What Can It Power? – Page 4

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. With the world evolving and technology advancing by the day, the need for an uninterrupted power supply has become pertinent. Daily activities that were once done offline are now being done online, and the physical workplaces are moving into the internet space to conduct their business. Household appliances like the refrigerator equally need the stability of electricity to function. These and many other reasons are why the need for solar generators is pertinent. However, buying any solar generator will not suffice. It is imperative to get one that will fully serve its purpose, which is to supply electricity whenever it is needed. This article, therefore, reviews the top five solar generators you can rely on whenever SHTF. Check out the table below for a quick rundown of the solar generators we'll be reviewing today. Model:Inergy FlexYeti 3000 LithiumBluetti EB150TitanDelta 1300Image:Capacity:1100Wh3000Wh1500Wh2000Wh1260WhExpandable?YYNYYPrice:$1,450$2,999$999$2,995$1,399 INERGY FLEX 1500 POWER STATION The Inergy Flex power station is a modular-styled solar generator with a whopping 1,500 watts of continuous AC power (3,000W surge). Being a machine that can expand its battery capacity to absurd numbers, the Flex 1500 (with one battery) is a super light, portable, and compact solar generator that can serve both indoor and outdoor purposes. The Flex allows you to store and use clean, renewable power any day, anytime, anywhere. This power station allows you to reach the peak of your battery capacity in usage with traditional 12-volt devices, i.e. portable refrigerators, light bulbs, your television, water pumps, and other direct current gadgets. Unlike conventional generators, the Flex 1500 power station is near silent and doesn't generate fumes, odor, or toxic gases. You can be sure of a healthy atmospheric condition indoors with the use of this system and it is ideal for nearly any electricity shortage. Features of the Inergy Flex 1500 The Inergy Flex comes in two versions, AC and DC. The AC version has six AC outlets along with multiple USB and 12V outputs. The DC version has several USB outlets, four cigarette lighter ports, two Anderson outputs, and more. Both systems have 1,069Wh batteries that can be expanded for more capacity. The Flex features an expandable lithium battery, and it doesn't require manual voltage balancing. This is an important feature when adding additional batteries to its base. It allows you to solar charge from 12-90 volts at 30 amps (max) direct current with its standard MPPT charge controller. Whether you get the AC or DC Flex model, both have two 13.8V regulated cigarette lighter output ports. Lightweight, compact, portable. With one battery, the Flex weighs about 30 lbs. Multiple charging options (solar, wall, car). System Specifications (Inergy Flex AC) Battery: Approximately 1,069 watt-hours, lithium-ion, and genuine LG cells. AC inverter: 1,500W continuous, 3,000W surge. Charging: Enables multiple charge sources at the same time; 12-90V DC solar charge, standard wall charger or car charger, super flex battery, flex MPPT supercharger, all in an hour. Expandable Lithium-Ion Battery: Flex 1500 allows battery expansion up to 96 Flex batteries. MPPT Charge Controller: 12-90V DC inputs, 30% complete battery charge rate. 13.8V Regulated DC Power: Its two cigarette lighter ports have the capability to be used with several DC appliances. Dimensions: 14" x 8" x 8.9" Weight: 30 lbs Warranty: Two-year warranty What Does the Inergy Flex Come With? One user manual One-shoulder strap One Flex battery One Flex 1500 power console One standard wall charger (100W) Optional accessories from Inergy include the MPPT Supercharger, solar panels, and additional 1,069Wh batteries. Inergy also supplies kits that include the Flex along with solar panels and LED lights. Additional batteries are not included with any kits offered by Inergy. Also, note that the solar panel input is an EC8 connection. This is rare for solar generators to have this style input. This means that you will only be able to connect Inergy's solar panels directly to the Flex. However, Inergy has EC8 to MC4 adapters to allow you to use third-party solar panels with the Flex. They are not cheap, but they can be a great solution if you prefer having solar panels of a different brand charging the Flex. Lastly, the Flex has a quick wall charger that is sold separately. This will crank up to 225W compared to the standard wall charger's 100W. The quick wall charger will charge one battery in about five hours. What Can the Inergy Flex Be Used for? Off-grid living or camping Backup for power outages Disaster relief Tailgating Most off-grid power needs can be served with the Flex. The only area where this system will have