Welcome to our comprehensive guide on solar generators, your ultimate resource for understanding and harnessing the power of the sun to generate clean and reliable energy. In an era where sustainable and eco-friendly energy solutions are becoming increasingly crucial, solar generators have emerged as a game-changing technology for both outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking backup power options.
Solar generators, often referred to as "solar power stations," offer a portable and efficient way to generate electricity using sunlight. Unlike traditional fuel-based generators, solar generators produce electricity silently and without emitting harmful pollutants, making them an environmentally friendly alternative. Whether you are embarking on a camping trip, preparing for natural disasters, or simply aiming to reduce your carbon footprint, a solar generator can provide the power you need while minimizing your impact on the planet.
Throughout this blog, we will delve into the various components that constitute a solar generator system, including solar panels, batteries, inverters, and charge controllers. We'll guide you through the process of selecting the right solar generator for your needs, whether it's a compact option for charging small devices or a more robust system capable of powering essential appliances during prolonged outages.
Furthermore, we'll explore the benefits and limitations of solar generators, offering insights into their efficiency, maintenance requirements, and real-world applications. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about integrating solar generators into your lifestyle.
Join us on this enlightening journey as we unlock the potential of solar generators and illuminate the path toward a greener and more resilient energy future. Let's harness the sun's boundless energy together and embrace a cleaner, more sustainable way of powering our lives.
Best solar generators you can buy in 2023
#1 Jackery 2000 Plus, Overall best performer
#2 Bluetti AC200max, Best under $1600
#3 Mango power E, Best for home backup
#4 Bluetti AC300, Best under $3,000
#5 Bluetti AC500, Highest-rated solar generator
#7 Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro, Best 1,000-watt Solar Generator
#8 Jackery Explorer 300 Pro, Best for Solo Campaigning
#1 Jackery 2000 Plus
Jackery 2000 Plus is our top pick for best solar generator in 2023, due to its lightweight, high PV, and AC input capacity which makes it the most suitable solar generator for both home backup and outdoor activities.
It has a 2042Wh LPF battery capacity, which can be extended up to 12,252 Wh with 5 numbers of Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus (2,042Wh). Furthermore, you can connect two numbers of Jackery 2000 plus with its connector to power your 240V appliances.
It has a solar input capacity of 1,200 watts, which is not very impressive. A 1,200-watt solar panel can generate power between 4,500 Wh to 5,400 Wh in a single day, which is only sufficient to fully charge its inbuilt battery along with one additional battery.
It has a total 9 numbers of output ports, which also includes a 25A RV port, to power your RV. This 61.5 lbs/ 27.9 kg weigh machine comes with two wheels and an extendable handle, which makes it easy to carry on a camping trip and move from your garage to your RV.
Price: The price of Jackery 2000 plus is between $2,199 to $1,899 and the price of each additional battery will be $1,599. Another plus point of buying 2000 plus is that it comes with 5 years of warranty.
Jackery also has on Jackery 2000 pro version, which is $100 cheaper than the 2000 plus version, however, it has an NCM battery which has less charge cycle as compared to the LPF battery of the 2000 Plus.
#2 Bluetti AC200max
Bluetti AC200max is the best solar generator under $1,599, moreover, it is also the best-selling product of Bluetti. You won’t find any machine better than this under $1,599. Under $1,599, it is the only solar generator with a 30A RV port (+15 other ports), 2,048 Wh LPF battery backup capacity, which can be extended up to 8,0192Wh, and 2,200 watt AC output capacity.
It is a perfect machine for your RV trips, campaign trips, and home backup.
To extend, its backup capacity you will require two additional batteries, but these extended batteries need to be brought separately. Its battery capacity can be expandable Up To 6,144Wh with 2×B230, or 8,192Wh with 2×B300. However, it has only 900 watts of the maximum solar input capacity. This is not as much as compared to Jackery 2,000 plus and it doesn’t come with wheels, so need to carry this 61.9lbs (28.1kg) machine on your back.
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
#3 Mango power E (Best for home backup)
Mango Power E is our top choice of solar generator for Home backup, due to its Lithium-ion CATL-LFP battery, which has a 5,000-6,000-charge cycle. Whereas its close competitors, Bluetti & EcoFlow have Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries with a 2,500-3,500-charge cycle. That means, that where both Bluetti & EcoFLOW need a battery change in 8 to 10 years, Mongo Power E will require a battery change in 15 to 18 years. Furthermore, FYI, only the “plus” series of Jackery-made solar generators have LPF batteries.
