The 7 Best Solar Powered Generators in 2022
Most best solar powered generator reviews on the web make broad assumptions about what you’ll need for camping, off-grid living or at home.
You won’t get that here.
I’ve reviewed solar powered generators based on their capabilities, so you can easily figure out what you need based on how you plan to use them.
Don’t waste time trying to figure out what someone else’s idea of the best solar powered generators means for YOU.
If this is your first rodeo about solar powered generators, then you might want to jump to down to the section in this post on the typical components of a solar generator.
I found that once I understood a few basic terms I could pretty much figure out how any one system was going to perform, and then I could compare that to my needs. If you understand these basics then you’ll be light years ahead when you read the reviews.
Table of Contents
Top Picks
Best Home Backup → ECOFLOW DELTA Pro
Huge capacity and flexibility. Enough to backup an entire home.
Best Portable Heavy-Duty | Best OVERALL → Bluetti AC200
Big capacity and flexibility. Able to grow as your off-grid and off-road needs expand.
Best Portable Medium-Duty | Best VALUE – Generark 1000
Enough portable power to handle most off-grid needs. Fantastic warranty.
Best Portable Light-Duty | Best BUDGET →TACKLIFE 500
Perfect for emergencies and light duty charging requirements. .
Runners-Up → Jackery 1000 | Jackery 2000
Industry leader. Great product. But comes with several drawbacks that may or MAY NOT matter to you.
What are the best solar powered generators?
Here are my individual reviews for solar powered generators.
EF ECOFLOW DELTA Pro Portable Home, 3.6KWh Expandable Portable Power Station
The ECOFLOW Delta pro has everything you need to power your entire home. And more.
Key Specs:
- Output: 3600 Wh (7200 surge)
- Battery Capacity: 3600 Wh; expandable to 25000
- Charging (Input) Capacity: 6500 W
- Weight: 99 lbs.
- Solar Panels: 400W panels sold separately
Pros:
- Whopping 3600 up to 25000Wh Portable Home Battery Ecosystem
- Rv plug
- Can connect multiple batteries -> huge flexibility and capacity
- WeFi and smartphone connectivity
- Fast charging with 4 solar panels
- Versatile Charging Options with Multiple USB and DC Ports.
- All-Terrain Wheels and a Telescopic Carrying Handle.
- The 1800W generator delivers backup power to Delta Pro in emergency situations.
Cons:
- Weight makes it hard to move about
- Expensive
Price: ECOFLOW DELTA Pro is priced at $3599. Solar panel prices range from $349 (160W) to $1199 (400W). The back-up gas generator price is $1399.
Bottom Line:
This system is a real BEAST. The base unit is no slouch at 3600W. Then you can add more modules to bring it up to 25,000W!
This is a system that hits the ground running and lets you expand as your needs grow.
You can even add a gas powered generator that is designed to work seamlessly with the battery. Which is great for extended blackout periods during winter or periods of low sun availability.
The overall flexibility that you get from this system’s modularity is impressive. And unmatched.
I also love that, with its impressive 6500W input capacity, you’ll get super fast recharge times.
The 400w panels have 77% 5-star ratings out of 800 reviews on Amazon!
At 99 lbs. the system is too heavy to easily take on the road. But it does not have wheels and is movable. It’s just not what I’d call a true portable. Unless you’re a weightlifter.
I’d choose the ECOFLOW DELTA PRO if I was looking to have a reliable backup for my ENTIRE home or if I wanted a fully capable electrical generator for my off-grid cabin.
BLUETTI Solar Generator AC200P with 3 PV200 Solar Panels –
The Bluetti is my top pick for both Best Heavy Duty Portable and Best Overall.
Now, if you’re like me and just read the previous review about ECOFLOW, which is a bonafide powerhouse, then it’s true that none of the other solar generators in this review can match up to the ECOFLOW’s superpowers.
However, don’t make the mistake of thinking the Bluetti is not a powerhouse. It has similar features to the ECOFLOW, like the ability to connect multiple batteries together to get more power, it’s just on a smaller scale.