trouble is with extremely high power needs such as powering an entire home. This would require a higher AC continuous output to run appliances such as washers, dryers, and other demanding appliances of similar caliber simultaneously. Inergy Flex - Pros Its inverter strength is still very powerful for a solar generator, with 1,500 watts of continuous power output from its AC ports. There are three different ways to keep the Flex fully charged. First is solar panel charging, which (at its max input) charges each battery in about three hours. Next is wall charging, and lastly from a car (using the car charger - sold separately). All these charging options can be used simultaneously, reducing the charge time to a minimum of about one hour. LCD screen that enables you to read the input/output wattage. The Flex's screen also reveals the battery charge percentage as well as watts, volts, and amps you have left. It is budget-friendly and less expensive than other solar generators of its caliber. Inergy Flex - Cons EC8 Input - The solar charging input is an EC8 connector, which means if you want to use third-party solar panels with the Flex, you'll need to buy an EC8 to MC4 connector from Inergy. You can find the Flex here on Inergy's website. This is not an affiliated link. Similar: YETI 500X vs 400 – Goal Zero Comparison Piece GOAL ZERO YETI 3000 LITHIUM The Goal Zero Yeti 3000 is a large portable power station that has over 3,000Wh of lithium battery storage. At the push of a button, this solar generator has 1,500 watts of continuous AC power and can increase to 3,000 watts surge to give power to essential appliances. This system is an immediate solution to power outages, outdoor events, etc. Its Wi-Fi connectivity enables you to control the usage of your Yeti 3000 with the Yeti App on your phone! You can turn the generator on and off, disable or enable a feature, know how much power the generator is consuming, and much more through its Android/iOS application. In addition, the Yeti 3000 can power ten different devices at the same time using all of the ports on the exterior of the system. You can utilize its ports to power your fridge, blender, lights, water pumps, pellet grills, just to name a few different applications. Features of the Yeti 3000 Lithium Wi-Fi-Enabled Power Station: With the 3000 Lithium situated, you can control it from any part of the house using its Wi-Fi connectivity feature. Pre-Installed MPPT: Comes with a pre-installed solar charging enhancement unit that functions as a Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) with a resultant effect of up to a 40% faster charge period particularly when solar panels are in use. The Yeti 3000 already has a PWM charge controller, but the MPPT also comes with the system when you buy it. Mobility-Enabled Wheels: You don't have to worry about installation or carriage. The Yeti 3000 comes with a pre-installed mobility kit that enables the easy movement of the generator from one place to another. Although the entire system weighs over 70 lbs, the roll cart will make it much easier to transport. Safe Lithium Battery: Built with quality lithium cells, the Yeti 3000 provides a stable current that is monitored by a state-of-art battery management system (BMS). This prevents it from over-charging, short circuits, or unnecessarily high voltage. It is protected from the elements because the battery pack is enclosed in a watertight container. However, this does not mean that the entire Yeti 3000 is waterproof. It is not. Only the battery is protected from this enclosure. Various Outputs: With ten effective ports, the Yeti 3000 keeps all connected gadgets charging/powered. An important feature to many is its USB-C power delivery port, which powers larger USB devices like laptops. Yeti 3000 Lithium - Technical Specifications Duration to Full Charge (Hours): Boulder 200 solar panel x 4 (4-8 hours), wall charger (25 hours), car charger (26 hours) Battery Type: Lithium-ion NMC Battery Capacity: 3,075 watt-hours Output Port Power Ratings: USB-A; 5V, 2.4A (12W max), USB-C; 5V, 3.0A (15W max), USB-C PD; 5V/12V/20V, 3.0A (60W max), 6mm (Goal Zero proprietary port); 12V, 10A (120W max), 12V car port; 12V, 10A (120W max), 12V Anderson Powerpole; 12V, 20A (240W max), AC inverter; 120VAC 60Hz, 12.5A (1,500W continuous, 3,000W surge) Materials: Aluminium/ABS Plastic Dimensions: 10.1” x 15.3” x 13.1” (w/o roll cart) Weight: 68.6 lbs (w/o roll cart); 77.5 lbs (w/ roll cart) Various Charging/Powering Times With the Yeti 3000 Lithium The Goal Zero Yeti 3000 can be trusted to power several big appliances, as well as multiple devices at once. Below are the approximate hours/recharges the Yeti 3000 is estimated to power each of your devices: 32" LCD TV: 30 hours minimum 150W (Full-Size) Fridge: 20+ hours Laptop: Recharge more than 50 times