If you live in a part of the world where power usually never goes out, you probably never thought about a backup. But for those who are usually hit by hurricanes, usually have a power generator (solar-powered) so that they can have power while waiting for their electricity to come back on.
But no matter where you are, you should definitely have a backup whether there are weather disasters, or you just want to be environmentally friendly. Today we will be talking about solar generators and some of the best ones on the market that will hopefully influence your decision when you’re in the market for one.
Top Picks
Best for: Emergency situations – POWEREXTRA Portable Power Station
This is one powerful generator that can cater to your needs that is super lightweight and it can help you in emergency situations.
Best for: Camping – AIMTOM 42000mAh 155Wh Power Station
This solar generator by AIMTOM is perfect for camping because it supplies all the power you need for the weekend.
Best for: Source of power for most outdoor gadgets whilst camping – Jackery Portable Power Station
This generator can help you out if your power is out and you need power, Jackery will save the day when you need it the most.
How to choose solar-powered generators
These are the following factors that you need to consider when you’re choosing a solar generator:
What will it be used for?
There are different sizes and different brands that can cater to your needs from everything to an emergency to a fun summer at a campground.
If using for Camping, RV or Festivals
If you’re doing any of the following, you are much better off getting a solar-powered generator that is portable, has a large battery and many charging ports since it’ll be days before you return home.
If using for permanent RV life
Assuming this is what you want to do for the summer or maybe even permanently in an RV, the type of solar-powered generator you should get is one that has efficient solar charging, long last battery and of course high input capacity because you’ll likely be hooking up your appliances to cook on it or store things.
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Emergency Situations
This is one of the main reasons why people get a solar generator, because of an emergency. The best solar generator you can get has a long shelf life and high continuous output.
What are you powering?
You should know exactly what you’re powering so that you can get the best solar generator for your needs. You’ll want to use the watts calculator to figure out how much solar capacity you need.
Price Range
Of course, it really depends on your budget on what you can get. You can easily get super cheap ones, but they are often low quality and won’t be as reliable when you truly need the electricity. It may be worth investing in a high quality solar powered generator, even if it means you have to spend a little more.
Tips for using solar power
Charge your electronics during the day
Since solar power comes from the sun, electricity is created only during the day, so when the sun shines it is necessary to use its panels.
Make sure you recharge your phones, tablets and other electronics throughout the day by unplugging them in the evening and take advantage of these hours of the daytime.
Use the power at the right time
If you need to do dishes or even a load of laundry, you’ll want to do them while the solar power is charging during the day, because they take the most power and you don’t want to be without power at night.
Use energy-efficient appliances if possible
You are better off using battery-operated appliances if you can find one (especially if you live the camping or RV life) so that you don’t use the power from the generator. But if you have normal appliances, try to use them during the day, otherwise, maybe use them for a tiny bit at night.
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Manage your desired temperatures during the day
You will want to adjust your temperatures during the day while you have the most power, so that you don’t have to worry about it using up your precious power on the generator.
Types of solar powered generators
There are two types of solar-powered generators, they are:
Solar Backup Generators
Solar backup generators are designed to start up when the power grid fails and are an efficient way to mount the whole system. These generators store high-watt power using a number of batteries. They are powerful enough to link lighting, televisions, laptops, and other small to medium-sized appliances.
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It can take up to 2 days to charge these backup generators, but if you have a couple of them it shouldn’t be so much concern.
Portable Solar Generators
These types of generators are usually lightweight, and you usually take these with you when you’re camping or in an RV. While super convenient, they do not have the wattage capacity for larger appliances. However, they don’t have a lot of noise and are environmentally friendly so there is that bonus that we look for in solar generators.
The Best Solar Powered Generators
Jackery Portable Solar Power Station Explorer
Clearly, this is a super portable solar generator by Jackery that you can use in a pinch or use while traveling. This generator can generate 1000 watts and has 3 ports where you can charge into (110V). It also runs on a 1002wH battery and it has 4 ways of recharging. It can charge via solar panels, wall outlets, car outlets and a gas generator.
You can power up to 8 outdoor devices, but as we said it has a max of 1000 wattage it can give so it can’t give power to larger appliances.
Solar panels don’t come with this, but you can select the manufacturer’s other option and pay $500 more.
Pros:
- 4 ways of recharging
- Reliable portable generator
- 1000 wattage
- 3 ports for charging
Cons:
- Can’t charge large appliances
- Not good for emergencies
- Solar panels not included
AIMTOM 42000mAh 155Wh Power Station
Here we have a true emergency backup generator by AIMTOM that has a massive 4200 mAH battery that weighs just 4 pounds! It has 3 USB ports, three 12V DC Output, and a 110V AC Outlet. It also puts out 100 watts, so remember to keep that in mind. Can you believe a small thing like this would have all that?
