If you live in an apartment or another small space, you may think that having a generator is completely out of the cards for you. I move around a lot and certainly never expected to have one. But the Jackery 1500 Solar Generator is absolutely perfect for small space living.
Full Disclosure: I received this generator in return for an honest review. This article is about my actual experience using the Jackery in multiple situations.
Why is the Jackery 1500 Solar Generator so good for small spaces?
I live in a 600 square foot apartment in the city, and I’m currently working on a guide for small space and urban prepping. This is an addition that takes up very little space in your home or apartment. Here is a photo of mine in the morning. It was charging devices all night and running a lamp for a few hours while I was reading. It will be tucked behind my nightstand and remain plugged in for storage.
That’s the other super-cool thing: according to the instructions, you can leave it plugged in all the time. That means when an emergency strikes, it’s charged to 100% and ready to go. The solar panels fold completely flat and slide easily and safely into the back of your closet or under a bed. You want to make sure not to put anything on top of the solar panels, so take care if you’re putting them under the bed.
The panels are incredibly lightweight. They have a kickstand velcro-ed to the back, and a zipper pocket containing the cord that connects your panels to the generator. That means you don’t have to worry about losing essential equipment.
It’s safe to use indoors and completely quiet. While it’s charging you hear a little fan noise but once it’s charged, it sits there silently, waiting for your emergency.
3 ways to charge this generator
There are three ways to charge this little generator.
- Plug it into the wall
- Plug it into your car charger
- Use solar power.
Plugging the Jackery 1500 Solar Generator into the wall, it took about 3 hours to charge to 100%. Our weather hasn’t been super bright and sunny here but even in partly cloudy conditions, it charged in about 7 hours outside on my patio. I only used two panels, but it comes with 4, which would make it charge a lot faster.
I haven’t tried using a car charger, but it comes with the adapter to do so. My daughter said this would have been amazing to have with her when she was stuck on I95 for 16 hours. So I’m planning to make it part of my travel kit as well.
Using the Jackery 1500 Solar Generator
I tested Jackery 1500 Solar Generator in multiple ways, some for a real emergency, and some for comfort and convenience.
- Charging devices: I charged my laptop and phone overnight and that took the battery from 100% to 96%. When I got up, my devices were fully charged.
- Making coffee: (Yes, I also have a French press but I wanted to test this.) I made a cup of coffee from my little single-serving coffee maker. This used 4% of the battery. Running plain water through a machine like this would make it hot enough for instant oatmeal or instant noodles in an emergency.
- Using the microwave: 5 minutes in a 700-watt microwave used 4% of the battery.
- Running an air purifier: My daughter’s air purifier uses 40 watts. This was the closest appliance I could find that compared to a CPAP machine. According to this, most CPAP machines use 30-60 watts. After 21 hours straight of running the air purifier, the generator went from 91% down to zero, so a full charge is definitely enough to power your CPAP overnight.
I don’t have a small bar fridge or appliance like that, so I couldn’t test that. However, I believe this would be good to run a bar fridge part-time, taking time out to recharge. An older bar fridge runs on 805 watts but a newer Energy Star bar fridge uses 100-200 watts. (source)
Other items we used with the Jackery were the TV, the internet router (YASSS to internet during a power outage), a fan, and a table lamp. The only thing it didn’t work with was my daughter’s ancient freezer – that sucker is OLD. I don’t know if it was incompatible or too much of a draw. The Jackery shuts off automatically if the draw is more than 1500 watts.
It has 3 three-prong AC electrical outlets, 2 USB outlets, and a c-type outlet.
The cons to the Jackery 1500 Solar Generator
I honestly found very few cons to this device. Because I don’t have any medically essential needs for electricity, for me this is more of a prepping luxury item but it would make a power outage so much easier to deal with. Just being able to run a fan in the summer would be an incredible boon to your comfort level. And because I work online, it would be nice to be able to still connect to the internet and keep my devices working.
For those with medical problems that require electronic solutions, I think a generator like this with a renewable power source is essential.
The solar panels are not waterproof. So if it begins to rain, you need to get your stuff inside ASAP and dry it off carefully.
Should you get a Jackery 1500 Solar Generator?
