will cut off output immediately to avoid any risks.
Safe Materials – The Mega 2 uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry which is a very stable and safe battery technology compared to lithium polymer or lithium ion. This makes it reliable and reduces risk of overheating or fires.
Ventilation – Internal temperature sensors and fans allow hot air to vent and prevent overheating during charging or discharging.
Multiple Certifications – OUPES Power has obtained UN38.3, CE, FCC, MSDS, RoHS certifications for the Mega 2 ensuring it meets international safety standards.
Designed for Home Use – With its clean look and lack of exposed wiring, the Mega 2 is designed to be safe when operating in a home environment around family.

Overall, the Mega 2 provides robust protection features and has been rigorously tested by OUPES Power to provide safe, reliable backup power for your home. You can operate it with confidence knowing safety is built into the design.

Noise Level

The Mega 2 is impressively quiet during operation. Even when running high-power loads, the internal cooling fan remains unobtrusive. I’ve tested many portable power stations where the fan noise became distractingly loud under heavy use. The Mega 2 is not one of those units.

Often times noise is most noticeable at night when ambient sound decreases. To test the Mega 2’s noise level at night, I ran a 1000W load with the unit placed 5 feet from my bed. The gentle whirring of the fan was detectable but faded into background noise. I had no trouble falling asleep.

Some competing models like the Ecoflow Delta Pro are known for having loud, buzzing fans. The Mega 2’s fan noise is much less intrusive in comparison. I credit the Mega 2’s smart fan design that ramps speed gradually based on load and internal temperature. The fan doesn’t blast on high right away.

I’m sensitive to noise disruption, especially when trying to sleep. The Mega 2 gets top marks for not disturbing my peace and quiet during overnight testing. Portable power should be convenient, not obnoxious, and the Mega 2 delivers on quiet, considerate operation.

Mobile App

The Mega 2 comes with a mobile app for iOS and Android to monitor and control the power station. Connecting to the app is done via Bluetooth.

Overall, the app provides basic functionality but lacks some of the more advanced features found in apps from competitors. The main screen shows the battery level, input/output power, and estimated time remaining. You can turn the outlets on and off remotely through the app.

Setting up scheduled on/off times for the outlets is supported. However, options for customizing schedules are limited compared to other apps. There is no location-based control to automatically turn the outlets on when you arrive home, for example.

The app allows firmware updates over the air which is convenient. But the update process itself feels clunky compared to a slick mobile experience.

Monitoring solar input power yields inconsistent results in the app. The power reading often fails to match the live input shown on the unit’s LCD display.

While the app works for basic control and monitoring, it lacks polish. The interface is a bit cluttered with some oddly sized buttons and text. Options are not always located where you’d intuitively expect them.

In summary, the Mega 2’s app gets the job done for remote monitoring and outlet control. But it leaves room for improvement when it comes to advanced features, customization, and user experience. Some tweaks to streamline the interface and add more smart home-style controls would go a long way.

Portability

The Mega 2 power station from OUPES is designed with portability in mind. At 48 pounds, it’s light enough for one person to carry and transport relatively easily. The compact size also makes it feasible to fit in smaller spaces like an RV, van, or small home.

For moving the Mega 2 around, it has an integrated handle at the top. The handle feels sturdy and makes it easy to lift and carry the unit short distances. The handle does stick out a bit, so you need to be mindful of that when positioning the power station.

While 48 pounds is manageable for short trips, it may get heavy and awkward if you need to carry the Mega 2 long distances. Adding on the expansion batteries also increases the weight, with each additional battery weighing around 30 pounds. So keeping portability in mind, it’s best to only take as many expansion batteries as you truly need.

The compact rectangular shape lends itself well to sliding the Mega 2 into tight spaces when traveling or storing. It takes up minimal floor space at 14 x 9.5 x 11 inches (LWH). You can stand it upright or lay it flat. Just avoid blocking the ventilation holes if laying it down.

With built-in wheels and an extending handle, the Mega 2 power station transforms into wheeled luggage for easy transportation. This makes it feasible to check the unit for flights or roll it longer distances. The wheels are sturdy but small, so they’re best suited for smooth surfaces.