While it won’t power up your home, it’s perfect if you’re going camping or just need electricity while outside. It’s also decently priced compared to other competitors at $136.99, so anyone can afford it if they’re looking for one.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Powerful battery
Cons:
- Not as powerful as the bigger generators
- Takes a long time to recharge
MAXOAK Portable Power Station
Here we have another solar generator by Maxoak Bluetti, but this one can actually power up AC appliances so that’s a huge plus if you’re going to be using that on your trip. It has a 1000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter and two AC sockets for the appliances (AC of course). So anything that you have up to 1000 wattage, you can power up, such as a mini fridge, tv, hairdryer and more. It has a huge battery capacity of 101,351 mAh/14.8, so now you know why we said you can literally fire up some appliances with this generator.
This generator also has one 12V DC socket, as well as PD Type C Port, a PD-USB Port and even more DC and USB ports, making this a worthwhile investment. This generator doesn’t come with its own solar charger (or panels for that matter) so you’ll have to find one that is compatible with this generator. Even with all these features, this generator weighs in at 39.7 pounds and the exact measurements are 14.6×6.5×14.4 inches so it’s not lightweight or compact, but it’s mighty powerful.
Pros:
- Powers up appliances and runs it with no issues
- Large battery capacity
- Many ports
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with own solar charger (have to buy separately)
- Expensive (especially when it doesn’t come with the solar charger)
300W POWEREXTRA Portable Power Station
POWEREXTRA’s power station is one of those generators that you can use at home (in an emergency of course) or camping. It has a large battery 26000 mAh and 280 wh as well as being very lightweight. It has 3 ways to charge which are solar panels, car outlets and wall outlets. It also has 4 different light modes that you can use and it even has multiple protections to make sure the generator doesn’t harm you in any way.
What’s great is that it can power and run 80% of home appliances and it has a 24-month warranty if you have an issue with the power station.
Pros:
- Large battery
- 4 different light modes
- Can power appliances
- 24-month warranty
Cons:
- No solar panels or attachment to the power station
Westinghouse iGen160s Portable Power Station and Outdoor Solar Generator
This generator by Westinghouse has versatile outlet charges up to 9 devices at the same time. Pretty cool right? It can do 150 watts max with a 120V outlet limit. It also has 2 USB ports , 1 USB C port, 3 12V DC outlets. What’s good about this particular generator is that it only weighs 3.75 pounds so you can literally take it with you anywhere that you want.
This lightweight power station also charges 80% faster using an outlet at home than solar panels or a car. What you get with this generator, you get a ac adapter, dc adapter, cigarette lighter plug, and a manual. To give you a peace of mind, it also comes with a 2 year warranty should you have any issue with this generator.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Lots of ports
- Charges faster with house outlet
- 2 year warranty
Cons:
- Not as durable
NEXPOW Portable Power Station Camping Generator
This NEXPOW Power Station packs a lot of punch for a small generator. It is extremely lightweight at 3.1 pounds and it can put out 120 watts. It has a 150W peak power and a large 48000 mAh battery capacity which means things can last a long time. This can hook up to 110V It doesn’t come with solar panels like with other generators but you can charge the generator in your house so that you can have it for another time. But you do get a car charger if you want to charge this generator in the car in case you need to charge the generator if you are out at camp or RVing.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Multiple ports
- Multiple ways to charge (house, car)
Cons:
- Not as durable as the company claimed
FAQ
Can a solar generator power a house?
Yes, it can, it has to be a large generator with a large enough battery or huge solar panels to actually power a house.
Are solar generators any good?
They are good if you are in an emergency situation or if you want to go camping. They are also good if you need a backup.
How big of a solar generator do I need?
If you’re just going camping or a weekend trip possibly, you don’t need a large solar generator. But if you’re in an emergency situation where natural disaster strikes, and you need power for days, you’ll want to go with a larger one.
What is the best solar generator on the market?
If you’re looking for a solar generator that serves both the home and camp, you will like POWEREXTRA Portable Power Station because you can literally run appliances and smaller things on the same generator in case of emergencies or you really just need power.
Bottom Line
You’ve seen all the best options and learned about solar-powered generators. They are great to have whether you are camping or whether it’s an extreme emergency. Whatever your reason, make sure you research what you really need for your home and decide which one you want. If you enjoyed reading this guide today, please leave a comment below!
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