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Golabs R500
Written by Chris on November 14, 2021
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Review of the Golabs R500

Updated on: 15 April 2023 

Review of the Golabs R500

- At A Glance -


500W Power

Clean continuous 500W to safely power electronics, plus 1000W peak from 2xAC outlets.

LiFeP04

Fitted with an upgraded lithium battery offering you improved safety and longer lifecycle.

Multiple Ports

9 Outlets, including 2 AC 500W to power and charge multiple devices at the same time.

Solar Charging

An MPPT lets you have almost limitless power with the Golabs 100W Solar Panel.


A lot of portable power packed into a compact unit

The Golabs R500 is compact and reasonably light at a little over 14lbs making it a highly portable source of independent power. While it would have a useful place in the home in case of blackouts, it's essentially aimed at enhancing the life of campers and those who enjoy the outdoors life away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

LiFeP04 Lithium Battery

The R500 power station departs from the more usual practice of using Lithium-ion battery cells and opts for the LiFEP04 lithium technology and incorporates a powerful 518Wh cell capable of a momentary peak power of 1000W and 500W of continuous power.

Golabs R500 Portable Power Station LiFEPO4 Battery Pack

LiFeP04 (lithium-ion phosphate) technology offers one of the safer types of lithium battery when compared to other li-ion technology as it is thermally and chemically more stable. These types of battery also have a much greater life cycle than other li-ion batteries. In the case of the Golabs R500, you can expect up to 3500 cycles and more than 10 years of battery health under normal conditions.

Battery Management System (BMS)

A BMS is built into the unit to provide additional protection for issues such as overcurrent, short-circuit and overheating. A fan is also incorporated to provide further cooling in addition to the side vents, and designed to make sure that the component work within their operational parameters.

Recharging the power station

The R500 can be charged in up to four ways: AC wall outlet, solar panel, a car's 12V socket, and finally when connected to a portable generator.

Power Outputs and Input

Golabs R500 Outputs Input

A practical set of outputs includes:

  • A 100W PD (Input/ output)
  • 1x60W PD Type-C (Output)
  • 2x110V 500W (Peak 1000W) AC Pure Sine Wave outlets
  • 2xDC outputs Regulated (12V/10A)
  • 2 Quick Charge 3.0 USB outputs (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A)
  • 1xCigarette lighter socket output Regulated (12V/10A)

The two 500W continuous AC outlets have enough momentary power (1000W peak) enabling the R500 to start more demanding electrical devices. And the Pure Sine Wave outlets are perfect for the protection of sensitive devices such as CPAPs and laptops by producing clean and stable electricity these sorts of devices need to not be damaged.

ECO-friendly clean outdoor and indoor power

While portable generators have an important role to play in the lives of many people who have limited or no access to grid power, it's always a pleasure to be able at times to forget their noise and potentially dangerous fumes such as carbon monoxide. And this is where portable power stations can step in to either supplement a portable generator when power needs are not so great, or for people who perhaps live in apartments and are obviously unable to use a portable generator.

But portable power stations really come into their own when hiking and camping due in most part to their relative light weight and ability to provide almost limitless power when used in conjunction with a solar panel.

Quick Charge

Recharge times are up with the best. For example, to charge a MacBook Pro 13.3 from 0-80% takes just one hour.

Golabs R500 Quick Charge
Golabs 100W Solar Panel

Solar Charging

The ideal companion for the R500 is the Golabs 100W Solar Panel so you can keep the unit and your equipment powered out and away from the grid by providing almost limitless energy.

Versatile Outlets

Power up to 9 devices at the same time with the R500's diverse set of outputs, including 1x100W PD (Input/ output); 1x60W PD Type-C (Output); 2x110V 500W AC Pure Sine Wave outlets (Peak 1000W), 2xRegulated DC outputs (12V/10A), 2xQuick Charge 3.0 USB outputs, and 1xcigarette lighter output (Regulated 12V/10A).

Golabs R500 Power Outputs
Golabs R500 Battery Durations

Power Durations

On a standard fully charged battery cell the R500 can keep a whole host of items charged, and up to 9 at the same time (within the combined 500W total).


Frequently Asked Questions

What can this device power?

The R500 supports devices of less than 500W, so you'll be fine with items such as smartphones, laptops, cameras, drones, LED lights, and small fans. Before connecting, check the open circuit current/ voltage of your devices.

Can I use the power station while it is on charge?

Yes, you can use all the outputs while the unit is on charge, except for the PD 100W port.

Can I use this as a UPS?

No.

What Solar Panel can I use with this model?

Depending on the available sunlight, the maximum input power can reach 90W. The 80W to 100W solar panels are recommended for the R500.

Can I take this power station on a plane?

No, the Li-on battery size exceed that permitted by the TSA for safety reasons.

Is the unit really silent?

The unit has a cooling fan that is only really audible when standing very close to it.

Golabs R500 Manufacturer Specifications

Battery Type:LiFePO4 Battery
Battery Capacity518Wh (3.2V/161875mAh)
Life Cycles3500+ Charges
AC Outlet2* 110V 500W AC pure sine wave 1000W Peak
2* QC 3.0 USB outputs 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A
PD Input/Output1* 60W PD Type-C (Output)
1* 100W PD (Input/ output) Quick Charge
2* DC Outputs12V/10A
1x DC OutputsCigarette lighter output (12V/10A)
Input Recharging10.8 - 23.5V, 5A (5.5 x 2.1mm)
Operating Temperature14 to 104°F
Dimension (inches)11.14 x 6.88 x 9.33
Weight14.33lbs
LED LightingFlashlight LED
Article written by Chris

3 comments on “Review of the Golabs R500”

  1. I have a GoLabs R500 that has never been able to obtain a full charge. The R500 I have is less than 12 months old, and GoLabs customer service refuses to honor their 12 month warranty and repair my unit.

    1. Dear Dennis, I'm sorry to hear this and it sounds very much like a battery-related issue. I have taken this extract from their warranty page on the internet which relates specifically to batteries ( https://golabs.com/pages/warranty ), though I'm not sure what they are talking about when they mention a scooter!:
      "Battery Related Issues: Lithium-ion battery packs are consumable products that can lose charge capacity over time. See here for tips on prolonging the life of your battery. Defective batteries are rare, but they are covered under warranty. Receiving a defective battery would usually mean it can not be charged or operated inside the scooter. If you believe your battery is defective, please upload photos of the battery's serial number below. If due to manufacturers defect customers are issued either a 1 time replacement battery or replacement product."
      I suggest you try to take the matter up with more senior representatives in Golabs expalining that it seems to be an issue with a defective battery.
      One would like to think that it's clearly in the company's interest to keep their customers happy with the products they hope to sell to others. Sadly, that appears not always to be what happens, but I hope Golabs have a positive change in attitude in your particular case and resolve the issue quickly.
      Regards,
      Chris

      1. I'm trying to upload the photo of the serial number you requested, but this reply section does not seem to allow photos to be attached.

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