This is a big purchase, and I always recommend putting a lot of thought into large purchases. After testing this out in multiple ways, I would absolutely buy one if it was within my budget. It would be the difference between misery and moderate comfort during a power outage in hot weather. For apartment dwellers, alternative cooking methods are a little trickier than for those with independent houses and this would provide what you need for heating up some food.
So, ask yourself the following questions:
- Can you afford it?
- Do you or does a family member have a legitimate medical need for it?
- Are you in an area with frequent power outages?
- Will this provide enough power for your NEEDS? (Notice I said needs, not wants.)
- Do you spend time off-grid regularly?
If the answers to these questions are yes, then I highly recommend the Jackery 1500 Solar Generator. I’m about the least techie person on earth and I found this incredibly easy to use.
It was effective, efficient, simple to use, and perfect for my little apartment. If you’re interested, go here to check them out.
What are your thoughts?
Have you ever used a solar generator? Is it something you’d consider? What needs would you want to fulfill with a generator? Let’s chat about it in the comments.
That’s not a generator.
That’s a storage device.
Will you people PLEASE stop fucking with the lexicon!
If the solar panels generate power, how is not a generator?
it has solar panels on it, so it GENERATES power from sunlight.
it also stores it.
It stores it as DC, and has to convert it to AC, some would call that is a Converter / Inverter
others would say it Generates AC from DC, ie a Generator.
Will you PLEASE stop with the histrionics.
And those HUGE solar panels generate how many watts? ????????????
It’s a joke. This is nothing like a true generator that produces continuous 110v AC power for hours end. This toy will not work when it’s nighttime or overcast or raining. In other words when you need it the most!!! ????
And the battery inside can run or power anything substantial for any reasonable amount of time.
So we’ll quit with the “histrionics “ when people stop hyping a piece of crap as a “generator” and idiots stop believing everything they’re told.
I bet you wear a mask every day like a good little soldier, huh? ????????????
You obviously know nothing about the technology so speaking in ignorance doesnt serve anyone. If you have modest requirements this renewable system will work with whatever solar you have.
Chill out bro. Take it easy. If it uses Solar panels it is (not exactly) “generating”, but “capturing”, and no one is going to call it an energy “capturator”.
And now that you mention it, the generator TRANSFORMS the liquid potential energy of the fuel into electricity, using a device that TRANSFORMS mechanical energy into electromagnetic rotating fields 🙂
Would you call it a “double transformator”? Nope.
This device with the solar panels TRANSFORMS energy from the sun (photons and other subatomic particles) into electricity.
It was a real pleasure to clarify this. I apologize about my limited vocabulary but English is not my native language; it´s Spanish.
Take care!
I just did a (VERY) quick search and found that:
For $1,699 you can get just the power storage unit (jackery.com).
For $1,588.99 you can get the power storage unit with 2 solar panels (allprogenerators.com)
For $2,699 you can get the power storage unit with 4 solar panels (jackery.com)
Several other vendors including Lowes carry it.
It’d be worth your time to shop around if you are considering this.
My BOL has both East and South facing windows to protect the solar panels from rain / snow. It wouldn’t take much to build an enclosure for the panels with a Lexan (clear plastic) cover.
We have one and it was great for powering our pelt stove over night when we had a power outage.
I’ve looked at a lot of these over the years and none that I have seen tell you the storage capacity in amp/hours. That’s the only real way to compare.
Many focus on reporting storage in watt hours but it is easily convertable when you know the pack voltage.
One thing to keep in mind on the ‘battery remaining’ indicators. Pretty much every device Ive ever seen (Ive been doing solar since the 90’s so have very little experience), their battery indicators, especially for the lithiums tend to be rather inaccurate. There is SOOoo much more that goes into a batteries capacity than just KW in / KW out. Lithium batteries tend to crash at the very end too, so that can doink your ‘charge left’ indicators too.
One idea people can do is, they sell a device you can plug into a wall, it’s called the Kill – A – Watt and it’s basically a receptacle with a power meter on it, it will tell you real time, watts burned. Your battery backup is rated at 1500 watt hours, and you burned 680 watt hours so far… simple math! The KAW runs about twenty dollars, and also is very useful to actually SEE how much power something draws .vs. just estimating. Id call it almost essential if you are going to go the electric route like this.
