Portable Power
Northline Voltcrate 1600: delivered 1,412 wh of its rated 1,600 wh at 20 °c
88% usable capacity, and the fan is the loudest component we have measured this year.
By Dan Reyes4 min read2026-06-09
Key takeaways
- Reviewed 2026-06-09.
- 3 of 6 checklist results passed.
Pros & Cons
- Vehicle-based crews with sheltered storage
- Tool charging and site lighting
- Exposed outdoor placement
- Winter work sized against rated capacity
The report
Two units, bought retail. Discharge tests on a resistive load bank, three runs each, at 20 °C and again at -10 °C after a 12-hour cold soak.
At room temperature it returns 1,412 Wh, or 88% of the rated figure. That is a normal result and we would not mark it down. Cold is different: after a cold soak it gave 1,043 Wh, 65% of rated. If your crews start at dawn in winter, size for that number, not the sticker.
Endurance scored 88. After 300 full cycles capacity was down 2.1%, which tracks the LiFePO4 claim.
The case is the problem. A 0.9 m drop onto plywood — a tailgate height — split the shell at the handle mount on one unit. There is no ingress rating at all, so this is a vehicle-and-shelter product, not a site product.
Fan noise measured 58 dBA at 1 m under a 1,200 W load. In a shared cab that is intrusive.
Test results
| Criterion | Method | Result | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity, 20 °C | Reviewed by us | 1,412 Wh, 88% of rated | Pass |
| Capacity, -10 °C | Reviewed by us | 1,043 Wh, 65% of rated | Fail |
| Continuous 1,800 W, 30 min | Reviewed by us | Held, no shutdown | Pass |
| Drop, 0.9 m onto plywood | Reviewed by us | Case split at handle mount | Fail |
| Rain exposure, light | Reviewed by us | No ingress rating — not tested | Fail |
| Recharge, 0-80% | Reviewed by us | 1 h 04 min at 1,000 W | Pass |
Specifications
| Rated capacity | 1,600 Wh |
|---|---|
| Measured capacity, 20 °C | 1,412 Wh |
| Measured capacity, -10 °C | 1,043 Wh |
| Continuous AC output | 1,800 W |
| Mass | 17.4 kg |
| Fan noise at 1,200 W | 58 dBA at 1 m |
| Cell chemistry | LiFePO4, 3,000 cycles claimed |
| Ingress rating | None stated |
Where to buy
Disclosure: some links below earn us a commission. Commission never affects our judgement, and we buy every unit we review at retail.
- Direct from NorthlineAffiliateIn stock$1,499
- Provantage IndustrialAffiliateIn stock$1,499
Corrections: No corrections logged for this report. Correction log
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