It has a battery capacity of 3,530kWh, which can be doubled by using its expendable 3,530kWh battery. However, this additional battery needs to be purchased separately.
You can pair two expanded units of Mango Power E to achieve a maximum of 14kWh battery backup with 6kW inverter power at 240V. This is a full-fledged home backup bundle that you can connect to your home circuit and is obviously a cool alternative to Bluetti EP500 and EcoFlow Delta Pro.
The Mango Power E Power Station also has a BACKUP mode, which will automatically switch from grid to battery power when there is a power outage.
It has an AC charging capacity of 3,000 Watts, which is a pretty decent capacity for this range. It can be charged via solar panels. Moreover, the 2,000-watt solar input capacity is less than Bluetti's AC500 and AC300. However, 2,000 watts of solar panels are enough to charge an 8,000 Wh battery in a single day.
It has a maximum output power of 3,000 watts. It has a total 16 numbers of ports, which include 4 numbers of 20A AC ports and One 30 Amp AC RV port.
Here is something cool, its expendable battery also has 3 numbers of DC outputs. Which also, includes a 12V, 10A Car DC port. Its expendable battery can be charged via a 12V Car DC port, without the need of its solar generator unit.
It has a smart energy management system, with a 4.5-inch touch screen, and can be controlled via Bluetooth and Wifi. It comes with Over voltage, Overload, Over current, and tons of other protection. It comes with 5 years of Comprehensive warranty and 10 Years of CATL battery Cell Warranty.
It includes wheels and a luggage-type extending handle, as the unit weighs 100 lbs (45.5kg). It's a beast to move around, and although it is portable, you won’t be tossing it around like carry-on luggage. The weight is low to the ground, so moving around on a solid surface is relatively easy.
Price: It will cost you $3,999 and with its extended battery, it will cost you $6,898. Moreover, if you want its 240V, power package, which includes 2xMongo Power E with 240V power Kit, then it will cost you $8,297.
The price of Mango Power E is a couple of $1400 more than its close competitor Bluetti AC300. However, its higher charge cycle CATL LPF battery makes it worth it.
#4 Bluetti AC300: Best under $3,000
BLUETTI AC300 is another entry from BLUETTI in this list, It used to be on top of our list of best solar generators for a house, and for off-grid living, but after the release of AC500 and Mango Power E, the AC300 slipped to number three. However, it has the third biggest, Pure Sine Wave inverter size in its class, which is 3,100 Watts with a surge capacity of 6000 Watts.
In addition, it has two numbers MPPT with each range compatible to connect with 1200 Watts of solar panels. That means you can connect a maximum of 2,400 watts of solar panels with it. Its modular design makes it easy to carry.
It also comes with a detachable battery with a capacity of 3,072Wh and the same can be extended up to 12,2888 Wh with 1+3 numbers of detachable batteries. With its total extended battery capacity, it can run your whole house for 9 to 12 hours.
It has dual charging options, which means you can charge it with two power sources, that is one AC [grid/gas generator] and one DC [PV panel/Car Charger/Lead-acid battery].
With its Fusion Box Pro, you can connect two units of AC300 in series and utilize them to power your 240V appliances. However, you need to buy this fusion box separately. One of the advantages of AC300 over other solar generators in this range is that it comes with 4 4-year [48 months] extended warranty. However, other solar generator comes with a 24 to 36-month warranty period except Jackery 200 Plus and Mongo Power E, which comes with a 5-year warranty.
Price: The price of Bluetti AC300 is reduced from $3,299 to $2,599, which makes it the Best solar generator under $3,000. You will not find any solar generator with these much of features in $2,599.
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
#5 Bluetti AC500 (highest-rated solar generator)
BLUETTI AC500 is the highest-rated solar generator, you can buy for a house and RV, it has all the necessary capacities you need for your home and RV trips.
For a Starter, it is the only Solar Generator with both a 30 amp and 50 Amp AC output power sockets with a surge capacity of 10,000 Watts. Therefore, your house needs a little more extra power it can deliver.