Key Specs:
- Output: 2200 Wh (4800 surge)
- Battery Capacity: 2048 Wh; expandable to 8192
- Charging (Input) Capacity: 1400 W
- Weight: 62 lbs.
- Solar Panels: 3 included
Pros:
- Rv plug
- Can connect multiple B230 batteries -> greatly expands capacity
- Fast recharge
- Reasonable weight for a higher powered generator
- Affordable
- Plenty of output ports in l;cuding 6 AC plugs
Cons:
- Weight is on the upper end for a portable.
Price: The BLUETTI Solar Generator AC200P with three 200W solar panel is priced at $2999
OK, so just a heads up. I wanted you to be able see the incredible modularity and flexibility this product line offers, so I listed out all of the standalone and bundled configurations that are currently available. If you want to see a bunch of the buying options for the AC200P line, then you will like this section. If you’ve seen enough on the AC200P for now, then you might want to just jump over to the next review.
STANDALONE PRODUCTS:
- Solar Generator AC200P (generator only): $1899
- Solar panels 200W (each): $499
- B230 battery (add-on): $1599
BUNDLES:
- AC200MAX and one B230 External Battery – 4096Wh: $3499
- AC200MAX and 2 B230 External Battery Modules (6144Wh): $4999
- AC200MAX and 2 B230 External Battery Modules (6144Wh) with 3 PV200 Solar Panels: $6149
It’s hard to believe that you can find a portable solar generator with the power options you have here. And one that is ALSO affordable.
Think of the Bluetti as the little brother to the ECOFLOW. With the base unit’s capacity coming in at 2200Wh, you have plenty of power to handle most camping and RV needs, or even a typical power outage.
This is a great alternative to anyone who wants to have maximum power with the flexibility of a portable, one that rivals the capabilities of a custom on-board system for their RV or off-road vehicle.
Likewise, this unit is powerful enough to support the needs of a small cabin off-grid.
I also like the Bluetti’s 1400 W INPUT capacity, which sets you up for a fast recharge.
The configuration I’ve chosen here includes three (3) 200W solar panels. This allows you to take full advantage of the system’s ability to suck in the juice quickly when recharging.
It’s hard to find a solar powered generator this affordable AND with enough power to allow you to live off grid while powering a full array of devices including a fridge and portable air conditioner.
And, similar to the ECOFLOW, you can daisy chain additional batteries together to bring you all the way up to 8192W of battery capacity!
A great price point, base portable power station with plenty of power, panels bundled in, fast recharge, and ability to expand as your needs change, make the Bluetti a real winner and is the best overall option in the market today for an all round solar generator that hits on all cylinders (or panels, as the case may be).
Generark Solar Generator: Portable Power Station Backup Battery & Solar Panel Power Generator. 1000W
The Generark is my top pick for Best Medium Duty Portable and it’s also my Overall Best VALUE pick.
I had a hard time finding anything really wrong with the Generack. In fact, there basically nothing here to not like if you are in the market for an affordable midsize solar generator.
Key Specs:
- Output: 1000 Wh (2000 surge)
- Battery Capacity: 1002 Wh
- Charging (Input) Capacity: 200 W
- Weight: 23 lbs.
- Solar Panels: 2 100w panels included
Pros:
- Easy set-up
- Stores power up to one year
- Can use while charging
- Multipole outlets
- Pure sine wave technology
- Can use while charging
- 5-year warranty
Cons:
- 500 cycles (drops to 80% after 500 cycles)
Price: The Generack is priced at $ 1379; this includes two 100W solar panels.
Bottom LIne:
Generark is a great solution if you are looking for a backup generator for your home, condo, or apartment.
This solar generator with 1000 Wh battery capacity, while not the most powerful solar generator you can buy, is no slouch either. With 1000 Wh it is perfectly capable of powering most devices including your mini-fridge, freezer or a portable TV.
Generarck’s industry leading 5-year warranty also shows that the manufacturer is willing to stand behind the product. That’s impressive.
