Review: Jackery solar generator can power appliances or tag along on trips
Not interested in a portable generator that’s awkwardly large, loud and smells of gasoline fumes? That’s where portable power stations come in. These are similar to the backup batteries you might keep around to charge up a cell phone but much larger and more powerful.
One of the more recent options to hit the market is the Jackery Solar Generator. Plug it into a wall or car outlet, but the keyword in the model name is “solar” because you can also use solar panels to recharge it.
Keep it around in case of a power outage or take it with you to keep your gear charged during an off-grid getaway, this set consists of a power station and four folding solar panels. Check out the full review below to find out if it’s worth the price.
Jackery Solar Generator 1500
Jackery sent me one of its latest bundles to test: The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 with four SolarSaga 100W solar panels. Here are the key specs of this 1800W power station:
- Lithium-ion battery with 1534Wh (watt-hours)
- AC output: 110VAC, 60Hz, 1800W (3600W peak)
- Power up to 7 devices simultaneously: 3 AC outlets, 1 USB-C port, 2 USB-A ports, 1 12V DC car port
- Weighs 33 lbs.
Hooray for all the numbers, but what is it supposed to be able to do? According to Jackery, the Explorer 1500 can power up to 85% of appliances, including:
- An electric grill for 75 minutes
- A microwave for 68 minutes
- A refrigerator for 15 hours (depending on size)
It’ll also run power tools, electric stoves, air conditioners, TVs and it’ll supposedly recharge your smartphone more than 130 times on a single charge. Speaking of, here’s how long it takes to recharge this Jackery power station:
- AC adapter: 6 hours (buy a second AC adapter to cut the time in half)
- Car adapter: 13 hours
- 2 SolarSaga solar panels: 9.5 hours
- 4 SolarSaga solar panels: 5 hours
Tech sale: $40 off a smarter, Bluetooth-enabled record player
The next best thing to hearing music live is turning on your record player. Vinyl is far more high-quality than anything that could play from your earbuds. That’s because pressing a record preserves the audio data. Tap or click here to check your home for vinyl records worth big money.
Shopping picks: Cozy up with 13 of our fall favorites
October marks the beginning of fall, which means leaves are changing colors, days are shorter and the weather is perfect for roasting marshmallows around a bonfire.
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For about $10, you can finally clean up your messy cords and cables
The Internet of Things has made modern life incredibly convenient — but it has also made life super messy. Just take a peek under your workstation or around your TV. You probably have a ton of wires winding around your floors, cluttering up the place in a jumbled mess.
Get $30 off an air purifier that removes viruses from your home and office
COVID-19 is far from a thing of the past. If you want to protect those precious to you, it’s good to take precautions. Air purifiers add a layer of protection against viruses, bacteria and other allergens.
This Instant Air Purifier removes 99.9% of viruses, smoke and other harmful airborne particles. This gadget comes with 3-in-1 filtration features: HEPA-13, activated carbon and antimicrobial coating.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Black Friday shortages are real: Amazon shopping tips to get what you want and still save money
The holiday shopping season arrives earlier every year. In 2021, it’s not only a retailer’s strategy to get you to spend more money. Supply chain disruptions and chip shortages mean buying specific items will be more challenging and more expensive.
15 Amazon bestsellers you should grab before they sell out
Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, you should get a move on. People are flocking to Amazon’s early sales, and all of the online retailer’s best-sellers are going fast.
Amazon won’t be able to keep all of its popular gadgets in stock until the end of the year, so you’d better get wish lists from friends and family now.
Amazon's $60 smart thermostat costs just a fraction of the Nest
Lowering monthly bills is one way to keep a little extra money in your pocket. There are many ways to go about this, and we’re going to focus on what you can do around the home.
Your energy bill factors in how much juice you’re using as well as your location. The season can significantly affect this as your heating and AC use increases. Even your everyday appliances and devices add up to a big energy drain. Tap or click here for the six biggest culprits and what you can do to slash your energy bill.
Keep your COVID vaccine card safe with a holder - A 5-pack is $6 right now
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Amazon unveils robot on wheels, a $60 smart thermostat and more
Big Tech is rarely content with simple announcements when it comes to unveiling new hardware. It has to be an event, and this continues even as audiences can only attend virtually.
Apple recently unveiled its flagship product, the iPhone 13, which comes in four flavors. Along with this came details on the new Apple Watch as well as some new entries in the iPad family. Tap or click here for our Apple rundown.
Do this every few months for even more free TV channels
Even though Bruce Springsteen wrote the song in 1992, some television viewers might still agree that there are “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On).” Although, by today’s comparison, that could also include Netflix, where you can easily spend hours finding something to watch.
3 smoking computer and server deals from Dell's Semi-Annual Sale
Here at the Komando HQ, we use the best computers for business. In other words, we use Dell setups. If you’re a fan who wants a similar setup to our resident pros, you’re in luck.
Right now, our sponsor Dell is throwing its semi-annual sale, which slashes prices on some of its best computers. You can even snatch up to 45% off the desktop we use around the office. We searched the sale and pulled out three of the best deals you can get for a limited time.
Review: Klipsch Cinema 1200 Sound Bar System
Buy a new TV these days and you’ll be amazed by any number of advancements from screen technology and size to colors and number of pixels. But if there’s always been one constant, it’s that the built-in speakers just don’t cut it.
Keep your payment cards safe with these RFID-blocking cards and wallets
The first credit cards were launched by Diner’s Club way back in 1950. They didn’t have nearly the functionality as they do today, and at the time, they could only be used for restaurant bills. Other banks soon followed, and one of the most popular paying methods was born.
Need a nice portable battery? This colorful one from Anker is on our wishlist
When you’re on the go, there’s no time to stand next to an outlet while your smartphone recharges. You need something that can be just as mobile as you are.
A portable battery is the best solution for those of us who use our smartphones for everything from sending and receiving business emails to turning off our smart appliances at home and messaging the kids about their after-school schedules.
One of our favorite dashcams is on sale now
Owning a dashcam is one of the most reliable and affordable vehicle protection methods on the market. The best dashcams catch accidents before, during and after they happen, so you know exactly what occurred and when.
iPad accessories way cheaper than the original Apple versions
Do you love your Apple products but cringe at the prices of all those accessories? You’re not alone. Thankfully, there are tons of affordable accessories on the market that deliver the same high quality at a fraction of the price.
It's back-to-school time: Great deals on home office essentials
Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to be a drag. Instead of fighting over the last desk organizer or package of your favorite pens, go online. Visit Amazon and take advantage of free 2-day shipping for Prime members.
It's back to school time! Save on tech for you, the kids or the grandkids
It doesn’t matter if you’re preparing your child for distance learning or if you’re taking college courses — it’s just fun to go back-to-school shopping.
What makes school shopping exceptionally fun is perusing technology that can be used for scholastic, business or entertainment purposes. No one gets excited about purchasing erasers and glue sticks, but everyone pays attention when buying a new laptop or choosing the right wireless keyboard and mouse combo.
Is this portable power station for your outdoor adventures worth the price?
Last month, I took a camping trip to the Grand Canyon. We had the typical gear you would expect: a tent, tarp, cots, sleeping bags, camp stove, flashlights and more.
I also brought along a home theater of sorts that included a projector, Apple TV and a 100-inch screen designed to attach to a portable canopy. It was all powered by a high-end Lithium-ion power station and four solar panels.