Renogy Lycan Powerbox Solar Generator Review

Overall Rating 9
Portability 9
Compatibility 9
Durability 8
Ease of Use 9
Value for Money 7

Aniket

Written by qualified solar engineer Aniket. Last updated:

Our Verdict

Whether for outdoor adventures or power outages at home, this energy storage device by Renogy performs first-rate. It ticks all the right boxes. it has a high-power density lithium-iron-phosphate battery, DC and AC inputs and outputs, and solar panel compatibility.

Though a bit heavy, it is compact and light for a machine that can supply a kilowatt-hour of power. It comes with a sturdy handle and integrated wheels making it truly portable. A variety of ports, an in-built inverter, and an MPPT controller make it modern and reliable, albeit at the cost of a high price tag for some. This Renogy Lycan Powerbox Review looks at all the above aspects in detail.

Compatibility

One of the most impressive features of the Lycan Powerbox is its compatibility with both AC and DC charging methods. It can be charged with a home wall unit as well as solar panels. There are easily distinguishable ports for solar, 110V AC wall charger and even a car CIG port. Renogy’s solar panels perform well with the unit, and up to 300W panels can be connected to charge the battery in a matter of 2-4 hours.

The output power can be extracted in both DC and AC. The in-built pure sine-wave inverter gives 110V AC power that can charge any AC device up to 1200W. DC USB ports can power mobile devices tens of times. There is also a 12V DC cigarette port similar to car ports.

Durability

Thanks to a well-designed enclosure that houses the battery flawlessly, this energy box exhibits good strength and rigidity. It is made of strong plastic to optimize between weight and durability, and it is a good attempt. The ports are housed in a translucent glass lid, protecting them from dust and liquid splashes when not in use.

The wheels are large and robust and are meant for more than just home floors. Renogy could have gone with a traditional lead-acid battery for reducing some of the cost, but that would mean much higher weight and lower durability.

Easy Of Use

When designing a complex device like this, it is quite a challenge to keep it user-friendly. The makers have handled this challenge well, as you need hardly any learning to operate it effortlessly. The array of DC and AC ports of various shapes may be slightly intimidating, but the legible labels on each of them make it very simple.

Connecting and disconnecting the solar panels would have been slightly tricky, but Renogy has abandoned the positive-negative terminal system and gone with a single-pin solar input. The tiny display covers the essentials by displaying battery percentage and name of the port in use.

A man charging his laptop and ipad using a renogy lycan powerbox solar generator

Features

The Lycan Powerbox is a feature-rich machine. The most important among these is the multi-input and multi-output connectivity. The in-built inverter produces pure sine-wave output current. This eliminates the need of externally connected inverters to batteries and their complicated connections. Same is true for the MPPT charge controller, which improves the charging time from solar panels.

A readily comprehensible display screen is helpful. Unlike some of the other power stations, a telescopic handle and nearly all-terrain wheels need not be bought separately. They greatly improve the durability and ease of use. There is a host of ports, both AC and DC, which allow more than ten appliances to be powered from the device. There is an in-built cooling fan that is supposed to start on reaching high temperatures. However, as many users have pointed out, the fan consumes some of the battery.

Design

Although the overall design is a large box, it is still smartly designed to look modern and turn enough heads. The cool blue lines on a mostly black surface look classy. A large brand name and logo take the front space. Under a slightly dark but transparent plastic sit the various ports in a trapezoidal space. There are two handles on the sides and generously sized wheels, sporting the same blue.

The telescopic handle resembles that of a large suitcase and is strong enough. Four legs on the base have slightly flexible stoppers and hold the box in place. Overall, the looks may not be the prime reason to buy something like this, but they’re nevertheless a noteworthy aspect.

Portability

In the department of portability, this unit by Renogy cannot be doubted. Even at 1075 Wh capacity, it can be carried by one person, though not with remarkable ease. The battery is a high energy density one and takes up less percentage of the total weight. However, the best part making it portable is its wheels and the robust handle.

The unit may look bulky in terms of transportation, but as long as you don’t have a very small vehicle, it is not really a problem. Lids on the ports protect them from dust and water to a good extent, though there is no water resistance rating specified.

A man pulling along a renogy lycan powerbox solar generator

What We Like

The Renogy Lycan Powerbox is a large battery unit that can power a wide range of appliances. This includes small DC devices like mobile phones plus larger AC devices like hand drills and mini fridges. A handsomely designed box, its integrated telescopic handle and strong large wheels make it an authentic portable unit.

Its in-built inverter and charge controller make it stand out from regular batteries. The digital display unit is small but easy to read and comprehensive. If spending over a thousand dollars is not an issue, this powerbox by Renogy offers plenty to those who like to carry significant power on their adventures outdoors.

Pros:

  • DC and AC inputs and outputs
  • Permanently attached wheels and handle improve portability
  • Large number of ports
  • Compact and rugged

Cons:

  • High cost
  • Fan starts too early, draining some power

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