Solar Generator Roundups – Page 5

Key TakeawaysThis roundup compares several leading solar generators for the same use case instead of relying on a single recommendation.Capacity, inverter output, recharge speed, battery chemistry, and price are the main decision points.The best choice depends on the appliances being powered, the desired runtime, and how portable the unit needs to be.The article helps readers balance runtime, power headroom, and value before choosing a shortlist. UPDATE (1.14.22): This article was written in 2020 and multiple new solar generators on wheels have been created since writing this. I recommend checking out the following newer solar generators that come with wheels and are more advanced than the ones mentioned in this post: Bluetti EP500 & EP500Pro EcoFlow Delta Pro Goal Zero Yeti 3000X Goal Zero Yeti 6000X The EP500Pro and Delta Pro power stations can be found and compared in the following article for more in-depth information: 3 Best Solar Generators for Off-Grid Living + Scoring Breakdown. This article is not a popular one, so I am not going to fully update it. However, some of the ones listed below have benefits to the latest models, including: Lower price Replaceable batteries (Yeti 1250 and Nature's Generator) Customer interpretation over time Sometimes older solar generator models provide more value than the newer ones even though the latest models have better specifications. I recommend reading this post if the benefits mentioned above are important to you in your search for your ideal solar generator. Solar generators are a popular eco-friendly alternative to fuels that can damage the environment and your health. These generators that provide power from absorbed sunlight are not only efficient and easy to use, but they also save you a decent amount of money in the long run. Solar generators are a handy device that makes your life a lot easier if you get the right one. There are actually many solar generators available on the market, so knowing which one to invest in can be a life-changer. While there are a lot of great choices, the Yeti 3000 Lithium from Goal Zero is the top pick for the best solar generator on wheels. This is because it comes from a trusted company, it has a significant amount of power at 3,000Wh, and it is one of the lightest solar generators for its size, at 70 lbs. You can read about some of the features of the Yeti 3000 below. You will also find some information about other great solar generators if you decide that the Yeti 3000 is not the one for you. Quick View: Best Solar Generators on Wheels Goal Zero Yeti 3000 LithiumBattery: Lithium-ionCapacity: 3000WhWeight: 70lbsRating: 5/5My Full Review Goal Zero Yeti 1250Battery: Lead-acidCapacity: 1200WhWeight: 103lbsRating: 4/5My Full Review Nature’s Generator EliteBattery: Lead-acidCapacity: 1200WhWeight: 120lbsRating: 4/5Find on: Shop Solar Kits 1. Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium Yeti 3000 Lithium The Yeti 3000 is the latest solar generator on wheels to come from the Goal Zero Company. Goal Zero is a smaller part of the NRG Company which aims to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly power options to the general public. This solar generator is efficient, versatile, and very user-friendly. It is a great alternative energy choice overall. The Yeti 3000 is also a very cost-effective alternative to fuels. Because there are no additional maintenance or operation costs like what you see in other energy devices, you actually end up saving over half the price that you would usually pay. Charging To start, the Yeti 3000 has an incredibly strong battery and power system. It uses a lithium-ion battery whose system prevents overcharging, excess current, and short-circuiting. This battery is also protected by a waterproof seal, so you will not need to worry about moisture damage. This solar generator comes with a pre-installed maximum power point tracker (MPPT), a feature that you often need to install separately after purchase. The MPPT upgrade helps to reduce the time it takes to charge the battery fully by up to 40%. The standard charge time is 9 hours, but, with the MPPT, it is usually around 6 hours. For your information as a user, you should be aware that charging times may differ depending on the charging method you use. For instance, charging through a wall charger usually takes about 25 hours of total charge time. Car charging is an option as well. Using a variety of solar panels and solar briefcases (available for purchase with the Yeti 3000) can also affect the total charge time. With these many different methods, you may need anywhere from just a few hours to over a day or two. Charge times may also differ based on weather conditions, elevation, time of year, etc. since the solar input would differ. Furthermore, the