Furthermore, its backup capacity can be extended from 3,072Wh to 18,432Wh, and that much battery capacity is enough to power your house even without solar. However, you need to be a little careful with your power consumption.
However, if you think this is not enough, it has a solar input capacity of 3000 watts, which can generate power from 10,000 Wh to 15,000 Wh in a day [depending upon weather conditions].
In addition, it has the highest wall socket charging capacity which is 5,000 Watts, and with its 3000-watt solar input capacity, its total charging capacity will be 8,000 Watts. Therefore, you charge in 1-4 hours depending upon the number of batteries and capacity of solar panels you have.
Third, its modular design, makes it easy to shift from your garage to your kitchen to your living room, wherever you want.
Furthermore, it also has a 12V/30A DC outlet so you can also use it to charge your car batteries or take it on an RV trip.
Also, you can connect two AC500 solar generators with its fusion box, to run your 240V power appliances too. Which need to be bought separately.
Price: It will cost you $4,799 (which includes one B300S, 3,072Wh battery). With two B300S, it will cost you $7,098.
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
#6 Ecoflow Delta pro
EcoFlow Delta Pro has the third-highest expandable backup capacity and second-highest AC inverter capacity. It comes with an inbuilt battery capacity of 3,600 Wh and the same can be expanded up to 10,800 Wh with two detachable batteries of a capacity of 3,600 Wh each. Its 3,600 W inverter capacity with a surge capacity of 7,200 W makes it ideal for running multiple heavy loads.
With its full expandable battery capacity, it can power your whole house for 7 to 10 hours. With its dual charging option, you can charge it with AC power [grid/gas generator] Plus DC Power [PV panel/Car Charger/Lead-acid battery] simultaneously. You can fully charge it in less than 2 hours with its AC input capacity of 3,000 W and a PV input capacity of 1,600 W.
Today's Deal: Check EcoFlow's Website
#7 Jackery Explorer 1000 pro (Best 1,000-watt Solar generator)
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro is a powerful and reliable portable power station that has revolutionized the way we access electricity on the go. With its impressive capacity and versatile functionality, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro has become our top pick for a 1000-watt solar generator.
The reason why it becomes the number #1 choice for a 1000-watt solar generator, is that it is the lightest solar generator (22lbs/10kg) with a massive 1000-watt hour lithium-ion battery and the highest solar input capacity, that is 800 watts. Read full review….
However, you do not need to carry 800 watts of solar panels to charge it, you can also charge it with one 200-watt or 2x100-watt solar panel. Moreover, if you can carry conventional solar panels, then we prefer conventional over portable ones, due to low cost and high reliability.
It also supports recharging via AC power outlets or a 12V carport, giving you multiple options to replenish its battery. It also comes with a sturdy handle, allowing for easy transportation.
The compact design makes it ideal for camping trips, tailgating events, or as a backup power source during power outages.
Furthermore, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro is equipped with advanced safety features, including a built-in battery management system that protects against overcharging, short circuits, and overheating. This ensures the safety of your devices and provides peace of mind while using the power station.
Related post: Best 1000-watts Solar Generators
#8 Jackery Explorer 300 Plus(Best for Solo Campaigning)
Jackerty 300 Plus is a small compact, yet powerful solar generator that is perfectly fit for your outdoor adventurers. Its fully charged 288 Wh battery can charge your drone more than 5 times, your motion camera more than 54 times, your Macbook more than 4 times, and your smartphone more than 30 times.
With its 300-watt charging capacity, you can charge all above-mentioned appliances simultaneously with its 4 numbers of output ports, which include 1 AC port and 3 USB ports.
While charging your devices, simultaneously it can be charged with a maximum of 100 watts of solar panel, which is enough to fully charge its battery in 5.5 hours. It is an infinite source of power for your next campaigning tips.
It has a weight of only 3.75kg (8.27 lbs), whereas the weight of a 100-watt portable solar panel is 4.69 kg (10.33 lbs). It is lighter than a 100-watt solar panel, yet you can’t take it on flight, but you can carry a 100-watt solar panel. Click here, to learn why.
Its lithium-ion battery has a 3000 charge cycle, whereas most solar generators with such capacity have only a 500 charge cycle.
It will cost you $300, however, you will discount of $20-$30, if you buy it from Jackery's Website.
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