A Powerhouse Charging Your House: Zendure SuperBase V Power Station Review

As extreme weather events have become more common across the country, more and more of us are finding ourselves without power, often for extended periods. Zendure looks to address those outages with the SuperBase V, a massive power station that serves as the hub for a modular energy system that can provide enough electricity to run your entire home for days.

In short: The Zendure SuperBase V is one of the largest and most well-built power stations I’ve ever tested, offering a whopping 6,438 watt-hours (Wh) of capacity. The unit’s ability to add satellite battery packs and charge via solar makes it an ideal option for a backup power system at home or for use in an off-grid cabin.

Homeowners and preppers will love the modularity of the Zendure ecosystem, which is easy to install and expand as needed. But the power station and battery packs are large, heavy, and lack the portability found in smaller units.

Zendure SuperBase V Power Station Review

Thanks to improved battery technology, better electronics, and more efficient engineering, portable power stations have gotten larger and more capable over the past few years. This has led to an arms race of sorts within the industry as manufacturers look to expand capacity and performance, often at the expense of portability.

But the latest generation of these products does much more than just keep our gadgets charged while camping. In fact, the highest-capacity models provide enough power to run an entire home for days at a time.

One such option is the Zendure SuperBase V, a power station that is massive both in terms of size and capacity. It can even serve as the hub of an expandable power system, allowing owners to add satellite batteries that dramatically expand capacity. This makes it an intriguing option for use at home, in an RV, or an off-grid cabin. Just don’t plan on lugging it to a remote campsite.

Expandable Power

The SuperBase V is available in two versions — the V6400, with a capacity of 6,438Wh, and the V4600, which tops out at 4,608Wh. Cosmetically, the two models are nearly identical. The V6400 weighs a little more than its sibling and uses a different type of battery technology.

Both units include the same number of charging ports and operational parameters, with the main differences coming down to price and capacity.

Our test unit was a V6400 model, which was impressive right out of the box. The power station is built like a tank. And, at 130 pounds, it weighs nearly as much as one. Thankfully, Zendure includes a set of built-in wheels and a rugged handle to help move the SuperBase V around. Those handy additions made it surprisingly easy to reposition the unit to different parts of the house. However, carrying it up a flight of stairs was definitely a challenge.

One of the key features of the SuperBase V is its expandability. If the unit’s 6,438Wh battery isn’t enough, users can connect up to four satellite batteries to create an ecosystem with a capacity of up to 65kWh.

When the power station and add-on batteries are connected to your home’s electrical system, they serve as an uninterruptible backup for when the electricity fails. Depending on the configuration, it is possible to run your HVAC system, all appliances, and other electrical devices for several days, even when the grid is offline. And if you conserve energy, you can extend that period for much longer.

Use in the Field

Zendure plays up the SuperBase V’s capabilities as a home backup power solution. But the unit is also a compelling option for use in the field. The high-capacity batteries and solar-charging capabilities make it a fantastic solution in a base camp setting or at a remote cabin. It also provides plenty of juice to run multiple power tools on a job site. And because the power station has nearly bulletproof construction, it can continue to perform well even in a demanding setting.

The SuperBase V isn’t lacking in charging ports, either. This power station comes with four standard 120V AC wall outlets, a 12V DC car charging port, and two 12V “barrel” chargers. It also has two USB-A ports and four USB-C ports — two of which are of the 100W PD (power delivery) variety. It even has a 240V heavy-duty 30-amp AC port, which can power an RV or charge an electric vehicle.

In short, if it has a power cord of some sort, you can probably plug it into this unit.

Recharging the Zendure SuperBase V

Recharging the SuperBase V power station and its satellite battery packs can be accomplished through a standard home wall outlet, a 12V car charging port, or via solar.

Of those, the 120V home outlet is the fastest and most reliable way to replenish the batteries. It requires about three hours to go from empty to full. That’s surprisingly quick for a power station of this size and capacity. Charging in a vehicle isn’t quite as fast or reliable. But it does work in a pinch.

Zendure included a 400W solar panel with our test unit, and when placed properly in direct sunlight, it provided a steady current to the SuperBase V. The large panel harnessed enough energy over six hours to take the power station’s batteries from 25% to about 75%. That is an impressive performance, but when connected to a 3,000W solar array, the batteries can fully recharge in less than three hours.

Size Matters

There is no question that the SuperBase V is the best high-capacity power station that I’ve tested. The size of its battery alone sets it apart from almost every other model, and its exceptional build quality and power output are nearly unmatched too. It even has an outstanding LCD screen for monitoring charge levels, power input and output, temperature, and other important information. All of those features make it easy to recommend to anyone who requires a high level of performance.

But that performance comes at a cost, both monetarily and in terms of size. The SuperBase V isn’t inexpensive. And as already noted, this unit simply isn’t as portable as most other models.

That makes it difficult to transport the Zendure SuperBase V to some places where portable power is needed, even with its built-in motorized wheels. Instead, it works best in locations where it will either be in place permanently or for extended periods.

For now, the tradeoff for high-capacity batteries and power output is size and weight. Zendure has gone to great lengths to make the SuperBase V as transportable as possible, but at 130 pounds, it isn’t as easy to load up and take with you as a smaller model. If you need a portable power station that is truly portable, the SuperBase V probably isn’t the model for you.

An Exceptional and Elegant Home-Power Solution

On the other hand, this is an outstanding option if you’re looking for a backup power solution for your home, cabin, or RV. In addition to its battery size and power output, the system easily expands to meet nearly any need. Zendure’s satellite batteries are entirely plug-and-play. You just connect them to one another, and they automatically utilize the additional capacity.

Because of an increasing number of extreme weather events, power outages are becoming more common throughout the country. In the past, the solution for those outages usually involved using a gas generator as a backup power source. While that is still an option, Zendure’s system has some distinct advantages.

For instance, the SuperBase V and its satellite batteries serve as an uninterruptible power source, automatically taking over when the grid goes offline. The system is also completely silent and emissions-free. Add in the ability to recharge using solar panels, and the system gets even more compelling.

Creating a backup power solution with the SuperBase V doesn’t come cheap, however. The V6400 model we tested starts at $5,499, while the V4600 version is priced at $3,299. Satellite batteries run $2,999-$4,599 each depending on capacity. If you’re using it to power your home you’ll also need to spend $1,200 on a Zendure Smart Home Panel to connect everything together.

That’s a potentially expensive proposition. But for those who live in regions prone to power outages, it could be money well spent.

Zendure SuperBase V: Conclusion

For those looking for a backup power solution for their home — or to add power to a cabin, RV, or job site — the Zendure SuperBases V is an incredibly compelling option. Its built-in ports, coupled with outstanding battery capacity and power output, can charge almost anything, including an EV. And when you factor in its exceptional build quality and overall engineering, this is arguably the best power station currently on the market.

The only downside to this fantastic product is its size and weight. Even with built-in wheels, the SuperBase V won’t always go where you might want it to go. But as long as you’re using it in easily accessible locations or as a permanent install, it will provide unparalleled performance and scalability to meet nearly any power needs.