DJI Power 1000 & DJI Power Expansion 2000 Review – Is it Worth the Money?

DJI’s latest entries into the world of portable off-grid power are the DJI Power 1000 and the DJI Power Expansion Battery 2000. Today, we will be taking a closer look at them: The Power 1000 is a company, high-capacity power station designed for demanding on-set, mobile, and field use. Interested in more? Keep reading…

DJI is best known for leading the market in civilian drones and camera gimbals, with standout products like the Mavic series and the Ronin 2 setting industry standards. The latter, in particular, has become a staple in professional cinematography. In recent years, DJI has broadened its scope, venturing into agricultural drones, mapping and surveying solutions, professional camera systems, and most recently, portable off-grid power stations. In this review, we take a closer look at the DJI Power 1000 and the DJI Power Expansion Battery 2000.

Portable power stations

At its core, a portable power station is simply a rechargeable battery device designed to provide electricity to a variety of electronic devices and appliances when there’s no access to power outlets. These versatile power banks are made to be easy to carry, with sizes ranging from compact units similar to a lunchbox or briefcase larger models that have handles or even wheels for easier transport. In the videography and film industry, power stations are mainly used to charge batteries in remote locations and as a more affordable alternative to uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for the Digital Image Technicians (DITs).

First impressions

The DJI Power 1000 features a sturdy casing that resists scratches well. Its simple and clean design fits nicely in DJI’s existing product lineup.

On the front, there are two AC outlets, and just below the screen, the following: two 24W USB-A ports and two 140W USB-C ports. On the right side are the AC input, one SDC port, and one SDC Lite port. These three are protected by durable plastic covers. Unfortunately, the AC outlets and USB ports don’t have any covers to protect them from dust or dirt. Just above the AC input and the SDC ports is the main power button. When pressed, the DJI Power 1000 starts to beep to indicate that it’s turned on. For added safety, each AC outlet has its own dedicated power button located directly below it.

Power Expansion Battery 2000

The DJI Power 1000 can be extended to a total capacity of 3 kWh using the DJI Power Expansion Battery 2000, which connects to the SDC ports and is sold separately. It follows the same sleek, grey design as the Power 1000. Unfortunately, there’s no way to securely attach the expansion battery to the Power 1000 with screws or clips, so stacking them feels a bit unstable. However, DJI offers a mounting kit for cars or other setups. Considering it’s a battery extension, the size is quite compact, and combined with the Power 1000, the overall package is surprisingly small for a 3 kWh power station. We will review the Expansion battery alongside the Power 1000.

Power output and weight

With a capacity of 1024Wh and weighing just 13kg (28.7 lbs), the DJI Power 1000 is lighter than many other competitors. While some models with the same capacity may be one or two kilos lighter, none offer entry-level 1024Wh batteries with AC outlets that deliver a max. continuous output power of 2200W and a max. output power of 2600W.

An important point to note is that the max. power output is designed to handle short bursts of high demand, like with HMI lights that use more power when starting up but settle to normal levels after a few seconds. It’s not safe to draw 2600W continuously for a long period of time. DJI recommends that the max. power output can be used for only 30 to 60 seconds.

Setup & usability

With two AC outlets, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and two accessory SDC ports, the DJI Power 1000 covers nearly every common device used on set, while camping or during drone operations. The screen is easy to read and gives you a clear overview of both output and input wattage in real life. The battery percentage is displayed in a large font, making it easy to see from a distance. One feature I’d love to see in future versions is a time estimate based on the current power draw, which would help better manage energy usage.

Before using the DJI Power Expansion Battery 2000, you’ll need to update the firmware on your Power 1000 using the DJI Assistant 2. It’s not a major hassle, but it would have been nice if it worked straight out of the box. Once connected, you also need to press the power button on the expansion battery to begin supplying power through the SDC Port to the Power 1000. Above the power button is a small screen that shows the remaining charge. While smaller than the screen on the Power 1000, it’s still easy to read.

You can connect up to five expansion units with one Power 1000, offering the following capacity options:

• 1 Expansion Unit:           3072 Wh
• 2 Expansion Units:         5120 Wh
• 3 Expansion Units:         7168 Wh
• 4 Expansion Units:         9216 Wh
• 5 Expansion Units:         11.264 Wh

Battery type, life, and charging

Both the Power 1000 and Expansion Battery 2000 use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery cells, commonly found in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and portable power stations. This battery type is widely used for its thermal stability, long cycle life, and improved safety compared to some other lithium-ion chemistries. DJI says that both units will retain over 70% of their capacity after 4,000 cycles, ensuring reliable long-term use.

The DJI Power 1000 offers two charging modes: 1200W and 600W. You can easily switch between them using a small switch below the AC input. Charging the Power 1000 from 0% to 100% takes about 70 minutes, or from 0% to 80% in just 50 minutes. The full 1200W charge rate is applied when the battery is above 60% capacity.

The Power Expansion Battery 2000 can only be charged through the DJI Power 1000. It’s a bit disappointing that it doesn’t have its own AC input, as this would add redundancy, especially useful if DJI plans to support home setups with solar panel integration.

Working with the DJI Power 1000 & Power Extension 2000

In my testing, I mainly used the DJI Power 1000 together with the expansion battery. Below, I’ll share a few real-world scenarios where I used the setup on set, alongside some conversations from working with it.

Mobile charging

Sometimes you need to work in mobile environments, like during filming documentaries or road trip-like shoots, where your base is a van or car. The Power 1000, combined with the Expansion 2000, fits easily into almost any trunk. I had no issues running and charging drones, phones, and camera batteries at the same time for a full 10-hour workday. Even when packed tightly in a trunk, the Power 1000 stayed cool and didn’t overheat. One thing worth highlighting is the build quality: there’s no need to worry when securing the units with a ratchet strap, as both the Power 1000 and Expansion Battery are rugged and durable enough for transport.

