Watch the full hands-on test: This video shows the battery installation, USB measurements, AC load testing, voltage-sag error, solar charging test, and my final recommendations.
Tested and reviewed by Max Peters
Founder of Pure Power Solar and creator of more than 130 hands-on solar-generator and off-grid-power videos.
NOTE: Cutting Edge Power is now RevoPower. Their website has changed to https://revopower.us/.
Overview
This review is all about the 500W Pure Sine Solar Generator made by Cutting Edge Power, which is based out of Texas. They create several different solar generator models from small to large. One common trait found in most of their portable power station models is expandability. Their power boxes allow you to do this both with battery capacity as well as solar input.
- For the 500W model, you can either buy and integrate your own battery (as I did) or buy one from them that is preinstalled for you.
- The PWM charge controller found in this system has a 450W maximum, which is a solid amount of power for fast recharging speeds from solar panels.
- If you choose to have the MPPT charge controller installed instead of the PWM, it has a 600W max in addition to bluetooth connectivity via a mobile app. The app allows you to access your generator’s charging data whenever you need to.
This power station is truly one of a kind because it has several ways you can customize it to your liking. To me, this is ideal because most solar generators have a “one size fits all” design that doesn’t take into account the power needs that differ between everyone using them.
Chapters
00:00 Cutting Edge Power Review
00:35 Models and Upgrade Options
02:32 Installing the Battery
05:26 USB Charging Tests
09:26 AC Inverter Testing
11:03 High-Wattage Stress Test
14:23 Error Code and Battery Limits
17:19 Solar Charging Test
23:08 Testing Results and Recommendations
27:39 Expandability, Longevity, and Verdict
Transcript – Cutting Edge Power 500W Solar Generator Video Review
Cutting Edge Power sent me its 500W Pure Sine Solar Generator to test and review. The company provided the unit in exchange for exposure on my channel, but the testing and opinions in this review are my own.
This was one of the first USA-assembled solar generators I had tested, and it was very different from the all-in-one power stations I was accustomed to using. Instead of sealing the battery and other major components inside a closed case, Cutting Edge Power built this system to be expandable, customizable, and repairable.
In this review, I install my own battery, test the USB and AC outputs, connect a solar panel, and explain who may benefit from this system over a conventional portable power station.
Available Configurations and Upgrades
I tested the basic 500W pure sine wave model. Cutting Edge Power offered several ways to configure the system, including different battery chemistries, solar panels, charge controllers, and other accessories.
Compatible battery options included lithium, AGM, and sealed lead-acid batteries. I used my own 12V 24Ah LiFePO4 battery, which had approximately 288Wh of capacity. The battery was not included with my test unit.
The basic system came with a PWM solar charge controller, but an MPPT controller with Bluetooth connectivity was also available as an upgrade. Cutting Edge Power also offered solar panels, wind-turbine equipment, additional ports, and larger systems for users who needed more power.
That flexibility is one of the system’s biggest advantages. You can select the components that fit your needs instead of being limited to the battery and charging hardware built into a conventional power station.
Installing the Battery
To install the battery, I removed the top portion of the unit and connected the positive cables first. I then connected the negative cables while wearing gloves and taking appropriate precautions.
I saw a small spark when I attached the negative connection because the inverter switch had accidentally been left on. Make sure the inverter is switched off before connecting or disconnecting a battery, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are not comfortable working with exposed battery terminals, ask someone with the proper experience to help.
After installation, the controller displayed approximately 13.0V, matching the reading on the battery’s own screen. With the inverter running, the displayed voltage dipped slightly to 12.9V.
The installation was not as effortless as setting up a plug-and-play power station, but it was manageable. A wrench and the proper safety equipment would make the process easier.
USB Charging Tests
I began by testing the USB-A port on the charge controller with a Goal Zero Sherpa power bank. This port was rated at 5V/1A and delivered approximately 5W during my test.
Next, I tested the two USB-A ports on the inverter. Each delivered approximately 12W to the Sherpa power bank. I also charged my phone from one port while the Sherpa remained connected to the other. The Sherpa continued receiving approximately 12W, so using both ports simultaneously did not reduce its measured charging rate.
The inverter fan ran while these ports were active. At a light load, its sound was similar to steady white noise, although it was slightly louder than some enclosed power stations I had tested. Because the inverter is exposed rather than buried inside a fully enclosed case, its fan is more noticeable.
Overall, all three USB ports worked as expected. The inverter’s USB ports delivered more than twice the measured power of the controller’s USB port.
Moderate AC Output Test
For the first AC test, I used the Cutting Edge Power inverter to charge a Jackery Explorer 1000. After I connected the Jackery’s AC adapter, the input rose to approximately 144W and briefly touched 145W.
The system powered this load without a problem. The inverter fan increased in speed as it warmed up, and it became fairly loud. My office was humid and had little airflow during the test, which may have caused the fan to work harder, but users should still expect audible fan noise under a sustained AC load.
Higher AC Load and E01 Error
I then tried a more demanding test by using the inverter to charge an EcoFlow River Max. Its AC charger can draw substantially more power, allowing me to place a heavier load on the 500W inverter.