Also you do NOT have to use their solar panels on the thing, if you match the voltages fairly close, you can use pretty much anyones panels. Id steer clear of the flexible / foldable ones. They ALL pretty much are garbage from what I have seen, experienced with the several different brands I have tried so far. Get a GOOD panel, RIGID, and it will last you 30 years.
Agree with your comment about the Kill-A-Watt…..I got one for each out of family members for Christmas one year to let them figure out how to save money in their own household by comparing usage of different devices….
I love this generator! I did a lot of research and bought the Jackery 500 Solar Generator. I’d love to own the 1500 model for more power! But it does come with a larger price tag. It is so easy to use – recharging the solar panels (which are very sturdy and well-built) and charging devices. I’ve tried to move a lot of my prep items to be rechargeable. I have solar rechargeable USB battery packs (2), USB rechargeable batteries (AA, AAA, 9 volt), solar rechargeable emergency radio, USB rechargeable camping lights (that can easily be used inside), etc. I have fans that are USB powered (which can be powered by a battery pack or the Jackery Solar Generator) and a USB rechargeable blender. For coffee, I will have to use my french press. Though I like the idea of a single cup option (like Daisy shows) to make coffee and have hot water for other purposes (not sure my Jackery 500 will accommodate the voltage).
I just really like the whole concept of the Jackery Solar Generator and how I can recharge it with the sun and, in turn, recharge all my rechargeable stuff and have access to a charged power outlet! Thanks for writing about this product, I believe it is a “must have” for anyone who wants to stay prepped and ready for no electricity.
Keep in mind that Jackery’s solar panels are not robust – they are fair weather panels. There are excellent alternatives, and you can write or call Jackery to make sure the plug ins are compatible or will tell you what adaptor. They say oh, standard 8mm (or whatever) will but double check on that. Via Amazon there is a long warranty you can buy, that is supposing Amazon and China will be BFF as China will have the lock on batteries and such. Have not heard Jackery batteries blowing up like is happening in electric vehicles, LA and other electric buses that were made useless and parked because of the problem. Also look at getting a nice long solar extension cord(s) so you can keep the generator in shelter while putting the panels out – again, look at better more robust panels that withstand weather and precip.
A lithium ion battery is basically the same whether it is in a mobile phone, e-cigarette, laptop, road vehicle- escooter, electric bicycle, boat, train, airplane, whether it is in a Jackery Unit, PowerWalls, 5G cell towers or Industrial scale battery energy storage systems. It’s simple a question of scale. Most lithium ion batteries are manufactured in South Korea. They are all high fire/explosion risks…..ask your local fire department……the only difference is the bigger the battery the greater the potential scale of fire/explosion in the event of a ‘thermal run away’ event. There may be differences in quality between manufacturers…..the higher quality batteries may contain less damaged battery cells……after that it’s a question of how the batteries were transported and stored and operated. Check whether your insurance companies provide cover for solar powered and/or plug in household battery energy storage units. An electric car fire typically takes at least 5 times more water than a petrol/diesel car to extinguish and often even that amount of water fails to extinguish the vehicle…..usually ends up incinerated…….also if fire is extinguished there’s the risk of later auto combustion just like those magic birthday candles. Read the small print folks……
Not all chemistry’s are high fire risks, current tech advances in LiFEPO4 (lithium iron phosphate) are super stable and the cells can be charged and discharged multiple thousands of times.
Most people think they know LiON since the idiot Musk uses it and the 18650 platform is inherently unstable.
Look at 26650 and 32650 and you will see a very stable alternative with very little risk.
Perhaps you should spout advice when you know what you are talking about.
But the website says that it contains lithium ion batteries…..
Is it even legal to be storing these battery energy storage systems indoors in residential dwellings?
What about the potential fire risk to neighbours if stored in an apartment or in terraced housing?
P.S. Well I thought I was spouting good advice in the form of a warning and the fire/explosion risks are usually printed on batteries for all to take heed of if they cared to look.
