We don’t typically follow Indiegogo projects, but the iMuto S5 Portable Solar Power Station follows on the heels of some existing products that show serious promise. The iMuto S5 claims 50Ah and 180Wh of power geared primarily for mobile devices. It even has an optional solar charging system. If you do the math, you find that the S5 portable power station uses 3.6V Li-ion cells—sixteen of them.
Features and Capabilities
The iMuto S5 features 7 different power outlets that claim to deliver up to 260W of peak power:
- 120V AC outlet (260W max)
- 3 x USB outlets (40W max)
- USB-C PD2.0 outlet (60W max—also a charging inlet)
- Two 180W max DC outputs (20V/2A “laptop” output and ND-934 12V car adapter)
As a power source, it can also charge multiple devices at the same time. The internal 16-cell battery array supplies 50Ah of 3.6V output or 180Wh. If those numbers are confusing, just realize it can approximately run a single device drawing 180W of power for one hour.
The iMuto S5 includes a BMS (Battery Management System) to self-monitor the internal cells and keep the system from overheating and overvoltage. Given how many inputs and outputs this unit has, the system also monitors and protects against short circuits.
Charging the iMuto S5
There are a number of ways to supply initial power to the iMuto S5: the 20V/2A DC power adapter, the 12-24V vehicle DC charging cable, a 5-20V/3A USB-C cable, or via a 36/60W solar panel. We started simply, plugging the included DC power adapter into a wall outlet. The LCD screen displays the estimated charge time as well as the internal battery level.
Design and Aesthetics
The design of the iMuto works really well. The smooth rectangular enclosure lends itself to easy travel—especially given the soft, integrated handle. We could see this device being taken on camping or fishing trips or anywhere you needed to run a laptop or recharge small electronics for an extended period of time.
iMuto S5 Portable Solar Power Station Features
- High capacity: 50,000mAh/ 240 Wh
- 120V AC outlet (260W max)
- 3 x USB outlets (40W max)
- USB-C PD2.0 inlet/outlet (60W max)
- 2 x 180W max DC outputs (20V/2A “laptop” output and ND-934 12V car adapter)
- Solar-ready
- Power protection system
- Weight: 4 lbs 13 oz.
Testing the S5 Power Station
We plugged several devices into the iMuto S5 including some rather large batteries including a 4Ah pack from a Greenworks 60V lawn mower. The load on that was over 130W, and indeed, even the partially discharged S5 stated it could hold the load for over an hour.
Conclusion
There’s not much we didn’t like about the iMuto power system. It does generate some heat, but that’s normal when you’re putting out more this much Li-ion-generated power. The retail price will be around $399 once the Indiegogo pricing expires and the product hits Amazon. The refined look, informative LCD screen, and seemingly endless charging options compel us to recommend this out of the gate.
We also observed that you can both charge and discharge the iMuto S5 at the same time. That’s not always the case with inverters, so this feature adds even more to the unit’s overall appeal.
Check out the iMuto S5 on Indiegogo or take a look at these other iMuto products which are already available on Amazon.com.