TACKLIFE 500Wh Portable Power Station Solar Ready Battery Generator-P50
The TACKLIFE 500 is my top pick for Best Light Duty Portable and it’s also my Best BUDGET pick.
If you’re on a really tight budget but you still want a solar powered generator to take on the road, or even to have as a back-up for short-term power outages at home, the Takclife’s P50 solar powered generator is a great option.
Key Specs
- Output: 300 Wh (450 surge)
- Battery Capacity: 500 Wh
- Charging (Input) Capacity: 125 W
- Weight: 13.6 lbs.
- Solar Panels: Purchase separately
Pros:
- Wireless charging pad for phone charging
- Easy to read LCD screen
- Effective for small devices up to mini-fridge
- 2-year warranty
- Lightweight
- Plenty of ports
Cons:
- Expect 8 hours for an AC outlet recharge; up to 12 with one solar panel
Price: The TACKLIFE 500 generator sells for $359.99. A 100W solar panel price is $189.99.
Bottom Line:
You’ll notice that the TACKLIFE doesn’t have the power of the earlier models I’ve reviewed. That said, it can still power low wattage devices, like a c-pap machine, for example.
Better yet, it is a solid option for recharging many devices including a laptop.
Compared to our other models, this unit is much lower powered, but it is well-made and definitely has a place in the light use category.
Jackery Explorer 1000 Solar Generator with 2 SolarSaga 100W Panels
The Jackery Explorer 1000 is my Runner-Up #1.
Jackery has great marketing. I don’t mean that in a bad way. Their products are high-quality and easy to use. Most importantly, their customers are happy, as 88% of the 1639 reviews on Amazon for the Jackery 1000 are 5-star! That’s Impressive!
That said, Jackery did not make my Top Picks list because of several shortcomings which I’ll get to right away.
Key Specs
- Output: 1000W (2000 surge)
- Battery Capacity: 1002 Wh
- Charging (Input) Capacity: 200W
- Weight: 22 lbs.
- Solar Panels: Two (2) 100 W included
Pros:
- Quiet
- Durable
- Plenty of ports
- Pass thru charging
- Lightweight
- 2-year warranty
Cons:
- Can not daisy chain so are limited to built in capacity
- Solar panels not weatherproof
- Cannot charge from AC/DC and solar at the same time.
- 80% charging in 6.5 hours with 2 panels (full sun)
- Can not run more than two 100 w panels in parallel
- Battery rated for 500 cycles.
- High price
Price: The Jackery solar generator with 2 100W solar panels is priced at $1649. Additional solar panels (100W) can be purchased for $299 each. The company sells a carry bag for the generator separately for $39.99.
Bottom Line:
Jackery makes a very good product. It’s durable, easy to use and customers love it as the reviews suggest.
But there are a few drawbacks to this industry leading product. I’m not saying you shouldn’t get the Jackery. It is on my list.
However, there are a few things you need to know. And then you can decide for yourself.
- Jackery states the solar panels are not weatherproof. This means you have to be careful when and where they are used.
-
Some users have reported that you need to stick with only using Jackery branded solar panels, but that is not the case. What you will need to do, however, is to make sure the panels you buy have specs that meet the Jackery’s MPPT inverter settings.
This is doable, but it isn’t something that you can overlook and just buy any solar panel that you find in the market. - Second, the product only works as a standalone unit. It cannot be daisy chained. So if you buy one, and then want to expand your capabilities you’ll need to replace it or buy a second unit.
This turned me off, especially when I recognized I could buy a unit as powerful (the Gernarakc) and have the availability to add models as my needs changed.
- You can not charge and use the system at the same time, which is not the case with the Generark, for example.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro and 2X SolarSaga 200W
The Jackery Explorer 2000 is my Runner-Up #2.
The 2000 pro is Jackery’s top of the line and most powerful solar generator.
The advantage of the 2000 over the 1000 is that it is not only 2x more battery capacity but 6x the input recharging capacity at 1200W. The 2000 can be paired with up to six 200W solar panels which give it a recharge rate of 2.5 hours (assuming full sun, or course.)