And most ‘current’ devices do contain ‘unstable’ lithium ion batteries. Any other battery chemistries are often just as hazardous and less powerful etc. hence why lithium ion batteries dominate the market. And the full extent of the potential risks of nascent/new battery chemistries are unknown. Most new battery chemistry companies go out of business before they even begin.
Try finding an approved fire extinguisher that would extinguish a fire from a lithium ion battery that is bigger than the batteries that power a mobile phone or computer laptop and without being at the immediate ready as soon as the fire begins.
Most people will probably charge these battery storage units from the plug so not only is the unit expensive to but but you’re going to pay twice as much for the electricity per kWh from the plug to charge up for later discharge of that stored electricity because at least 50% of the energy is lost in the conversion process. So that’s another expense to factor in. The other thing is that these battery energy storage units require a stable electricity grid frequency, that is, ‘clean electricity’. Electricity supplies are becoming more unstable. Is it wise to be charging unstable lithium ion battery energy storage systems with potentially ‘dirty’ unstable electricity? It is exactly because too many jumped on the renewable energy junk band wagon that there are increasing power outages. These battery energy storage systems are but a temporary sticking plaster solution and a very expensive and potentially extremely hazardous one at that. Either stand up and fight for the reinstatement of utility scale, stable, reliable, safe, affordable electricity supply minus the renewable energy junk technologies that are wrecking conventional electricity supply systems or prepare to go without electricity long term. In the long term the most effective and least expensive way to do that is to insulate to a high standard your homes and businesses. By reducing your energy demand down to a minimum then you insulate yourselves from power shocks whether it be power outages or the increasing costs of supply. You can do this as individuals and as communities. Petition for taxes to be switched from the crazy investment in junk renewable technologies into more sane energy reduction schemes such as low energy buildings and deep energy retrofits of poor energy performing buildings to let’s say the PassiveHaus Standard or equivalent standard. That should result in lower energy demands, healthier buildings and more comfort and less panic, less worries about power outages.
We live in Hurricane Country, so we bought a Patriot Power Generator, haven’t had to use it yet, but we have played around with it a couple of times. Works great, and it’s very comforting to know we’ll have power if we need it. Prices for these generators are comparable to others in the same line.
It is essentially an expensive domestic lithium ion battery energy storage system.
Both solar panels and lithium ion batteries are officially classed as high fire risk items and lithium ion batteries are potentially explosive and likely to release toxic Hydrogen Fluoride and other toxic fluoride gases, also rapidly reach incinerating temperatures in the event of a fire. About half of the energy stored in a new product is lost in the chemical conversion process from electricity to chemical storage and back again to electricity. Check the warranty/guarantee and conditions of usage. It’s probably been manufactured in South Korea. Lithium ion batteries generally require stable temperature and a standard humidity level and to be treated with care as rough handling or being jolted around in day a car may damage battery cells. Lithium ion batteries have a high carbon footprint and may include materials sourced from unethical mining practices.
Does your household insurance cover fire/explosion from a lithium ion battery energy storage system?
What is the lifespan of the battery?
Currently the recycling of lithium ion batteries is hazardous and uneconomic and materials retrieved are likely to be contaminated and therefore useless for reuse and so lithium ion batteries have to be disposed off in special toxic hazardous waste dumps.
Check out http://www.batteryfires.com/
I’ve used Solar chargers an BBU’s but never a dedicated Generator.
A bit outside my means, but that’s not a condemning the product, just the way it is.
Daisy, I’m of two minds on the idea of generated power. If we’re looking at a finite situation and then things go back to a new though much reduced normal, I think they’re a good idea.
But what if we’re looking at a permanently non generated power future? Then, in my humble opinion, are we better off just dropping our electronic life, and getting acclimated to the way things are going to be from here on out? CPAPs, Air Pureifiers, laptops, mini fridges and all that will last how long ? 2 years? 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? Then what? There most likely won’t be anything to replace them, so once your device dies, the likelihood of replacing it is almost zero.
I see the same thing when I see people talking about buying AIDS and other extreme of life devices. Your going to restart someone’s heart post MI, and then what? How, where and when are they going to get a Stent, or bypass surgery. I spent too many years as a Paramedic and then a Cardiac Nurse in ICU/ER, and have witnessed way too many non observed resuscitations where there’s nothing left for the family to talk to, interact with. Too many times God’s called someone home, and Medicine got in the way. Even if you found a Cardiac Surgeon, all the equipment, and the team required to do a bypass is probably never going to run again without a serious amount of power, and the chances of every member of the team surviving is not very high. That’s the reality we need to start facing.
