Portable power stations are incredibly popular, but it can be hard to distinguish between quality models and cheap mass-produced ones. So which category does the Nebo Intrepid 1000 Power Station fit into? I got my hands on one, and I’ll walk you through what I’ve learned from using it.
Nebo Intrepid 1000 Power Station Basics
Capacity
The first thing I looked for was which type of lithium cells Nebo uses in this power station. Fortunately, it’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP). These cells are more stable than the NMC cells some brands use. They’re less prone to thermal runaway, which is one of the biggest risks when you have any high-capacity battery in your home.
LFP batteries also offer much longer life, and Nebo rates this model for 10 years or 3000 charge cycles. That’s much better than the 500 – 1000 cycles we’re used to seeing from power stations this size.
There’s 960 watt-hours worth of cells on board. If you’re new to portable power stations, that means it can deliver 960 watts of power for one hour. If you’re only using 480 watts, it’ll last for 2 hours. Simply take the amount of power in watts you need, divide it into 960, and you get an idea of how long it the battery will last.
Output
The total output rating is 1200W with a 2400W surge capacity. There are power stations in this watt-hour class that are rated for higher power, but that doesn’t bother me. If you pulled 1200 watts from this model, you’d only 48 minutes of runtime. Getting the most out of this class is more about picking your battles with lower draw items and knowing you can run something with higher draw needs for a short time in a pinch.
However, Nebo has a technology called Overdrive that can power devices that need up to 2000W. It doesn’t step all the way up to 2000W of output like a high 1-minute boost. Instead, it runs the product at a reduced power level. For example, if you were using a blender, using the motor at its highest power setting would feel like it was running at a lower setting.
There are two caveats with that. For one, make sure you’re only running one device to make sure you’re delivering all the available power to it. Second, some products, like a circular saw, can end up with a damaged motor if it’s power-starved. So, use products that require more than 1200W with care.
Like other lithium-powered power stations, you get pure sine wave energy from this unit. You don’t have to worry about damaging anything with sensitive electronics the way you do with gas generators.
The Nebo Intrepid 1000 has a very nice range of outlets to handle your needs. Keep in mind, you can use multiple outlets at one time as long as you keep the total output under the limit.
- 3 x 3-prong 120V AC
- 3 x 2-prong 120V AC
- 1 x 12V DC car
- 2 x 5521 DC 12V
- 2 x USB-A 5V
- 4 x USB-C (one 100W, three 200W)
Charging
You have three ways to charge the Intrepid 1000: a standard wall outlet, 12V DC vehicle charger, or via solar panels. The great thing is that Nebo includes the cords you need for all of those charging methods.
Wall charging is the fastest, providing up to 700 watts of input and getting you fully charged in less than two hours.
Solar is your next best bet, with the unit supporting up to 500W of solar input. The good news is that portable solar panels have improved in recent years. With some of the first panels we reviewed, we would typically only see charging between 60% and 80% of the rated panel watts over the course of the day. However, Nebo’s 100W panels were able to produce 99W with noontime sun in my testing.
Pro Tip: Solar panel effectiveness changes over the course of the day. It’s low with morning sun, peaks when the sun is overhead, and slowly reduces until sunset. Plus, cloud cover reduces your efficiency. To get the most from your solar recharging potential, make sure you charge between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM at the very least.
The vehicle charger can support 120W, making it the slowest option, taking up to 12 hours for a full charge. However, if you’re on a road trip and are spending that much time on the road, you’ll get back to a full charge by the time you reach your next destination.
If you need to charge even faster, you can combine AC and solar to provide up to 1200W of input. That doesn’t mean you’ll go from 0% to 100% in 48 minutes, though. The system needs to slow down during the later part of the charging cycle to ensure the health of the battery cells.
Physical Characteristics
At 15.2 x 12.5 x 8.9 inches, the Intrepid 1000 is a little larger than other 1000-series power stations I’ve used. One reason is to make space for the outlets. There are ports on the front and both sides. Looking inside, there’s also some additional air space under the hood, which should aid in keeping the cells cool.
At 27.6 pounds, the weight is right where I expect it to be. While some units have a single carry handle in the center, Nebo has knurled metal handles on the sides. The grip is excellent, even with sweaty hands, and it’s easier on your back to carry with two hands rather than one. I was able to manage it one-handed without much difficulty, though.
Three pairs of slots across the top, plus the space under the carry handles, offer several opportunities to strap down the unit for more secure transport. If you’re UTVing your way out to camp site, it’s a handy feature.
Using the Nebo Intrepid 1000 Power Station
In terms of basic controls, there aren’t many surprises on this model. You need to hold down the power button to turn it on, and then each set of outlets has its own activation button, so you’re only sending power to outlets you’re actively using.
All the outlets have covers to protect them from water and dust intrusion when you’re not using them.
There’s a front LED flood light with three modes. The steady mode is helpful for basic illumination, and there’s an SOS mode to signal that you need help. There’s also a steady strobe mode.
The front LED screen has all the information your need without being overcomplicated. There’s a battery gauge, input watts, output watts, and an estimate of how much runtime remains based on the current output.
Speaking of input and output, the Intrepid 1000 is pass-through power capable, so you can power devices while you’re charging. That’s important if you’re still connected to the solar panels and need to charge your phone.
It’s also possible to use this model as a backup power supply for computers, CPAP machines, or other devices you need to keep running in the event of an unexpected power outage. With just a 10-millisecond switchover, it’s an effective option that’s nearly instantaneous.
Here are some ideas of what you can power:
- Action Camera: up to 124 recharges (6.8Wh battery)
- Smartphone: up to 42 recharges (20Wh battery)
- Laptop: up to 16 recharges (52Wh battery)
- Drone: up to 11 recharges (77Wh battery)
- String Lights: up to 16 hours (50W)
- CPAP: 14 hours up to (60W, no humidifier)
- Pellet Smoker: up to 11 hours (75W)
- Compact Refrigerator: 27 hours (265 kWh per year rating)
Nebo Intrepid 1000 Power Station Price
The base price of the Intrepid 1000 is $1199.99.
If you’d like to add solar panels, a 50W set is $229.99 and a 100W set is $349.99. Unlike some of the heavy, delicate panels we used with some of the first portable power stations, these are foldable, lighter, and much easier to transport. These are also IP65 ingress rated and have USB-A and USB-C ports built in for extra charging options, making them more versatile than some of the competing panels.
Should You Buy It?
In a world where you have a ton of portable power stations to choose from in the 1000Wh class, Nebo’s Intrepid 1000 deserves your consideration. The LFP battery cells are the type you want for the best stability, lowest risk, and longest life. Plus, the outlet range is excellent and the charging options are solid.
The 1200W rated output is the deciding factor. If you want consistent power output in the 1800W to 2000W range, this isn’t the model for you. If that’s what your after, though, I’d question whether the 1000Wh class is really what you need, considering how fast you’ll run through the battery using that much power.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to power lower-draw items for longer periods, this is a compelling option. I love it as a UPC unit for electronics, powering my router and modem during a power outage, and charging my phone, laptop, drone batteries, and camera batteries when the adventure takes me off the beaten path. Plus, having the more stable LFP battery cells gives me a greater peace of mind.
