Using the powerful and versatile OUPES Mega 2 power station and solar panels

The OUPES Mega 2 Power Station is one powerful portable power station. Pronounced “oops” (as in no more power oops).* How powerful is the OUPES Mega 2? A 2,500W continuous AC pure sine wave inverter provides power via four AC outlets. Even better, it can handle surges of up to 5,400W. That can power a lot of commonly used devices and appliances!

Can this portable power station run an RV air conditioner? The short answer is yes, although I have yet to try it. However, the Off-Grid Mountain Homestead YouTube channel did a full test on running an RV air conditioner powered by the OUPES Mega 2 and was pleasantly surprised at the efficiency. Of course, you would need extra batteries to run it through the night. This and more are covered in their OUPES power station and RV AC experiment.

What kind of outlets does the OUPES Mega 2 provide?

Basically, all of them! There are 15 power outputs, including:

• A 30-amp 360-watt Anderson power pull output
• A 30-amp plug. I am not saying I will use this to charge my trailer batteries, but it is nice to know that I can.
• Two 100-watt USBC outputs
• Four 18-watt USBC outputs
• Four 20-amp AC outputs
• 30-amp RV output
• Two 5521 barrel plug inputs

Charging

Like most power stations, you have three charging options: via plugging in directly when you have access to shore power (fastest), via solar panel(s), or via your vehicle’s 12-volt plug while driving. The latter is the slowest charging method, but my motto is ABC (Always Be Charging). If you have a long drive coming up, why not plug in and recharge the power station?

When it comes to plugging into shore power, you can plug in with a standard wall jack that’s included with the power station. Unlike some other brands, no adapter is needed when plugging the OUPES Mega 2 into a wall outlet to charge; just plug it directly in. This means there is one less accessory to carry and keep track of.

The AC input accepts up to 1,600 watts. However, you can limit that to 800 watts if you want to push less power. Unless I am in a huge hurry, and I usually am not, I keep my power station set at the lower level. It’s easier on the battery overall, as I understand it, and it also creates less heat. And less heat is always a good thing when you are talking about lithium batteries.

Solar charging

OUPES makes a 240-watt solar panel that I used to test solar charging. However, you can choose to use more, and via the Anderson power pull jack you can push up to 2100 watts.  This jack will accept up to 150 volts/15 amps max. In practical terms, this means you can combine multiple solar panels to achieve that 2,100 watts for faster charging.

They say it should charge in about 3.5 hours, but I am unsure how many panels they used for that test. It took me a lot longer when I tested with a single 240-watt panel.

I had plenty of bright sun, although it was at mid-October angles at my Northern California home base. I went from 33% to 65% full in about five hours. Not impressive, although I am sure I could improve the results by adding a second panel. I was hoping to use the two 200-watt panels I already carry for my Ugreen power station, but according to the OUPES representative, I need to use their solar panels. So, I will have to consider adding another when I go back on the road. If I do, I will be sure to update you on the difference this makes.

(As a side note, I will say that carrying two portable power stations with solar charging capabilities makes a lot of practical sense if you don’t have solar installed on your RV. I plan to write a separate article on this, but I am never out of power, to the point that in the last three years living most of the time on the road I have never once had to put fuel in and use the brand-new gas/propane inverter generator that sits in my truck. I plan to leave it at home in the future.)

I like the design of the OUPES solar panel for two reasons:

• The plugs are attached to the panel, so you never have to search for them.
• The snap closures that hold the legs in and keep the folded panel closed during storage are a huge improvement over most other brands. My other solar panels have Velcro-type closures that eventually become ineffective, or magnet closures that need to be more robust to be effective. The snaps on the OUPES panels hold everything firmly in place.

Optional remote control

If you are into such things, which I am not, you can control everything via the wi-fi Bluetooth OUPES app. As for me, I am happy to turn things on and off manually. However, you may want to keep the power station in another area, perhaps in your pass-through storage. In that case, the app makes it super convenient to monitor power levels and turn things on and off without having to look at or be near the power station. It’s also convenient to monitor if you are away from the RV. App or no app, your choice. Either way works great.

What I especially like about the OUPES Mega 2 power station

• The price. OUPES provides an excellent value in the portable power station market, so be sure to compare and contrast before purchasing any power station.
• Fast AC charging—OUPES went from 16% to full in about 1 1/2 hours, plugged into AC on the lower level.
• The variety of outlets (they call them outputs).
• The ability to run devices that use higher wattage.
• Supports pass-through charging, meaning you can use it while it is charging.
• I love the sturdy design. The built-in handles make it easy to carry and move, and the top of the power station is flat so that things can be packed on or around it.
• While it is outside the scope of this review, I like that I could connect several of these to power a comfortable off-grid residence. The OUPES Mega 2 can be expanded to 10,240 watt-hours (10.2-kilowatt hours).
• Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 3-year warranty.
• The company donates 5% of its sales to help communities in need, usually in areas affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and other power loss-related disasters.

Are there any downsides?

At nearly 50 pounds, this power station might be more difficult for some people to carry and move around. That said, I am a single senior woman and manage just fine as the handles make it easy to carry. For as much power as this provides, the size is reasonable. However, depending on your fitness level, you may have challenges.

The built-in fans, while not interruptively loud, are nonetheless noticeable. They automatically kick on any time you put much of a load on the power station. This is a good thing, as the fans protect the lithium battery. It’s nothing compared to a regular generator or even an inverter generator, but know that it does not run entirely silently.

According to the PR rep at OUPES, you need to use their proprietary solar panels with this power station. This is not a huge issue unless you already own a bunch of other solar panels, like I do. However, the OUPES panels are quality products, so know that quality is not the issue.

I will put in the disclaimer that, as of this writing, I have only used the product for about a month, so I cannot speak to longevity. I will update, should any issues arise and as I use it and experiment with it more.

OUPES Mega 2 power station stats

• LiFePO4 battery with 3,500+ life cycles to 80%
• 2048Wh capacity
• Expandable up to 10.24kWh with B2*4
• 15 outputs for multiple devices
• Smart HD LCD display
• Fastest charging speed: Fully charge in 0.6 hours
• 3700W Max. Input charging speed
• Anderson recharging input
• Seamless UPS backup (2500W Max)
• Smart control and monitor in OUPES app
• Weight: 48.5 pounds

Conclusion

This is a great portable power station for any camper or RVer who wants to do more off-grid camping. It provides a lot of power in a manageable package at an affordable price.

• Check out the Mega 2 on the OUPES website
• Check out the OUPES Mega 2 at Amazon

*OUPES is an acronym for: Optimize (Mission to optimize energy use by delivering efficient and innovative power solutions.) Uninterrupted (Mission to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted power supply wherever it’s needed.) Power (Mission to provide dependable power that supports both everyday life and emergencies.) Environment (Mission to protect the environment through the adoption of clean, renewable energy sources.) Sustainable (Mission to build a sustainable future by offering long-lasting, eco-friendly energy products.)

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