I hate to sound like Negative Norm, but there’s some realities we need to face with whatever comes down the pike. One of those realities is that people are going to die, and there will be very little we can do about it. We will lack the skills, the resources and the knowledge to save everyone., and we’d best mentally prepare for that.
How many have taken a PALS class? PALS or Pediatric Advanced Life Support is geared towards assessment and intervention before Respirations and the Heartbeat stops. Why? Because once those two functions cease, your chances of successfully resuscitation of a child drops to the single digits.
OK, I’ll get off my soapbox now. I apologize for adding some reality into the dialog.
I’m glad you posted in an articulate way…I too have been thinking the same things for awhile.
Perhaps the solar stuff is the “transition” folks will need after SHTF.
Bemused Berserker,
I have had similar thoughts.
Without our modern JIT/BAU system, no fuel at the pumps, no cheezy poofs on the shelves, no Domino’s Pizza delivery (just read Domino’s is cutting their $7.99 chicken wings from 10 to 8, for some American’s that is TEOTWAWKI), going low tech, no, embracing low tech/no tech might be a better option than trying to maintain the 21st American lifestyle in a post-SHTF world.
Granted there are some out there who have stockpiles of fuel. But as you point out, it will run out someday. Same could be said about MREs, ammo, Rx meds, etc.
I know of a few homes that have solar arrays. I have to wonder how long would it be before someone shows up and asks if they can charge their tablet, phone, laptop. Will people, at some point, demand use of the homeowner’s electrical outlet to charge their gizmos? Will they feel they are entitled to that outlet? The homeowner says, “NO!” then what?
Dear Daisy, this is a great acquisition! for those who can afford a turn-key solution, I would really suggest something like this. I´m rigging up some old used car batteries yet LOL. But they were given to me for free! So I´m taking them all. Oh and I´m anything but nomad these days. Staying put for the sake of kiddo´s school. I´m afraid in the future grid power pricing is going to become expensive in the developed world. Too many reasons to explain them here, but I´m afraid it will end happening.
You are on the right track Daisy. however there is some better tech that adds a lot of additional power and storage capacity. I do DIY power walls and ended up spending money on a system from industry leading storage company Ecoflow.
Not as economical but will out perform everyone else by a wide margin.
We also use the Ecoflow products, and have been happy with them.
I just checked on both Amazon and YouTube. They each have tons of reviews. Just search on JACKERY 1500 and that will pull up so many that you might want to bring along a snorkel so you don’t drown in the details.
–Lewis
Total BS and false, deceptive, fraudulent ADVERTISING disguised as a crappy article. It’s NOT generating ANYTHING. It’s a storage device. An inverter at best if it coverts DC to AC. But it’s not generating power.
With a solar array it will indeed generate power whether AC or DC and power or charge whatever the capability of the power pack is.
You need to quit trolling based on the conventional title.
yep its just over priced garbage for a small solar panel and battery,if i am going to spend that much money its going to be a real Generator.
I know this is being written as a potential backup for apartment dwellers, but holy cow, $2600? Or one could buy one gas powered portable generator for about $400 that will power all thing things talked about in the article, and figure out how to set it outside a window, and save $2200. Just a thought. The huge dollar and performance differential between solar powered hardware and more traditional tech hardware is discouraging.
For do it yourselfers, do some Internet searching, you will find some relatively straightforward ‘recipes’ for building your own solution with usually available products….I say usually available because with the supply chain tied in knots, it’s hard to know what will be available where you live.
To address TDC response. Yes a traditional generator will do all those tasks. However how loud is your $400 generator…how much gasoline or propane can you store in an apartment. When you run out of fuel a traditional generator is now an anchor. The solar generator is best at night because it is quiet. A running traditional generator is noisy and thieves know that noise means you have stuff. I live in FL…when the power goes out after a hurricane it is very quiet.