Tablet: Recharge more than 110 times Smartphones: Recharge more than 150 times Headlamp: Recharge more than 500 times POV Camera: Recharge more than 500 times Light Bulb: 1,000+ hours Goal Zero Yeti Mobile Application The Yeti App enables the usage of the Wi-Fi connectivity feature of the solar generator. With the application on your device, you can control the generator from a distance while also utilizing several additional features. Here is what the Yeti App helps you achieve: Enables you to sync your generator with the app using direct connectivity or a connection established through a Wi-Fi network. Allows connecting multiple devices to a single generator which enables effective control or multiple generators to a single device which equally fosters effectiveness and versatility. Updating the app over the internet helps your Yeti 3000 function at its best. Allows you to check battery level, switch power, turn ports on or off remotely. Ways to Keep Your Yeti 3000 Charged Keep your Yeti 3000 charging using a recommended solar panel. The total charge time depends on the type and size of the solar panel in use. We recommend using the Boulder 200 Briefcase (affiliate link) which will fully charge your Yeti 3000 in 18-36 hours. Using multiple Boulder 200 panels will enable a much faster charge time. You can also utilize other Boulder models to charge your Yeti. Third-party solar panels are a cost-effective solution as well. Using the two included wall chargers that come with your Yeti 3000, you can get your generator charged in about 25 hours. You can purchase two additional wall chargers along with an adapter to cut your AC charging time in half, as seen here. Lastly, the Yeti 3000 Lithium can be charged with the 12V adapter using a 12V car charging cable. You must use the Yeti Lithium 12V Car Charging Cable (affiliate link); any other 12V cable may damage the unit. Yeti 3000 Lithium - Pros Whopping 3,075 watt-hour battery capacity. This is a very large solar generator compared to the rest on the market. Wi-Fi connected, and mobile app-enabled for easy, fast, and efficient remote control. Comes in a mobile-friendly cart that enables movement from place to place. An ultra-safe lithium battery pack that prevents over-charging, short circuit, and high voltage. This is stored in a watertight enclosure that prevents elements from getting in. Can be charged in three different and effective ways; solar panels, wall chargers, and car adapter. Yeti 3000 Lithium - Cons At $3,000, the Yeti Lithium 3000 is rather expensive and might take a lot of budgeting to acquire. Its inability to power products that are beyond 13 amps is a major concern because it restricts the kind of gear it can be used for. The cart might be difficult to use on a rough surface or sandy environment. Like most Yeti solar generators, its cycle life is average. It is rated for 500 cycles to 80% battery capacity. Several models from other companies have battery lifecycles of 2,000+ cycles. The Yeti 3000 Lithium is no longer available on Goal Zero's website and many other common retailers. However, they have created a successor to the 3000 Lithium, and it is called the Yeti 3000X. For more details, check out my review of the 3000X here. Similar: Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium Solar Powered Generator | The Ultimate Package MAXOAK BLUETTI EB150 The Bluetti EB150 is a high-capacity portable and reliable power station among other small-to-medium capacity power stations. It's built with a 1,500Wh lithium-ion battery using LG battery cells. With its powerful battery, it's the perfect company for camping purposes, RV living, or support for emergency cases like a power outage. Its total weight is about 38 lbs with a 1,000-watt continuous pure sine wave AC inverter. The Bluetti comes with a pre-installed MPPT charge controller which enables a fast and efficient charge. An EB150 can run a multitude of devices and appliances in your household ranging from your mobile devices to a blender, full-size fridge, hairdryer, electric drill, and other power tools that are below or equivalent to 1,000 watts. It is not recommended to use any gadget above 1,000 watts although it can extend to 1,200W for surging purposes. Features of the Bluetti EB150 Reliable and Efficient Portable Power Station: Weighing just 37.9 lbs, Bluetti EB150 can be easily carried to power just about any device within its wattage range. For a 1,500Wh battery, the EB150 is relatively lightweight. Two Modes of Charging: You can recharge the EB150 using solar panels. The cumulate Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) of the panels should not be more than 60V. The solar generator also has an AC wall charger that comes with it. Standard US AC Outlets and LCD Display: This ensures a safe connection of your devices and 