ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station w/ 300 Watt Inverter - 120V
(4 reviews)
Price: $479.00
ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station w/ 300 Watt Inverter - 120V
Item # AP730US
Our Price: $479.00
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- All Info
- Reviews (4)
- Q & A (0)
- Videos (2)
- Photos
Ark Portable Chargers - AP730US
- Power Stations
- Electric
- AC Outlet
- DC Outlet
- USB A
- USB Cable Not Included
- Ark
- Large
Great for boondocking and dry camping, the ArkPak uses a 12V car battery (not included) to power AC and DC devices and equipment on the go. (1) 120V, 1 USB, 1 Anderson, and 2 standard 12V outlets built in. 4 Ways to recharge battery, including solar.
Features:
- Portable power station uses a 12-volt battery (not included) to give you power on the go
- (1) 120V outlet powers household appliances, tools, and electronic devices
- (1) 5V USB outlet lets you charge cell phones, tablets, and other portable electronics
- (2) 12V 10-amp sockets work with tire inflators, car vacuums, or other 12-volt accessories
- (1) 12V 50-amp Anderson socket lets you set up a dual-battery system or solar panel connection
- Customizable system lets you choose the battery type that best fits your needs and budget
- Consider energy consumption, operating temperature, maintenance costs, and more
- Compatible with AGM, gel, lead acid, and LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries
- Easily replace battery or swap battery types anytime
- Integrated inverter lets you safely charge and run electronic devices
- Silent, environmentally friendly operation with little maintenance required
- No gas, propane, or emissions-producing fuel of any kind
- Built-in, 7-stage smart charger charges and conditions your 12-volt battery in 1 of 3 ways
- Plug into standard 120V power socket (cable included) - recharge overnight in 12-16 hours
- Use power from your vehicle's battery and alternator
- Plug into 12V socket (cable included) - 6 amps of charge per drive hour
- Plug fixed or folded solar panel into Anderson plug or attach to external positive and negative terminals - up to 6 amps of charge per hour
- Easy-to-read LCD display provides important battery information and lets you adjust battery settings
- Charge cycle stage (charge, boost, float, or discharge) and time remaining to full charge displays while battery is charging
- Battery level icon provides percentage of battery capacity remaining
- Battery type and size selection - easily adjust within display settings
- Portable design - built-in handles are easy to grip
- Mounting kit included for permanent installation
- Fuse block and isolator switch protect your battery and plugged-in devices
- Standard automotive fuses are replaceable
- Solar panels require external regulator to prevent overcharging
Specs:
- External dimensions: 9-1/2" wide x 17-3/8" long x 12-7/8" tall
- Internal space for battery: 7" wide x 13" long x 9-3/8" tall
- Holds 1 Group 24, 27, or 31 battery
- System output: 12V DC/110V AC
- Current output: up to 7 amps DC, 4 amps AC
- Input (operating) voltage: 110V AC/12V - 24V DC
- Weight (without battery): 10.2 lbs
- 1-Year warranty
Enjoy the freedom to stay off the grid longer with the ArkPak portable power station. This durable, water-resistant system uses a 12V car battery (not included) to provide AC or DC power for your small campsite appliances, lights, smart devices, laptop, or tools so that you don't need to be plugged into shore power. Whether you're on the go or at home, the ArkPak is a silent and fuel-free option for convenient charging or emergency power outage situations.
Bring the Comforts of Home Off-Grid
Multiple connection options are available on the ArkPak so you won't have to sacrifice amenities while off the grid. Whether you're powering your mini-fridge and lights while tailgating, charging your laptop and GoPro at your campsite, or you need a jump-start in an emergency situation, the ArkPak can handle the job.
The amount of time that you'll be able to use the ArkPak to charge your devices depends on several factors, including the type of battery you choose, the item(s) plugged in, and the environment in which you're using it. But the table below can be used to give you an indication of what the ArkPak is capable of when outfitted with a fully charged 130-amp-hour battery:
| Device | Number of Recharges/Hours of Use |
|---|---|
| Smart phone (USB) | 130 recharges |
| Tablet (USB) | 65 recharges |
| Laptop (120V) | 20 recharges |
| Television (120V) | 72 hours |
| Cordless Drill (12V) | 12 recharges |
| 40L Fridge/Freezer (12V) | 168 hours |
| GPS | 520 recharges |
| GoPro | 390 recharges |
| Digital SLR Camera | 110 recharges |
| Power Tool | 6 recharges |
When powering or charging a device, the isolator switch, located below the USB port, must be in the "on" position. This isolator connects and disconnects the outlets from the battery, and lets you leave devices plugged in without pulling power.