It’s high carbon footprint, highly energy inefficient, renewable energy junk, that is non recyclable, requires disposal at a toxic waste dump and is potentially extremely hazardous. Think along the lines of non diffusible landmines!
http://batteryfires.com/about-batteryfires/
Quit making irresponsible claims because of what you dont know.
To you grammar nazis out there, and I can be one of the worst, please cut Daisy some slack when she merely calls a product by the name its marketers have coined for it. I, too, disagree with the marketers, but, hey, who am I? I also disagree with the marketers in that they rate the batteries in watt hours (Wh) instead of the industry standard of amp hours (Ah) at 12 volts, though they at least mention the Ah.
Before shelling out big bucks for this thing, I recommend that one does comparative shopping. This particular unit is geared to the technical illiterate, but you pay for the convenience. It has a lot of electronics built in that normally are extra charge add ons. Secondly, it’s a totally self-contained unit that can be picked up and moved to where needed.
I also checked out https://battlebornbatteries.com/ which also does a lot of hand holding for installation. However, many of the conveniences of the Jackary are separate cost add ons. Its advantages are for a 66% greater Ah with a life cycle up to six times as long for a single battery. I know enough that I can hook up the external inverters, charge controllers, etc. but I don’t know enough to choose my own external accessaries. I’m willing to pay a bit extra for them to sell me their recommended accessaries.
Then there are those who have studied the solar powered field deeply—I have nothing to add to their knowledge.
Bottom line, choose the system that best fits your technical knowledge and expected use.
We have gas-powered generators and have recently had installed a propane-fueled ‘whole house’ generator. But we also have the Jackery 1500 and happy to have it. Should the others fail for some reason we still have the Jackery that can be fueled by the sun same as our solar oven. It can run the microwave, the coffee maker, the refrigerators and freezer, some lights (get LED bulbs) as well as the portability away from the house. Spendy, but a real quality asset.
Thanks Whydah! Its good to see someone who uses this tech and realizes what its good for.
I should have read through the comments prior to posting. Wow! The negativism was astounding! For those of you bad mouthing this product over it’s name, just don’t buy it. No ones twisting your arm. Its just another tool that many will find advantages in while others won’t. Different strokes and all that.
Gas-powered generators require… GASOLINE. Nice if you have a large supply but still a PIA having to tend it and refill the tank every few hours. And, if you don’t have a large supply of gasoline, what then? Another issue is that they are NOISY. Bad guys home in on the noise of a running generator. Many are stolen around here during a power outages, especially in the cities. Don’t forget your neighbors. Will they be willing to listen to your generator running for hours? Whether a device takes the energy of a liquid or gas fuel and turns it into electrical energy or simply stores electrical energy, big deal! I could care less. When I plug into either I get out of it what I want – POWER!
Thanks for the article, Daisy.
Is this product American made? The web site (jackery.com) dances around this. It states that products “ship from California,” but nothing about made in America. For all I know this is rebranded Chinese stuff.
Contact the vendor directly and ask that very question. I’ve done that, and continue to do so. I had a very good conversation (via email) recently with LION Energy in Utah. They are still using Chinese sourced components for certain products while they ramp up their own production, and expect to be 100% American made by early 2023.
First of all I don’t have this item. I reviewed tech specs.
Second Daisy fully disclosed she is not at all technical. She did some minor testing and gave you her results. And that’s useful for people in similar circumstances, but certainly not a thorough review from a techie. Nor did she claim it was!
For hysterical guy who apparently hates solar and other so called green energy. Smart guy (Ric) already explained newer chemistries such as LIFePO4 addressed the runaway issue as did including BMS (look it up). Certainly a “very few” of his points have validity — if they concern you RESEARCH THEM YOURSELF. The hysteria isn’t helpful or warranted. Every way humans have to generate electricity has environmental costs. Every -single -way
Education is necessary. Rigid solar panels are industry accepted efficiency for 30 years but continue to create energy after that. As another stated flexible panels do not have this longevity/reliability.
The point of any alternate energy is to have the power you, personally, need when the system is down for the duration acceptable to you. Some ppl have more money than intellectual ability in this area. For them an expensive (and this is obscenely expensive for what it is) solution is less stressful and gives them options.
