A solar generator is, as the name suggests, a solar-powered device that can be charged by sunlight and used to provide electric power as an output for charging or powering various electronic devices. Having a solar generator on road trips and camping nights is a lifesaver. A typical solar generator has a few important characteristics that must be noted before buying one such as:
- Battery capacity: This is an important factor when it comes to solar-powered generators. The battery capacity of solar generators is measured in watt-hours unit that represents how much electric current the backup battery can hold. For example, a 518-watt hour solar generator will last much longer than a 240-watt hour generator.
- Weight: If you are purchasing a solar generator, you should also consider the weight of the unit. The weight factor plays an important role in the portability of solar generators. As solar generators are mostly used for outdoor applications, a 4 to 5 pounds generator is easy to carry around rather than a 40-pound heavy generator.
- Charging modes: Even if the solar generators are mainly focused on solar energy, you should also have the option to charge it in a lack of sunlight. The solar generators provide a few extra options to charge the device, such as AC current or via a car battery. You should look into these options and compare them with the ones you will be having at your disposal.
In this article, we are bringing you some of the best solar generators available for you. We have prepared the list of the solar generators along with their details and the best features. To help you out with your purchase, we are providing an informative Buying Guide for the best solar generators. We will recommend you to go through the entire article to understand solar generators completely and choose the one that suits you the best.
Top Solar Generators
| Solar Generators | Battery Capacity | Weight (pounds) | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Portable Solar Generator | 518-watt hour | 13.32 | 1 year | Check the Price |
| Generac Portable Inverter Generator | --- | 46 | 2 years | Check the Price |
| FF FLASHFISH 200W Portable Power Station | 151-watt hour | 5.6 | 1 year | Check the Price |
| FF FLASHFISH 300W Portable Generator | 222-watt hour | 7.65 | 1 year | Check the Price |
| SUAOKI Portable Power Station | 150-watt hour | 2.90 | 2 years | Check the Price |
| BEAUDENS Portable Power Station | 166-watt hour | 6.69 | 2 years | Check the Price |
| Rockpals 250-Watt Portable Generator | 240-watt hour | 5.5 | 1 ½ year | Check the Price |
| PRYMAX Portable Power Station | 298-watt hour | 6.5 | 2 years | Check the Price |
| AIMTOM Portable Solar Generator< | 155-watt hour | 3.48 | 1 year | Check the Price |
| BALDR Portable Power Station 330W | 297-watt hour | 10 | 2 years | Check the Price |
Best Solar Generator Reviews
1. Jackery Portable Solar Generator
Jackery is a well-known brand in the green power community as they focus on solar power based products. Along with many variants of solar panels, they also produce solar generators.
At first position, we have Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 that is a powerful solar power generator having a 518-watt hour capacity lithium-ion battery. As for charging the device, you can use a 50-watt solar charge panel for a free of cost recharge. If unavailable, you can charge it via the AC wall plug. It weighs only 13.32 pounds, which is not as heavy as some other generators.
Furthermore, you get a total of 5 different outlets from this generator that include one 12 volt DC outlet, one 110 volt AC outlet, and 3 USB outlets having 5 volts each. The charging speed of the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 is also pretty decent. It will take around 10 hours for a full charge from a 50-watt solar panel or 8 hours with an AC or DC input.
There is 1 ear of brand warranty on this product. Along with all these features, the generator also has an LCD display on the back that displays essential things such as battery level, input, and output level.
Best features:
- 518-watt hour battery capacity
- Multiple charging options
- 12 volt DC outlet
- 110 volt AC outlet
- 3 USB outlets
- LCD display
- 32 pounds in weight
- 1-year warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- AC charger
- User manual
- Warranty card
2. Generac Portable Inverter Generator
Generac makes many high-end electrical appliances which are applicable for both indoor and outdoor needs. They also have a solar generator in their products list.
Generac 7117 GP2200i is our second pick for the best solar generators. It has a 120 volt AC outlet along with a 14.1-ampere rating and a 12 volt DC outlet. In addition to the solar charging capability, this generator has a 1.2-gallon fuel tank that will give you a maximum of 10 hours of backup before running out. It has an ergonomic design that is focused on portability. There is also an economy mode on this generator, which will maximize the backup time. The total weight of the generator is 46 pounds.
