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I found the perfect portable power station for off-grid adventures

EcoFlow River 2 Max. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET I love power stations. They're the off-grid adventurer's answer to the power bank. They're a huge box of batteries that can charge USB devices and run gadgets that need AC power. But power stations can be big, weighty things. That's fine if you have a vehicle to haul your gear to your destination, but if you're going on foot, most power stations are just too heavy to lug about. Also: The best portable power stations you can buy: Expert tested

My top-rated laptop power bank works with almost any model - and has a useful display

ZDNET's key takeaways The Bluetti X20 has a massive capacity designed for high-draw devices, available now for $199. It's kitted out with a DC port, and it comes with a dozen adapters covering most laptops on the market. There's no carry handle, so the unit can be a bit cumbersome to carry. View now at Walmart Most of us think of power banks as small, smartphone-sized battery packs that can be slipped into a pocket or clamped onto the back of a smartphone. But there's a category of power bank

This $12 USB-C accessory solved the biggest issue I had with my laptop's charger

ZDNET's key takeaways The magnetic USB-C connector now supports a 180-degree swivel, and it's only $12 at Amazon. It can pump out as much as 240W of power. I just wish it was suitable for data transferring or powering monitors. $12.99 at Amazon A hill I'm always willing to fight on -- and maybe even die on -- is that the magnetic breakaway USB-C connector is one of the best USB accessories out there. Sure, it's not as flashy as a hardware-encrypted storage device or as geeky as a USB power me

This portable battery station powered my home for two weeks

ZDNET's key takeaways The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus expands up to 24,000 Wh, powering a home for two weeks. Built-in wheels and handle make the Explorer 2000 Plus easy to move. The Explorer 2000 Plus delivers 3,000W power, fast charging, and rugged durability. View now at Amazon If you see the sun regularly, solar generators are the way forward. They allow you to capture and store the free energy that's beaming down from the sun, convert it into electricity, and store it in batteries. Solar

Lightning Detector Circuits

Here's a version I built into a "fake" book I found at an art store. The copper PCB is connected to the circuit ground to act as a counterpoise for the antenna, increasing sensitivity. The lightning bolt was cut with a sharp knife then filled with blue-dyed epoxy. The antenna connects to the pin jack. I used a cheap flashlight head for the LED - I used too much blue dye in the epoxy so I need a bright flash! The image below is with an LED and no pot (but with the 150k resistor added). I made se

Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 N offers more sound, more shifts, more smiles

Hyundai provided flights from Albany to London and accommodation so Ars could attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Ioniq 6 N reveal. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. Hyundai's N division is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. That's not long enough to earn the cachet of other performance sub-brands, like BMW's M or Mercedes-Benz's AMG, but N has certainly developed a reputation for fun, attainable, and powder-blue cars. With the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai's skunkworks for spee

California is set to become the first US state to manage power outages with AI

In April, the PJM Interconnection—the nation’s largest grid system, spanning 13 states along the densely populated mid-Atlantic and Eastern Seaboard—took a big step toward embracing AI by inking a deal with Google to use its Tapestry software to improve regional planning and speed up grid connections for new power generators. ERCOT, the Texas grid system, is considering adopting technology similar to what CAISO is now set to use, according to a source with knowledge of the plans who requested a

Topics: ai grid power says use

The U.S. Is Testing Tiny Nuclear Reactors That Can Go Practically Anywhere

In contrast to other technological advances, the objective for next-generation nuclear reactors seems to be to scale down, not up—an initiative backed by the Department of Energy (DOE). Earlier this month, the DOE announced a conditional agreement made with private firms Westinghouse and Radiant to conduct the first reactor tests at its Demonstration on Microreactor Experiment (DOME) facility, located at Idaho National Laboratory. These experiments, featuring two trailer-sized microreactors, w

An electrician's plea: Don't plug these 7 appliances (including AC units) into extension cords

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Extension cords are generally a safe solution for running power to electronics that are too far from the nearest wall outlet. But the operative word here is "electronics," which is not as all-encompassing as some people might think. Appliances (like refrigerators and toaster ovens) are obviously electronic devices, but they're in a different class from most electronics because of the amperage demands they need to function. Why you shouldn't plug everything into an extension c

Don’t wait: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are 28% off for a few more hours

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority If you’re looking to upgrade your workout gear, you have a few more hours of Prime Day to catch this record deal on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds. The wireless buds are on offer for just $179.99, which is a full $20 lower than we’ve ever previously tracked their price. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for $179.99 (28% off) Designed for fitness enthusiasts, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 features secure-fit ear hooks made from lightweight nickel-titanium alloy, 20% ligh

The Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 portable power station is 50% off for Prime Day - a new low price