100% compatibility with every device that is 1,000W or less. The LCD screen displays the amount of power you have left, the battery status, and more. Sophisticated Battery Management System (BMS): Avoids short-circuit, high voltage, and high current, among other safeguards. Bluetti EB150 - Basic Specifications Charge Controller: Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Battery Capacity: 1,500Wh Battery Type: LG Li-ion battery cell DC Output: 12V/9A AC Output: 100-110V, 1,000W continuous (1,200W surge) Size: 14.6" x 6.5" x 14.4." Weight: 38 lbs Plugs: 2 Standard AC outputs, 4 USB ports, 1 USB-C port, and one 12V cigarette lighter outlet What Does the Bluetti EB150 Come With? One Bluetti EB150 solar generator One AC wall charger One PV MC4 cable for connecting solar panels One user manual Manufacturer's warranty card What the Bluetti EB150 Can Power 75W Mini fridge for 20 hours 100W 32" TV for 13+ hours 60W Laptops for 22+ recharges 60W CPAP Machine for 22+ hours Smartphones for 128+ recharges Bluetti EB150 - Pros MPPT charge controller. High-tech battery management system that has multiple functions to keep the system operating optimally. Two recharge sources: AC wall charger, and solar panels. 2,500+ lifecycles, which is one of the best ratings for a lithium-ion solar generator Bluetti EB150 - Cons It cannot power devices higher than 1,000W continuously. It cannot be charged from a car outlet. Find the Maxoak Bluetti EB150 here on Amazon. This is an affiliate link (I made a small commission on every sale). Similar: Bluetti EB150 vs EcoFlow Delta 1300 – Which Solar Generator is Best? POINT ZERO ENERGY TITAN This is a very powerful solar generator with a 2,000-watt expandable lithium battery that serves different household power supply purposes. The Point Zero Energy Titan is by far the biggest and most powerful solar generator on the market today. Unlike other big solar generators, with two or more batteries, the Titan is capable of 3,000W continuous with 6,000W surge power. This is the best inverter rating for a solar generator by far. If you need a lot of power, the Titan will be your best option. For example, the Yeti 6000X is Goal Zero's largest solar generator, and that system's inverter is rated at 2,000W continuous with 3,500W of surge power. This is still a big inverter, but the Titan dominates it. Using only one of the Titan's batteries with its power module still makes it more powerful than several of its competitors. You can power just about any household appliance and even some industrial equipment with this beast of a solar generator. Features of the Point Zero Energy Titan Removable and Expandable Battery: With this amazing feature, the types of gadgets you can power in a power outage scenario are nearly limitless. The Titan's modular design enables a portability and flexibility function such that the generator's components can be separated to foster easy carriage. 2,000 Lifecycles to 80% Capacity: With about a ten-year life span, the Titan offers four times the longevity of comparable solar generators. Extremely Powerful Inverter: Consists of an inverter that is twice as powerful as nearly any other solar generator on the market, that is, with two or more batteries attached. With this setup, the inverter is rated at 3,000W continuous (6,000W surge). This ensures that you can power more gadgets/electronics/appliances simultaneously than nearly every other solar generator available today. Charge While You Recharge: This generator enables simultaneous charge/discharge, i.e. you can recharge your solar generator while it is charging your devices and gadgets. With this function, you never have to worry about your devices running out of battery while off the grid. Can Use All Three Recharge Methods Simultaneously: Solar, car, and wall charging can all be used simultaneously to recharge the Titan. All three methods together would be odd to utilize since most people don't have an AC port and car charger in the same vicinity (besides RV users); however, using solar and wall charging or solar and car charging together can significantly reduce charge times so you don't have to wait long to bring its battery back to full capacity. The Titan's Technical Specifications Include: Battery The following ratings are for each individual battery: Battery Voltage: 29.4V (only charged to 29.2V) Battery Capacity: 74Ah (usable), 2,000Wh (usable) Maximum Charge Current: 40A (approx. 1,000 watts) Suggested Continuous Discharge: 100A (approx. 