This portable power station can keep a mini-fridge running for up to 2 days

By Kraig Becker March 19, 2018

1 of 6

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

As more and more companies release portable power stations for use in the outdoors, the ability to keep our electronic devices charged and functioning while on the go has become a lot easier. The latest entry into this increasingly competitive market comes our way courtesy of Midland Radio, a company that is probably best known for its line of walkie-talkies used for communicating in remote areas. As you would expect, the device offers a lightweight and rugged charging solution that is built specifically for the demanding environments we face when outdoors.

The new Midland PPG100 comes equipped with a lithium-ion battery that offers a 950 watt-hour capacity. That is enough power to keep your smartphone charged for up to 170 hours or run a mini-fridge for two days. It will also keep a three-watt LED lamp running for more than 280 hours and recharge most laptops twice. An LCD display provides a readout of the PPG100’s current charge level at a glance.

Midland PPG100 Portable Power Station — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Midland’s portable power station isn’t lacking in ports to help keep your devices charged. The battery pack includes two standard AC wall outlets, a 12-volt DC port like the one found in your car, two USB ports, and a dedicated LED light port, all of which can be used simultaneously to charge or power multiple devices. The PPG100 itself can be recharged using either an AC wall adapter or DC car charger, both of which are included. An optional solar panel can be used to generate power while living off the grid as well.

One of the advantages of using a lithium-ion battery is that it can provide plenty of power without adding a lot of weight. To that end, the PPG100 tips the scales at just 25 pounds, putting it on par with the latest offerings from Goal Zero. Midland’s model has the added benefit of coming in a rugged, durable case that is both dust and waterproof, and includes a built-in handle that makes it easier to carry around. Just how well protected from the elements is it? The company says that when the lid is closed and sealed tight the device can be immersed in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes without suffering any damage.

The Midland PPG100 is available now for $1,099. To find out more, visit the Midland USA website.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Kraig Becker is a freelance outdoor writer who loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, paddle, or just about any other…

Outdoors

This portable power station has 6 AC outlets and can charge a Tesla

this portable power station has 6 ac outlets and can charge a tesla ecoflow delta 1

Previous

Next

Emerging Tech

China’s space station, Tiangong-2, has burned up in the atmosphere

China's "Heavenly Palace' space station

China's small space station, Tiangong-2, has burned up in the Earth's atmosphere as part of a planned deorbital maneuver.
It was launched in 2016 as a test bed for space technologies and was originally only scheduled to be in space for two or three years. But it survived longer than expected and has continued to be a venue for testing and for occasional manned missions. It has spent a total of nearly 1,000 days in space.
The space station weighed eight tons, making it relatively small by station standards. The space station's planned deorbit was executed by putting it into a controlled descent into the atmosphere, where it broke up into small pieces. This space debris fell to Earth, landing in the the ocean in a region of the South Pacific
Chinese astronauts visited Tiangong-2 (which translates to Heavenly Palace-2) to perform scientific experiments in low gravity and to test out tools and equipment for tasks such as orbital refueling. But because the station was so small, especially compared to the International Space Station, it was apparently not the most comfortable of environments for the astronauts. Stays on the station were limited to one month.
Tiangong-2 was the successor to Tiangong-1, which was launched in 2011 and had an unplanned deorbit last year. Tiangong-1 was 10.4 meters (34 fee) long and weighed nearly 8.75 tons, and it was destroyed when its orbit decayed, causing it to break up into small pieces. Although this did cause some orbital debris to fall to Earth, as up to 10% of the station could survive re-entry, the pieces didn't fall on populated areas.
Tiangong-2 is planned to be replaced by a new Chinese space station, which the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced it intends to launch beginning with the core Tianhe-1 module in 2020. Two experimental modules for the station will be sent into orbit in 2021 and 2022, with manned missions and cargo spacecraft missions planned for 2021 and 2022 as well.
China intends to increase its rate of manned missions from the current one every two or three years up to five per year, an ambitious goal. The space agency is currently increasing recruitment for astronauts to man all of the planned future missions.

Outdoors

Speed up your daily commute with these e-bike deals

ENGWE EP-2 Pro e-bike right side shot next to an unmowed field.

The best electric bikes have come a long way in recent years and we don't just mean in terms of the miles you travel. With technology changing quickly, there are also an increasing number of electric bike deals around and we've picked out some of the very best. Electric bikes are a great way of getting around more easily and without necessarily needing to use as much stamina as a regular bike. Below, you'll find fantastic e-bike bike deals from many different retailers. There'll be something for every need here. Let's take a look at them.
Jasion EB5 Electric Bike -- $430, was $750

With a 350w brushless motor, the Jasion EB5 Electric Bike can achieve a top speed of 20 MPH with a range of up to 25-40 miles per charge. It has four working modes with a PAS mode where the motor assists with a moderate amount of power as you pedal, along with a Pure Electric Mode, a Pedal Mode, and a Booster Mode where the bike assist on hills and anywhere else you might be struggling. 26-inch puncture-resistant tires provide excellent durability while there's a high-strength front fork suspension, Shimano 7-speed gears, dual lights, and an LCD display. The latter offers controls for adjustable backlight brightness with one of five levels, along with mode controls.