Westinghouse iGen160s 155W Portable Power Station: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The Westinghouse iGen160s is a versatile portable power station designed for powering appliances, tools, and electronics on the go. As a medium capacity unit, it strikes a balance between power output, physical size, and price point.

This portable generator is equipped with a 155Wh lithium ion battery pack capable of powering most essentials. While it lacks the extended runtime of larger power stations, the iGen160s makes up for it with a lightweight and portable form factor. It's an attractive option for RV travelers, tailgaters, and campers who need an affordable power station that can be easily carried from place to place.

With a 120V AC outlet, two USB ports, a 12V car socket, and two DC outputs, the Westinghouse covers a range of charging needs for phones, laptops, accessories and small appliances. Safety features such as automatic shutdown when overloaded provides peace of mind. The intuitive LCD screen and controls make it simple to monitor power levels and track usage.

Overall, the Westinghouse iGen160s hits a sweet spot between price, portability, and power capacity. For individuals and families seeking an entry-level power station for emergency preparedness or recreational activities, it packs useful functionality into a compact, affordable unit.

Design and Portability

The Westinghouse iGen160s has a very portable and compact design. It measures only 13.75 x 12.6 x 15.5 inches and weighs just 37.9 pounds. This makes it easy to transport and store, whether using it for camping, emergencies, or job sites.

Despite the small size, it has an ergonomic extendable handle and solid wheels so you can roll it like wheeled luggage. The all-black color scheme also gives it a clean, modern aesthetic. With the compact size and portability features, it doesn't take up much space but can still provide ample power.

Power Output and Capacity

The Westinghouse iGen160s portable power station provides 1,000 watts of continuous power, with a peak wattage of 2,000 watts. It has a 155 watt-hour lithium-ion battery capacity.

The 1,000W continuous power output allows you to run most appliances and small electronics, like laptops, mini-fridges, air pumps, electric grills, and power tools. However, high-draw appliances like electric heaters and air conditioners may require more than 1,000W to start up.

The 155 watt-hour battery capacity provides a decent amount of energy storage. Westinghouse estimates it can power a 30W CPAP machine for 5 hours, a 100W laptop for 12 hours, or a 10W light bulb for 24 hours on a full charge. Actual runtime depends on your power needs.

Larger battery capacities like 500Wh+ can provide longer runtimes, but the iGen160s hits a nice balance of portability and capacity for smaller loads. Just be aware the battery life decreases over time and cycles.

Charging Options

The iGen160s offers multiple ways to recharge its battery, including AC power, solar panels, and an automotive 12V port.

AC Charging

The power station can be charged by plugging it into a wall outlet using the included AC adapter. It takes around 7-8 hours to fully recharge from empty. This is the fastest and most convenient recharging method for use at home.

Solar Charging

For renewable solar charging, the power station has a dedicated 18V solar input. You can connect one or two 100W solar panels (sold separately) to recharge the battery using free sunlight. With optimal sunlight, recharging from empty takes around 12-15 hours.

12V Car Charging

The iGen160s can also be recharged from a car's 12V power outlet while driving, which takes 10-15 hours for a full recharge. This allows you to top up the battery conveniently during road trips and outings. The car charging cable is included.

Outlets and Connectivity

The Westinghouse iGen160s features a variety of outlet options to power and charge different devices. It has two 120V household outlets for powering appliances and lamps, two 12V DC outlets for charging smaller electronics like phones and tablets, two USB-A ports for charging, and one USB-C port.

The portable power station can connect to your home WiFi network, allowing you to monitor it remotely through the web dashboard or mobile app. You can check the battery level, turn outlets on or off, and see alerts if there are any issues. The WiFi connection has a range of about 100 feet.

For devices without WiFi, the iGen160s has built-in Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to connect directly to the power station from your phone or tablet within 30 feet. You can then access the same remote monitoring and control through the Westinghouse mobile app.

The variety of outlet types and wireless connectivity options make the iGen160s versatile for powering and charging all kinds of electronics and appliances, both indoors and outdoors. The WiFi and Bluetooth give you remote access and control from your mobile device for convenience.

Displays and Controls

The Westinghouse iGen160s portable power station has an easy-to-read LCD screen that displays the battery's remaining charge percentage, output wattage, and battery life. It allows users to monitor the power consumption and track the remaining runtime.

