After reviewing several small portable power stations, the one thing I can’t measure (at least at first) is reliability over time.
That being said, the Chafon 500W system gets praise for its reliability, and in terms of lifetime value, this is exactly what a good portable power station should do.
UPDATE: The Chafon 500W is no longer available for purchase. This happens from time to time with certain power stations. However, the company Aeiusny sells an identical model on Amazon. Please note that when I refer to “Chafon” in this post, I am referring to the Aeiusny model.
In this post, I’m going to highlight its features and see if I can find the reason(s) why this system is working so well for its users.
What’s The Gist Of The Chafon Portable Generator?
The Chafon is basically a giant battery pack with an inverter inside it. This allows you to power many different devices, electronics, and even some small power tools with it.
This includes anything from your phone and laptop to small appliances like a compact refrigerator.
The Chafon generator is unique because it has a 500W output, which is much higher than other solar generators like it.
Part of this has to do with its lithium-ion battery, which is lighter than traditional lead-acid batteries and also packs a more powerful punch.
Initial Look Inside the Chafon 500W Solar Generator
The Chafon has a rugged exterior made from robust plastic, so it will be able to sustain itself during the unpredictable times in the outdoors.
The shape of the generator reminds me of a duffle bag, with a long section as well as a handle on the top.
This shape is different amongst other solar generators, but its power output is better than most others of this size.
But we’ll get into that later.
Chafon Solar Generator: Exterior Features
The features are expensive when it comes to the different outlet channels available for this product.
As you can see, each end of the solar generator has power outlets.
Basically, one side has DC power and the other AC power. You can tell by the outlets but also from the switches labeled “DC Output ON/OFF” and “AC Output ON/OFF” on the top of each side of the generator.
The DC Side Of The Chafon Portable Generator
That being said, let’s start on the DC side to get the full picture of what you’re getting with this generator…
From the DC on/off switch on the top-right, you will find a lamp on the left of the switch. The lamp is a simple LED that is capable of leading you to your campsite if it is dark out or helping you navigate your home or RV in case of an emergency.
To the left of the LED light, you have the on/off switch for the light.
Below that, you’ll find the battery percentage of the entire generator as well as the heat vent for when the generator is using a lot of power or has been running for a long time.
To the right, there are battery status indicators on the bottom, signaling when the generator is charging up.
On top of that, you will see the DC 12V outputs, where you get four of them, each emitting three amps of power maximum.
Above that you’ll see a small LED light, which lights up when the DC switch is turned on, signaling that there is electric current running to the DC outputs.
Above that you’ll have the four USB ports, where there are two of them running at 1A and two running at 2.1A, so you can charge multiple tablets and phones easily.
The AC Side Of The Chafon Generator
Now on the other side, we have the AC outlets and multiple inputs.
As you can see, there are three AC output sockets running through the middle of this section, which are surrounded by inputs and the AC on/off switch.
The bottom left input is for solar panels to connect to it. Solar panels are not included with this generator, but there are a good amount of quality solar panels to choose from.
To the right of this input there is a fan to cool down the battery, and then to the right of that is the AC input interface, where you charge up the Chafon through the wall outlet.
In the top right, you’ll see an “AC Fuse” input. This is where you can hook up another external battery to the Chafon.
This is useful because, with an external battery, you don’t have to worry about the Chafon from running out of juice. So if you have a lot of power that you’ll need off of the grid, it wouldn’t hurt to bring an external battery to fuse with the inverter.
Similar: Yeti 500x by Goal Zero – Overview & Stats – Peak Performance
Chafon Solar Genertor – Charging Options and Times
The charging options are from the wall outlet, from a 12V car charger, or from an external solar panel.
The car and wall chargers come included with the generator.
Generator Charging Times
The Chafon portable generator charges up via solar panels in record time compared to the other options (car outlet and wall outlet).
Now, this varies depending on the sun you have by you, but in the Amazon reviews of this generator, this person claimed their Suaoki 100W 18V flexible solar panel charged their generator up in four hours!
For car charging, it will take you 10 hours to charge the generator to full capacity. And with the standard wall outlet charging method, it will take six hours.
What Can You Use The Aeiusny / Chafon Generator With?
As you can see from the image below, you can charge up many devices and run other electronics easily and for a fairly long duration.
- PC + Display = 3 hours
- 32″ LCD TV = 5 hours
- Smartphone Full Charges = 55 Times
- 50W Fan = 6 hours
- Laptop = 8 hours
- 12V LED Light = 96 hours
Some other items that you can use with this generator include but are not limited to: drones, cameras, CPAP machines, and much more.
Battery Performance and Specs
Internal Technology Of The Chafon Portable Generator
This generator has a pure sine wave inverter in it, which is high quality compared to modified sine wave ones. Pure sine waves allow for components being used to run much smoother, like your fan or light.
Modified sine wave inverters are much less efficient than pure sine wave ones.
This inefficiency causes a fan, light or appliance to make a buzzing sound while operating, which is completely eradicated when using pure sine wave because the power that is taken from the battery and through the inverter matches the power needed in the device with much more precision.
Why Choose The Chafon? What Stands Out?
Besides the power output being higher than most other solar generators of this size, the weight is very light. The solar generator weights only 7.05 pounds, which is extraordinarily light for the power capacity it has.
A Goal Zero Yeti 150 weights 12 pounds and has half of the power.
Also, this solar powered generator has many connection cables, making it very versatile. You get three cables and one connector in total, including:
- 1x Car Battery Clip
- 1x Solar Charger Connector
- 1x Car Charging Cable
- 1x AC Power Cord
How Much Is It?
This solar generator (the Aeiusny version) runs for $239.99 on Amazon.
This is a fair price for the power output, and, for what you get, this is a valuable item for many different circumstances, such as camping, fishing, home backup, and many other scenarios where you may need off-grid power!
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the maximum wattage this will handle?
Chafon solar generators can be used for products with power less than 500W and are not recommended heating products with more than 200W.
2) How to Calculate the Working Time for Your Device?
Working time = 288Wh / Your device power.
3) Suggested Related Solar Panel:
We suggest you can choose 40-100W solar panel with Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp) around 13-18V.
4) How to Check if the Generator is Fully Charged?
When the LED display shows 100%, you need to check if the light for “AC CHARGE” or “Solar Charge” has turned green; if so, it indicates that the portable power supply is fully charged.
Conclusion
Whether you’re camping out in the wilderness, on an RV trip, or needing home backup power, this generator packs a punch and has a significant power output and capacity.
From the solid construction to the many outlets available at your disposal, the Chafon 288 makes for a great and necessary tool for many purposes.
Having portable power on the go is a must when it comes to being off the grid.
That being said, this generator will give you the power you need so you can relax knowing that your devices are safe.
