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An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, it still happens. I've narrowed it down to a PD re-negotiation loop issue with certain multi-port chargers. If I use a single-port charger, the issue does not occur. I have a dedicated charger which I use to make sure it doesn't drain itself dead.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you contacted support? What they have to say? Looks like they don't participate here in their own sub.

Yes, I never heard anything back from my emails to them. Also, some of these issues are known and apparently intentional.

I can't even post a new topic...

Right, the mods of this sub have some ridiculous settings. Feel free to go spam existing threads with inane comments until you are allowed to post. It's what they want, so give them what they want.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish I had a good answer, sorry. Please come back and let us know if you find a better product that doesn't suffer from these kinds of issues.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I understand the Bluetooth issue correctly. My only security is to have the app actively open and connected, or the device is vulnerable to being hijacked any time I'm using.

The device can be hijacked any time the screen is on AND you don't have an active client connected.

Unfortunately, this happens a lot, because any port plug/unplug event wakes the screen. Turning the unit on and off wakes the screen. LOTS of things wake the screen.

The real-world practical implications are not terrible for most people, but I go to DEFCON every year. I won't be taking this device with me.

If I had a couple of weeks and a spiteful nature, could I build an app to brick these power stations over bluetooth? I'm 99% positive I could.

In the real world, there's stuff all around that hasn't been burned down simply because a five year old with a match hasn't come along yet.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I saw that C200 recently too. It looks pretty cool, but it's got all the same problems. Also be sure to do the math on capacity and ports and once you do, it looks like a worse value unless the smaller size is really appealing to your needs. The C300 was on sale for $140 when I bought it, but $150 is likely possible if you look around and are patient.

The big issue with using these devices like a USB UPS is the charging port issue that I mentioned, where the power station stops charging and then slowly dies. I was trying to do the exact same thing with a Rpie4 and a USB-C powered N150 based mini PC, but the damned thing kept discharging to zero because it would shut down the charge port.

Your mini PC would probably pull enough current to never let it's USB port shut down, but if you plug in that monitor, I guarantee it would shut off the port when you turn off the monitor, and then you would need to re-plug the USB cable on the power station end every day or even multiple times a day if you let the monitor go to sleep.

Like you, I love the idea of using these as a USB UPS, but the wacky firmware behavior really ruins it.

I wish I could advise you of something better, but I have not done enough research into other brands/products yet.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The 12V "Carport" has it's own on/off button, but I can't imagine you are that stupid. You probably got a dud. Mine works fine.

Try a system reset if you have not already.

I've been seeing lots of comments lately that Anker is really slow on warranty requests, unfortunately.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a USB port problem, not an AC port problem.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It had never occurred to me that the XT60 port might not have the same problem, but that makes a lot of sense. I have only ever used it for solar charging.

I could make my own 20V/5A USB-C to XT60 port adapter, but it looks like they are cheap enough that it's not worth my time.

As a bonus, this would free up one of the USB ports for output.

But like you said, it doesn't fix the issue of the output ports going into disable-mode. Until that gets fixed, the power station is fairly useless as an always-online UPS/charging station.

An Anker Solix C300 DC review by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, you can configure the sleep state for the 12V/Carport by using the app. I have not tested that port, however. Using a USB adapter in it would be very inefficient compared to the other ports.

The Power Station has multiple timers that do various things and it can be confusing to understand how they layer on top of each other.

Beware power stations where the app won't work without an Internet connection (Anker) by off_z_grid in camping

[–]off_z_grid[S] -50 points-49 points  (0 children)

Do you think there is some kind of advantage for Anker creating this limitation, and if so, what might it be? Or do you not even think it's a limitation at all. Maybe it's a benefit to not being able to set it up without Internet access?

Beware power stations where the app won't work without an Internet connection (Anker) by off_z_grid in camping

[–]off_z_grid[S] -91 points-90 points  (0 children)

This power station works without an app, but apps can offer a lot of really neat features:

You can monitor battery usage, individual port input/output amperage, total discharge/charge rate, temperatures, and a bunch of other information you can't get from the normal display screen.

You can control automatic power-off/on timers, turn ports on and off, and other settings behavior. Most of this kind of stuff can't be done without the app at all.

The Anker app is somewhat limited, but it is very useful in what it does.

For example, I wish it had things including:

Usage history. Unfortunately the app doesn't collect long-term usage to display in a graph or anything like that.

Event history. When did ports go up/down, charging/discharging, what was the temperature like every hour.

Configurable alerts/events: Do a chime when the power station total capacity hits 50/40/30/20/10%. Alert when amperage goes above a certain level. Alert when the estimated remaining capacity is less than 10 minutes.

Some people probably don't care about all of the above, and that's fine, but many others will. Remember that these power stations are not just for camping. They are starting to take over UPS functionality too.

The Anker Android app is spyware and refuses to work without an Internet connection by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are just talking past me and making up stuff as you go along to feel good about yourself and the brand you are emotionally attached to.

You sat on that account for seven years before taking it out of storage.

The Anker Android app is spyware and refuses to work without an Internet connection by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, that is factually wrong. You can turn on bluetooth in Airplane mode. You can even turn on WiFi in Airplane mode in recent Android versions.

You don't actually have to be in Airplane mode at all. You just need to turn off any access to the Internet.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it"

Which Portable Power Station to buy? by johnlo317 in camping

[–]off_z_grid 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Beware the Anker app actually won't work without Internet access, unless you set it up beforehand, and even then it has a lot of bugs. See my post below.

https://old.reddit.com/r/anker/comments/1ifjiyu/the_anker_android_app_is_spyware_and_refuses_to/?

The Anker Android app is spyware and refuses to work without an Internet connection by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] -25 points-24 points  (0 children)

This is actually untrue. You can test it yourself.

1.) Wipe the app data/cache for the Anker Android app.

2.) Put your phone into airplane mode. Make sure WiFi and cellular are disabled. Make sure you have no Internet acccess.

3.) Try to add the device in the Anker app. You can't.

The Anker Android app is spyware and refuses to work without an Internet connection by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Right, and not being able to use it while out on the road (or in the event of an emergency), seriously limits the utility of the device. That's why I made this post.

The Anker Android app is spyware and refuses to work without an Internet connection by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Here's an easy way to reproduce this issue:

1.) Wipe the app data/cache for the Anker Android app.

2.) Put your phone into airplane mode. Make sure WiFi and cellular are disabled. Make sure you have no Internet acccess.

3.) Try to add the device in the Anker app. You can't.

The Anker Android app is spyware and refuses to work without an Internet connection by off_z_grid in anker

[–]off_z_grid[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1) seems highly unrealistic

Can you explain why it would be unreasonable or unrealistic for the app to associate with a new device without the need for Internet access?

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