Solar generators are becoming increasingly popular as people look for sustainable and reliable ways to power their homes, camping trips, and outdoor adventures. These generators provide a portable and eco-friendly source of power, making them a great alternative to traditional gas-powered generators. If you’re in the market for a solar generator, here is a complete list of the top models available on the market today.
Our Top 3 Favorite Solar Generators
Best Small Generater
Renogy Phoenix 500
495Wh Battery | 200W Solar Input | 800W Inverter
This Phoenix 500 has the largest Battery/Inverter/Solar-Array combination of all solar generators in its class.
Best Medium Generater
Renogy Phoenix 1000
998.4Wh Battery | 400W Solar Input | 1500W Inverter
The Phoenix 1000 has a great Battery/Inverter/Solar-array combination, but what makes this generator special is the ability to double capacity if your needs ever grow.
Best Large Generater
Bluetti AC300+B300 + 1260Watts of Solar
3,072Wh Battery | 2400W Solar Input | 3000W Inverter
The Bluetti AC300 is the best option for those looking to power a cabin or small home. It’s expandable up to up to 12,288Wh. For comparison, the average American household uses 29,000Wh per day.
The solar generators in this list are organized into categories based on the size of their power inverter. We’ve tried to include only the most important metrics that a typical consumer would need to make an informed purchase. This list will be updated frequently as new Solar Generators hit the market.
Largest Battery | Inverter | Solar Array
Jackery Explorer 300
Renogy Phoenix 200
Jackery Explorer 160
Jackery Explorer 240
Anker 521
Highest Solar Input
EcoFlow River 2
Scroll down on Ecoflow’s webpage to view the solar panel/generator combo package.
Largest Inverter
Renogy Phoenix 500
Largest Battery
EcoFlow River Pro
Scroll down on Ecoflow’s webpage to view the solar panel/generator combo package.
Jackery Explorer 500
Anker 535
Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro
Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro
Largest Battery
Jackery Explorer 1500
Renogy Phoenix 1000
Jackery Explorer 1000
Anker 757
Anker 555
Largest Battery + Highest Solar Input
Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro + 1200Watts of Solar
Bluetti AC200Max + 600Watts of Solar
Largest Inverter
Anker 767
Bluetti AC300+B300 + 1260Watts of Solar
The metrics used to compare solar generators
Battery Size
Each solar generator has an internal battery. The storage capacity of the battery is displayed in Wh which is short for Watt-hours. 1 Watt-hour is equivalent to one watt of power expended for one hour of time.
Cycles
A charge cycle is the process of charging and discharging a rechargeable battery.The term is typically used to describe a battery’s expected life, since in reality the number of charge cycles affects life more than the mere passage of time.
There is a limited number of times a battery can be charged and discharge before experiencing a loss in performance. Cycle life refers to how many complete charges and discharges a battery can undergo before it will no longer hold a charge. A charging cycle is completed when a battery goes from completely charged to completely discharged. Therefore, discharging a battery to 50% and then charging it back up to 100% would only be counted as 1/2 of a single battery cycle.
For each solar generator, we’ve tried as much as possible to show exactly what the manufacturer claims their units to be capable of. Some manufacturers are truthful and have actually tested the cycle life of their solar generators, while others seem to have fudged the numbers a bit.
Expandability
Some solar generators, particularly the larger ones are expandable. You can purchase additional batteries or connect multiple units together to create a larger more capable solar power systems.
Inverter Size
Each solar generator comes with an internal power inverter. The inverter is used to power devices that require A/C electricity, such as those that plug into a typical household outlet.
Power inverters are typically rated by nominal, or continuous wattage. This is the wattage that the inverter can sustain for extended periods of time. A surge wattage rating is usually given as well, this is a higher wattage that the inverter can provide for a few seconds. Surge wattage is important because some devices like refrigerators and motors draw larger wattage upon startup.
The nominal wattage of the inverter is directly proportionate to the size or number of A/C devices that it can power. For example, a 500-Watt inverter can power a 500-watt device or 2 x 250-Watt devices. However, it is generally recommended not to use the full capacity of your inverter for extended periods of time to reduce wear and tear. Therefore, it’s best to look at the devices you intend to power, and plan to buy a generator with an oversized inverter.
PPWh = Price per Watt Hour
A watt-hour is the unit of measurement used commercially because it’s easier to quantify. It’s the equivalent of the total energy supplied if electrical power of one watt is maintained for one hour. Each solar generator has a battery that is measured in Watt Hours (Wh).
In this article, we’ve tried to give an approximate price per watt hour of each solar generator while including the solar array price.
In other words, PPWh is the (Price of generator) + (Price of Solar Array) / (Generator Battery Size)
Max Solar Input
The maximum wattage solar array that the manufacturer has designed the solar generator to accept.
= DC input, not necessarily the max wattage you can physically connect, Some units allow for over paneling apparently. Example (max input = 90W, 100W panel recommended)
Weight
The weight of each solar generator is displayed in pounds and kilograms when possible. This weight is of the solar generator alone and does not include the solar array, extra battery, cables or any other accessories.
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