The standard 120V plug can be used to power your lights, laptop, fan, or other devices that use a standard 120V wall plug. The 5V USB outlet provides a port for your lower voltage AC devices, such as your phone, tablet, drone, or camera.
Other outputs include (2) 12V DC adapters for powering your GPS, air pump, or other devices that use a 12V socket, and (1) 12V Anderson socket for powering your electric winch or using your jumper cables. This socket also lets you charge the battery via solar, if your panel uses an Anderson adapter. While Anderson-style connections are not standard among North American electronics, they do continue to grow in popularity, specifically in the automotive sector where DC power is required and power can be transferred both to and from the battery. The ArkPak Anderson port accepts gray SB50 Anderson connectors only.
External access to positive and negative terminals also allows for direct battery connection for charging via solar panels. This type of charging is not controlled by the ArkPak's microprocessor because the charge current will flow directly to the battery. Therefore, you'll need to use an external voltage regulator to avoid overcharging and potential damage to the battery.
You can also hook jumper cables up to the external terminals to jump-start your vehicle's battery. If you intend to use the ArkPak for jumps, a calcium or AGM battery is recommended. If you're going to use a deep cycle battery, it must be fully charged, and it may take up to an hour to charge your car battery.
Safe for Sensitive Electronic Devices
Electronic devices like laptops and smartphones are made with delicate circuitry that requires steady, controlled electrical current. The electrical current produced by standard generators, however, is uncontrolled, allowing extreme fluctuations in power. And these fluctuations can easily damage your sensitive electronic devices.
The ArkPak, on the other hand, has a built-in inverter that controls the voltage that is produced. This inverter uses sine wave technology to provide clean power with low distortion, making the unit safe to use with your sensitive electronic equipment.
Battery Powered for Safe, Reliable Operation
Leave your gas cans and propane tanks behind and enjoy the energy efficiency and silent operation of the ArkPak. With this system, you have the freedom to choose any rechargeable 130-amp (Group 24, 27, or 31) battery that suits your application - and it's easy to switch batteries anytime. The battery capacity should be between 60 and 130 amp-hours - the larger the capacity, the more power you will have available to you in a single charge.
If you're a camping enthusiast and plan to use the ArkPak often, it might make sense to invest in a long-lasting, high-capacity battery like a deep-cycle AGM. Ark recommends the use of a deep-cycle AGM battery for prolonged, steady release of power, which is especially useful for jump-starting as these batteries combine longevity of power with high cold cranking amps to get your flat battery started.
The ArkPak 730 is also compatible with LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries. While there's a higher upfront cost, LiFePO4 batteries can last over 10 years and can be a good investment for frequent off-grid power consumers. Because LiFePO4 batteries have a stable chemistry, they can withstand high temperatures and a lot of movement. They also provide constant voltage, making them an ideal power source for electronics and lights. But for applications in which voltage output varies, like jump-starting your car battery or powering a refrigerator, you'll want to stick with a deep-cycle lead acid battery.
A gel or standard lead acid battery may be all you need if you're pulling out the ArkPak for occasional use. These batteries are typically less expensive, so if you don't need the extra power or additional charging ports included with some lithium-only power stations, you can actually save money by investing in the ArkPak and a lead acid battery instead.
To install your battery, just place it into the base of the ArkPak, secure it with the included Velcro straps, and connect the positive and negative leads to the battery terminals. Turn on the ArkPak and select the battery's size and type on the display screen. The ArkPak will then store this information. Because the system stores previous battery settings, you may need to adjust the settings if you swap batteries.
Smart Charger Makes for Easy Charging
The ArkPak allows you to charge the battery in a variety of ways, and it follows a 7-stage smart charging cycle, which monitors your battery throughout the charging process. Using the included power cord, you can plug the ArkPak into a standard 120V AC outlet when shore power is available. This will give you a full charge in 12 to 16 hours. When the battery needs to be charged on-the-go, use the included 12V DC cord to plug the ArkPak into your vehicle's 12V socket. This will supply about 6 amps of power per driving hour.
And don't forget to put your solar panels to use while you're off the grid. Some panels use an Anderson plug, which makes it easy to connect to the ArkPak's Anderson plug. Or you can connect your solar panel directly to the ArkPak's external positive and negative terminals for up to 6 amps of charge per hour. Just be sure to use an external voltage regulator if you're connecting solar power in this way.
The ArkPak's 7-stage charging process uses advanced software to monitor your battery and optimize performance, ensuring that the battery charges as quickly and completely as possible every time so you have power when you need it. Charging modes include:
- Testing: This mode checks the battery capacity when the ArkPak is turned on. The display screen will always show battery information when powered on, even if the ArkPak is not charging.
