PC World - USA (2019-07)

JULY 2019 PCWorld 81

charge level, along with input and output
amounts. There’s a 12V charging port, two
USB ports, and a standard AC port. There’s
also a single input port, used for charging the
power station itself.
Each section of ports has a power button
next to it, with a small light that lets you know
if that section is currently turned on. For
example, if you plug something into a USB
port, you have to press the power button for
that section. Once the device is charged and
you unplug it, you have to press the power
button again to turn off that section of ports. It
would be nice if each port would time out
and turn off if there wasn’t any output for,
maybe, 15 minutes, but remembering to
press a button isn’t that big a deal.
The two USB ports are capable of putting
out 5V at 2.4A each, while the standard AC
adapter will put out 110VAC at up to 200W.
The car port puts out 12V with a 42W max.
There’s a total of 292Wh capacity in the
Honda 290, and when draining the battery
from full to empty over 22 hours, I found it
to have 90.63 percent efficiency. That’s a
solid result, and one I honestly didn’t
expect. There’s a fan inside the casing that
kicks on when the unit gets hot over time,
so that eats into the total Wh available.
Although the display turns off after a couple
of minutes, it uses a share of the power, as
do the power indicator lights for each
section of ports.
But I didn’t want to only rely on testing its

efficiency. Assuming someone would use the

Honda 290 in the event of a power outage, I

plugged a lamp into it when it had a full

charge. The lamp turned off right around six

hours of constant use.

Charging the Honda 290 is done via a

dedicated input and took 7.5 hours from

completely empty to full. There’s a solar panel

accessory for charging the station, but that’s a

tough sell given how slow it would be.

The Honda 290 isn’t a battery pack you

throw in your backpack or suitcase for an

overnight trip. It’s a backup power supply,

that will get you through power outages from

storms, or a camping (glamping?) trip over

the weekend.

The biggest downside I can find is the

price. The Honda 290 is priced at $350—

ouch. But for someone who needs portable

power that’s good for more than just one or

two smartphone charges, the Honda 290’s

got it.

Honda by Jackery 290

Power Station

PROS

• Incredibly efficient.


• Multiple ports, power outputs.
  CONS


• It’s expensive.
  BOTTOM LINE
  This isn’t your average portable power bank, but
  rather a burly power station that’s ready to oblige in
  an emergency or on your next road trip.
  $349