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Solar generators are not only fantastic for living off-grid but they can be used daily and in emergencies too. Being powered by the sun means that you can have instant power wherever you are, and you have unlimited access to energy for charging batteries (as long as the sun is still up).
We speak a lot about certain products being life-savers, but these solar generators could be just that. Use them when out alone in the wilderness, when your power goes out unexpectedly, or just to add some comfort and convenience to your life.
Our Top Picks
1. Geneverse Solar Generator
Capacity: 1,002 Wh | Wattage: 1,000 W Rated Power & 2,000 W Surge Power | Solar Panels Included: Yes | For Large Appliances: Yes | Warranty: 5 years
Read our hands-on review: Geneverse Solar Generator (HomePower ONE Series)
The Geneverse Solar Generator comes with one battery and two solar panels, and you can scale up for more power, adding batteries and solar panels as needed. For a small household, regular camping trips, or simple off-grid living, this set has ample power.
There are three AC outlets, each supporting 1,000W (2,000W surge) at 110V. You have USB-A and USB-C, along with a car outlet. You’ll also find a handy USB port on the back of the solar panel, allowing you to power or charge devices without the battery.
The solar panels are lightweight and are folded in half for easier and more secure transit and storage. When you unfold them and pull out the kickstand to set them up, all you need to do is attach the solar panels to the battery, and you are good to go. We appreciate quick and easy setups when it comes to products such as this.
This solar generator is one of the best on the market, and you get a lot of value for your money. This is an investment that will last a long time and might just save your life.
The Geneverse Solar Generator comes with an industry-leading 5-year warranty.
2. Jackary Solar Generator
Capacity: 1,534 Wh | Wattage: 1,800 W Rated Power| Solar Panels Included: Yes | For Large Appliances: Yes | Warranty: 2 years
The Jackary Solar Generator comes with one battery and four solar panels. Connecting the four solar panels to the battery means quick charging time, and that allows you to have the power you need when you are living off the grid. The charging time will depend on your location and amount of sunlight, but you can achieve 80% capacity in as little as 4 hours.
You have 3 AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C, and a car outlet to choose from. You can run anything on this solar generator, from laptops and phones to microwaves and refrigerators. The battery itself is robust and crafted from high-quality, durable materials, and the handle on the top makes it easy to carry around. The panels also fold in half for easy transit and storage.
Jackary has been making solar generators for years, and their expertise shines through in this setup. Perfect for camping trips, and you can opt to take fewer solar panels with you to save space.
3. Bluetti Solar Generator
Capacity: 2,000 Wh | Wattage: 2,000 W Rated Power & 4,800 W Surge Power | Solar Panels Included: Yes | For Large Appliances: Yes | Warranty: 2 years
The Bluetti Solar Generator comes with one battery and three solar panels. The three panels can all be attached simultaneously for quick charging time. The standard solar panels are 120W, but you can upgrade to the 200W solar panels for an even quicker charging time.
The battery itself is one of the most elegant on the market, and the sleek curves are unassuming and delicate, giving you something that looks great as well as it being fully functioning. You can live off-grid in style without having to worry about your power being lost.
The panels have kickstands to angle them toward the sun, and you can also fold them so that they stand by themselves. The solar panels fold down to a quarter of their size, and they have metal rings on the corners, so you can hang them too, giving you a lot of versatility.
Bluetti has really focused on bringing you a lot of power, and there is excellent surge protection. For output, you have 6 AC outputs, multiple USB outputs, along with DC outputs. A perfect generator for living out in the wild if you need to power high-wattage appliances.
4. FJD PowerSec MP2000 Portable Power Station
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Capacity: 2,264 Wh | Wattage: 2,000 W Rated Power & 4,000 W Surge Power | Solar Panels Included: No | For Large Appliances: Yes | Warranty: 2 years
Whether you’re aiming to live off grid, you experience a lot of power cuts, or you simply enjoy a lot of outdoor activities away from home and civilization, the FJD PowerSec MP2000 Portable Power Station is the perfect tool to keep your devices running and your modern comforts at hand.
Built for safety, this power station features a soft pack ternary lithium-ion battery that is protected and secured by 3 layers of protective metal. Not only is it extremely durable, but it can power almost any device that is under 2000 watts, making it reliable and endlessly useful.
