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All of the solar generators on the shortlist below are great options; you could purchase any one of them and be happy. A choice of one over the other really falls down to how much power you want, and a decision about which features are most important to you (weight vs charging time vs price, etc)
The Shortlist
Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station
Reliable, great power for the price, and easy to use. If this has enough power for you, this is hard to beat.
Jackery Explorer 2000 PRO Portable Power Station
If you need a little more power than the 1000 Jackery, then this will do the job. Once again, reliable and easy to use. Has a super fast charge option when plugged into the wall.
Bluetti AC180
Compared to others in this list with a similar power output, this unit offers exceptional surge capacity, so it can handle devices which have a higher start up power. This one also charges up very quickly in the wall outlet,
Anker SOLIX C1000
Another great unit. Perhaps less popular than the Jackery, this unit offers higher power output than the Jackery Explorer 1000, but still remains incredibly light.
Solar generators are portable power stations that combine batteries with one or more solar panels to provide electricity. This makes them different to other generator types. Huh? What’s the difference and why should you care? Good question. Let me explain further, so you can make sure a solar generator is right for you.
Solar generators, or power stations, store energy in a battery. Traditional generators on the other hand don’t store energy anywhere. Rather, they use a fuel source to generate energy on demand. So, when you purchase a solar generator, what you’ll be buying is a power bank that can be recharged from various sources including the sun (using solar panels). These power stations can also be recharged in other ways; usually from your car charging outlet or power wall outlet for example. The important take away is that these batteries need time to recharge whereas other generators have instant power available (as long as you have the input fuel source, such as gasoline, on hand). Also, solar generators have lower power output, which makes them a great option for portable power, but are not the best option if you want to power your whole house for days at a time.
Compared to traditional generators, solar generators are much quieter (the noise they produce is from fans keeping the battery cool), don’t produce harmful emissions so you can use them indoors, and their fuel source (the sun) is free. Plus, they tend to require less maintenance because they don’t have as many parts that can wear out and they don’t get fuel blockages. Given the uniqueness of solar generators, there are a few other things to consider when buying one:
- Battery Storage Capacity: How much energy can the battery store? This is measured in watt hours (Wh). So a battery with a 400Wh capacity can run a 400 watt device for an hour.
- Battery Charging Time: How quickly does the battery recharge? Be careful here that you are comparing apples with apples. Obviously a battery will charge quicker from two 200 watt solar panels versus one 200 watt solar panel.
With that out of the way, let’s move onto the shortlist of recommended solar generators. I’ll be focusing on smaller capacity power stations. The kind you would take on a camping trip, rather than the kind you would use for home emergency use.
Read More about Shortlisted Generators
Jackery is the brand to beat
In the world of solar generators, Jackery is the brand to beat. Time and again, Jackery hits the top of the list for the best power station. It’s reliable, easy to use, has good power for the price, and has multiple outlet types. If you want to charge the battery from the sun, you can buy one or two solar panels (sold separately or in a bundle with the power station). Compared to most units, it’s lightweight and quiet. Plus, its easy to use.
- App: Jackery Phone App to device
- Storage Capacity: 1002 Wh (this can run a 1002 watt device for one hour)
- Output: 1,000 watt
- Maximum Output: 2,000 watt
- Weight: 22 pounds (10kg)
- Noise Level: Less than 46.5 DB (60 DB is the noise level of a normal conversation)
- Outlet types: 8 outlets in total (3 AC outlets, 2 USB-C outlets, 2 USB-A outlets, 1 12-volt car charger outlet).
- Charging sources: Solar panels, standard 12-volt car charger outlet, wall outlet
- Charging time: 11.5 hours in car outlet, 6 hours with two 100 watt solar panels, 5.5 hours in wall outlet
- Warranty: 2 years
A bigger Jackery when you need more power
If you need a Jackery with a bit more power, then this is the unit for you. It can run a lot more devices at the same time, and can handle a higher peak load. Its the power station you need when you want to do more than just charge your phone and keep a fan running. It will add a bit of luxury to your camping trip. Whilst is is much heavier than its smaller cousin (the Explorer 1000), it is still portable at 43 pounds (19.5 kg), and smaller than a milk crate.
- App: No app for this one
- Storage Capacity: 2,160 Wh (this can run a 2,160 watt device for one hour)
- Output: 2,200 watt
- Maximum Output: 4,400 watt
- Weight: 43 pounds (19.5kg)
- Noise Level: Less than 53 DB (60 DB is the noise level of a normal conversation)
- Outlet types: 8 outlets in total (3 AC outlets, 2 USB-C outlets, 2 USB-A outlets, 1 12-volt car charger outlet).
- Charging sources: Solar panels, standard 12-volt car charger outlet, wall outlet
- Charging time: 24 hours in car outlet, 14.5 hours with one 200 watt solar panels, 2 hours in wall outlet
- Warranty: 2 years (with extension to 5 years possible)
Another Reliable Option with great Maximum Output
Another reliable brand offering a great product. You’ll notice that compared with the Jackery 1000, it offers a higher output and maximum output. So this baby can support devices with higher power needs. Its also easy to use. It has a great display that can be managed via a Bluetti app. Another great choice with a long warranty. The only downside is that it is on the heavy side.
- App: Bluetti App
- Capacity: 1,152 Wh (this can run a 1152 watt device for one hour)
- Output: 1,800 watts
- Maximum Output: 2,700 watts
- Weight: 37.5 pounds (17 kg)
- Noise Level: Less than 46.5 DB (60 DB is the noise level of a normal conversation)
- Outlet types: 11 outlets in total (4 AC outlets, 1 USB-C outlets, 4 USB-A outlets, 1 12-volt car charger outlet, 1 x wireless charging pad).
- Charging sources: Solar panels, standard 12-volt car charger outlet, wall outlet
- Charging time: 12 to 12.5 hours in car outlet, 4.8 to 9.6 hours with one 200 watt solar panel, 1.3 to 1.8 hours in wall outlet (80% recharged in 45 minutes)
- Warranty: 5 years
Another Great Option - Great Power in a Well Considered Package
This is a well thought though package. Offering a lot of power in a lightweight package. It offers impressive output and maximum outlet so it will allow you to operate high powered devices or several devices at once. In addition, it is very user friendly – with a range out outlet options, an LED bar at the top for night time, and an app to allow you to control the device. Several reviews have also been impressed with the Anker solar panels. You can add an expansion battery (purchased separately). Notice the long warranty on the unit. The downside of this unit is that it is a little noisy, according to reviews. Definitely an option to consider.
- App: Anker app (connected via wifi or bluetooth)
- Capacity: 1,056 Wh (this can run a 1,056 watt device for one hour)
- Output: 1,800 watts
- Maximum Output: 2,400 watts
- Weight: 28.44 pounds (12.9kg)
- Noise Level: No official noise rating provided (60 DB is the noise level of a normal conversation)
- Outlet types: 11 outlets in total (6 AC outlets, 2 USB-C outlets, 2 USB-A outlets, 1 12-volt car charger outlet).
- Charging sources: Solar panels, standard 12-volt car charger outlet, wall outlet
- Charging time: 10.7 hours in car outlet, 6.1 hours with 200 watts of solar panels, 58 mins to 100% charge in wall outlet (80% charged in 43 mins).
- Warranty: 5 years
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