Best Solar Generators for Your House [Aug 2023] | Buying guide
Updated: Nov 12
Solar generators are portable off-grid solar power plants with inbuilt batteries and you can charge them with AC power, PV panels, and even with a car charging port. These portable powerhouses are rated between 200 watts to 3,000 watts. These solar generators are very convenient and effortless to set up.
However, to run the whole house with a solar generator you need to select the right size with a battery capacity big enough so that you can run your appliances for the desirable backup time. So, what size of solar generator do you need to run your house? Here is an explanation.
As per EIA in 2020, the average power consumption of a residential utility customer in the US is 900kWh per month. Accordingly, for a day the average power consumption of a residential customer is 30kWh. Likewise, per hour, the same will be roughly 1.25 kWh. Furthermore,1.25 kWh equals running a 1.25 kW load for one hour.
Therefore, this implies that the minimum rating of a solar generator needed to run a house should be 2,000 kW with a battery backup of at least 2,000 Wh.
To run a house, the minimum inverter rating of the solar generator should be 2,000 kW with a battery backup of at least 2,000 Wh.
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Can a solar generator power a house?
A large-size solar generator that has an inverter rating of 2000 watts or above and a battery backup of sizes 2,000Wh to 10,000Wh can power a whole house for 2 to 8 hours. However, the backup time can be increased by reducing the house load.
The backup time of a solar generator is also dependent upon its MPPT range also known as PV input rating. To keep the price low and profit high some solar generator manufacturer reduces the electronics of MPPT and this affects the backup time of solar generator.
Moreover, a solar generator with a higher PV input rating can last longer because it can connect with more numbers of solar panels as compared to a solar generator with a lower PV input rating.
The battery of a solar generator can charge with both portable solar panels and conventional solar panels, however, the price of portable solar panels is 1.8 times higher and can’t withstand high wind speed. Moreover, installing conventional solar panels on a rooftop requires a solar survey to check the condition of the rooftop, so that any damage to the rooftop due to solar panel installation can be avoided.
>> Click here for a solar survey
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Cost of solar generator for a house?
The cost of a solar generator for a house battery capacity of 2,000 Wh to 5,000 Wh without solar panels varies from $2,100 to $5,400. Moreover, solar generators with portable solar panels will cost you from $4,200 to $7,200, and the same with conventional solar panels will cost you between $3,300 to $6,600.
The price of a portable solar panel is 1.8 times higher than a conventional one. Thus, we prefer traditional solar panels where the usage of the solar generator is for home backup and off-grid living.
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Top Solar generators for a house.
1. Mango Power E, World's Best CATL LFP Battery
2. BLUETTI AC500, Highest Inverter with 50A AC Output port
3. BLUETTI AC300,
4. EcoFlow DELTA Pro, Second Highest Inverter Capacity
5. BLUETTI AC200 Max, Best Money Value.
6. EcoFlow DELTA Max,
7. Anker PowerHouse 767
8. EP500,
9. Goal Zero 6000X,
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1. Mango Power E, World's Best CATL LFP Battery
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, where both Bluetti & EcoFLOW need a battery change in 8 to 10 years, Mongo Power E will require a battery change in 15-18 years.
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 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 includes 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 $100 more than its close competitor Bluetti AC300. However, its higher charge cycle is CATL LPF battery makes it worthy.
>> Check the Latest Prices and offers <<
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Key Takeaway:
Solar generators can be used indoors because they produce no harmful gasses.
Most of the solar generators can be charged with an AC wall socket, Car DC port, other batteries, solar panels, and Gas generators.
Solar generators can be used while charging.
You can use both portable as well as conventional solar panels with solar generators. However portable solar panels are not rainproof (only splashproof) and cannot withstand heavy wind. Moreover, conventional panels require structure, which increases the total cost of the plant.
Most solar generators have dual charging options. You can charge them with solar panels + AC wall socket/Gas generator simultaneously.
You can't take solar generators on flight Learn more.
You can get up to 30% federal Tax credit on the purchase of a solar generator. >>Learn more about the benefits of Investing in Solar generators for House use.
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2. BLUETTI AC500
BLUETTI AC500 is our second pick for the best solar generators for a house, it has all the necessary capacities you need for your home.
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 also, 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 buy separately.