Not just intended as an outdoor power station, this device can be used as an uninterruptable power supply, switching from mains to backup power in less than 10ms, which is half the industry standard switching time. It comes with 12 ports for charging a variety of devices at once, including 3 x AC ports, 2 x DC ports, 1 x car charger port, 4 x USB 3.0 ports, and 2 x Type-C ports.
To ensure safety and ease of use, the power station has overload protection, as well as super quiet operation and ultra-fast recharging. Via the AC wall plug power cable, the power station charges from 0 to 100% in just 2 hours. It can also be charged by solar panels, a generator, or a car charger.
5. XTAR Outdoor Power Supply
Capacity: 568 Wh | Wattage: 678 W Rated Power & 1,000 W Surge Power | Solar Panels Included: No | For Large Appliances: No | Warranty: 1 year
If you’re looking for a lightweight, lower cost, and smaller power supply for lighting your camping trips or playing music at a bonfire party, the XTAR Outdoor Power Supply is the perfect device for you. Not intended for charging or running large devices like kettles or power tools, this little power station has plenty of oomph for the basics of outdoor fun.
Weighing just 11 lbs, this power station is easy to transport and simple to use, and it comes with numerous safety features and protections to ensure the safety of you, other users, and any devices you may want to plug into it. A handy LCD screen shows you power input, output, and battery life remaining, and the side panel features a useful LED emergency light to ensure you never get stuck in the dark.
Sporting a number of charging ports, including 2 x AC ports, 2 x DC ports, 2 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0 ports, and a car charger, the XTAR will ensure that all your devices are kept in play, no matter where you are. Charge this power supply in 6.5 hours via AC, DC, solar, or generator to make sure you have endless power at your fingertips.
What To Know Before Buying a Portable Solar Generator
What Are Your Power Needs?
Are you planning on living off the grid? If you are, you are going to want a battery that holds a lot of charge and can deal with large appliances. You don’t need to worry as much about charging time, as you can have your solar panels set up all day if you need to. You might also want to invest in multiple batteries so you can power when you need it.
If you are looking for a solar generator for emergency situations, the solar panels are more important if you need quick charging, and you want a battery that will hold its charge for a long period of time.
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
Sometimes, it is about the number of solar panels, and at other times, it is about the quality of those panels. 30W panels can take up the same footprint as 120W panels, but they will charge slowly in comparison. We recommend opting for powerful solar panels first and then buying more panels if you need to increase charge capability.
How Portable Do You Need The Solar Generator To Be?
There is a big difference between off-grid living and camping trips. If you are going to remain in the same place for a long time, you don’t need to worry about the portability of your system (you may want to move the panels, but they are generally easy to reposition). If you are taking short camping trips, you will want something lighter and smaller.
The same goes for emergency situations. When an emergency hits, you want to be able to use your battery quickly and easily, and transport it if needed. Look for batteries that are powerful and light, but also batteries that hold a lot of power.
What Are Your Output Needs?
There is no point investing in a solar generator with no USB ports if you need them for phones and other devices, just as you would not want a battery with only a couple of AC outputs when you want to power multiple appliances at the same time. Think about what you will need/use when off-grid or in an emergency, and plan accordingly.
Charge Time
In an ideal world, power would be at your fingertips instantly, but that is never the case. If you invest in a high-quality and durable solar generator, you are going to be rewarded with a quicker charging time (in general). But, not all solar generators are created equally. You might find promises of lots of capacity and power, but it might take forever to charge your battery.
A high-quality battery will charge quicker than a lower-quality one, but most of the speed of charging comes from the solar panels. If you need power quickly, look for higher-wattage solar panels, and invest in multiple panels if you need a shorter charging time.
Power Inverter & Sine Wave Charging
Inverters have a wattage rating that shows the maximum wattage they can handle, and that should always be higher than the maximum wattage they can generate, so start there.
Sine Wave is the gold standard of inverters, and you will get the most efficiency while charging, while also protecting the appliances you are using. It might cost more, but it is worth it. Of course, if you are not using your solar generator a lot, you can do without Sine Wave.
Weight
Again, this comes down to how you are using your battery. If you are going to be moving the battery a lot, you want it to be on the lighter side, or have a way of transporting it. If it is going to remain in place, you might want to sacrifice weight for capacity.
