Based in California, Runhood specializes in providing portable power solutions for everyday life. As a forward looking company in eco-friendly portable power, Runhood aims to develop green energy solutions that power life experiences as well the commitment to a sustainable future. Let’s see what Runhood has to offer.
Runhood Rallye 600 Host Engine
Runhood’s feature product is the Rallye 600 which they call a Host Engine. This Host Engine is a modular portable power station base unit that can house two of their energy bars (rechargeable lithium polymer 324Wh batteries) to allow power to be supplied to Rallye 600. With two energy bars inserted, the Rallye can provide 110V/600W of power with a total capacity of 648 watts. The batteries are hot swappable which enables the power station to always be powered on, this great for keeping crucial equipment up and running whether that is in a power outage or out in the backcountry.
The front panel of the Rallye 600 has an LCD interface that displays various information pertaining to the power stations status. Everything from overload warnings, remaining charge / discharge time, battery level indicator, real-time input / output wattage, an active energy bar and numerous other indicators to easily see the Rallye’s condition at a glance.
Ports on the Rallye are 2 x AC output with pure singe wave 110 V 60Hz, 1 x USB-C PD 100 bi-directional port, 1 x USB-C PD 100 output port, 2 x USB-A QC 3.0 28W ports, 1 Car Port bi-directional 100W, and 2 x DC 60W ports, these can all be used simultaneously to power up to nine devices at one time. Also on the front of the power station is a very useful LED light at the top with it’s own on / off switch, which comes in handy in a power outage or when camping.
Runhood Rallye 600 Batteries
The batteries (energy bars) are the life blood of all Runhood products. Each battery is composed of Li-ion NMC cells with a total capacity of 324 Wh and weighs just under 4 lbs. They are rated for 1000 life cycles to 80%, which means that you will get a minimum of three years of life out of each battery if they were used daily. Extrapolate that out in terms of actual use for power outages and off the grid adventures, they will likely last beyond the ten year mark.
One end of the battery has the terminal that provides power to all Runhood engine modules and the other end has a handy hollowed out cavity that makes carrying and removing these from the Rallye 600 simple and easy. Located on the top of the battery is an on /off button with five indicator capacity lights, each one representing 20% power. These batteries can be recharged directly with the Runhood solar panel, the Rallye 600 or the UE256 module.
Runhood Battery Modules
Moving beyond the Rallye 600, the Runhood batteries can be used independently with two different battery modules. These modules clip to the front of the battery and are removed by engaging two buttons on the side of them. The UE256 module (pictured on the left) turns the battery into a massive 90000mAh power bank that features four USB ports: a bi-directional USB-C PD 100W, a USB-C PD 100W output, and two USB-A QC3.0 28W outputs. The UE256 is great for on the go charging of smart phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and other USB devices.
The AE80 module (pictured on the right) turns the battery into a very portable 110V/80W AC powered outlet. While it tops out at only 80 watts, it still works nicely for powering up small appliances, such as lights, fans, laptops, cameras, drones and even a mini fridge.
Overall the modules offer the adaptability and convenience to lessen the load if the full power of the Rallye 600 is not needed.
Runhood Rallye 600 Charging
There are five ways to recharge the batteries when they are in the Rallye 600, each with varying charge times as follows:
Standard Wall Outlet and USB-C 100W Port ~3 HoursStandard Wall Outlet ~ 4 hoursCar Charger ~ 6 HoursUSB-C 100W Port ~ 7 HoursSolar Panel with Full Sun ~ 8 Hours
With the different scenarios and environments that the Rallye 600 gets used in, it is nice to have a handful of options for recharging. I should note that the AC and DC output will work normally when only using one input for recharging. But when fast charging with two inputs, the Rallye 600 should not be used to power or charge any devices.
Runhood Seri 100W Solar Panel
The Runhood Seri100 solar panel is lightweight, compact and easy to use. Folded up the solar panel measures 14″ x 14″ x 2″ and when it is expanded it measures 7′ 6″ x 14″ x .2″. The Seri100 is a 100 watt panel that delivers 18 volts of power with 5.5A of working current. And it has a waterproof rating of IPX6, which means that it can withstand rain, just don’t leave it sitting in a puddle.
The Runhood Seri100 can be placed on any flat surface and setup up to provide power in just seconds thanks to the easy to deploy kickstands. In optimal sun conditions the Seri100 can charge the Rallye 600 in approximately 8 hours.
During testing I was able to pull a max of 75 watts of charging power with the winter sun. I am confident that the Seri100 will be able to pull near the stated 100 watts in summer when solar charging conditions are ideal. With the compact size and the convenient carrying handle, the Seri100 solar panel is the must have accessory for the Rallye 600, especially for those off the grid adventures.
Using the Runhood Rallye 600
I have put the Rallye 600 through the ringer. Everything from camping trips to construction sites and it has performed admirably. It has powered my electric camp cooler, while running campsite lighting and charging phones. Being able to run a chop saw and a shop vac without having to find and run a 300 foot extension cord is always a bonus. Does the Rallye power everything? Not quite, but the fact that it peaks at 1200 watts and offers a plethora of ports, it covers almost 99% of the my use scenarios. And thanks to the fact that it only weighs 16 lbs., it easy enough to pack on adventures even if I don’t think that I will use it.
Features of the Runhood Rallye 600
Modular DesignHot Swappable BatteriesLCD InterfaceOutput: 600 Watts (1200W peak)2 AC output with pure singe wave 110 V 60Hz1 USB-C PD 100 bi-directional port1 USB-C PD 100 output port2 USB-A QC 3.0 28W ports1 Car Port bi-directional 100W2 DC 60W ports
Final Thoughts on the Runhood Rallye 600 Power Station
The Runhood Rallye 600 Power Station delivers maximum flexibility with it’s innovative design that offers hot swappable batteries, five ways to recharge and the ability to power nine devices at one time. The modular design puts the Rallye 600 a step of above other power stations on the market and delivers both in terms of energy solutions and usability. If you are in the market for a portable off the grid power, the Runhood Rallye 600 is a great option. For more info on the Rallye 600 and other Runhood products, visit www.amazon.com/runhoodpower.
