The Jackery Explorer 240 Review – Solar Charger for the Outdoors

5.0 rating

The Jackery solar charger is a battery pack that can be charged with solar panels, your car, or from a wall outlet.

What are you going to get from this article?

You are going to get a full review of the Jackery portable solar charger, an overview of the optional Jackery 50W solar panel, and will also get links to purchase them and find more information about them.

The outdoors is becoming a more engaging place for many people looking for free time and stress-free spaces…

The overall use of camps grounds and natural wilderness by hikers and campers has been increasing due to the positive health effects of being in nature.

The majority of people that go outdoors and camp or RV need some source of power to charge devices they may have, such as phones, tablets, camera batteries, lights, drones, and much more.

Why Portable Solar Chargers Are
Important

Jackery 240 solar generator front view
Jackery Explorer 240

Solar chargers and generators are essential for many reasons, not only for camping out. They are great for any off-grid scenario you may find yourself in.

Whether you’re camping, boating, off-grid living, or using it for backup power from home, the Jackery has many capacities. This particular generator only charges devices and small electronics, but bigger generators can power a fridge and other larger appliances, making them great for power outages or sudden off-grid emergencies where you need a significant amount of power.

Also, these generators are crucial for any type of natural disaster where there is no power for miles. Like the unfortunate scenarios that happened in Puerto Rico, there were many solar powered generators used by the residents there to power necessities before getting their power back online.

Initial look Of The Jackery Solar Charger

The portable solar charger is small and compact, measuring out at 9.0in Length x 7.8in Width x 5.2in Depth (23 x 20 x 13 cm). In addition to the small size, it weighs a very lean 6.6 pounds. This is mainly due to the lithium-ion battery it uses.

On the outside, you will find two vents on each side of the generator, which are used to cool it down with ease. This generator is exceptional at cooling and I have yet to find someone on YouTube who has one and says it overheats.

Next, we have an LCD display that shows you multiple important numbers when using electronics with this solar charger.

LCD display on the solar generator

First, you get the input wattage coming in from your choice of power sources (car, wall, solar). You also have the output wattage as well when using it for your devices and electronics. Also, you get to see how much power the inverter uses after turning on the buttons for each output slot.

Jackery solar charger outputs

On the outside, you can see that each section of the generator is sectioned off into a car charger output port at 12V / 10A, a standard AC 110V outlet, (2) 5V, 2.4 amp USB outlets, and one input connection.

Each section of outputs has a button you press to turn on that specific port. Once you press the button, an LED light comes on, turning on the inverter and showing you that it is active and ready to charge something up.

The inverter inside the Jackery is pure sine wave as well, which is very important to charge devices and electronics efficiently and steadily.

For easy portability, Jackery installed a carrying handle on the top of the charger and also includes a carrying pouch for the cords it comes with, so you can set up shop easier wherever you deide to use it.

Jackery Charging And Power Options

There are three charging options with this generator.

1) Solar

Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel for Explorer 160/240/500 as Portable Solar Generator, Portable Foldable Solar Charger for Summer Camping Van RV(Can't Charge Explorer 440/ PowerPro) (Renewed)
Jackery Solarsaga 60W

There is an optional 60 watt solar panel that you can use to charge up the generator. It is a great investment because you can go off the grid right away when you get the panel and charger together. Or, if you have a solar panel already ready to go, you came prepared!

The Jackery solar panel has magnetic ends and is foldable, so it is easily portable.

One of the most efficient ways to use the solar panel is when you are not using the generator during the day. This gives you the ability to charge it up with the panel during the day when the sun is out, and then at night when you’re done with your hike and are going back to base camp, you can use the generator however you’d like.

The panel also comes with four holes on each corner, so you can attach it to many different areas that are most useful to you, like an RV, tent, house, and much more.

Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel for Explorer 160/240/500 as Portable Solar Generator, Portable Foldable Solar Charger for Summer Camping Van RV(Can't Charge Explorer 440/ PowerPro) (Renewed)
Features of the 60W Jackery solar panel

When the panel is on and running, a blue LED light lights up on the side of it, where the USB attachment is located.

The connections on the panel include a USB-A and USB-C connection to charge electronics directly from the solar panel.

For more power, Jackery has the Solarsaga 100W panel that’s essentially the same construction as the 60W panel but is simply larger.

2) Car Charger

The car charger is included in the generator kit. When using it, it takes seven to eight hours to fully charge the generator.

This method works great while driving during the day. Then you can use the power you get from charging it in the car towards power at night. Or, you can use it in the car on a road trip and people could use it while it’s charging.

3) Wall Charger

Similar to the car charger, the wall charger is included in the Jackery package. It charges the generator in seven to eight hours.

What Can You Use With The Jackery Solar Charger?

Charging times and running times for the Jackery Explorer 240
  • Laptop: 4+ Times
  • Smartphones: 17+ times
  • Tablets 14+ times
  • Cameras: 30+ times
  • Mini Fridges: 3+ hours
  • Mavic Pro Drone: 4+ times
  • USB Small Fan: 40+ hours
  • TV: 3+ hours
Devices that the Jackery solar charger can power

Battery Performance

The Jackery solar charger has a 240Wh lithium ion battery and pure sine wave inverter within it. They’re lightweight and top of the line for generators of this size.

  • The AC 110V outlet’s max output is 200 watts. Anything more than that will override the generator and it won’t work
  • The generator cools easily and remains consistently cool while in use
  • The inverter makes very little noise
  • The battery capacity is really good at a higher load, which is rare for most generators like it
  • Can use the battery while it is charging (the battery wont charge as fast, though)
  • Charges at a very low amp rate (2-3 amps)

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Portable, light, and powerful
  • Lithium-ion battery
  • LCD Screen
  • Stays cool when using consistently
  • Carrying handle – easy portability
  • 30-day money back guarantee, 2 year warranty

Cons

  • Slow to charge up
  • Not ideal for long trips
  • The system shuts off without warning when it’s out of battery

Frequently Asked Questions

How many amps is the ac outlet output?

The Explorer 240 portable power station AC outlet output is 200W, 110V, so the amperage is 1.8Amps.

Is this waterproof? If so, for how long?

The Jackery Explorer 240 Portable Power Station is not rated as waterproof.

Can you use this indoors during a power outage?

Yes, you can use it indoors during a power outage to charge your phone, laptop, LED light, and other devices.

Can I fly with it?

No. The Jackery Explorer 240 portable power station has 240Wh power, the commercial airliners have a maximum allowance of 100Wh.

Conclusion

The Jackery solar charger is ideal for camping, RV use, boating, home backup for small electronics, natural disaster relief, and many other areas.

Along with a solar panel, this generator has off-grid capabilities and is small and compact, making it easily portable, too!

For a great power back up system that doesn’t cost you a fortune, find the Jackery portable power bank here on Amazon.

Max Peters

Hi! I'm Max and I am passionate about off-grid solar technology and adventure! I'm using my knowledge of solar generators, solar panels, and everything in between to provide you with the best tools to keep you powered while off the grid. Read more about me here: About Max Peters."

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