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

Courtesy: Jackery.com

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)
Courtesy: Jackery.com

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

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