Overall, the Mega 2 strikes a good balance of power output and portability. It’s light and compact enough for RVing, van life, camping, or emergency preparedness kits. With some prudent planning, you can transport the Mega 2 plus a few expansion batteries to your destination.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Powerful 2500W pure sine wave inverter
248Wh LFP battery with low discharge depth for longevity
Fast charging capabilities – up to 1500W AC and 2100W solar
MPPT solar controller built into both main unit and battery
Can add multiple detachable batteries to scale capacity
Pass-through charging reduces battery wear
12V DC output for lights, fans, etc
Efficient even at high loads – tested at 90%
Durable and portable construction
Informative LCD display shows watts, voltage, etc
Overload and short circuit protection
Built-in cooling fans for safe heat dissipation
Reputable brand with good customer service

Cons

Mobile app connectivity can be spotty
Display not backlit, hard to see in dark
Expansion batteries sold separately
No wheel kit included for moving
Can’t connect two units for 240V output
PD charging lower power than competitors
Solar input cables bit thin gauge
Lacks automatic restart after power outage

Comparable Models

The Mega 2 is comparable to several other portable power stations in the 2000-3000 watt hour range. Here’s how it stacks up against some of the top competitors in this market segment:

EcoFlow Delta 2 Max – The Delta 2 Max has similar battery capacity at 2048WH but a lower peak power of 1800W. It can recharge at 2000W AC and 1100W solar. The Delta 2 Max allows 2 units to be connected in parallel for double the power, which the Mega 2 does not. However, the Mega 2 has superior solar input at 2100W.
Bluetti AC200MAX – Very similar specs to the Delta 2 Max. 2048WH battery, 1800W AC, and 1200W solar input. Can also be paralleled with a second unit. The Mega 2 edges out the AC200MAX in peak power and solar input.
Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro – Slightly lower battery capacity at 1840WH but higher peak power at 2200W. However, it has lower solar input at 1000W max. The Mega 2 beats it in battery capacity, solar input, and expandability.
Anker 757 PowerHouse – One of the few in this range with LiFePO4 battery like the Mega 2. 1560WH battery, 1800W AC output. However, only 800W solar input and no capacity expansion. The Mega 2 easily bests it in battery capacity, power output, and charging abilities.
Westinghouse iGen2500 – 2510WH LiFePO4 battery but lower peak power at 1800W. 1200W solar input but lacks modular expansion. Mega 2 has the edge in peak output and long term solar charging.

Overall the Mega 2 compares very favorably to competitors with its ample battery capacity, high power output, and industry leading solar input capabilities. The modular expansion is a key advantage over most models in this power range. It’s one of the top choices in the market for a mid-sized, portable power station.

Conclusion & Recommendation

Overall, the Mega 2 is an excellent mid-range power station that offers impressive performance and versatile expandability. Here are some final thoughts:

The large 2500W pure sine wave inverter provides ample power for most appliances, tools, medical devices, CPAP machines, and electronics. It can comfortably run an RV air conditioner and fridge when coupled with extra batteries.
The efficient MPPT solar charging allows you to expand solar input alongside extra batteries, with a max 2100W input. This makes the Mega 2 ideal for off-grid use with sustainable solar power.
The modular batteries featuring built-in MPPT controllers and DC outputs ensure solar scales with your storage capacity. Each added battery increases solar input, portability, and runtimes.
Safety features like overcurrent, short circuit, and over temperature protection provide peace of mind. Automatic shutdown when idle saves energy.
The LCD display provides insightful monitoring of wattage, voltage, solar input, and battery level. The mobile app could be more user-friendly but offers remote monitoring.
At under 50 pounds, the Mega 2 strikes a nice balance of power and portability. The all-in-one design simplifies transport and rapid deployment.

For budget-minded buyers wanting a flexible solar generator with lots of power, the Mega 2 is easy to recommend. Its premium MPPT solar charging, battery expandability, efficient inverting, and 2500W output make it a compelling package. With some added batteries, it can reliably run most household essentials off-grid for extended outages or off-road adventures.