Ultra portable Solar Generators:

What you need to look for when buying these small solar generators:
  • MPPT Charge Controller: This will speed up charging by 30% when charging from a solar panel
  • Large Solar Charge Rate: I have been testing the generators below with various solar panels and I find that they can be over-paneled. That means you can connect them to 200-300 watts of solar panel power, no problem (even though the manual states 50 watts. But this does not apply to bigger generators like the inergy apex or the goalzeros). The reason for this is that the charge circuit has current limiting because it's designed to be used with a solar panel OR a car alternator. So the current is limited, but not the voltage. So that means that the solar panels you connect to them need to be 12v, and need to be connected in parallel. You need to make sure that the solar input voltage is not exceeded, unless you will damage your generator. But the limiting factor is not how much power your solar panels produce, but the charge rate limit of the generators. Below I have posted the max watt charge rate I have measured with my watt meters. They can vary quite a bit, and having a fast charge rate is EXTREMELY important for these small batteries. The faster, the better. 
  • Regulated 12v Output: This is actually hard to find! The Jackery is the only one on the market with a regulated 12v output (13.2 volts). This will allow your 12v appliances to run at peak performance. In my testing, most other generators 12v output was only 10-12v, which means that most 12v were only able to output 50% of the power! 
  • QC 3.0 USB Ports: In my tests, these will charge your phone/tablets much faster! 
  • Built-in LED Flashlight: Not required, but I find them to be extremely useful
  • MC4 Adapter Cable Included: Many of them are bought separately, which are usually overpriced
  • Pure Sine Wave Inverter: Practically every small generator on the market has this, so you are set!
There are a lot of cheap rebranded solar generators on the market, so I would stick to the ones below. I have tested a lot of generators on the market, and the Jackery, Rockpals and ExpertPower are what I like best. 

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How to safely over-panel a micro solar generator

If you wish to over panel your solar generator, make sure to connect the 12v solar panels in parallel so that the input voltage limit is not exceeded. You can safely connect 100-300w of solar panels to any of the generators listed on this page (minus the goal zero and renogy). 

Also understand that you can only over panel when the input port is designed to be used with an alternator and solar panel. If you try to do this with a goal zero or inergy apex, it will destroy it. All of the other solar generators, including jackery/rockpals/expert power are able to handle over paneling. I have had all the generators shown below connected to 200w of power for weeks without problem. Just make sure that the open circuit voltage of your panel does not exceed the input voltage limit of your generator, and you will be good to go. 

Jackery Label
Just make sure that the open circuit voltage is less than the max input voltage of the solar generator, and that the port can be connected to either a alternator or a solar panel, and you can safely do it. 

The Jackery 240

Jackery 500

Bluetti EB3A

Battery Size: 268Wh
Max Solar Charge Rate: 200 Watts 
Max Solar Voltage Input: 28 Volts
Inverter Output: 600 watts
Outputs: 2x AC, 3x USB, 1x Cigarette lighter
​Weight: 10.14 pounds

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