- Charge: This mode commences recovery of battery back to peak voltage. The battery is charged up to a set voltage until it is approximately 95% charged.
- Bulk: Voltage is constant during this period.
- Boost: This mode is where most of the charging happens. Amperage progressively drops as voltage increases. The battery is charged up to 4 hours until it reaches 100% capacity.
- Resting: This mode allows the battery to consolidate after Boost. The ArkPak ceases charging and allows the battery to rest while allowing the voltage to drop to 13.5V.
- Float: Once the battery reaches full charge, this mode maintains a lower voltage to compensate for self-discharge. The battery is continually monitored and voltage is maintained at 13.5V.
- Re-Awaken: This mode prevents stratification and sulfate buildup during extended float cycles. After 500 hours of conditioning, the charger automatically returns to the charge cycle. This mode is especially helpful when your battery is going unused during storage.
LCD Battery Management Display
The LCD screen makes it easy to see when the battery is fully charged or how long it will take until it reaches full capacity. In addition, you can view important data like the current charging cycle, battery voltage, battery level, battery capacity percentage, and net watts.
Monitoring the net watts can be helpful in determining how much power is currently being pulled from the items you have plugged in. For example, if you are powering an item that uses 80 watts while the ArkPak is plugged in and receiving 120 watts of charge, the screen will display +40 watts. Or if you're using an item that uses 120 watts of power, but the ArkPak is only receiving 80 watts of charge, the screen will display -40 watts.
Warning messages will also be displayed and an alarm will sound in the event that the unit overheats, or if other issues are detected. For example, if the positive and negative cables are attached to opposite terminals on your battery, then you will be alerted to the reverse polarity problem. If corrosion or a loose connection is creating an open circuit, or if little to no voltage is detected in the system, you'll be alerted to those issues as well so that you can correct them right away.
Secure Mounting Option
For a fixed installation, the included brackets let you mount the ArkPak in place in your camper, trailer, van, or RV. The brackets allow you to conveniently slide the ArkPak out for charging and then back into place for travel, making it easy to secure when needed.
AP730US Ark Pak 730 Portable Battery Management System with 300 Watt Inverter
Video of ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station w/ 300 Watt Inverter - 120V
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Video Transcript for ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station with Inverter Review
What's going on, everybody Adam here, with etrailer. Today, we're gonna be taking a look at the ArkPak Power Station. If you'd like to utilize a 12-volt battery to bring power with you on the go, whether you're at a job site charging some of your batteries, or if you're overlanding and you want to cool down some of your food, or just get some fan going to keep you nice and cool, this is gonna be a great way to bring that power with you, without having the noise, and the smell, and all the stuff associated with a gasoline generator. All of our output ports are gonna be protected for some of those more sensitive items you may be charging. Gonna have a 120 outlet right here, little USB on the side, and then in the front, we're gonna have two 12-volt outputs, for some of those DC devices you plan on using or charging. We can charge things as little as this USB light, and also some of your tablets.
So, this little USB port, when I flip it on, as you can see, it's been charging when we've been out here, we're at a 100% charge, and that is awesome. It's also great for charging some of the larger stuff, like laptops, TVs, if you're tailgating. But, if you are on a job site, I have my Milwaukee tools all charged up. So, I'm ready to go wherever I am. But, also for some of those consistent electronics, like a little fan I'm plugging in here, or our fridge, it's gonna be great for that as well.
It's gonna provide consistent power to cool yourself down, but also it's gonna cool down our cooler, to keep all of our foods nice and cool for lunchtime. A lot of you're wondering how much cooling power can I get from the ArkPak Well, this right here is a 40 liter camping fridge. It has 12-volts and 120-volt inputs. So, right now we have it hooked up to the 120, and it's cooling pretty well, about 10 degrees in about 10 minutes, but it was at around 80 Fahrenheit, but it is cooling pretty rapidly. So, if you have something that's more efficient, like this here, you can charge it, and run it off the ArkPak.
No problem. When it comes to AC, one like this, even though it is relatively small, it is gonna draw about 520 Watts. So, that's gonna be a little bit too big for the ArkPak. If anything is under 300 watt hours, whenever it's running, you can use it with the ArkPak. Anything above that, I definitely don't recommend.