As the EcoFlow’s input increased, the Cutting Edge Power battery voltage fell to approximately 11.6V under load. The inverter fan became much louder, and I recorded the EcoFlow drawing approximately 312W before the reading continued to fluctuate. The system eventually displayed an E01 error, so I disconnected the EcoFlow and switched off the inverter.
Once the load was removed, the battery voltage recovered to approximately 12.7–12.8V and the error cleared itself. According to the controller manual, E01 indicates that the battery voltage dropped below its normal operating range. The controller recovers when the voltage returns to an acceptable level.
This result is important to interpret correctly. My 12V 24Ah battery only held about 288Wh and was too small for the high load I placed on it. The shutdown resulted from voltage sag and an over-discharged condition at the battery—not necessarily from the inverter reaching its 500W limit.
A larger 12V battery should support heavier loads more consistently. My test confirmed that the inverter could deliver more than 300W with my setup, but it did not establish how long it could sustain its full 500W rating with a properly sized battery.
Solar Charging Test
I tested solar charging with a 180W BougeRV solar panel. After connecting the panel, the controller recognized the solar input and displayed that it was transferring energy to the battery in its boost-charging stage.
The included controller was a PWM model. PWM controllers can work well, but they are generally less efficient than MPPT controllers. Cutting Edge Power offered an MPPT option for buyers who wanted to improve solar-harvesting efficiency and gain features such as Bluetooth monitoring.
During my test, the controller displayed a charging voltage of approximately 14.2V and about 0.8A at one point. Heavy cloud cover limited the panel’s output, but I estimated that it was producing roughly 25–30W. The battery voltage increased from approximately 12.7V to 13.0V during this portion of the test.
The 180W panel was well within the controller’s stated solar-input capacity. When the cloud cover thinned, the charging current began to increase. Although the weather prevented a full-sun performance test, the system successfully accepted power from the panel and charged the battery.
I would want to spend more time verifying the controller settings for the exact battery chemistry before relying on it for regular charging. Correct battery settings matter, particularly when using lithium batteries.
Other Features and Limitations
The LCD screen remained on whenever the battery was connected, and I did not find a separate switch to turn it off. The screen’s power draw appeared small, but it could still slowly drain a low-capacity battery if the system sat for an extended period without being charged. This would be less noticeable with a larger battery.
The system also included a 12V car-charging cable with a cigarette-lighter plug and ring terminals. I attempted to test it with an EcoFlow River Max, but that setup produced an error and did not charge the battery correctly. I would need a more suitable 12V source and another round of testing before drawing a conclusion about that accessory.
The 500W inverter can potentially run or charge many smaller electronics and appliances, but actual performance depends on each device’s continuous and startup power requirements. Battery size is equally important. Even when an appliance stays below 500W, a small battery may not supply that load reliably or for very long.
For heavier or sustained use, I recommend pairing this system with a larger battery. Cutting Edge Power offered batteries around 1,200Wh, although buyers could also choose another compatible capacity that better matched their intended loads.
Cutting Edge Power vs. a Plug-and-Play Power Station
A conventional model such as the Jackery Explorer 500 is easier to set up and carry. Its battery, inverter, charge controller, display, and ports are already integrated into one finished product. That simplicity is ideal for someone who wants to charge the unit and begin using it immediately.
The Cutting Edge Power system offers something different: expandability and control.
You can install a larger or different battery, upgrade the charge controller, add compatible accessories, and replace individual components when necessary. Its solar charge controller also supports substantially more panel capacity than many similarly sized all-in-one power stations from the same period.
Replaceability may also give this design a longer useful life. When the internal battery in many sealed power stations reaches the end of its cycle life, replacing it can be difficult or impractical. With this system, the battery is designed to be accessible and replaceable. The same modular approach can make other components easier to service.
The tradeoff is that the Cutting Edge Power system requires more knowledge and involvement. You need to select an appropriate battery, make secure connections, confirm the controller settings, and understand how battery capacity and voltage affect the inverter. I would recommend it to someone who has moved beyond the absolute beginner stage or is willing to learn the fundamentals.
Final Verdict
My first impression of the Cutting Edge Power 500W Solar Generator was positive. It successfully powered my USB devices, charged a Jackery Explorer 1000 at approximately 144–145W, delivered more than 300W during the heavier EcoFlow test, and accepted solar input from my 180W BougeRV panel.
The system’s greatest strengths are its expandability, replaceable battery, configurable components, and long-term serviceability. Its biggest drawbacks are the additional setup required, noticeable inverter fan noise, always-on display, and the need to match the battery carefully to the expected load.
My small 288Wh battery limited the high-output portion of the test, so I would use a larger battery for demanding loads or extended runtime. I would also complete more testing before making a definitive judgment about the car-charging cable and the charge controller’s long-term performance.
Cutting Edge Power is based in Houston, Texas, and assembles its systems in the United States while sourcing as many domestically manufactured parts as it can. Not every component is made in the USA, but I appreciate the company’s effort to build and assemble more of its products domestically.
If you value simplicity and portability above everything else, a conventional all-in-one power station will probably be the better fit. If you prefer a system that can be expanded, repaired, and customized over time, the Cutting Edge Power 500W is a unique option worth considering.