There is a LED light on the generator that alerts the user when the fuel level is running low or when the generator is overloaded. There is a unique feature on this generator that is the parallel generator support. With the parallel support, you can easily connect two generators with the help of a parallel kit for extra power. There is one USB outlet that can charge your smartphone or any USB powered device. The warranty period for this solar generator is 2 years.
Best features:
- 120 volt AC outlet
- 12 volt DC outlet
- USB outlet
- 2-gallon fuel tank
- 10-hour backup
- LED alert light
- Parallel support
- 2 years warranty
Components:
- Solar Generator
- DC cables
- User manual
- Warranty card
3. FF FLASHFISH 200W Portable Power Station
Up next, we have a solar generator from FF Flashfish, also known as Fivklemnz. They have a variety of budget products, including a solar generator.
The FlashFish solar generator has 1 110 volt AC, 2 12 volt DC and 3 USB outlets. The total battery capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 151-watt hour. The generator is compact in size, weighing only 5.6 pounds. There is a multi-functional display on the back that shows battery level as well as charging status.
Along with the solar charging, it can be charged with an AC charger or a car adapter having a 15-volt input rating. The warranty on FlashFish solar generator is 1 year. There are a couple of safety features available in the generator, including short circuit, over current and overcharging protection.
Best features:
- 151-watt hour battery
- 110 volt AC outlet
- 2 12 volt DC outlet
- 3 USB outlets
- Compact size
- 6 pound in weight
- LCD display
- Multiple charging options
- 1-year warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- Charging cables
- User manual
- Warranty card
4. FF FLASHFISH 300W Portable Generator
The next solar generator is also from Flashfish. This is yet another budget solar generator from their line of products.
This is a 222-watt hour solar generator with 1 110 volt AC outlet and 2 12 volt DC outlet. There are also 3 USB outlets for USB devices, such as mobile phones and cameras. The body is made of a combination of metal and plastic that improves the overall build quality. This generator weighs only 5.6 pounds, which makes it ideal for outdoor applications.
The generator can be recharged with either a solar panel or an AC wall outlet. If both options are unavailable, you can use your car charging port, which will also get the job done. There are multiple safety features included in the generator along with 1 year of manufacturer’s warranty.
Best Features:
- 222-watt hour battery capacity
- 1 110 volt AC outlet
- 2 12 volt DC outlet
- 3 USB outlets
- High build quality
- 6 pounds in weight
- Multiple charging options
- 1-year warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- Charging cables
- User manual
- Warranty card
5. SUAOKI Portable Power Station
Suaoki is a popular brand known for its budget products. Along with many interesting appliances, they also have a cheap solar generator.
SUAOKI Portable Power Station is probably the tiniest solar generator from our list. This 150 wh generator has 10 different outlets. The outlet ports include four 12 volt DC outlets, four USB ports, and two 110 volt AC outlets. You can recharge SUAOKI Portable Power Station with a 60-watt solar panel, an AC wall port, or your car’s charging port in case of emergencies.
This is the lightest option on the list weighing only 2.9 pounds. Along with that, this is the cheapest solar generator from our picks. But, you will be getting 2 years warranty on the product from Suaoki.
Best Features:
- 150-watt hour battery
- 4 12 volt DC outlets
- 4 USB ports
- 2 110 volt AC outlets
- Multiple charging options
- 9 pounds in weight
- Compact design
- 2 years warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- Car charger
- Solar panel charging cable
- AC charger
- DC female cigarette lighter adapter
- User manual
- Warranty card
6. BEAUDENS Portable Power Station
Beaudens is another great option if you are looking for a value for money purchase. We have a decent solar generator from Beaudens in this article.
Apart from other solar generators, this one has a lithium iron phosphate battery, which is comparatively better than regular batteries. The battery capacity is 166-watt hours that have one 110 volt AC outlet, 2 12 volt DC outlets, and 3 USB ports. The body of Beaudens portable power station is made up of aluminum, which makes it stronger and durable. It weighs only 6.69 pounds, which is a great feature.