There are several buttons directly below the LCD screen to control different functions - power on/off, selecting AC or DC output, switching between battery level indicators, and enabling the built-in flashlight. The power button has an LED light that indicates whether the unit is on or off.

An especially useful display feature is the visual representation of the remaining battery capacity. The battery icon on the LCD screen empties out as the charge depletes, giving a quick visual cue of remaining runtime. There are also four LED lights below the LCD screen that show the approximate battery level in 25% increments.

Overall, the iGen160s has an intuitive interface with its LCD screen, buttons, and LED indicators that make it easy for users to monitor power usage and battery levels. The multiple monitoring options provide full control over tracking the portable power station's status.

Safety Features

The iGen160s portable power station has several built-in safety features to protect both the device and the user.

It has protection circuits to prevent overheating, overcharging, overloading, and short circuiting. This helps prevent damage to the device or any connected electronics. If the power station detects one of these conditions, it will automatically shut down.

This portable generator is ETL certified. ETL certification involves testing products for safety and compliance with quality standards. This verification indicates the iGen160s meets requirements for electrical safety.

The exterior casing is made of durable plastic that does not conduct electricity. The outlets are recessed to prevent accidental contact.

For fire safety, the iGen160s contains no flammable liquids. It uses lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are much less prone to overheating issues compared to lithium-ion.

There is a built-in LED flashlight with SOS mode. If an emergency occurs, users could signal for help.

The device has vents and cooling fans to prevent overheating. It can operate safely in temperatures from -4°F to 140°F.

For safe handling, the unit has an integrated carry handle. At just 22 pounds, the iGen160s portable power station is relatively lightweight for the 155Wh capacity.

Applications

The iGen160s portable power station is ideal for a variety of applications where AC power is needed but unavailable. With its compact size and quiet operation, it's especially useful for:

Camping - The iGen160s can power small appliances like mini-refrigerators, lights, fans, and other electronics at a campsite. It's much quieter than a portable generator making it better suited for campgrounds. The Eco-mode allows the unit to run all night without disturbing others. Campers appreciate the versatility of AC, USB-C, and DC outputs to charge or run different devices.

Emergencies - During power outages caused by severe weather like hurricanes, the iGen160s can provide backup electricity for emergency essentials. Run a small freezer, refrigerator, lights, phone chargers, fans, and more for hours. Charge cell phones to stay connected and help wait out the power outage. The compact size makes it easy to store and transport during an emergency.

Power Outages - Unexpected power failures can happen anytime. The iGen160s serves as an uninterruptible power supply to keep your fridge and freezer cold, lights on, computer charged, and other critical electronics powered during an outage. The LCD display shows the remaining runtime so you know how long it can operate devices before recharging. With fast recharge speeds, the iGen160s gets ready for the next power outage.

Accessories

The iGen160s comes with a battery charging cable that plugs into the car charger port to recharge from a car or boat. This allows you to charge the power station while on the go.

Additional accessory cables can be purchased separately:

• A standard wall outlet charging cable lets you recharge from any 120V wall socket. This is the fastest recharge option.

• An RV plug charging cable is available to recharge from an RV electrical system.

• Cables are also available for charging from a solar panel array. Adding one or two 100W solar panels gives you a renewable way to recharge the iGen160s using sunlight. This allows for off-grid power and emergency backup.

• Various DC power cables for charging USB devices are included. But additional laptop charging cables can be purchased if needed.

The right accessories like solar panels and charging cables ensure you can recharge the iGen160s from any available power source when on outdoor adventures or in emergency situations. The range of charging options makes the iGen160s highly versatile for powering your essentials on the go.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Large power capacity of 155Wh
• Multiple charging methods including solar, AC, car outlet
• Useful display showing battery level and outputs
• Portable and compact design with handle
• Good number of outlets and USB ports
• Can charge phones 18 times per charge
• Features like auto shut-off for safety

Cons:

• Expensive compared to lower capacity models
• Solar charging can be slow depending on sun exposure
• Fans can be loud when operating at high loads
• No wireless charging built in
• Display is basic monochrome LCD
• Heavy at 12 lbs