As mentioned I don’t have this, but I reviewed the technical specs and easily found more details under the Explorer 1500 — not the kit link. Below I copied the battery section. It’s a decent amount of storage for its size/weight. I do question the EXACT lithium ion chemistry as it isn’t specified, but I didn’t look deeper. The fact you can not replace the battery (in their Q&A) nor plug-in additional storage, on such an expensive unit would be one of several things that would keep me away. However if I had NO technical abilities, limited storage space and plenty of cash then, sure, I’d consider it. I’d definitely get help to purchase the APPROPRIATE rigid panels and the adapter needed to work with it. Hint—Note the battery voltage.
This item, and all the other so-called solar generators, are a combination of the following elements at minimum:
Solar charge controller
DC to AC inverter (pure sine wave for this one)(12v vs 24v big $ difference)
Battery storage
You can look up what these items cost to compare.
Gain some knowledge. DO NOT trust everything on YT. I am not an “expert” but it doesn’t matter what I claim — YOU need to make some effort to get your best fit for alternative power. My knowledge has been gained over time, experience, and great effort and I still have plenty to learn. Others have made great comments from their knowledge and EXPERIENCE. How can you judge any comments without learning some basics on your own?
Portable power is very convenient and useful — THIS is a VERY EXPENSIVE solution. Keep in mind ALL BATTERIES have specific storage requirements. If you’re not using it you better know them or you’ll have an expensive brick. Some best stored full and some best stored half empty (or so).
Explorer 1500 (from Jackery website https://www.jackery.com/products/explorer-1500-portable-power-station? )
BATTERY INFO
Capacity: 1534Wh (25.2V, 60.9Ah)
Cell Chemistry: Lithium-ion Battery
Lifecycle: 500 cycles to 80%+ capacity
Management System: BMS, Over Voltage Protection, Short Circuit Protection
I considered purchasing a solar generator, as a backup for my fuel generator. (two is one, one is none, rule) However, I noticed that building my own system, (Panels, charge controller, batteries, and invertor) would cost less and do more, and be more easily repaired if a component failed. (If a solar generator goes down, the entire system is likely lost) Sure, some less intelligent folks despise solar, because they think they’re fighting the left’s “green” stuff, (the panels don’t care) but over all those folks are emotionally fragile and dumb, so ignore them. Solar works, albiet limited to size of the setup and appliances. But when the sun shines, there’s your fuel. ( I own backpack versions too, for charging AA batteries, radios, and phones) Nice pieces of kit.
The Jackery looks like a souped up car starter with an AC outlet, I like the concept. I can see several uses; device charging, security system backup, small motor and pump. Don’t try to run power tools, you’ll blow the inverter circuits in no time. In conjunction with a gas or propane generator, this could provide low current needs for short emergencies.
I recently became interested in finding a solar backup for blackouts and had started doing research on them. I have to tell you, I’ve already learned far more here in this one post with the comments than I have in several hours of trying to navigate unfamiliar terms on Amazon and other sites. You’ve given me a lot of useful info to help me along. Being an avid DIYer, I want to build my own set up, and a decade ago I worked at a mountain site so rural that all the power I had each day came from a company supplied solar panel with a controller, inverter and a deep stroke 12 v marine battery. Did that for 5 years , rain, snow, sun, and that little set up never let me down. Always had my work register and scale running, plus a small TV or radio, printer,cell phone charger, and coffee maker. I even occasionally ran an electric heater during storms, since it was an outdoor job year round, with a metal shed for an office. I had to learn repairs on the fly, so I think I could rebuild a replica, but I’d prefer to be better informed before going ahead. Your writing of this at this particular time is synchronicity to my way of thinking. (“Ask and ye shall receive” ) Perfect timing!
This Jackery 1500 generator sounds like a lot of bells and whistles but not much substance for the price. Of course that’s just my own opinion, but I appreciate that you did this review and helped me decide which way I’ll likely go for my solar backup plan. Now I have more free time to research how to make a good solar oven!
Waterproof, marine grade solar panels used for boating provide another option when it comes to using alternative solar panels.
My moor problem with these ‘systems’ is that the solar panels are not waterproof. You would be better to buy some RV rated panels but then you have to do some electrical wiring that most people are not knowledgeable about.