Key Specs:
- Output: 2200W (4400 surge)
- Battery Capacity: 2160 Wh
- Charging (Input) Capacity: 1200W
- Weight: 43 lbs.
- Solar Panels: Two 200W included
Pros:
- Plenty of ports
- Durable
- You can use the system while its charging
- Large input capacity allows you to tailor the system with respect to charging time.
- Enough power to handle a typical short term power outage
Cons:
- Can not daisy chain so you can not expand capacity
- Cannot charge from AC/DC and solar at the same time.
- Expensive
- Solar panels not weatherproof
- Weight is on the upper end of portability
Price: The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro as configured here ( with 2x 200 W solar panels) sells for $3599.
- The generator alone sells for $2299.
- 200W solar panels can be purchased for $699 each
- 100W solar panels can be purchased for $299 each
- The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro with SIX 200 W solar panels sells for a whopping $6199!
Note: Some reviewers have noted that you can purchase two Jackery 1000’s for about the same price than a Jackery 2000. However, if you do this you lose the 2000’s ability to charge faster with its 1200W input capacity (versus the Jackery 1000’s 200W).
Bottom LIne:
This is a very nice system. The price is comparable to the Bluetti.
But there are several differences that I find that make the Bluetti more attractive.
- The Bluetti has slightly more input capacity so faster charging potential (1400 W versus 1200 W)
- The Bluetti solar panels are weatherproof; the Jackery’s are not.
- The Bluetti is modular and can be daisy chained to scale up the capacity; the Jackery can not.
There is a reason that Jackery is the industry leader. Jackery solar generators are very well-made and their owners love them as the reviews show.
You can’t go wrong with the Jackery 2000; just be aware of its specifications, which may be limitations for some and not others.
What is a solar generator?
A solar generator doesn’t actually produce any electricity on its own. It’s basically a battery that gets its charge by one of several ways: solar panels, a wall AC outlet, a DC power source, or by a gas-powered generator.
What are the components of a solar generator?
Here are the main parts of the solar generator that you should learn about.
Pay special attention to the terms IN CAPS.
These are key technical spec categories that you’ll want to use to compare and contrast the different solar generator models.
The battery is what holds the charge. BATTERY CAPACITY is rated in watts, which is the measure of the power output that the battery capacity can hold. There are two types of batteries used in the solar generator industry – lead acid and lithium. Lithium batteries are superior in all facets to lead acid. Let’s leave it there.
The inverter is built into the generator. The inverter takes the direct current (DC) coming out of the battery and converts it to alternating current (AC) which is what your household appliances run off of.
SINE WAVE technology is the most efficient inverter technology available. It also does the best job of protecting your appliances while they are charging. Look for a sine wave inverter in your solar generator.
Inverters supply two types of OUTPUT CAPACITY that you need to know about – CONTINUOUS POWER and SURGE POWER (or peak power). Surge power is the maximum wattage the generator can put out, for a short burst of time. Some appliances require a higher burst of electricity when they start up. Continuous power is the ongoing running wattage.
Your generator also needs to be charged and the INPUT CAPACITY is the measure of the watts the battery can take in at any one time. This is relevant because you can’t just hook up as many solar panels as you would like, since the battery will have limits on how much juice it can take in at any one time.
For example, the Jackery 1000 has an input capacity of 200W. This means it makes no sense to pair it with more than two 100W solar panels!
Here is a summary of the important metrics we just reviewed:
- Battery Capacity: Wattage the battery can hold.
- Output Capacity: Continuous running wattage with short burst (surge) capability to start certain devices
- Charging (Input) Capacity: Wattage the battery can take in at any one time.
Charge controllers or maximum power point trackers (MPPT) are also key components of a solar generator. Batteries and solar panels, even though they both run DC current, speak different languages, because they don’t operate at the same voltage levels.
The charge controller or gets them to speak to each other correctly by taking the higher voltage from the solar panel and converting it to a lower voltage the battery needs for charging.