So, take a look at some of the components you plan on running, make sure it falls within those bounds, and that'll give you a yes, or a no. If you don't plan on using the ArkPak for portable power, maybe you're just putting it in your enclosed trailer, and hard-wiring it, so it charges while you're going, and then whatever you need to power inside of your enclosed trailer, you use this instead of the battery that runs your electric jack. This does come with a bunch of brackets. So, if you are driving around, it's not gonna tip over, or slide around at all. Hopefully that gives you an idea of the capabilities of the ArkPak, but also its limitations. But, now there are a couple of different setups that I think would be ideal for actually powering and charging the ArkPak itself. There's four different ways of charging. If you're preparing for the trip and you're at home, you can go ahead and use this cord, which is included, to plug it into your 120-volt AC outlet at your house. But, if you're maybe on the go, and you're not necessarily to the spot yet, you can use this DC charger right here. So, just plug this into your camper, RV, or the vehicle you're towing with, or regardless of what it can be, you can charge it on the go with this. And this does come with the kit. Or, you can do what we're doing, which is solar. An example of a solar setup. We have a Go Power 100 watt solar panel, and it's been charging the pack for about 30 minutes or so. The second I plugged this thing in, it started charging, and we have been charging, and running the 40 liter refrigerator. And it's down to about 37 degrees. It started at about 80 degrees, and we have 99% charge. You can also directly connect your solar to the box. But, one thing about this is, you will need to use a regulator, just because all the other three ways of charging is going to protect the battery from overcharge. But, if you are gonna use the direct line, make sure you use some sort of regulator, so it's not gonna pump too much juice to your battery. It has a nice durable housing. It's made of plastic, but it's thick plastic, so it's not like some of those dinky little tackle boxes, or anything like that. And if we go ahead and open this up, then you can see where we store our battery. So, the battery is not included. These power cords are, so you don't have to get those, but when you are choosing which battery to go with, it is gonna be compatible with any AGM, gel, lead acid, and lithium iron phosphate batteries, and make sure it's 12 volts. The interior is gonna measure about 13 inches long. It's gonna be about seven inches wide, and it's gonna sit up about 9 3/8 of an inch. So, take those measurements whenever you're picking out which battery to use. On the screen here, what we're gonna see is our battery. And as you can see, we have a 99% charge, and it gives us an idea how many hours we're gonna have left. And it is charging from our solar panel. But, as you can see, when I disconnect, it's going to switch from the charge cycle to the discharge cycle right here, and then right above it, we're gonna see our volt, but what we could do, we could hold down this, and this will give us our net watts. So, as of right now, we're kind of just using a little bit, just to power the screen, and stuff like that. But then, when I plug the solar panel in, it should give us a little bit of juice, after it kinda gets all set up. So, now we have roughly around 30-ish watts coming in. And again, this is a hundred watt solar panel, but with the heat and everything that it's dealing with, we're not gonna get full output. But, once I turn on the fridge, once it kicks on, you'll see some of that start to draw away. So, I definitely recommend getting some sort of solar panel, to where you're not drawing as much from the pack, because then in this way, it's gonna kind of maintain itself, as it uses juice, but it'll also start pumping some in as we use it. So, as you can see, this thing uses about 60 watts, so with the solar panel, we get an extra 30-ish watts. And then, when we're charging and using, we're gonna have around negative 20, 30 watts. With the screen, it makes it really easy to kind of monitor what's going on. There's so many different configurations as to charging it. And also how many things we can use that charge for. So, you can really play around with your setup to see if you are using X amount of watts, and you wanna get X amount of watts going in, so it's gonna last a very long time. If you're worried about drawing too much with some of your components, definitely the heating elements, like a heater, a hairdryer, or a kettle, that's gonna be too much, but even something like this, that is really intended to have direct power from your 120 AC at your house. It's going to give you a nice beep when you draw too much. It's gonna cut the power for you, and it's not gonna stop until you turn it off. So, you don't really have to worry about pushing these things too far, and damaging some of your components, because it does have safety features in place, to take care of that for you. Whenever we're done charging it, or done using the power generated by this, what we can do, is flip this little switch here, and that is going to completely cut everything off, and isolate it. Hence the name battery isolator. So this way, if you have a 100% charge, or 80% charge, and you wanna keep that, you turn it to the off position, and it'll be exactly like that whenever you switch it back to the on position, and need to use it again. After dealing with this thing all day, I definitely recommend it for you who are just going anywhere and just have power on your mind. You never really know exactly how much you're gonna use, but with the little LED display, it really gives you an idea of how much you're using, so you can prepare better next time. One thing I would definitely do, is I would get the 300 watt one. If you're not really sure how much you need, might as well get more than less, but we also have a 150 watt version available on our site, as well. If you we're to take my advice, I would grab some solar panels, to help kind of maintain that charge, as you start using it. And I think it's gonna be great for all sorts of different things. I would definitely use it, and I think you'll find a lot of use out of it too..