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Jackery Jackery is one of the best portable power station brands on the market, and I've tested -- and relied on for several weeks -- many of the company's units, ranging from tiny ones you can hold in your hand to huge ones on wheels. Here's one that falls into that Goldilocks zone of both price and portability -- the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station. On the final day of Amazon's Prime Day sale, Amazon is offering 50% off the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, br

Topics: 12v 3a jackery max power

The price of these workout earbuds from Beats just dropped even lower. Get them while the deal still aplies

ZDNET's key takeaways The Powerbeats Pro 2 retail for $250 in vibrant Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange colorways. The earbuds can replace your smartwatch or fitness tracker, offering exercise and activity data via companion apps. The sound isn't very robust, delivering weak bass and hollow mids. View now at Apple The Powerbeats Pro 2 are $80 off right now on Amazon, during Amazon's last day of Prime Day. This is $30 more savings compared to the first two days of Prime Day.

In a First, Solar Was Europe's Biggest Source of Power Last Month

For the first time, solar was the largest source of electricity in the EU last month, supplying a record 22 percent of the bloc’s power. At least 13 countries saw solar output hit a new monthly high in June, according to an analysis from energy think tank Ember. Solar amounted to more than 40 percent of generation in the Netherlands and 35 percent in Greece. Nuclear was the second biggest source of electricity across the bloc, followed by wind, natural gas, and hydropower. Coal generated just

Anker’s Laptop Power Bank Is on Sale Right Now for Prime Day (2025)

I have tested hundreds of portable chargers over the years, but the Anker Laptop Power Bank ($94, down from $135) is my current upgrade pick of the best power banks. It’s 30 percent off for Prime Day, and that’s the cheapest price I’ve seen for this charger. Remember, Prime Day ends tonight, so this deal won't last long. If you want something that can fast-charge your phone, juice up your tablet, and even refill your laptop, look no further. This chunky power bank is packing serious heat, with

Anker's Laptop Power Bank Is on Sale Right Now for Prime Day (2025)

I have tested hundreds of portable chargers over the years, but the Anker Laptop Power Bank ($94, down from $135) is my current upgrade pick of the best power banks. It’s 30% off for Prime Day, and that’s the cheapest price I’ve seen for this charger. Remember, Prime Day ends tonight, so this deal won't last long. If you want something that can fast-charge your phone, juice up your tablet, and even refill your laptop, look no further. This chunky power bank is packing serious heat, with a smart

Just 4 days until TechCrunch All Stage kicks off in Boston — and the lowest ticket prices vanish

Time’s running out. In just four days, TechCrunch All Stage 2025 touches down at Boston’s SoWa Power Station on July 15 — and your chance to lock in savings of up to $475 disappears. This one-day summit isn’t built for spectators. It’s designed for the doers — the founders, builders, and backers who are shaping what’s next. Whether you’re raising your first round, preparing for a growth-stage leap, or scaling your team, this event is packed with insight you can act on now. Founder Passes are j

This power station just kept my lights on during an outage (and it's nearly 40% off for Prime Day)

ZDNET's key takeaways The EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra battery and inverter unit is available now for $6,299 while the Smart Home Panel 2 is available for $1,899. The single unit has a 6kWh capacity and supports a 7,200W output and 5.6kW solar input, allowing it to run an entire home, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity. The Delta Pro Ultra is a decidedly expensive solution for a home backup system, and though portable, its hefty weight could affect portability. View now

Anker’s fast power bank with two built-in USB-C cables is 30 percent off for Prime Day

Anker’s 25,000mAh power bank with two built-in, retractable USB-C cables might be as essential for you as it is for me. It offers fast charging speeds, serving up to 100W through either of its USB-C cables (one of which doubles as a handle when it’s not in use), or a combined 165W if you have them both charging gadgets simultaneously. In time for Prime Day, this model costs $94.99 ($25 off) at Amazon and Anker. This is the lowest price it’s sold at in months. I’ve tested this battery pack with

The new Bluetti Elite 100 V2 for over 50% off is my favorite Prime Day power station deal

Bluetti Elite 100 V2 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Amazon Prime Day is here, and you might be forgiven for thinking you're trapped in the movie Groundhog Day, because wasn't it also Prime Day yesterday and the day before? Yup, it was -- for the first time, Prime Day is a four-day shopping event, compared to two days in the past, running July 8-11. But never mind -- the deals are worth it! And some deals are so good, I feel like I need to tell you about them even though I've not yet finished my

I can't recommend this rugged power station enough to drone users (and it's at the lowest price ever)

The DJI Power 1000 power station in action. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET For Amazon Prime Day, the DJI Power 1000 is now down to $417, the lowest price we've seen and an excellent discount on a 1,000Wh power bank, making this a must-have for drone enthusiasts. Also: The best Prime Day deals we've found ZDNET's key takeaways The DJI Power 1000 power station It's a powerful, premium quality power station that's built to satisfy the needs of professional drone pilots. Unfortunately, there

Topics: 1000 ac max output power

The price of these workout earbuds from Beats just dropped even lower

ZDNET's key takeaways The Powerbeats Pro 2 retail for $250 in vibrant Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange colorways. The earbuds can replace your smartwatch or fitness tracker, offering exercise and activity data via companion apps. The sound isn't very robust, delivering weak bass and hollow mids. View now at Apple The Powerbeats Pro 2 are $80 off right now on Amazon, during Amazon's third day of Prime Day. This is $30 more savings compared to the past two days of Prime Day.