The takeaway with charge controllers (MPPT) is that you need to have a charge controller that will work with both your solar panels and generator.
If you buy a solar generator bundle then you don’t have to worry because you know the MPPT in the generator matches up with the solar panels.
But, if you buy a generator and panels separately then you need to make sure the MPPT settings in the generator match up to the solar panels.
Solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are more common today than polycrystalline panels because they are cheaper to manufacture, and more affordable. Get MONOCRYSTALLINE panels.
Be sure you know the durability and usability specifications of your solar panel.
You want a panel that is weatherproof, as all of the other models (except Jackery) in this review are. This doesn’t mean you can dunk them in the swimming pool, but it does mean they are water resistant and can endure the range of outdoor conditions that you’d expect to encounter when using the product.
At some point Jackery will hopefully upgrade its solar panel options to weather resistant. This is something to keep an eye on.
I mentioned earlier that you can mix and match solar panels and solar generators. Just be sure to check that the generator’s MPPT settings work with the solar panel output settings, as discussed earlier in this section.
Ready to jump back up to the reviews?
What size of a solar generator do you need?
There is a ton of information on the web about how much capacity you need.
Most of the charts show how long you can run any one device on any given generator. But that’s not the real world. We are running multiple devices at any one time and each device might be running for different periods of time.
You could go crazy trying to figure this out. Let’s try to simplify it:
First a bit of background. I’m not going to get too technical I promise.
Take Watts and watt-hours. You need to know what these mean.
Watts (W) is the measure of how much power a device uses, (or can supply as in the case of the battery).
Watt-hours (Wh) is how much the device uses in hours. A 60W bulb running for three hours equals 360Wh. A battery rated at 2000Wh can supply 2000 watts per hour.
So there you have it. All you need to do is to take all the appliances and devices you want to use, get the watts they consume, and figure out how long each is going to run, do the math and come up with a number, right. And then compare that to the generator ratings to see which matches up best.
Here’s a really simple example.
- I want to power two light bulbs for 3 hours, so I need 6 hours total.
- The two bulbs are 40 watts each, so I need 80 watts per hour.
- Multiply #1 x #2 to find the total watt-hours (Wh) needed: 6 x 80 = 480.
Therefore, I’ll need at least a 500Wh solar generator.
So, now I’m thinking I can meet my requirements with the TACKLIFE 500. But there’s one more thing I want to check and that’s the OUTPUT Capacity.
I can see that the TACKLIFE has a 300 W continuous capacity output. That means it can put out a max of 300W at any one time. My two bulbs require 80Wh, when they are both up and running, so I am good.
Here’s an example. If I want to power 6 40W bulbs for one hour, I would still come out to a total of 480Wh. But I would need 480W for that one hour, and that would exceed the 300Wh that the TACKLIFE has.
One more thing, most people recommend going 15-20% higher than whatever number you come up with, to cover surge capacity.
That’s how I would estimate my capacity needs. And I’d probably increase the number by 50% just to make sure I hadn’t overlooked something major.
In summary:
- Make sure you have the capacity to run my devices for the required amount of time (BATTERY CAPACITY)
- Make sure you have the capacity to run your desired devices at the same time (OUTPUT CAPACITY).
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Don’t forget the surge requirement. Bump up your continuous capacity by at least 15-20% to account for any surge needs. Better yet, look at the surge requirements for your devices and make sure you have adequate capacity in the solar generator before you buy.
Keep in mind you can always unplug a few devices when you start up a device with a high surge requirement, like a fridge or microwave, and then plug them back in once you get going.
When does a portable generator make sense?
If I want to have power on the road I have two options. Build it in or go portable.
When a portable generator might make more sense:
- I just want to get going and don’t want to spend time or money building out a permanent electrical setup.
- I have more than one vehicle that needs a generator.
- I want to use it at home in addition to on the road.
- I might need to have power away from my vehicle, even while I’m on the road. A permanently installed electrical system is always tied to the vehicle!
- I’m a part-time off-roader or camper and just want an easy power solution.