You can charge it via various methods apart from solar panels. It can be charged by either an AC wall port or a car charging port. Along with many safety features, the Beaudens portable power station comes with 2 years of warranty period.
Best features:
- 166-watt hour battery
- Lithium iron phosphate battery
- 1 110 AC outlet
- 2 13 volt DC outlet
- 3 USB ports
- Multiple charging options
- 69 pounds in weight
Components:
- Solar generator
- Cables
- User manual
- Warranty card
7. Rockpals 250-Watt Portable Generator
Rockpals is a well-known brand for its quality products. Fortunately, they also make solar-powered generators.
Rockpals portable generator features a 240-watt hour battery that has dual 120 volt AC outlets along with four 12 volt DC outlets and 2 USB outlets. If you have a 60 watt or 100-watt solar panel available, you can recharge it with the solar panel without any problem. Otherwise, you can use any AC wall port to charge the battery within 8 hours. In case of road trips, you can also use your car charger for charging the generator.
The generator only weighs 5.5 pounds that helps it fit into the category of outdoor generators. Along with a compact body design and durable build quality, you get a 1 ½ years of warranty period. Also, there is an inbuilt fan that prevents overheating of the battery.
Best Features:
- 240-watt hour battery
- Dual 120 volt AC outlet
- 4 12 volt DC outlet
- 2 USB outlet
- Multiple charging options
- 5 pounds in weight
- Overheat protection
- 1 ½ year warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- 5 ft AC adapter
- 3 ft car charger
- DC socket adapter
- User manual
- Warranty card
8. PRYMAX Portable Power Station
Prymax is rather a fresh brand in the field of electrical appliances. Still, they have a decent solar generator at an affordable price tag.
Prymax portable power station has a 298-watt hour lithium battery that can be charged by a solar panel, AC wall adapter, or even your car charger. Talking about the power output, it has two AC ports, three DC ports having 12 volts, 23 volt and 19-volt rating respectively, 2 regular USB port, and 1 USB type-c port for quick charging. Lastly, it also has a 12 volt dedicated cigarette lighter port that can come in handy for long travels.
The cooling fan installed within the generator prevents overheating issues and makes the generator safer. It weighs only 6.5 pounds and has a compact form factor. It also has a flashlight for night time. There is an impressive 2 year warranty period on Prymax portable power station.
Best Features:
- 298-watt hour battery
- Multiple charging options
- Dual AC outlets
- 3 DC ports of varying voltages
- 2 regular USB ports
- 1 USB type-c ports
- 12-volt cigarette lighter port
- 5 pounds in weight
- Flashlight
- 2-year warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- 1 AC power adapter
- User manual
- Warranty card
9. AIMTOM Portable Solar Generator
This solar generator from Aimtom has a very affordable price tag. Still, the feature list is quite impressive.
With a 155-watt hour battery, Aimtom portable solar generator provides three different outlets. There is one 110 volt AC outlet, three USB outlets, and three 12 volt DC outlets. The weight of this generator is only 3.48 pounds that are considered pretty lightweight. Along with such a low weight factor, it has an ergonomic design that makes it easier to carry around.
The recharging options include solar panels, AC outlets, or a car charging port. While charging, there are a lot of safety features that will prevent overcharge, overheating, and other problems. The warranty on Aimtom portable solar generator is 1 year that is good enough for a portable device.
Best features:
- 155-watt-hour battery
- 1 110 volt AC outlet
- 3 USB outlets
- 3 12 volt DC outlets
- 48 pounds in weight
- Ergonomic design
- Overheat protection
- Overcharge protection
- 1-year warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- Cigarette lighter adapter
- AC wall charger
- Car charger
- User manual
- Warranty card
10. BALDR Portable Power Station 330W
In the end, we have a solar generator form Baldar. Balder is mainly a home appliances production company, but they also make solar generators.
This is yet another powerful solar generator with a massive 297-watt hour battery that is more than sufficient to power various electronic equipment. It needs a 100-watt solar panel for solar charging. If you don’t have that, you can use the AC wall adapter at your home or the car charger to charge it on the go. As it is only 7.1 pounds with a tiny body, you should not worry about carrying it around as it will fit in your travel bag easily.
