My favorite power station combo is made by my favorite drone maker

If you had asked me a year ago what my favorite power station was, I wouldn't have said DJI. Sure, the Power 500 and Power 1000 (512 Wh and 1,024 Wh, respectively) were superb units, but as standalone devices, they were lacking something.

That's changed with DJI's launch of the Power Expansion Battery 2000, a 2,000 Wh expansion battery for the Power 1000 power station, which triples its off-grid power capacity. Built with drone pilots in mind,  these power stations can fast-charge DJI drone batteries using the SDC ports, the same ports used to hook up the expansion battery to the unit.

Also: The best portable power stations you can buy

Adding to this is the DJI Power Module, a plug-in unit that allows the Power 1000 to be monitored and controlled remotely using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Together, these make for a winning combination.

Here's why: I've covered the Power 1000 and the Power Expansion Battery 2000 separately, and after testing them together for a few weeks, I'm sold on their value. They offer the best bang for your buck for anyone looking for a mid-range power station, especially for those who want to add an affordable battery for times when the 1,000 Wh capacity of the main unit isn't enough.

The numbers make sense. 

The base Power 1000 is priced at $699, which is very affordable for such a versatile power station. Not a drone pilot? No problem! Even if you don't need the drone-specific features, you still have a powerful and adaptable unit – massive capacity, easy-to-read LCD, two AC outlets with 2,200W max output, two USB-C ports supporting 24W output, and a pair of USB-C ports that can deliver a full 240W, all packaged into a 13 kg ammo crate form factor.

When you need more power, the Power Expansion Battery 2000 delivers, adding a massive 2,048 Wh of extra battery capacity. You can add up to five Power Expansion Battery 2000 units to a single Power 1000, and they are priced at $899 each.

This means you can pick up a 3,000 Wh power station combo for $1,598, which is an exceptionally good price.

Given that DJI was a new kid on the block when it came to power stations, I was curious about the long-term performance of this unit. I've put this combo through its paces over the past few months, exposing it to hot summer days and wet, stormy weeks, bouncing it around country roads in the back of cars and trucks. It's put up with all this and performed flawlessly.

These units are designed for outdoor use, and the internal components feature a sub-nano protective coating technology that allows them to operate safely for brief periods in conditions such as rain, condensation, and salt fog. My units have been exposed to a lot of that, and I've not had any problems.

The Power Dongle also adds flexibility to the system, allowing it to be monitored and controlled remotely using an app over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.   

Currently, my setup is on standby as the UK braces for another storm, just in case the power goes out again.