When a portable generator might NOT make sense for me.
- My main priority is to have a back-up power capability for my home or off-grid cabin. I’m not looking for portable power on the road.
- I’m on a budget and don’t want to pay extra for the convenience of a portability.
- I want the advantages of a customized build, e.g. the power options, ports, etc.
What if I plan to be on the road for the long term?
While truly portable solar generator systems like the Jackery and Generark are great for getting onto the road quickly and easily, they are not built foryears and years of continuous use.
To make better sense of what I just said, we need to discuss what a battery’s discharge cycle rating is.
For example, Jackery’s portable power station for example is rated for 500 discharge cycles.
This means after 500 power-downs and recharges the battery is more than likely to only operate at 80% of its max capacity. This is normally when batteries are meant to be retired.
A power-down and recharge cycle is taking the battery from 100% charge down to 0% charge.
So, you can see that when you are using the system routinely, every day, there is more of a chance that you will eat up the 500 cycles faster than if you are using the battery periodically.
If I am going long-term off-grid I MAY want to invest in a more permanent solution, even if it costs more upfront, as the costs are likely to even out in the long run since I may need to replace my portable in a few years time.
FAQ’s
Are solar powered generators reliable?
Yes, solar generators have evolved to where they are highly reliable. Most solar generators are backed with multi-year warranties.
Are solar generators worth buying?
A solar generator is worth buying if you have a need for a back-up system at home or power on the road. Whether you build it yourself or buy a portable generator depends upon your needs.
What is the best solar generator?
This depends on your needs. The best solar generator for home back-up use is the ECOFLOW Delta pro, whereas the best portable solar generator for heavy-duty off-grid use is the Bluetti Solar Generator AC200P
What is the fastest charging solar generator?
It depends. I’d definitely look for a solar generator with a higher INPUT CAPACITY as that determines how much charge the generator can accept at any one time.
You can add solar panels, or even pair solar panels with an AC plug-in with some generators, but ultimately the charging time depends on how much juice the battery can take in at one time.
Best solar generator for camping?
Depending upon your camping needs I like the Generarck 1000W solar generator for a typical camping trip. The Generack 1000 has enough power to handle most needs for short camping trips and is light enough to carry about. For longer trips or situations where you need more capacity, I recommend the Bluetti AC200P which has 2000W.
Best solar generator for refrigerator or freezer.
This depends on how long you want to run the system and if you are running other devices. While you need to make sure your system will handle any one item, it will ultimately be the power requirements of all the devices you are running at the same time that determines how any one generator will perform in meeting your needs.
Can a solar generator jump-start a car?
Jump starter battery banks use special high discharge battery cells. These put out high amperage (current) for 3 to 5 seconds in order to jump start a car. The typical solar generator will not do this.
What is the discharge cycle rating?
A battery discharge cycle rating means after a certain number of cycles of fully discharging the battery from 100% to 0%, the battery is rated to only hold 80% of its stated capacity.
For example, the Jackery 1000 is rated for 500 discharge cycles. This means that after 500 cycles of fully discharging the battery, it will have 80% of its original capacity.
It will still function, but know that 80% capacity is the standard decommission point for batteries.
This is much less of an issue for a portable generator, where use is sporadic and infrequent. However, if you are doing long term full-time off-grid living and thus placing DAILY heavy use and charge-discharge demands on your generator, then your battery may wear out in a couple of years.
What else to look for in a solar generator?
I would recommend you look for a minimum of a 2-year warranty.
I would also be as realistic as possible in projecting my needs.
For example, if you just started overlanding and want to get a solar generator, then consider what else you might upgrade to over the next year or so, that will place additional demands on your electrical needs.
By estimating how much power you need down the road, you will lessen your chance of purchasing a solar power generator that will become obsolete in a year or so.
Wrap-Up
As with most things, making the right final choice is usually a highly personal thing.
In this case, there are a number of variables to consider when choosing the best solar generator.
My goal in this post was to provide you with what I believe are the most important factors to take into account.
I hope you have found this article helpful!