Battery | ​3,072 Wh |
​Battery Expandability | ​18,432 Wh [Highest] |
​Inverter Rating | 5,000 Watts [Highest] |
Surge Rating | 10,000 Watts [Highest] |
AC Input Capacity | ​5,000 Watts |
PV input rating | 3,000 Watt |
​Number of Ports | 16 Ports [Second Highest] |
​AC500 Price | |
Expansion Battery Price |
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
>> Buy BLUETTI AC500 from UK, Click here <<
>> Buy BLUETTI AC500 from Canada, Click here <<
>> Buy BLUETTI AC500 from Australia, Click here <<
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3. BLUETTI AC300
BLUETTI AC300 is another entry from BLUETTI in this list and it used to be on top of our list of best solar generators for a house, but after the release of AC500 and Mango Power E, 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. Also, it has two numbers MPPT with each range compatible to connect with 1200 Watts of solar panels. Its modular design makes it easy to carry.
It also comes with a detachable battery with a capacity of 3,072 Wh 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 a 4-year [48 months] extended warranty. However, another solar generator comes with a 24 to 36-month warranty period.
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
>> Buy BLUETTI AC300 from UK, Click here <<
>> Buy BLUETTI AC300 from Canada, Click here <<
>> Buy BLUETTI AC300 from Australia, Click here <<
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4. EcoFlow DELTA Pro, Highest Inverter Capacity
EcoFlow Delta Pro has the third-highest expandable backup capacity and the 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.
Battery | ​3,600 Wh [LiFePO4/LPF] |
Battery Expandability | Up to 10,800 Wh |
Inverter Rating | 3,600 W |
Surge Rating | 7,200 W |
AC Input Rating | 3,000 W AC |
PV Input Rating | 1,600 W |
Numbers of Ports | 14 Numbers |
Delta Pro Price | |
Expansion Battery Price | N/A |
Today's Deal: Check EcoFlow's Website
>> Buy EcoFlow DELTA Pro from the UK, Click here <<
>> Buy EcoFlow DELTA Pro from Canada, Click here <<
>> Buy EcoFlow DELTA Pro from Australia, Click here <<
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5. BLUETTI AC200 Max, Best Value Money
Depending upon which solar generator you want, for your house under $2,000 you won’t find a better solar generator than Bluetti AC200 Max. Its modular design comes with an inverter capacity of 2,200 W and a surge capacity of 4,800 W. It has an in-built battery capacity of 2,048Wh which can be expanded up to 8,192 W.
It comes with 13 numbers of output ports, which include a wireless charging pad, a 30A RV port, and a cigarette lighter. Under this price range, you won't find any solar generators.
You can charge it with solar, car charger, other batteries, and grid power.
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
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6. EcoFlow DELTA Max
At first glance, EcoFlow Delta Max looks like its Pro version, however, it comes with a battery backup of 2,016 Wh and has an inverter capacity of 2,400W. You can expand its backup capacity up to 6,048 Wh with two detachable Delta Max smart batteries.
It has an AC input capacity of 1,800 Watts and a PV input capacity of 8,00 Watts which is higher than its close competitor AC200 Max. However, its Lithium-Ion NCM battery makes its fall below AC200Max.
​Battery | ​2,016 Wh Li-ion NMC |
Battery Expandability: | ​Up to 6,048 Wh |
Inverter Rating | 2,400 W |
Surge Rating | 5,000 W |
​AC Input Rating: | 1,800 W AC |
PV Input Rating | ​800 W |
​Numbers of Ports | ​12 Numbers |
​AC200Max Price | |
Expansion Battery | ​$1,599 |
Today's Deal: Check EcoFlow's Website
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7. Anker PowerHouse 767 (Fastest Charging Under $2,000)
Under the budget of $2,000 then Anker Powerhouse 767 has the highest AC input capacity with a 1,000-watt solar input capacity, which makes it the fastest-charging solar generator under $2,000.
Moreover, compared with Bluetti AC200 or AC300, the Anker Powerhouse 767’s durable and portable suitcase design makes it better in mobility than both. It also has, a TT-30R outlet for your RV however, you can only draw a maximum of 20A power from its 2,400-watt inverter.
It comes with a 2,048Wh LifeP04 battery, which can be doubled with an additional battery. You can charge its single battery within 2.5 hours with 1,000-watt solar panels (which is its maximum capacity of solar input) so if you have two batteries then you can fully charge them in 5 hours of sunshine, this means you won’t need to worry about running out power, because you can charge your solar generator while using them.
With its 12 numbers of ports and overload capacity of 3600 watts, you can run multiple appliances on it simultaneously. While charging it with solar.
It also has UPS mode (with 20ms switching time), which means you can connect it to your home emergency power supply line and it will keep your lights and critical appliances like your PC running without any shutdown. Now you do not need to buy one home inverter for a power outage and one gas generator for an RV or campaigning trip.