Baldr portable power station has one AC outlet along with 3 12 volt DC and 3 USB ports. There is 1 type-c USB port as well for quick charging. There are many safety features provided to prevent the battery from any damage. Apart from that, you also get 2 years of the warranty period and a 30-day replacement guarantee.
Best Features:
- 297-watt hour battery
- 1 AC outlet
- 3 12 volt DC ports
- 3 regular USB ports
- 1 type-c USB port
- Multiple charging options
- 1 pounds in weight
- 2 years warranty
Components:
- Solar generator
- AC adapter
- AC charging cable
- MC4 adapter cable
- Car charging cable
- User manual
- Warranty card
Buying Guide For The Best Solar Generator
After reading about all the solar generators mentioned in this article, you must have gathered a decent amount of information about them. This will help you with your selection as well as future application. But, if you wish to gain more knowledge about solar-powered generators in general, you can give a thorough read to our featured buying guide provided below. This buying guide will help you in finalizing your purchase without any second thoughts. You will find various important parameters of a solar generator and its importance in the buying guide.
1. Battery Capacity
The battery capacity is the most important factor, as it is the amount of power your generator can provide. The higher the battery power, the more generator will last without needing a recharge. For example, a 518-watt hour generator will last longer than a 151-watt hour generator.
2. Battery Type
The type of battery installed in the generator must also be kept in mind before purchasing it. Generally, lithium-ion batteries are used in solar generators. But there are a few batteries that are not commonly used in generators such as lithium iron phosphate batteries that have an upper hand over general lithium-ion batteries.
3. Weight
Weight of the generator has a considerable effect on its portability. Generators with a higher weight factor cannot be used for outdoor applications as easily as lightweight generators. But, you also have to sacrifice battery power along with the weight of the generator.
4. Charging Methods
Charging the solar generator with a solar panel is not always possible. You might not always have a solar panel at your disposal, or you might need to recharge the generator in the night. In such a case, your generator must have optional charging support like AC charging.
5. Supported Solar Panels
The watt rating of the supported solar panel is also defined for every solar generator. Therefore, one single solar panel cannot be used to charge all solar generators. You should select a solar panel while choosing a generator fr future convenience.
6. Reliability
Lastly, you should consider the build quality of the generators alongside the warranty period of the solar generator. As you are going to use a solar panel for indoor as well as outdoor applications, buying a solar panel with a long warranty period will give you peace of mind.
Conclusion
Solar generators are a very important backup power source for all road trips and outdoor campings. But, due to their popularity, there are a lot of options available on the market, and selecting one from all these different variants can be a confusing task. That is why we have provided you the list of best solar generators in this article along with their details and features. But, if you are still not sure about your choice, you can take a look at our top 3 recommendations given below:
- If you are looking for the most powerful solar generator, you should consider buying Jackery Portable power station explorer 500. This solar generator has a massive 518-watt hour battery capacity that will last much longer than many similar generators. With this solar generator, you can charge or power any electronic device that has under 500-watt power rating, including TV, mobile phones, laptops, etc. It has 3 USB outputs having 5 volts output rating and 2.4-ampere current capacity. Compared with some heavier options in the list, Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 weighs only 13.32 pounds that makes it perfect for traveling around.
- If you are on a tight budget, you should consider SUAOKI Portable Power Station, which is the cheapest option available in our list of best solar generators. For such an impressive price tag, you get a 150-watt hour battery capacity along with 2 110 volt AC outlets and 4 USB ports. This compact solar generator is also the lightest solar generator from our list, weighing only 2.90 pounds. With a compact design, this makes the generator very easy to carry around, even within a backpack. The brand warranty on this product is 2 years, which is comparatively better than similar products.
- Lastly, if you are interested in an overall balanced product, take a look at Beaudens Portable Power Station. It has an affordable price tag along with a decent feature lineup. Beaudens Portable Power Station provides you 166Wh battery capacity that is good enough for multi-purpose usage. Beaudens also states that the battery life of their LifePO4 battery is up to 10 years and claims that the LifePO4 battery is better than general lithium-ion batteries. This solar generator has 3 USB outlets and 2 DC outlets having a 12-volt rating. There is a 2 year warranty on Beaudens Portable Power Station.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
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