battery life and power output of this solar generator are very strong. The Yeti 3000 contains more power than all of the other Yeti products, which is to be expected, given that it is the latest model. You can expect to charge this device pretty infrequently even if you use it very often. The battery lifespan will differ depending on how you are using the solar generator. This solar generator is able to power a wide variety of devices. Goal Zero provides some examples, but this is not a fully comprehensive list: Smartphone: 150+ recharges POV Camera: 500+ recharges Headlamp: 500+ recharges Tablet: 110+ recharges Laptop: 50+ recharges Light-a-Life: 1,000+ hours Fridge: up to 50 hours 32” LCD TV: 30 hours In general, you can expect this solar generator to last for about 500 life cycles. It has a 1C discharge rate. The Yeti series also includes a battery chaining technology that allows you to connect lead-acid batteries to the Yeti’s lithium-ion battery. This is a cost-effective method to scale energy storage capacity. You can also integrate the Yeti 3000 with your home circuit to really back up the energy storage. It is able to back up four essential circuits in your home. Please note that, for your safety, it is best to have an electrician connect the Yeti system to your home’s electrical panel. This integration allows you to power even more devices such as large appliances (ex. Fridge), medical devices, computers, and more. Similar: Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Review – Best In Class Versatility As stated above, the Yeti 3000 is able to support many different devices. It has a wide variety of power ports (input and output) available. This allows you to use this solar generator to charge pretty much any device as long as it can be connected to one of the ports. Certain devices may not be able to connect, so you should check that first. The Yeti 3000 has a total of 10 power ports for your devices to plug into. You can use more than one port at a time, but you should note that it will decrease the battery lifespan from the times mentioned above. If the device allows it, you can also connect multiple solar generators to it at one time. In total, the Yeti 3000 has about 1,500W of continuous power and a 3,000W power surge for devices that require a lot of power. The ports available on the Yeti 3000 include: USB A: 5V (5 volts), 2.4A (2.4 amps), 12W (12 watts) USB C: 5V, 3.0A, 15W USB PD: 5V/12V/20V, 3.0A, 60W 6 mm: 12V, 10, 120W Car port: 12V, 10A, 120W Power Pole port: 12V, 20A, 240W AC Inverter: 120 VAC, 60 Hz, 12.5A, 1,500W/3,000W This solar generator also has pure sine wave energy output integrated into it. This can help to create less electrical noise in the devices you connect and may also increase the speed of some devices. The Yeti 3000 has an expansion module port under the lid which can be used specifically with Goal Zero expansions. Additionally, the Yeti 3000 has a regular charging port (14-22V, 10A, 120W) and a Powerpole charging port (14-22V, 30A, 260W). Yeti App Goal Zero also provides users with the Goal Zero Yeti App. Your Yeti 3000 is able to connect to your home Wi-Fi router. You can then use the app to control the solar generator remotely. This includes actions like turning ports on or off, checking battery levels, and updating the Yeti’s firmware. Connecting to the app also gives you access to updates on various features and functions. The Yeti app also lets you connect several Yetis to one device and/or several devices to one Yeti. This is not an automatic addition when you get the Yeti 3000, but it is a worthwhile feature to look into. Comfort and User Friendliness Solar generators are heavy pieces of equipment, which is why you should invest in a solar generator on wheels. The Yeti 3000 is no exception, weighing nearly 70 pounds with the Yeti and MPPT module. However, the Yeti 3000 does come with a rolling cart that makes it easy to transport. The Yeti also has a telescoping handle so you can adjust the height as needed for your comfort. The handle can be removed depending on your preference. This is a very user-friendly generator with both comfort and ease of use. The ports are located on the front of the generator and the rest of the controls are located under the lid. These buttons are easily interactive and there is a bright LCD screen to easily view options. The Yeti 3000 Lithium Pros and Cons Pros Powerful battery and many charging options Supports up to 10 devices or 4 home circuits at once Goal Zero Yeti App Roll cart and telescoping handle Variety of ports Cons Heavy Expensive Consumers state that some individual parts may be defective or need replacement. The Yeti 3000 is a fantastic solar generator, but it might not be your top choice for whatever reason. It is on the pricier side, being the most expensive on this list, so more budget-conscious consumers may be more interested in some of the following choices. These are not quite as good as the Yeti 3000, but they still offer good quality. 2. Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Goal Zero Yeti 1250 This is another solar generator from Goal Zero’s Yeti series. It is the cheapest solar generator on this list, but the low price definitely does not reflect its great quality. Like the Yeti 3000, the Yeti 1250 is versatile, powerful, and user-friendly. Charging and Power The Yeti 1250 has slightly longer charging times than the Yeti 3000. It has a lead-acid battery and MPPT charge control. There are several different methods you can use to charge this solar generator: solar panel/briefcase (12-24 hours until full charge), wall charging (18 hours), and car charging (44 hours). This solar generator can be used to power a number of devices. Again, this depends on usage, the amount of power each device needs, how many devices are connected to the generator, etc. The Yeti 1250 can support up to 10 devices at once. Goal Zero offers these examples: Smartphone 60+ Recharges POV Camera 200+ Recharges Headlamp 200+ Recharges Tablet 45+ Recharges Laptop 20+ Recharges Light-a-Life 400+ Hours Fridge 20+ Hours 32" LCD TV 12 hours You can also increase battery life by connecting it to 12V or 100Ah batteries. Similar: Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station – Review and Analysis Versatility The Yeti 1250 has a total of 8 power ports: USB: 5V, 2.1A, 10.5W 6 mm: 12V, 6A, 72W Car: 12V, 10A, 120W Power Pole: 12V, 33A, 400W AC Inverter (w/ pure sine wave energy): 110 VAC, 60 Hz, 10A, 1,200W-1,500W Charging: 16-48V, 10A, 160W Power Pole charging: 16-48V, 20A, 320W Power Pole chaining: 12V, 180A, 2,100W Comfort and User Friendliness The Yeti 1250 is a little heavier than the Yeti 3000, so it may be a little harder to move. Again, this is why you would want to get a solar generator on wheels, so you do not have to worry about carrying around a heavy generator. The Yeti 1250 weighs a little over 100 pounds, but it comes with a roll cart and telescoping handle. This solar generator also has its ports on the front and an easy-to-read battery display. Pros and Cons Summary Pros Variety of ports and charging methods Roll cart and handle Cheap Cons Heavy Shorter battery life and fewer life cycles Lead-acid battery 3. Nature’s Generator Elite Nature's Generator Elite This final generator is another cheaper option that comes from Nature’s Generator, which has several solar generator products. It is easy to use and has decent versatility. Charging and Power This solar generator runs on a sealed lead-acid battery with a capacity of 1,200Wh (100Ah). It has a built-in charge controller and low battery protection, all of which increase the general durability of the battery system. There are two ways that you can charge this solar generator. First, you can use the AC cord that the Elite comes with, which takes 8-10 hours to get a full charge. Second, you can use the Nature’s Generator Power Panel which takes approximately 10-12 hours for a full charge. This solar generator can be used to power a variety of devices. Nature’s Generator provides these examples with estimated run times: Smartphones - 60+ Recharges Tablets - 30+ Recharges Laptops - 12+ Recharges LED Light Bulbs - 50+ Recharges Point of View Camera - 100+ Recharges Mini Fridge - 12-18 Hours Refrigerator - 8-12 Hours 32" LED TV - 12+ Hours Oscillating Fan - 12+ Hours CPAP Machine - 8+ Hours Circular Saw - 4 Hours of Normal Use Corded Drill - 8 Hours of Normal Use In addition, this solar generator also has pure sine wave energy. It has an output power of 3600W, voltage of 120V, and a frequency of 60 Hz. Versatility Like the other solar generators on this list, the Elite is able to power multiple devices at once depending on power requirements. It has several input and output ports available. These include: 3 AC outlets: 120V 2 USB: 3A combined 1 DC: 240W, 12V Expansion: 350A fuse Internal AC charger: 190W Solar input: 300W Wind input: 300W Comfort and User Friendliness This solar generator has an LCD screen to display battery level, output information, and charging status. Most of the ports that you will use are located on the front panel, while the expansion port and 30A direct connection are located on the back panel. This is one of the heavier solar generators, weighing around 120 pounds, but it also has a heavy-duty roll cart to combat its weight. Pros and Cons Summary Pros Cheap Quick charging Roll cart Able to power a variety of devices Cons Heavy Some ports are on the back Continue Reading: Can a Solar Generator Run an AC Unit? How Long Will a Solar Generator Last? What Can a Solar Generator Power? (Charging, Capacity, and More)