>> Check the latest discount on Anker PowerHouse 767, now
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8. EP500 Pro
If you are looking for a solar generator with a large size MPPT [PV input rating] & the highest numbers on flush-mounted output ports then you won’t find anything better than EP500. It has the highest number of output ports in this list, which is 18 numbers which include 2 Wireless charging pads, a 100 W USB-C port, a 30A RV port, 4 numbers of 120V AC as well as 3 numbers of 240V AC ports.
It is the most complete solar generator in this list, with an AC input capacity of 6,00 Watt and a PV input capacity of 2,400 W. It comes with an inbuilt backup capacity of 5,100 Wh, which can run your whole house for 3 to 5 hours without solar. And if you have solar panels it can give backup up to 7 to 15 hours.
Battery | ​5,100 Wh LPF |
Battery Expandability | N/A |
Inverter Rating | 2,000 W |
Surge Rating | 4,800W |
​AC Input Rating | ​600 W AC |
​PV Input Rating | 2,400W |
Numbers of Ports | ​18 Numbers |
EP500 Pro Price | |
​Expansion Battery | ​N/A |
Today's Deal: Check Bluetti Power's Website
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9. Goal Zero Yeti6000X
Goal Zero Yeti6000x has plenty of power and an inverter size large enough to power your whole house. It comes with a cart, and that makes it easy to move around. It has a converter [AC input] size of 600W which is not the best in class and an MPPT [PV input] size large enough to connect with 1200 watts of solar panels.
Its 6,071 Wh Li-ion NMC battery is large enough that power your house for 4 to 6 hours.
Battery | ​6,071 Wh Li-ion NMC |
Battery Expandability | N/A |
Inverter Rating | 2,000 W |
Surge Rating | 3,000 W |
AC Input Rating | ​600 W AC |
​PV Input Rating | ​1200 W |
​Numbers of Ports | ​11 Numbers |
Goal Zero 6000X Price | $5,399.95 |
Expansion Battery | N/A |
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How do to choose the best solar generator for your house?
To choose the best solar generator for a house, we considered different factors like battery capacity, expandability of battery capacity, MPPT rating, Inverter rating, and Converter rating. Some of the factors are explained below.
Battery Type: Lithium batteries are used in solar generators to make them light in weight. Furthermore, most solar generators have two types of lithium batteries, that is LPF and NMC. NCM is one of the newest members of the lithium battery family. However, studies show that its performance is lower than LPF batteries.
However, Monago Power E is the only solar generator, which has a CATL LFP battery. CATL LFP batteries have 1.7 times more charge cycles than LPF batteries.
Also, LPF batteries have a 3.5 times higher charge cycle than NCM batteries. Here, one charge cycle is equal to the charging of the battery followed by 80% depth of discharge. Furthermore, an LPF battery has a charge cycle of 3500, NCM batteries have a charge cycle of 800 and CATL LFP batteries have a 6,000 charge cycle.
Battery Expandability: The power of a house changes as the family members increase as well as new appliances are added to the daily routine. Hence, the backup capacity of a fixed-capacity solar generator won't be that useful.
However, the backup capacity of a solar generator with expandable battery capacity can be adjusted as per the house load requirement.
Inverter Rating: The inverter capacity of a solar generator limits the number of appliances it can run simultaneously. As per the EIA report, the average load demand of houses in the USA is about 2kW.
Hence, for powering the entire house any solar generator with an inverter capacity lower than 2kW, won't fit for its purpose.
AC Input [converter] Rating: To reduce the price of solar generators and keep the profit high. Some solar generator manufacturers reduce the electronic of AC Converter, Hence, their solar generators take more time to get charged. A fast-charged solar generator has more advantages than a slow-charged solar generator.
Solar generators with higher AC converter ratings get charged faster and will get ready for power outages faster.
Numbers of ports: To run the whole house on the solar generator, you will require sufficient numbers of output ports with varieties so that all the required numbers of appliances can be run on it. Most solar generators with a capacity of 2000W and above have 12 to 18 numbers output ports.
We recommend at least 10 numbers output ports so that a maximum number of houses can be run simultaneously. Hence, any solar generator with output ports less than 10 is out of the list.
PV Input [MPPT] Rating: A higher PV input rating means a longer backup time. FYI, 1 kW of solar panel can charge a 2,000 - 4,000 kWh battery in a day. Hence, we prefer solar generators with higher PV input ratings over lower PV input ratings.
The PV input capacity of a high-range solar generator varies from 12,00 Watts to 24,00 Watts.
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