Emergency power for DIT & backup stations

For DITs and Data Wranglers, emergency power is absolutely critical. Losing power during data transfers or backups is one of the worst things that can happen on set. On one production I worked on, we had an issue with unstable power at the location, an old castle with outdated wiring, resulting in random power outages.

To protect our workflow, we placed the DJI Power 1000 and Expansion Battery 2000 between the wall outlet and our DIT/backup setup. With a combined 3Kwh of capacity, it was more than enough to keep our three MacBooks and three RAID drives running for long enough to safely shut down everything in the event of a power loss.

We ran this setup 24/7 for two weeks. While the performance was generally solid, we did encounter a problem early on: the AC outputs shut off unexpectedly during the first night, perhaps due to overheating, but thankfully, no data was lost. At first, we thought someone had accidentally pressed the AC outlet buttons, so we kept using the setup. However, on the final day of shooting, our DIT noticed the AC outputs shut off again while moving the gear to another location, suggesting a possible issue with movement or overheating. We couldn’t reproduce the problem or identify the exact cause.

Despite this, the DJI Power 1000 was surprisingly quiet and handled the workload well for its price range. But because of these random shutdowns, I personally wouldn’t use it again for this kind of scenario.

SDC ports and accessories

The SDC and SDC Lite ports on the DJI Power 1000 add a lot of flexibility. You can fast-charge certain DJI drone batteries, draw power from compatible solar panels, connect various power adapters, link power extensions, and even use a so-called DJI Power Module to connect and monitor the unit via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Since there are so many options, here’s a quick list with short explanations of each supported accessory:

Charging & power cables

Solar charging

Expansion & connectivity

Protection

Technical specs – DJI Power 1000

Below is a breakdown of the technical specs of the DJI Power 1000. When used with the Power Expansion 2000, only the total capacity will change while other specifications will remain the same.

Note: AC output specifications vary by country. For example, the Japanese version has a lower continuous output (2000W) due to its 100V power standard. This review is based on the European version.

Capacity: 1024 Wh
Weight: Approx. 13 kg
Dimensions: 448 × 225 × 230 mm (L×W×H)

Ports:

• AC Output × 2
• USB-C × 2
• USB-A × 2
• SDC × 1
• SDC Lite × 1
• AC Input × 1 Maximum Operating Altitude: 3000 m

AC outputs

DYM1000L: 100 to 120 V AC, 50/60 Hz:

• Max. Continuous Output Power: 2200 W
• Max. Output Power: 2600 W (total)*
• Peak Output Power: 4400 W

DYM1000H: 220 to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz:

• Max. Continuous Output Power: 2200 W
• Max. Output Power: 2600 W (total)
• Peak Output Power: 4400 W

AC outputs (Bypass Mode)

• DYM1000L: 100 to 120 V AC, 12 A, 1440 W
• DYM1000H: 220 to 240 V AC, 10 A, 2200 W

USB-A outputs: 5 V, 3 A; 9 V, 2 A; 12 V, 2 A

• Max. Output Power per Port: 24 W

USB-C outputs: 5 V, 5 A; 9 V, 5 A; 12 V, 5 A; 15 V, 5 A; 20 V, 5 A; 28 V, 5 A (EPR)

• Max. Output Power per Port: 140 W

SDC and SDC Lite outputs

• SDC: 9 to 27 V, Max. Current: 10 A, Max. Output Power: 240 W
• SDC Lite: 9 to 27 V, Max. Current: 10 A, Max. Output Power: 240 W

AC inputs

• DYM1000L: 100 to 120 V AC, 1200 W (Charging), 1440 W (Bypass Mode)
• DYM1000H: 220 to 240 V AC, 1200 W (Charging), 2200 W (Bypass Mode)

SDC and SDC Lite inputs

• SDC: 32 to 58.4 V DC, Max. 400 W, 8 A
• SDC Lite: 32 to 58.4 V DC, Max. 400 W, 8 A

Operating temperatures

• Power Supply Temperature: -10 °C to 45 °C
• Charging Temperature: 0 °C to 45 °C
• Storage Temperature: -10 °C to 45 °C   

Final thoughts

I really enjoyed working with the DJI Power 1000 and the Expansion Battery 2000. Its small form factor makes it practical in almost any use case that requires a lot of power over an extended period. Even without the expansion, the 1024Wh capacity is more than enough to charge drone batteries, smartphones, and other devices.

Both units have excellent build quality (they don’t feel cheap), and the clean design makes them easy to carry and transport. It’s impressive that DJI only entered the power station market about a year ago, and already offers such a wide range of compatible accessories.

The DJI Power 1000 retails for $699, but I recommend looking for deals, as I’ve spotted deals in the past as low as $499. The 2kWh Expansion Battery is listed as $899 on B&H, but can sometimes also be found for less. The reason I mention this is that the power station market is large and highly competitive, and there are cheaper alternatives available. However, few (if any) offer fast drone charging or such a well-integrated ecosystem of accessories.

Overall, I would recommend the DJI Power 1000, especially for drone operators using DJI products or anyone looking for a low-profile portable power system with a wide range of outputs. That said, due to the issue I encountered with the AC outputs shutting off unexpectedly, I wouldn’t recommend it for critical, long-term use where absolute reliability is required. Whether you need the Expansion Battery 2000 depends on your use case and budget, but if you do, it’s a compact and powerful addition.

For more information, please visit the DJI website.

What are your thoughts on the DJI Power 1000 and the Expansion Battery? Are you missing units like these on your set? Let us know in the comments!