Major US power operator says AI and data center demands are pushing prices up

PJM Interconnection (PJM) is the largest power grid operator in the US, serving 65 million customers across the District of Columbia and 13 states, namely Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. But this summer, some parts of PJM's power grid are expected to use so much electricity that people's bills for the summer are projected to be 20 percent higher than before, according to Reuters. Th

I replaced my solar panels with wind power generators at home - here's my verdict after 6 months

ZDNET's key takeaways A Shine Turbine kit, which includes a turbine, stand, guy lines, and pegs, costs $399, while the Essentials Kit, which adds a few more bits such as a wind speed meter, costs $488 -- though both are on sale right now The kit includes everything you need to turn wind into electrical energy, and the turbine features a 12,000 mAh battery There are limitations, which include the weight of the kit and the limited power it generates, 40 Watts. View now at Shineturbine The Shine

This magnetic USB-C accessory is the best $12 I've ever spent on Amazon

ZDNET's key takeaways The magnetic USB-C connector now supports a 180-degree swivel, and it's only $12 at Amazon. It can pump out as much as 240W of power. I just wish it was suitable for data transferring or powering monitors. $12.99 at Amazon A hill I'm always willing to fight on -- and maybe even die on -- is that the magnetic breakaway USB-C connector is one of the best USB accessories out there. Sure, it's not as flashy as a hardware-encrypted storage device or as geeky as a USB power me

The mini PC I recommend for Linux users is on sale for $799 during Prime Day

ZDNET's key takeaways Lenovo's ThinkStation P3 Tiny is on sale now for $799, but higher-end configurations can cost up to $2,000. There's some powerful hardware here packed into a tiny frame, and pro users will appreciate its upgradeability and support for up to six monitors. Higher-tier configurations are pricey, the power supply is almost as big as the device itself, and it's specialized for the enterprise space. View now at Amazon Lenovo's ThinkStation P3 Tiny comes in a variety of configu

Solar power has begun to transform the world’s energy system

All this suggests that there is a chance for a deep reordering of the earth’s power systems, in every sense of the word “power,” offering a plausible check to not only the climate crisis but to autocracy. Instead of relying on scattered deposits of fossil fuel—the control of which has largely defined geopolitics for more than a century—we are moving rapidly toward a reliance on diffuse but ubiquitous sources of supply. The sun and the wind are available everywhere, and they complement each other

Prime Day Deal: Everyone Should Have Exactly Three Pairs of Headphones. Two of My Picks Are on Sale Today

Amazon Prime Day deal: The OnePlus Buds 3, my top choice for everyday earbuds, are 12% off for Prime Day, dropping the price to $88 from their usual list price of $100. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, my go-to for running, are seeing a whopping 28% discount on Amazon. That brings them down to an all-time low price of $180. When most people ask you what your "big three" are, they're likely inquiring about your sun, moon and rising signs. But when I ask you the same question, I'm not trying to determ

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are down to their best price yet for Prime Day

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are only a few months old, but they’re already on sale for an all-time low of around $179.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. We’ve seen the wireless earbuds drop in price here and there since launching in February, but Amazon is currently one-upping the previous low by a cool $20 for Prime Day. The earbuds aren’t quite as cheap as Apple’s second-gen AirPods Pro, which are down to $149 ($100 off) at Amazon, but if you want a pair specifically for working out, the

Anker Recalls More Power Banks: Here's How to Get a Free Replacement or Gift Card

Electronics company Anker expanded an official global recall of some of its Power Bank products, adding five more models to a recall of the Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks with the model number A1263 announced earlier in June. The recall was initiated following 19 reports of the portable chargers catching fire and exploding. Anker's products are made in China. In addition to the June recall of the A1263 and a previous October 2024 recall of the A1642 PowerCore 10000, new products recalled are

This portable battery station powered my home for two weeks - and it's $600 off for Prime Day

ZDNET's key takeaways The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus expands up to 24,000 Wh, powering a home for two weeks. Built-in wheels and handle make the Explorer 2000 Plus easy to move. The Explorer 2000 Plus delivers 3,000W power, fast charging, and rugged durability. View now at Amazon Find the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus on sale for up to 50% off ahead of Amazon Prime Day. You can save more or less depending on the accessories you bundle with the power station. Also: The 55+ best Prime Day deals w