Customer Satisfaction Score:
92% were satisfied with this product
8% of customers were not satisfied
- Defective
Customer Reviews
ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station w/ 300 Watt Inverter - 120V - AP730US
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars (4 Customer Reviews)
Great for boondocking and dry camping, the ArkPak uses a 12V car battery (not included) to power AC and DC devices and equipment on the go. (1) 120V, 1 USB, 1 Anderson, and 2 standard 12V outlets built in. 4 Ways to recharge battery, including solar.by: Christopher 09/15/2021
First impressions are great. Going from a vehicle dual battery set up to using this. I do wish it gave the option for exact Ah though. I put a 27 92Ah in it, but menu options go by 10s, not sure how that affects programming or battery.
by: Kendall 05/26/2021
Exactly as advertised.
by: Chad10/01/2022
Although I did buy mine directly from Arkpak, I visit etrailer a lot and when it comes to tech support... if etrailer sells it they know it. Probably more info than the manufacturer. Anyway, I use mine in my jeep for overlanding usually 3 to 4 months at a time. The 715 has been my primary power source for my 45L engle fridge/freezer and tablets, laptops, phones. Once ran the 45L engle fridge/freezer and a 50L Arb Fridge/freezer at the same time for 2 months in the mountains. I use a 110ah vmax tank AGM battery and 2 x 100 watt renogy flexible solar panels with a victron mppt controller. After 3 years haven't had an issue. The flexibility of input and output options make it awesome for off grid. If Solar doesnt work I can plug this into a pure sin 2000 watt suitcase generator to charge the battery,as you can't (shouldn't) plug your fidge/freezer straight to the generator. The arkpak will allow you to charge your battery from 120 or solar and still provide power to low amp appliances. The usb plug works well with goal zero lantern lights. I have been impressed with it so far.
by: Bob06/23/2022
Could not get this product to provide power to anything after confirming it was fully charged. The manual indicates we should not plug anything into it with any reasonable required juice, like a drill. ....Huh?
The tech support is email only overseas. So that's an overnight wait. My first mail message was a response telling me to check the fuses, which were all intact. When I wrote again, they didn't reply.
When you plug an item into its ac outlet....it gets "pushed into" the body of the shell and then it can't be fully pulled back to allow plugging in other items.
Overall, a major disappointment and a worthless piece of junk. The true rating s/b zero. Be forewarned reader.
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See what our Experts say about this Ark Portable Chargers
- Can ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station # AP730US Connect to Solar Panel with Anderson ConnectorsIf you have a solar panel with an Anderson connector like you mentioned you could attach it directly to the ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station # AP730US that you referenced.
view full answer... - Interior Dimensions of ArkPak 730 Power Station AP730USThe interior measures 13 inches long x 7 inches wide x 9-3/8 inches high. Given the dimensions you provided, the ArkPak 730 # AP730US Power Station will accommodate your battery. I've linked you to a product description video featuring the power station.
view full answer... - Can I Use the ArkPak 730 to Power a Portable RefrigeratorYes. The ArkPak 730 # AP730US can power a portable 40L Fridge/Freezer off the 12v power source for up to 168 hours. Because this power station is designed to handle delicate electronics like cell phones and laptops that have circuitry that requires steady, controlled electrical current, this can absolutely be used on your 12v fridge.
view full answer... - Can Solar Panels Be Used with ArkPak 730 Portable Power StationSolar panels can absolutely be added to the ArkPak 730 Portable Power Station # AP730US to provide a charge for the battery. When doing this though the wire leads from the panel or controller will just need to be attached directly to the external battery terminals on the box. Charging the battery in this manner requires that the isolator switch be in the "on" position. Keep in mind that the smart charge PCB will be bypassed with this configuration so there won't be any control over the...
view full answer... - How To Safely Power Sensitive Electronics With A Non-Inverter GeneratorNo, the Hughes Autoformer Voltage Booster with Surge Protection - 50 Amp # HU57FR is designed to protect your RV's electronics from low voltage damage by boosting the voltage it receives from park shore power if it falls below 114 volts. The built-in surge protector offers 4,800 joules of protection against power surges. For example if you're at a campground during the middle of August and every other camper tries to pull power from the campground to start their AC units this could cause...
view full answer...
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Expert Research:
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Expert Research:
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Edited by:
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Video Edited:
Jacob T
Installed by:
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Installed by:
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Video by:
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Written by:
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Kendall
5/27/2022
The ArkPak is still going strong. Very durable. I have been super happy with this product.