2,500 watts) Suggested Continuous Discharge: 1,500 watts (for longer life) Weight: Approximately 35 lbs Size: 12" x 18.5" x 4.5" Inverter Output Voltage: 120V AC (pure sine wave) Continuous Power Output: 3,000W Peak Power Output: 6,000W Inverter (No Load) Power Consumption: 5-15 watts Size: 12" x 18.5" x 7.75" Weight: 32 lbs MPPT Charge Controller (for Solar Charging) Dual MPPT Controllers Input Volts: 35V to 145V DC Maximum Input Amps: 30 amps per input port Maximum Charging Amps: 80A Charge Rate: up to 2,000W using two or more batteries Other Specifications AC Charging: 600 watts per charger (up to two chargers max - you'll need two or more batteries to be able to use two AC chargers) Car Port Charging: 85W Number of Outlets: 6 AC ports and one 30A RV outlet USB Ports: 6 USB-A, 2 USB-C 12V Ports: 4 - regulated at 13.8V Weight: 32 lbs power module and 35 lb battery Dimensions: 18.5" x 12" x 12" Titan Solar Generator - Pros Twice most other solar generators' inverter capacities at 3,000W continuous discharge. Removable and expandable batteries can be added to the bottom of the generator. Not just one, but two MPPT charge controllers. Can connect two 600W AC chargers to wall charge the Titan in half the standard time. Two-year warranty for the power module and one-year warranty for each battery. Can power almost any type of household equipment and even some industrial devices. Titan Solar Generator - Cons It is one of the most expensive solar generators on the market, at $2,995. The combined weight of the inverter and battery is 67 lbs, and if the battery is expanded, it might not be able to be carried as a whole. Find the Titan solar generator here on shopsolarkits.com. This is an affiliate link. Similar: Titan Solar Generator Review – The Best Large Solar Generator? ECOFLOW DELTA 1300 The eco-friendly, portable, and powerful Delta 1300 keeps you powered up in case of a power outage or emergency. This is a revolutionary generator that has a powerful 1,260Wh lithium-ion battery and can be charged up to 80% within one hour from an AC wall outlet. This is one of the best AC charge times for any solar generator. As stated before, the Yeti 3000, although more than twice the size of the Delta 1300, takes 25 hours to fully charge from the wall, which is 12 times longer than the Delta's two-hours. There are different ways to charge the Delta, but the fastest and easiest means is through the AC adapter. It also possesses an LCD display where you can monitor the energy consumption, its charging rate, and how much power you have left. Weighing about 30 lbs, the Ecoflow Delta is portable and can be carried about. It is the lightest solar generator reviewed in this article. The Inergy Flex weighs about 30 lbs as well, but the Delta has 200Wh more battery capacity than the Flex. Features of the Delta 1300 Ultra-Fast Charging: Using the AC adapter, which is the fastest way of charging it, you can be sure of a full charge in two hours. That is a great edge over its counterparts. Powered by Solar Panel: With recommended solar panels, you can charge the Delta in about four hours using its 400W maximum solar input. Powerful Inverter: The Delta's AC ports can use 1,800W continuously and it has a surge rating of 3,300W max. This is one of the best inverter ratings for a system of this size. Delta 1300 System Specifications Battery Type: Lithium-ion AC Charge Time: Approximately two hours Battery Capacity: 1,260 watt-hours Output: 1,800W continuous (3,300W surge) Shelf Life: 12 months Ports: 6 AC outlets, 2 USB-C PD, 2 USB-A fast charge, 2 standard USB-A ports, 1 car output Weight: 30 lbs Delta 1300 - Pros Charges in two hours with the AC outlet. Delta 1300 is much lighter than other similar power stations. Inverter strength is extremely powerful for its 1,260Wh battery. Comes with several USB ports for charging devices, and its six AC outlets make it easy to use with multiple electronics and/or appliances simultaneously. Delta 1300 - Cons It can be noisy in its operations (from its cooling fans), noisier than other solar generators of its caliber. As fast as it charges from the AC outlet, only using this charging method can cause the Delta's battery capacity to slowly decline long-term. The Delta is rated for 800 cycles to 80% capacity, which is a good cycle life relative to the average solar generator. But only using AC charging every time you need to refill the battery can result in long-term battery degradation. As long as you can mix in some solar charging here and there, it will ensure a longer battery life so you can use the system successfully for years to come. Find the Delta 1300 here on Amazon. This is an affiliate link. I hope you've gained at the very least some insights on the ideal solar generators to have when SHTF. Hopefully, you will be able to use this information to make an informed purchase when the time is right for you! For more information on off-grid power, check out my suggested articles below. Continue Reading: Inergy Apex vs EcoFlow Delta 1300 – Which is the Superior Solar Generator? YETI 3000 vs Titan – Two of the Most Powerful Solar Generators Top 15 Best Solar Generators for Camping (Small to Large)