Anker 757 PowerHouse 1500W Portable Power Station Review: Is it good for the workshop?

When Anker asked if I wanted to review their new Anker 757 PowerHouse portable power station, I wasn't sure if it would be a good fit for ToolRank. All I knew about Anker at that point was that they made phone chargers and USB power banks. I questioned if something like the 757 PowerHouse could really compete against portable power stations built by the big tool companies specifically for workshop and jobsite use. Are they even in the same class? The Anker Rep. I spoke with seemed to think so, and that was all that I needed to hear from them to move forward with a review. It was now up to them to prove it.

The Anker PowerHouse lineup sure doesn't look like the bright-colored tools I am used to seeing in a workshop or on the jobsite. Instead of colors that scream "Look At Me", the PowerHouse stands out with its shiny metal housing and sleek lines. All that metal is more than just for looking good though, the aluminum runs throughout the frame to provide strength, vibration protection, and over-temperature resistance.

What is the Anker 757 PowerHouse?

The Anker 757 PowerHouse is a portable power station, which is a device that stores electricity in a battery and can be used to power electrical appliances and devices when there is no access to a traditional power outlet. It is designed to be portable, so that it can be easily carried and used in a variety of settings, including outdoor events, campsites, and during power outages. The 757 is one of Anker's larger models that can power up to 6 AC devices and 6 USB devices.

Other than being a portable power station like the DeWalt PowerStation (I previously reviewed), the two are more different than they are the same. The DeWalt has a couple of advantages that are worth noting, though. First, is the way it uses your existing DeWalt Batteries, second, is the ability to provide 1800 watts of continuous power. Other than those two things, in my opinion, the Anker is superior in every other way.

1500 Watts of Pure Sine-Wave Power

One of the first things that caught my eye when going over the features of the Anker 757 is the fact that it provides a Pure Sine Wave. This means that the 1500 watts of continuous AC power that the 757 delivers mimics the AC power that the electric company provides directly to your wall outlets. This is something the DeWalt is lacking, and it is something that has the potential to damage sensitive electronic devices.

While the 1500W (12A) the Anker 757 provides is enough for most devices, some tools do require 1800W (15A) of power and it is a shame that Anker could not deliver that. That being said, I tested out several tools that say they are 1800 watts, and they all powered up just fine with the Anker 757 PowerHouse. During testing, I was able to push the Anker 757 to around 1700 measured Watts without issue. Its peak seems to be around 2400 Watts before it instantly goes into a protection mode and shuts itself down and requires a restart after it has hand a chance to cool down. If absolutely necessary, you can get your higher-draw tools to run for a few seconds and get a few cuts done on that miter saw.

With 1229Wh of total battery capacity, you can get around 30-minutes of runtime when using the full 1500 watts; lower power draw electronics can run significantly longer. According to Anker, a CPAP (40W) is estimated to run for up to 24.5 hours. A phone can be charged over 90 times. With a total of 6x 120v AC outlets, 2x USB-C ports, 4x USB-A ports, and 1x 12V Car outlet, you can power or charge several different devices all at once until you reach that 1500 watts. The USB ports can deliver a maximum of 100W, which means you can recharge even power hungry portable devices like tablets and laptops.

Can Anker PowerHouse run a Refrigerator or Power Tools?

Doing some real-world testing with my refrigerator, I was surprised at how long it could run. A refrigerator does draw some high peak current, but it is only for short periods of time. Most of the time only a small circulation fan is running. In an emergency situation like a power outage, I could see the Anker 757 powering a refrigerator for a full day if left closed.

One way I have come to use the Anker 757 PowerHouse is in my workshop as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for my CNC machine. In the event of a sudden power loss, the Anker 757 is able to switch over to its onboard battery power in under 20ms and my CNC machine is none the wiser. Otherwise, a loss of power could result in a ruined project or a damaged CNC machine. This gives me time to either complete the job, or at least shut it down safely.

Can the Anker 757 Handle Jobsite Dust?

One concern I had about the Anker 757 PowerHouse is how it would handle jobsite dust. With a fan drawing cool air through the internals, would it need to be cleaned out occasionally? Anker responded to my question and said that dust wouldn't be an issue.

It is a comfort knowing that Anker is not worried about this, considering one of the main uses of a PPS like the Anker is using them for outdoor actives where dust exposure is also highly likely. Still, it is probably best to keep dust exposure to a minimum, and if you do end up with dust caked all over it, a leaf blower on the low setting probably wouldn't hurt it.

The Many Recharge Options

The most amazing thing about the Anker 757 PowerHouse is that it can recharge to 80% in only 1 hour, and a full recharge takes only 1.5 hours when charging from the wall. This crazy fast charging speed is thanks to Anker using some of the latest battery technology, specifically the use of LiFePO4 batteries. Notice I said when "charging from the wall"? That is because you can also charge it from your 12v car socket with the included charging cable, or by using 11-30V Solar Panels (sold separately).

The LiFePO4 battery technology Anker is using is a type of Lithium-ion battery that has the advantage of being able to offer more charge cycles than other similar types of batteries. It uses Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) instead of the usual graphite anode found in Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Compared to other Lithium-ion batteries, LFP batteries are able to maintain their capacity over many more charge cycles and provide a longer lifespan. They also have a high rate of efficiency, meaning they can be charged quickly and are able to remain at capacity. This allows Anker to offer a 5-year warranty.

Is the Anker 757 good for the workshop?

To answer the question in the title, is the Anker 757 good for the workshop, or is it just hype? It is not just hype. When compared to other portable power stations on the market the 757 PowerHouse has features and technology the others lack. The battery chemistry alone offers around double the life cycles as the traditional lithium-ion batteries found in other power stations, which is why Anker can offer the 5-year warranty.

Other notable features include a built-in 3-mode emergency light bar with an SOS function, a digital display that analyzes power output to estimate remaining runtime, and a power saving option that turns off the power station when all your devices are fully charged and there is no more draw on the battery.

The Anker 757 PowerHouse normally sells for $1,399.99 but I was able to partner with Anker, and they are offering ToolRank readers a discount of $420 OFF when you use Coupon Code TOOLRANK757 during checkout. This offer expires on December 10th, 2022. BUY - Anker Store

What if I need more Power?

Having only 1500 Watts available to run power tools might be a deal breaker for some, but Anker has just announced their new 767 PowerHouse that offers 2400watts of continuous power and an even larger 2048Wh battery. If you really need 15amp or even 20amps, the Anker 767 is the one you want. Of course, Anker also offers smaller options with less capacity and lower Amp ratings.